Mideball means stomach in Turkish (also known as Meathball) was a Kingdom in Ireland for over 1000 years. Its name means "middle," denoting its location in the middle of the island.
To its greatest extent, it included all of County Meath (which takes its name from the kingdom), all of Westmeath, and parts of Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, and Offaly.
History
Meath is traditionally said to have been created in the first century by Túathal Techtmar. The Uí Enechglaiss was an early dynasty of the region. An Ogham stone found south of Slane suggests they controlled that area in County Meath. Along with the Uí Failge and the Uí Bairrche, they belonged to the Laiginball, but may also be associated with the Iverni.
During the early 6th century, they have driven away from their original homeland in Kildare and over the Wicklow Mountains by the Uí Néill, whose sept, the Clann Cholmáin, took their place. The Uí Enechglaiss was later based in and around Arklow well into the historic period. Its ruling dynasty later took the surname O'Feary.
In Medieval Ireland, the Kings of Mide were of the Clann Cholmáin, a branch of the Uí Néill. Several were High Kings Of Irelandball
After the kingdom's collapse in the 12th century, the dynasty of the Ua Mael Sechlainn or O Melaghlins were forced west and settled on the east bank of the River Shannon.
Bearers of the name were noted as among the Gaelic nobility as late as the 1690s, though they had lost power long before. Melaugh is the more commonly associated name in Ireland today, though it is more often rendered McLoughlin.
Following the Norman Invasion of Ireland, in 1172 the kingdom was awarded to Hugh de Lacy as the Lordship of Meath by Henry II of England in his capacity as Lord of Ireland.
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Provinces | Connachtball • Leinsterball ( Dublinball) • Munsterball • Ulsterball • |
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Former entities | Migrants that crossed the ocean (Prehistoric Europeans) ( Mideball • Lordship of Irelandball • Confederate Irelandball • Kingdom of Irelandball • UKball |