Kings of Breifne
| Kingdom of Breifne | ||||||||||||
| Bréifne (Irish) | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
 Breifne c. 900
|
||||||||||||
| Capital | Dromahair | |||||||||||
| Languages | Irish | |||||||||||
| Religion | Celtic polytheism, Christianity | |||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | |||||||||||
| King | Aodh Fionn mac Fergna | |||||||||||
| • | 1250 - 1256 | Conchobar O'Ruairc | ||||||||||
| History | ||||||||||||
| • | Split from Connacht | c. 700 | ||||||||||
| • | Dissolution | 1256 | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Today part of |
 Republic of Ireland
|
|||||||||||
The Kingdom of Breifne or Bréifne ([ˈbrʲeːfnʲe]; anglicized Breffni, Breffny, Brefnie, Brenny) was a confederation of Irish túaithe headed by a ruirí drawn from the Uí Briúin Bréifne. The Bréifne territory included current day Irish counties of Leitrim and Cavan, along with parts of County Sligo (an area roughly equivalent to the modern Roman Catholic Diocese of Kilmore).
Breifne is said to derive from an obsolete Irish word meaning "hilly", a description which describes the topography of this part of Ireland. It was referred to as the rough third of Connacht.
Alternatively, the Metrical Dindshenchas states the name is derived from Brefne, daughter of Beoan mac Bethaig, a brave soldier-woman.
At its height in the 12th century, when Tigernán Ua Ruairc was king of Bréifne, it extended from Kells in County Meath to Drumcliffe in County Sligo.
In 1296, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, "Maelpeter O'Duigennan, Archdeacon of Breifny...died."
...
Wikipedia