The O’Kelly territory of Uí Maine and Tír Maine covered large parts of
what is now south Roscommon and east Galway. The territory under
O’Kelly control changed over the course of the later medieval period,
but at their height in the fifteenth century, these lords of Uí Maine
extended their authority over about 421,000 acres of eastern
Connacht, from the River Hind north of Athleague and Knockcroghery
in Co. Roscommon, to Abbeyknockmoy near Athenry in Co. Galway.
Many of the strongholds, castles and religious foundations attached to
these powerful Connacht lords are still visible throughout the region as
testament of their enduring importance.
The “Indenture of Hy Many” in the Compossicion Booke of Conought,
dated 1585, records Aedh Ó Ceallaigh, Chief of Uí Maine, and he
succumbed to the intense pressure from the Tudor administration
comply with the English policy of ‘surrender and regrant’. This resulted
in Aedh receiving his lands as a life interest only, and thus made him
the last in the unbroken line of O’Kelly lords. A distant relative,
Feardorcha O’Kelly, was later given the title ‘lord of Uí Maine’ by Red
Hugh O’Donnell in 1595, as support rallied to the Gaelic cause during
the Nine Years War (1593-1603). With Feardorcha’s death post 1611,
we see the disappearance of this famous title from the historical
records.