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The Kingdom of Ossory (historically Osraige; Modern Irish Osraí) was an ancient kingdom of Ireland. It formed the easternmost part of the kingdom and province of Munster until the middle of the 9th century, after which it was attached to Leinster. Ossory was allied to the powerful Corcu Loígde or Dáirine of Munster for several centuries before the rise of the Eóganachta in the 7th century. The new political configuration, probably the result of an Uí Néill-Eóganachta alliance against the Corcu Loígde,[1] caused a reduction in Ossory's relative status, and its kings to thus seek their fortunes in Leinster.
The Osraige—their name means people of the Deer—inhabited much of modern County Kilkenny and parts of neighbouring County Laois. To the west and south, Osraige was bounded by the River Suir, to the east the watershed of the River Barrow marked the boundary with Leinster, and to the north it extended into and beyond the Slieve Bloom Mountains. The medieval Diocese of Ossory covered much the same region.[2] Its most significant neighbours were the Loígsi, Uí Cheinnselaig and Uí Baircche of Leinster to the north and east and the Déisi Muman, Eóganacht Chaisil and Éile of Munster to the south and west.[3]
In the earliest times, the church at Domnach Mór Roigni (now Donaghmore, County Laois) may have been the chief church in Osraige, but in historic times it had been eclipsed by Aghaboe (County Laois), chief church of Saint Cainnech, since replaced by Kilkenny, and Seir Kieran (County Offaly), chief church of Saint Ciarán of Saighir. The record of the Irish annals also points to Freshford (County Kilkenny) being of some importance, while archaeological evidence suggests that Kilkieran, Killamery and Kilree (all County Kilkenny) were significant ecclesiastical sites.[4]
Origins
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The question of the origins of the Osraige is among the most fascinating medieval Ireland has to offer. Evidence of different natures associates them with no less than three of the principal dynastic kindreds. Their association with the Laigin is genealogical and political, with the Ulaid genealogical and linguistic, and with the Dáirine political if not ethnic.
Notes
- ^ Charles-Edwards 2000
- ^ Downham, "Career", p. 7; Mac Niocaill, Ireland before the Vikings, pp. 3–4.
- ^ Byrne, Irish kings and high-kings, maps on pp. 133 & 172–173; Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, p. 236, map 9 & p. 532, map 13.
- ^ Downham, "Career", p. 7; Charles-Edwards, Early Christian Ireland, pp. 292–294; Byrne, Irish kings and high-kings, pp. 180–181.
References
- Byrne, Francis John, Irish Kings and High-Kings, London: Batsford, ISBN 0-7134-5882-8
- Charles-Edwards, T. M. (2000), Early Christian Ireland, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-39395-0
- Downham, Clare (2004), "The career of Cearbhall of Osraige", Ossory, Laois and Leinster 1: 1–18, ISSN 1649-4938
- Mac Niocaill, Gearóid (1972), Ireland before the Vikings, The Gill History of Ireland, 1, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan, ISBN 0-7171-0558-X
- "The FitzPatricks of Ossory", T. Lyng, Old Kilkenny Review, Vol. 2, no. 3, 1981.
See also
External links
- History and maps
- Ossory on Encyclopedia Britannica
- Article on Ossory – 1911encyclopedia.org
- Article on Thomas Butler, Earl of Ossory – 1911encyclopedia.org
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