Muintir Eolais
Muintir Eolais was the name of a people in the medieval part of Conmaicne Réin and Magh Réin (in present-day south Leitrim, Ireland) who gave their name to the area which is roughly coterminous with the current baronies of Leitrim and Mohill.[1] The principal family of the Muintir Eolais was the Mac Raghnaill family, who built a medieval castle on the shores of Lough Rynn.
-
'Pray for Ódhrán, descendant of Eolas' -
Mac Raghnaill Castle -
Mac Raghnaill Castle -
Mac Raghnaill Castle
In Clonmacnoise monastery today there is a headstone to Ódhrán Ua hEolais, scribe of Clonmacnois, who died in 994. The inscription translates as 'Pray for Odhrán descendant of Eolas'. Eolas had been chieftain of Magh Réin in c. 900. Thereafter the people in this area are commonly recorded as Muintir Eolais (people/descendants of Eolas), a name which over time was applied to their area.[2]