MacGillaghlin of Bregia

Woulfe "Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall"
Irish Names and Surnames

"MacGiolla seachlainn, M'Galaghlin, MacGlaughlin, MacClachlin,
MacGlafilin, Claffin; son of Giolla seachainn (servant of St.
Secundinus).

The name of an old Meath family who were lords of Southern
Breagh, until soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, when they lost
their power and were dispersed. The present anglicised forms of
Mac Giolla Seaclainn cannot be distinguished from those of Mag
Loclainn, MacLachlainn, q.v.; but that the family is still extant
is shown by the variant Mac Giolla Seachlainn.

O'Dugan, in his Topography of Meath, describes the
MacGiollaseachlainns as residents of Deisceart Breagh (southern Bregia),
now the parish of Dysart in Meath.

O'Dugan's Topographical Poems

MacGillaseachlainn the peacable
Over Southern Breagh ⁵⁵ of dropping flowers;
King over the fine Cairbre Gabhrain⁵⁶
Is O'Ronain, brave, the hero.

O'Donovan's Notes:

55. Southern Breagh. - The family of MacGillaseachlainn, which is to be distinguished from the more royal family of O'Maelseachlainn is now, and has been for centuries, totally unknown. They sank into obscurity and poverty shortly after the English invasion. They are mentioned by the Four Masters, A.D. 1121, 1160, and 1171.

Onomasticon Gaedelicon
O'Hogan

Desceirt mbreg, in Meath; the estate of the Mac
Gilla-sechlins; south part of Bregia. Kilglinn in the barony of
Upper Deece, near Kilcock, and Dunshaughlin in the barony of
Ratoath are in it.

Census of 1659 Dublin County

Barony of Bairothery

Principle Irish Names: Loghlin 09

"An Inquiry into the ownership and tenancy of lands
owned by the religious houses of the city of Dublin"

"The Reformation in Dublin, 1536-1558"

"Town of Mareton - two messuages, 40 ac. arable,
occupied by McLaghlyn and McLaghlyn Oge, worth
pls., 40 s.

The Families of Tethba 1370 A.D.
Topographical Poems, edited by O'Donovan

O Catharnaigh, Lord of Tethba
O Cuinn "
Mag Confiacla "
O Lachtnain "
O Muiregan "
O Flanagan ,Lord of an Comar
O Braoin, Lord of Breghmaine
Mac Con Medha, Lord of Muinnter Laedagain
MacAedha, Lord of Muinnter Tlamain
MacTaidg, Lord of Muinnter Siothachain
Mac Ambalgada, Lord of Callraighe
Mac Garrgamna, Lord of Muinnter Maol tSinna
O Dalaigh, Lord of Corca Adam
O Muiredhaigh, Lord of Cinel Tlamain
O Saolaidhe, Lord of West Dealbhna
O Combraidhe, Lord of Ui Mac Uais
O hAedha, Lord of Tir Tethba
O Cearbhaill, Lord of Teamhair
O Duinn, "
O Ronain, Lord of Cairbre Gabra
O hAengusa, Lord of Gailenga Beaga
Mac Gilla Sechlainn, Lord of South Bregh

Annals of Ulster

895 A.D. Cellach, the son of Flannacan, Lord of all Bregia,
slain.

895 A.D. Tolarg, joint king of South Bregia, slain; son of
Cellach, father of Tigernach and Fogartach; gf.
of Nial.

896 A.D. Flannacan, the son of Cellach, King of Bregia,
slain.

916 A.D. Fogartach, the son of Tolarg, king of South
Bregia, died.

1013 A.D. Gilla-Mochonna, the son of Fogartach, King of
Bregia, died. f. of Donnchad 1027; f. of Gilla
Sechnaill

1034 A.D. Gilla-sechnaill, the son of Gilla-Mochonna,
slain.

1121 A.D. Cugaileang Mac Gillaseachnaill, Lord of South
Breagha, was slain by the foreigners of
Athcliath.

1160 A.D. Brodar, son of Turcall, Lord of Athcliath, was
killed by Maelcron Mac Gillaseachnaill.

1171 A.D. Another predatory incursion was made by
Tighearnan into South Breagha; and he slew
Gillan-Anain Mac Lughadha, i.e., chief of
Cuirone, and Mac Gillaseachlainn, chief of South
Breagha.

Maelcron Mac Gillaseachnaill, Lord of South
Breagha, died.

It is impossible to piece together a detailed pedigree for the MacGillaseachlainns based on the above entries in the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, but a partial pedigree may be sketched as follows: