Iar Connacht

West Connacht
Iar Connacht
Túatha of Connacht (until 1235)
1051–1589
Coat of arms
Iar Connacht c. 1450, marked on the map as O'Flaherty.
Capital		Not specified
Languages		Middle Irish, Early Modern Irish, Latin
Religion		Catholic Christianity Gaelic tradition
Government		Tanistry
Rí
•	1051	Amhalgaidh mac Cathal
•	1560–1589	Murchadh na dTuadh Ó Flaithbheartaigh
History
•	Established	1051
•	Disestablished	1589
Preceded by Succeeded by Maigh Seóla Delbhna Tír Dhá Locha Conmhaícne Mara Connacht Clanricarde Kingdom of Ireland

Coat of arms

West Connacht (Irish: Iarthar Chonnachta; Modern Irish: Iar Connacht) was a kingdom of Gaelic Ireland, associated geographically with present-day County Galway, particularly the area known more commonly today as Connemara. The kingdom represented the core homeland of the Connachta's Uí Briúin Seóla kindred and although they ruled, there were smaller groups of other Gaels in the area, such as the Delbhna Tir Dha Locha and the Conmhaícne Mara. It existed from 1051 onwards, after the Ó Conchobhair, Kings of Connacht, pushed the Ó Flaithbheartaigh to the West of Lough Corrib, from their original territory of Maigh Seóla. Iar Connacht remained a subordinate túath of Connacht, until the 13th century, after which it was more independent.

Galway upon its founding was originally governed by the Ó Flaithbheartaigh of Iar Connacht, but with the rise of the Clanricarde Burkes; a Norman family; it was captured in 1232. Around this time much of Connacht in general fell to the Burkes. Galway's Norman oligarchy later achieved a quasi-independent status to carry out its trade, but there always lingered the threat of it being reconquered by the Gaelic Ó Flaithbheartaigh, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries. The Normans placed a sign on the gate of the city saying, "From the Ferocious O'Flahertys, O Lord deliver us".