Origins

The word Ciarraige means the people of Ciar, and denoted descent from Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich

Fergus mac Róich

Fergus mac Róich is a character of the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...

. The Ciarraige Óic Bethra were located in the kingdom of Aidhne

Aidhne

Aidhne also known as, Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne, Maigh Aidhne / Maigh nAidhne was the territory of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, a tuath located in the south of what is now County Galway in the south of Connacht, Ireland. Aidhne is coextensive with the present diocese of Kilmacduagh...

, in what is now south County Galway

County Galway

County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...

.

According to Ó Muraíle, "they are said to have been one of three peoples (the others being the Tratraige and the Cóenraige) who were settled in Aidhne before the advent of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne

Uí Fiachrach Aidhne

Uí Fhiachrach Aidhne was a kingdom located in what is now the south of Co. Galway.-Legendary origins and geography:...

. An alternative version omits any mention of the Ciarraige, referring simply to Óic, and Óca, Bethra, and states that they came from Crích Ella - apparently the territory of Duhallow

Duhallow

Duhallow is a barony located in the north-western part of County Cork, Ireland.- Legal context :Baronies were created after the Norman invasion as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. Baronies continue to be regarded as officially defined units, but they are no longer used...

 in north Cork

Cork (city)

Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...

."

In a note on the same page, he writes "The forms of the name combining Ciarraige with Óic Bethra are rather problematical; instead of Ciarraidi Oic Beatha ... and Ciarraighe Óga Beathra ... one might expect Ciarraige Óc mBethra", citing versions that appear in O Raghaillaigh's Genealogical Tracts (p. 137) and John O'Donovan

John O'Donovan

John O'Donovan may refer to:*John O'Donovan , Irish language scholar and place-name expert*John O'Donovan , Irish TD and Senator*John O'Donovan, guitarist with The Adolescents punk band...

's edition of Hy-Fiachrach.

They were not the only Ciarraige located in Connacht. The Ciarraige Áei, Ciarraige Locha na nÁirne

Ciarraige Locha na nÁirne

The Ciarraighe Locha na nÁirne were a branch of the Ciarraighe people, located in what is now central-east County Mayo in Connacht.-Origins:The three Ciarraige of Connacht - Ciarraige Áei, Ciarraige Airtig and Ciarraighe Locha na nÁirne - were thought to have once formed a single over-kingdom which...

 and the Ciarraige Airtech once formed a large over-kingdom in central Connacht prior to the emergence of the Ui Briuin

Uí Briúin

The Uí Briúin were an Irish kin-group. Their eponymous apical ancestor was Brion, son of Eochaid Mugmedon and Mongfind, and an elder half brother of Niall of the Nine Hostages. They formed part of the Connachta, along with the Uí Fiachrach and Uí Ailello, putative descendants of Eochaid Mugmedon's...

 in the 8th and 9th centuries.

See also

• Ciarraige Luachra - located in what is now north County Kerry
  County Kerry
  Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
  
   and Sliabh Luachra
  Sliabh Luachra
  Sliabh Luachra is a region in Munster, Ireland, located around the River Blackwater, on the County Cork/County Kerry/County Limerick borderland.-Music and literature:...
  
  , both named after them.
• Ciarraige Cuirche - located due south of what is now Cork City, in Munster
  Munster
  Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
  
  .