| Native Name: | Uí Mhaine |
| Common Name: | Ireland |
| Year Start: | 4th century |
| Year End: | 1611 |
| Life Span: | 357–1611 |
| Today: | Ireland |
| Status: | Túatha |
| Status Text: | Túatha of Connacht (until 6th century) |
| P1: | Senchineoil |
| P2: | Connacht |
| S1: | Connacht |
| S2: | Clanricarde |
| S3: | Kingdom of Ireland |
| Image Map Caption: | Early peoples and kingdoms of Ireland, c.800 |
| Common Languages: | Old Irish, Middle Irish, Early Modern Irish, Latin |
| Religion: | Gaelic Christianity Catholic Christianity Gaelic tradition |
| Government Type: | Tanistry |
| Title Leader: | Rí |
| Leader1: | Máine Mór |
| Year Leader1: | 357–407 |
| Leader2: | Feardorcha Ó Cellaigh |
| Year Leader2: | 1593–1611 |
Irish, Middle (900-1200);: Uí Mháine|italic=unset, often Anglicised as Hy Many, was one of the oldest and largest kingdoms located in Connacht, Ireland. Its territory of approximately 1000sqmi encompassed all of what is now north, east and south County Galway, south and central County Roscommon, an area near County Clare, and at one stage had apparently subjugated land on the east bank of the Shannon, together with the parish of Lusmagh in Offaly.
There were two different Uí Mhaine, the Uí Mhaine of Tethbae and the Uí Mhaine of Connacht; these tribes were separated by the Shannon River. The people of the kingdom were descendants of Maine Mór, who won the territory by warfare. Its sub-kingdoms, also known as lordships, included – among others – Soghan, Corco Modhruadh, Delbhna Nuadat, Síol Anmchadha, and Máenmaige. These kingdoms were made up of offshoots of the Uí Mháine dynasty, or subject peoples of different backgrounds.
The Uí Mhaine are among the ancient Irish dynasties still represented today among the recognised Irish nobility and Chiefs of the Name, by the O'Kelly of Gallagh and Tycooly, Prince of Uí Mhaine and Count of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fox (O'Kearney) may represent the eastern Uí Mhaine of Tethbae.
Maine Mór is said to have established the kingdom around 357 AD, and ruled for fifty years. Before his arrival, the area had been occupied by the Fir Bolg, ruled by King Cian d'Fhearaibh Bolg.
| Name | Years Ruled | Death | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Mór | 50 years | natural death | |
| Breasal mac Maine Mórson of Maine Mór | 30 years | natural death | |
| Fiachra Finnson of Breasal | 17 years | slain by brother | |
| Connall Cas Ciabhachson of Breasal | 22 years | slain | |
| Dallán mac Breasalbrother of Fiachra Finn | 11 years | mortally wounded, then drowned | |
| Duach mac Dallánson of Dallan | 16 years | slain by Maine Macamh | |
| Lughaidh mac Dallánson of Dallan | 14 years | natural death | |
| Feradhach mac Lughaidhson of Lughaidh | 24 years | slain by successor | |
| Marcán | 15 years | slain with a sword | |
| Feradhach mac Lughaidhson of Feradhach | 9 years | slain by successor |
Descendant clans of the dynasty include the O'Kelly, Kelly, Ó Ceallaigh,[1] Ó Draighnáin, Ó hUallacháin, Ó Madadháin,[1] Ó Neachtain,[1] Ó Cnaimhín,[1] Ó Domhnalláin, Ó Maolalaidh,[1] Ó Fallamháin,[1] Ó Cionnaith,[1] Ó Géibheannaigh, Ó Bhreasail, and Ó Duigenan.
An early 15th-century text, Nosa Ua Maine, states that they were given rewards and treasures such as:
Along with the privileges that kings and queens of Uí Maine received, the clans that fought for Uí Maine were also given privileges and rights:
From Ireland passed to France Bernard then Bernardo O'Kelly, who served in the Army with so much distinction that he came to be Governor of a hold with patent of Colonel, and from this country he transferred to Portugal, where he married. He was the father of Guilherme O'Kelly, Lieutenant of Cavalry of the Regiment of Moura, and Hugo O'Kelly, first Colonel and then Brigadier of the same Regiment. They were relatives of Count O'Kelly, Lieutenant-General of Infantry in the Armies of the Holy Roman Emperor. That Guilherme O'Kelly married Mariana Josefa, and from then on was born Diogo O'Kelly, Captain of Horses in the Regiment of Moura, to whom was issued a Chart of Arms, of succession, with those of his surname, on 14 April 1785. From Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, Ireland, came also James Thomas then Diogo Tomás O'Kelly, dance master, who was an attendant of the Infante António of Portugal, and was prosecuted by the Holy Office for being a Freemason, initiated in 1735, and his brother Michael then Miguel O'Kelly, contractor of the factory of glasses, initiated in the Freemasonry in 1736 and prosecuted with his brother. Hugo O'Kelly, above-mentioned, also belonged to the Freemasonry and was implicated in the same process. The arms of the O'Kelly family are: broken, the first azure, a tower argent over a mount proper, between two lions assailant or, chained to the tower by the waist with chains sable, the second argent, with six crosslets recrossed, on top, whittled, sable, put 2, 2 and 2, and chief gules, charged with three roses natural argent; crest: a greyhound running argent, brindled sable; motto: TURRIS FORTIS MIHI DEUS.[2] A third branch came to Portugal in the person of Waldron Kelly of Maddenstown, born in Maddenstown, County Kildare, Leinster, on 1 October 1794, who died at the Caribbean Sea, near Lucea, Hanover Parish, and Montego Bay, Saint James Parish, Cornwall County, Jamaica, on 11 November 1836 and was buried there. He married twice, firtsly to Jane Owens and secondly to Ana Ludovina de Lemos Pacheco de Aguilar, born in Cedovim, Vila Nova de Foz Coa, on 1 October 1794 and died in Dublin, County Dublin, Leinster, 4 April 1883, and buried there, a relative of the 1st Viscount and 1st Count of Samodães, and had issue by both marriages.
