[Old Irish, middle, centre]
Central province and sometime petty kingdom of early Ireland, originally a designation of the hill of Uisnech, then regarded as the central point in Ireland. Although the name of modern Co. Meath is derived from Mide, the ancient name denoted large tracts of land between Ulster, Connacht, and Leinster, including at times not only what is today counties Meath, Westmeath, Offaly, and Longford but also south Co. Louth and north Co. Dublin. Kings of Mide sat at Tlachtga. Tuathal Techtmar (2nd cent. AD) is thought to have created Mide as Ireland's fifth province [Old Irish cóicede; Modern Irish cúige] so that the ard rí [high king] crowned at Tara could be independent of the other four provinces. Subsequently, it is the province most associated with kingship.
The pseudo-history Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions] offers a different explanation for Mide's prominence. According to the text the province is named for Mide the druid of the invading Nemedians, who was the first to light a fire at Uisnech. During the seven years that this fire burned every other fire in Ireland was lit from it, which entitled Mide and his successors to a sack of grain and a pig from every house in the land. When other druids objected to this tax, Mide had their tongues cut out and burned them at Uisnech, winning the praise of his mother.
