The Uí Maini Puzzle

[Webmaster]

Based on the recent Kenny addition to the DCG Cladogram, it appears that the R1b-FGC5939+ Kenny men are most likely the Ó Cináeda of the "Uí Maini", Cland Flaithemáin/Muinter Cináeda; which again emphasizes the diverse nature of the Uí Maini confederation.

[Muireagain]

I read this entry:

M794.14: The battle of Finnabhair, in Teathbha, by Muireadhach, son of Domhnall, in which many chiefs were slain along with Fearghus, son of Ailghil, lord of Cinel Cairbre, with Duibhinnreacht, son of Artghal, with Muireadhach, son of Connmhach, and with Cosgrach, son of Ceithearnach.

Muireadhach, son of Connmhach, I would suspect is the son of Connmaigh m. Fomasaig m. Coibdealaig of the Genelach O Loman Gaela

and

Cosgrach, son of Ceithearnach, is the Coscrach m. Cernaig m. Ailill of Cland Cairbri Cruim

(While Duibhinnreacht, son of Artgha would be a son of Artghal, son of Conall, lord of Cairbre Teathbha d.766?)
(Fearghus, son of Ailghil, lord of Cinel Cairbre is the son of Aelghal, son of Flann, son of Conla, chief of Teathbha 770?)
(Muireadhach, son of Domhnall, is the lord of Meath (i.e. Westmeath) and member of the Clann Cholmáin.)


[from Book of Ballymote
Genelach O Loman Gaela:
Ruaidri m. Conlighan m. Droighnen m. Eachach m. Connmaigh m. Fomasaig m. Coibdealaig m. Reachtagan m. Maelodran m. Maelannaidh m. Ecach m. Ainmirech m. Aengusa m. Lomain {118d} m. Dallan m. Bresail m. Maini moir.

Genelach I Cellaig soser
Tadg m. Domnaill m. Concobur m. Domnaill m. Taidg m. Concobar m. Diarmada m. Taidg m. Murchada m. Aeda m. Cellaig a quo Clann Cellaig.
Concobur et Diarmaid m. Diarmada m. Taidg m. Murchada m. Concobair m. Taidhg m. Murchada m. Aeda m. Cellaig a quo Clann Cellaig m. Finachta m. Oililla {118a} m. Indrachtaig m. Dluthaig m. Fichellaig m. Dicolla m. Eogain Find m. Cormaic m. Cairbri Cruim m. Feradhaigh m. Luighdech m. Dallain m. Bresail m. Maine moir &rl.
Seacht meic deg la Coscrach m. Cernaig m. Aililla & a dibaide iad sidhe acht ceatra mc. .i. Cernach & Flaithem & Flaitgel & Duibindracht.]

The idea would be that they are members of the Ui Maine, around 794, they were at the battle Finnabhair, in Teathbha per the Four Masters.

While there is an entry: M949.12 "A victory was gained over the men of Muscraighe-thire by Ua-Lomain-Gaela." has a note by O'Donovan's which reads: Ua-Lomain Gaela:This was the name of a sept of the Hy-Many of Connaught, seated at Finnabhair†, now Finnure [Abbeygormacan Civil Parish, Poor Law Union of Loughrea], in the barony of Leitrim, and county of Galway.

I am wondering if the location of Teathbha has been misidentified with Westmeath. Is it instead west of the Shannon?

[Webmaster]

Interesting observation. But it should be noted that Finnure/Fennor was used as a place name in more than one location. Regardless, O’Donovan adds these notes in Hy-Many, pp. 34, 37, and 70:

O’Lomain.—This seems to be the name now Anglicised Lomond, but the Editor is not aware that it is at present extant in Hy-Many, where a family or tribe of the name were no doubt formerly powerful, for we learn from the Annals of the Four Masters, at the year 949, that O’Lomain, of Gaela, defeated the inhabitants of Ormond in that year. There was another branch of the family settled at Finnabhair, now Finnure, in the barony of Leitrim, and county of Galway.—See Map.

Finnabhair is now called Finnure, and is a townland containing the ruins of an old church, situated in the parish of Abbeygormigan, close to the boundary between the baronies of Loughrea and Longford, in the county of Galway.—See Ordnance Map of the county of Galway, sheet 98. The last of this tribe mentioned above in the text was the fifteenth in descent from Maine Mor, the common ancestor of the Hy-Many, and was therefore cotemporary with the celebrated Cathal Mac Ailella, chief of Hy-Many, who died in 844, who was the fifteenth from the same Maine; and we must therefore suppose that O’Lomain was then a tribe name, and not a hereditary surname.

Moenmagh.—O’Flaherty states (Ogygia, Part III. c. 17) that this territory, in which Loughrea is situated, is co-extensive with Clanrickard, in the county of Galway; but this cannot be true, as Clanrickard comprised the six southern baronies of the county of Galway, and Moenmagh never embraced any portion of the barony of Kiltartan, Longford, or Dunkellin. Moenmagh is the rich plain lying round Loughrea, and comprising Moyode, Finnure, and other places mentioned in old Irish documents. It was bounded on the east by the territory of Siol Anmchadha (now the barony of Longford), on the south by the celebrated mountain of Sliabh Echtghe (now Slieve Aughtee), and on the west by the diocese of Kilmacduagh; its northern boundary is uncertain; but we know that it extended so far to the north as to comprise the townland of Moyode, as that place is distinctly mentioned as included in the plain of Moenmagh.

Also on p. 70, he has this interesting note:

It is curious that O’Dugan, in his topographical poem, makes no mention of the family of O’Madden, but makes the O’Huallachains, now Mac Cuolaghans, or Cuolahans, the sole chiefs of Siol Anmchadha, while the Book of Lecan (ubi supra, pp. 40, 41) makes the latter only the old chiefs of that territory. It is curious that the MacCuolahans, since they lost their rank of chiefs of Sil-Anmchadha, have been seated on the east side of the Shannon, and have retained no portion of the original territory lying west of that river.

So there may indeed be some confusion/conflation of territory locations. As mentioned in the Kennys thread, the original Cland Flaithemáin/Muinter Cináeda territory may have been mislocated in some sources.

Finally, it is worthwhile noting that the 790s AD were a tumultuous time in Connacht because it was in 792 AD when the Síl Muiredaig broke the Uí Ailella at the battle of Ard Maiccrime in Co. Sligo and eliminated them as any kind of power in Connacht. In an aside, it is intriguing to think that some of the unidentified direct subclades of R1b-DF105 may be the remnants of the Uí Ailella.

[Muireagain]

Of note: Fr Paul Walsh identified the location for Teabhtha by its association with Cenel Maine mac Neill. He cites the dispersal of the sons of Niall, embedded in the genealogies of Fiachu's descendants. His translation is from the version found in H2.7/172b:

"He gave to Maine son of Niall from Cruachain Feda in Crioch Briuin to Loch Ri mac Maireda, ..."

Loch Ri mac Maireda, this is now called Loch Ri and is located on the Roscommon-Longford/Westmeath border.
Cruachain Feda in Crioch Briuin, O'Donovan says it is Croaghan nr Killeshandra co. Cavan (i.e., in Breifne).

Dobbs writes:
"Some allusions seem to locate Maine at first in Co. Roscommon: "from woody Cruachain to Loch Ri was the land given to Maine as every author says"; in the Book of Lecan this is defined as "Cruachain in Crich Briuin to Loch Ri." Crich Briuin was in Co. Roscommon, and I have not found any allusion to a Cruachain in Tethba ; this sounds therefore as if the famous Cruachain was meant. The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, however, assumes that Maine was in Tethba when the Saint came there. Maine comes to Ardagh to be baptised, bringing his concubine to be blessed ; St. Patrick tells him " there shall never be a king from thee," but " there shall be no king in Ireland who shall not maintain thee," i.e., thy posterity. This is doubtless put into Patrick's mouth by the ninth century editor, meaning that none of Maine's race were ever High-Kings, but that many of them were poets and historians."

It seems Fr Walsh wanted to understand Cruachain Feda in Crioch Briuin, in terms of the Cenel Maine occupying the lands of Teabhtha. (Still don't understand what part of co. Westmeath is left of the kingdom of Uisnech after excluding the kingdom of Teffia?)

Whereas Dobbs (who I would agree with) identifies Cruachain Feda in Crioch Briuin with Rathcroaghan in co. Roscommon. Hence, Cenel Maine lands takes a closer step to the Ui Maine and their lands. Especially the cantred of Tirmany which forms the lands from Cruachain in Crich Briuin to Loch Ri (south of Mag nAi, the plain that Cruachain is located in).




As for the question as to the relationship between Cenel Maine and Ui Maine. I found the 12th century pedigree, in the Book of Leinster, for a 6th century figure Bec mac De draud, the chief Druid to 'Diarmait mac Cerbaill' (the king who exiled 'Colm Cille'):

Bec Mac De draud mac Gnoe m. Lugdach m. Dallain m. Bresail m. Mane m. Neil N[oigiallaig]

He is both a Cenel Neill and Ui Maine at the same time.

However, the Book of Leinster does also gives an alternative pedigree: Bec mac De druad, Maic Noe, Maic Conaill Echluaith, Maic Lugdach Mind de Mumain.

[Webmaster]

Yes, the Uí Néill, Cenél Maini is an interesting group. Maine son of Niall Noígíallach is disputed by some as to whether he ever existed; that he was a complete fabrication. Then there is the controversy as to their connection to the Uí Maini of Connacht. All I can say is that so far, the Y-DNA is showing that ALL descendants of Niall Noígíallach must be under the R1b-ZZ87 clade. This is problematic since FTD does not recognize the ZZ87 mutation, and we have recently seen a small R1b-DF105 direct subclade that was not on The Big Tree get merged with a small direct subclade of R1b-ZZ87 that was on The Big Tree. So we are still seeing significant adjustments being made to the basic Y-Haplotree. I am eagerly awaiting the day affordable telomere-to-telomere gapless Y-DNA tests are available.

In the meantime, we have the 2 major Uí Néill branches identified under R1b-S588, the Cenél nEógain, and under R1b-DF85, the Cenél Conaill. R1b-ZS8379 is showing signs of being the Cenél Fiachach due to its large number of Ó Maíl Muada men; but so far there has been little sign of Mac Eóchucáin or Ó hOícinn men.

There are several other smaller, unidentified subclades of R1b-ZZ87, as well as R1b-DF105, that could be descendants of the other sons ascribed to Niall Noígíallach, including Maine; but no immediately recognizable surnames have appeared, especially Fox or Carney, etc. (Ó Catharnaig). So Tethbae, North and South, does seem to be a bit of mystery still. It would be great if we could identify the Cenél Cairbri too.

[Muireagain]

I note these lines in the 12th century Rawlinson B.502 genealogies, makes the Ui Maine descendants of Conn of Hundred battles:

¶931] Oc Fiachaig Sraiptine con-drecat Úi Néill & in dí Chonnacht as-rubrammar frisin tres Connacht .i. fri Ú Maine .i. Brian & Niall & Fiachra & Ailill & Fergus, cóic m. Echach Mugmedóin m. Muredaich Tírich m. Fiachach Sraiptine m. Carpri Lifechair.
¶932] Maine m. Echdach m. Domnaill m. Fiachach Sraiptine m. Carpri Lifechair in tres Connacht.

Also the 11th century Laud 610 genealogies does the same:
Cond, tri maic laiss .i. Condla Coem, Crinna, Art Oenfer. Oenmac Airt .i. Cormac. Cethri maic Cormaic .i. Carpri, Muredach, Cellach, Dare. Tri maic Corpri .i. Fiacho Sroptine, Eochaid, Eocho Domlen, a quo Airgialla. Da mac Fiachach Sroptine .i. Muredach Tirech, Domnall, sen O Maine. Oenmac Muredaig Eocho Mugmedon.

"Conn, three good sons, i.e., Condla Coem, Crinna, Art Oenfer.
One son of Art, i.e., Cormac.
Four sons of Cormac, i.e., Cairpre, Muiredach, Cellach, Dare.
Three sons of Cairpre [Lifeachair], Fiacho Sroptine, Eochaid, Eocho Domlen, from whom are called the Airgiallaigh.
Two sons of Fiachach Sroptine, i.e., Muredach Tirech, Domnall, from whom Ui Maine.
One son of Muredaig [Muredach Tirech], i.e., Eocho Mugmedon."

Brian & Niall & Fiachra & Ailill & Fergus are thes son of Eocho Mugmedon mac Muredach Tirech mac Fiachach Sroptine mac Cairpre Lifeachair
Maine is the son of Echdach m. Domnaill m. Fiachach Sraiptine mac Cairpre Lifeachair.
While the Airgiallaigh are from Eocho Domlen mac Cairpre Lifeachair.

[Webmaster]

Bernard,

Yes, and so does the Book Of Ballymote:

123. Fiacha sraiftine atiad a mc. .i. Muiredach tirech a quo in rigraidh & Domnall sen O Maine Chonnacht & Ferghus & Eochu & Feradhach a quo .H. Crimthannan.

But these same genealogies also make the Aírgialla/Cland Colla descendants of Conn Cétchathach via Eóchád Doimlén son of Cairbre Lifechair. And we know from the Y-DNA this is impossible since they are R1b-Z3000, which is a very early split, maybe ~2000 BC, from the lineage that became the Dál Cuinn. This brings the very existence of Eóchád Doimlén into doubt.

The ONLY genetic Uí Maini family that has been discovered to date is the Ó Cellaig/O’Kelly, who are R1b-FGC6540, which is also a very early split, maybe ~1200 BC, from the lineage that became the Dál Cuinn. Not even the Ó Matadáin/O’Madden are closely related genetically, apparently. So this brings into doubt the very existence of Domnall son of Fiachu Sraibtine.

It does seem in both these instances, Eóchád Doimlén and Domnall, that fictitious men were dreamed up in order to allow the Aírgialla/Cland Colla and the Uí Maini to be grafted onto the Dál Cuinn genealogies. The Uí Maini even made doubly sure by having the alternate genealogy they descended from Colla Dá Crích, one of The Three Collas. The Cland Domnaill Lords of the Isles did the same thing by having their progenitor be Colla Uais, I believe. Early Y-DNA testing of the Cland Domnaill chieftains proved they had an R1a Norse heritage, so they were not even Gaels, although they obviously embraced the Gaelic culture, as did several of the early Norman Viking invaders of Ireland who became described as more Irish than the Irish themselves.

So great a fame the Dál Cuinn had in the early Gaelic culture that numerous families were grafted or grafted themselves onto the Dál Cuinn genealogies. The Ó Cellaig/O’Kelly were obviously part of this trend. However, various other families of the Uí Maini federation were Dál Cuinn, as we are discovering. But they did NOT descend from Domnall son of Fiachu Sraibtine because if they had, from all the Y-DNA evidence, they would either have branched off before R1b-DF105 or split the R1b-DF105 phylogenetic node, and we have seen NO sign of that. As a matter of fact, all the other Uí Maini federation families are on branches well after the splits after R1b-DF105.

The R1b-FT14462 mystery clade parallel to R1b-DF105 shows no indications of having any Uí Maini connection. Given its early split after R1b-DF104, I have idly speculated it may be from Condla, son of Conn Cétchathach, who wandered off with a "fairy woman". While the "fairy woman" is an obvious embellishment, it still could derive from a son who went raiding/traveling and never returned. Apparently this Condla was sometimes conflated with Condla Cáem, as seen in the Laud 610 genealogy.

So, we have indisputable Y-DNA evidence that some of the side branches of the Dál Cuinn genealogies are badly in error; but the overall evidence does support the genealogies of Conn Cétchathach and his descendants, the Connachta. The Uí Maini federation families are going to be difficult to detect given their wide genetic variance. Hopefully we will discover enough evidence to piece the actual genealogies together.

[Muireagain]

There maybe another Ui Maine family.

O'Donovan notes:
"These are the tributaries of the Clann Ceallaigh: the O'Duibhginns, the O'Geibhennaighs, the Mac Cathails, the Mac Floinns, Muinter Murchadhan; and the Clann Aedhagain until they became Ollamhs to the arch-chief."

As for Muinter Murchadhan he notes: "i.e. the descendant of Murchadhan, who was prince of Hy-Many, and died in the year 936. The Editor could not find this name in Hy-Many, and suspects that it was anglicised to Murphy."

Later he gives their pedigree:

Clann Cremthaind
Murchatan,46 mac Sochlachain,47 mic Diarmata, mic Fergusa, mic Murchada, mic Duib-da-Thuath, mic Daimine, mic Daimdairi, mic Ailella, mic Coirbine, mic Aeda, mic Crimthaind Chaeil, mic Lugdach, mic Dallain, mic Bresail, mic Maine Moir.

46: or Murchadan, as more correctly written in H. 2. 7. p. 49, was chief of Hy-Many, and died, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, in the year 936. He succeeded his brother Mughron, who died in the year 904. They were the fifteenth in descent from Maine Mor, the common ancestor of the Hy-Many.
(M936.11 Murchadh, son of Sochlachan, lord of Ui-Maine, died.)
(U909.2 Mugrón son of Sochlachán, king of Uí Maini, died.)

47: Sochlachan was chief of Hy-Many, and, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, died a priest (in clericatu) in the year 908, having, many years before, resigned the government to his son Mughron.
(U867.5 Abán son of Cinaed, heir designate of Connacht, was killed with fire by Sochlachán son of Diarmait.)


(other family members are likely:
Cathal mac Murchadh, killed 816
U780.3 Death of Murchad, son of Dub da Tuath.
Dunchadh ua Daimhine, died 780/Duncadho mac Duib Da Tuadh, died 784
Ailello hui Daimine, died 749)

[Cremthainn Cael is mention in the mid-11th to mid-12th century Life of Ciaran of Clonmacnoise as Cremthann mac Ludhach meic Dallan .i. ri Eirenn. Along with Raith Cremthainn in Mag Ai, his wizard Lugbrann and another son Oengus.]



There are A738+ Murphys, such as:
201315 Murphy Martin Murphy 1776-1847 Headford, Co Galway, IRL

However, O'Murchadan in Cruffon (i.e., the lands of Clann Cremthainn) would be the O'Moraghan and now Morgan. The present day locals are A738+.

326512 Morgan from Keeloges in parish of Ballynakill, barony of Ballymoe, Co. Galway
326513 Morgan from Newbridge, in the parish and barony of Killian, Co. Galway

(O'Donovan in refence to kings of Crumhthann: "The territory of this tribe still retains its "ancient name, which is Anglicised Cruffon, being the exact pronunciation of the ancient Irish form of the name. The situation of this territory is thus pointed out by Denis Henry Kelly, Esq,, of Castle Kelly, in a letter to the Editor : " Cruffon is the name by which the peasantry still designate a large district in the county of Galway, long celebrated for its coarse linen manufacture, containing the barony of Killyan, and a large tract of Ballymoe.")

Hence, their genetic Big-Y relative would likely make them FGC40499+.

[Webmaster]

According to the annals entries shown in this post, by no later than the 900s AD, the chieftains of Cruffon/Uí Crimthainn were almost certainly the lineage that became the Cland Maíl Rúanada and later, the Mac Diarmata and Mac Dondcháda of Moylurg and Tirerill, who appear to be under the R1b-A6925 clade.

Again, R1b-FGC5939 is becoming a veritable hodge podge of families and I don't think we have enough surnames, and more importantly, Y-DNA results to accurately determine all the correct groupings and branches. I suspect we are missing crucial unifying mutations. The R1b-FGC6540 Ó Cellaig/O’Kelly men have excellent genealogies that link them to the Uí Maini Ó Cellaig, and they are the only Uí Maini family appearing under R1b-FGC6540 so far.

To clarify, this is what I mean when I say the Ó Cellaig/O’Kelly are the ONLY genetic Uí Maini family that has been identified to date. Besides the R1b-FGC5939, R1b-A1206, and R1b-FGC71316 families, I definitely think some of the R1b-BY198 families were part of the Uí Maini federation. Further, I think all the non R1b-A259 clades under R1b-A18726 can be accounted for by the genealogies attributed to Ernán, son of Dau Galach; and I also speculate we may see more unifying mutations discovered that may combine some of these clades. But all of these families are genetically Dál Cuinn; which is why I say the Ó Cellaig/O’Kelly are the only genetic Uí Maini family.

[Muireagain]

Quoting from "Clonmacnois - the Church and Lands of St. Ciaran" by "Annette Kehnel":
"Most likely it [Life of Ciaran reference to Crimthann] has to be date sometime in the mid-eight century when the Clann Cremthainn were at their height. During this period they conquered the territory of Delbhna Nuadat, between the river Suck and the Shannon, thus becoming direct neighbours of St Ciaran. In the ninth century Clann Cremthainn power was overthrown by the forces of an expansive Ui Briuin."

Details of the overthrown of Clann Cremthainn by the Ui Briuin is given here:
"During the latter part of the eight century and in the early ninth century repeated victories by the up and coming Ui Briuin dynasty of Connacht over the Ui Maine are recorded in the annals especially during the reign of Muirgius son of Tomaltach, indicating significant resistance to Ui Briuin overlordship amongst the Ui Maine. It seems their traditional alliance with the Ui Fiachrach Aidne results not only in hostility towards the Ui Briuin Kings but possibly also in temporary opposition to Clonmacnois, which was the main ecclesiastical ally of the Ui Briuin at the tome. One of the battles fought by Muirgius, son of Tomaltach against the Ui Maine, namely that in 814, was supported by a certain Fairceallach. The only person named Fairceallach appearing in the annals at this time was the abbot of Clonmacnois, and it has been suggested that he was supporting the Ui Briuin king against the Ui Maine.
The king of Ui Maine at the tome was Cathal, son of Murchad, of Clann Cremthainn; he was defeated and killed by Diarmait, son of Tomaltach (the brother of Muirgius and his successor to the kingship of Connacht) in the year 818. His successor Cathal, son of Ailill (818-846) was of Cenel Cairpre Cruim. Under him the Ui Maine, gave up their traditional alliance with the Ui Fiachrach Aidne and joined up and coming Connacht dynsasty of Ui Briuin Ai. In the year 822 the Ui Maine supported Diarmait, son of Tomaltach in the battle of Tarbga, in gaining supremacy over the whole of Connacht.
With the succession of Cathal, son of Ailill to the kingship the Cenel Cairpre Cruim had replaced the Clann Chremthainn as the dominant force in Ui Maine. ... "

(Kehnel is drawing on the annals entries collected by Kelleher, in Celtica IX.)

Hence, there is clear historical reason why the R1b-A6925 clade became the overlords of Clann Cremthainn.

As spelt out in the Book of Lecan:
“There are three Orrighs i.e. sub-chiefs over the Race of Crimhthann Cael, viz., two Orrighs of his own race, and two of the Sil-Muireadhaigh.”
[It fails to give the fourth family who is a sub-chief over the Race of Crimhthann Cael, however it does tell us that Clann Cremthainn has foreign overlords.]


[And if the last native king (as we have his pedigree) of the Clann Cremthainn died in 938, may the following entry is earliest record of the Ui Briuin overlordship of Cremthainns. And the first reference identifying a separate kingdom of the Crumthrainns, as opposed to them previously being part of the Ui Maine kingdom:

T999.7 Mael Sechlainn h-úa Mael Ruanaigh ri Cremthaindi occissus est o Uib Cellaig .i. Cú Chaillen.]



After seeing the historical context about how the R1b-FGC6540 became chiefs of Sil Crimthainn Cháil, the only question remaining is why would we believe R1b-FGC6540 represents the line of Ui Maine?

To be pedantic it could be argued that the O’Kelly line experienced an NPE. There is no data to refute this this claim. Or applying per Occam razor and going with the simplest of all explanations, to explain their lack of Ui Maine relatives, the O’Kelly have been grafted onto the Ui Maine stem. There is presently no other simpler explanation, given the evidence at hand.

Are you also suggest that the R1b-A18726 is only the line of Ui Briuin? Why not R1b-A18726 be the line of the Ui Maine and the Ui Briuin be a sub-branch of the Ui Maine or simpler still - the Ui Briuin and Ui Maine be sub-branches of an earlier population grouping? (I don’t have the reference at hand, however I understand that questions have been raise about when the Ui Briuin came to be, given their late appear in the records.)


AS for identifying the real Ui Maine, the Book of Lecan tells us:

“Tigernus cacha droingi bias ag digail easonorach h-Ua Maine do Sil Crimthain Cail, .i. do Crumthann, ocus do Clann Aedagan”
“The headship of every people who revenge the insults of Hy-Maine belongs to the race of Crimthann Cael, i. e. to the Crumthanns and the Clann Aedhagain,”

The Book of Lecan is then implying that Sil Crimthain Cail consists of the Crumthanns [through under A6925 oppression] and the Clann Aedhagain.

Additionally, AConn1260.3 records: “Macwilliam Burke made an expedition against Fedlimid [O Conchobair]. He came to Roscommon, from where he sent a raid into Cruffon, plundering the Clann Aedacain, and another into Tir Maine.”

Hence, Clann Aedacain, are not only called Sil Crimthain Cail, they are also located in the lands of Sil Crimthain Cail (Cruffon).

Now, if there were MacEgan who were members of Sil Crimthain Cail they might have more yDNA in common with the O’Murchadain [Morgans] of Sil Crimthain Cail. Which in that case would suggest that the BY198>FGC40502+ MacEgans are likely to be members of Sil Crimthain Cail, for the Morgan(s) are also BY198> FGC40502+. Unlike the southernly BY198>BY20835+ Larkins.

R1b-A6925 are recorded as having invaded the lands of the Ui Maine, and R1b-FGC6540 cannot prove themselves as being part of Ui Maine population. Whereas R1b-BY198 consists of numerous separate yDNA lines, that you would expect when dealing with the Ui Maine population. The simplest answer is BY198 is the line of the Ui Maine, that share a common ancestry with other Dal Cuinn families and that R1b-A18726 contains both the Ui Briuin and Ui Maine lines.