Delbhna

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The Delbhna were an ethnic group in Ireland. They had a number of branches in central and western Ireland.

The Delbhna Tir Dha Locha were the most westerly branch, based in Iar Connacht.

The Delbhna Nuadat were lords of a large section of what is now County Roscommon, situated between the Suck and Shannon rivers. From the early historic era they were a subject people of the Ui Maine.

The Delbhna Bethra were located on the east bank of the River Shannon, in what is now County Westmeath. They may have once formed a single kingdom with the Delbhna Nuada until subjugated by the Ui Maine. By the late 5th century they had fallen under the control of the Uí Néill.

The Delbhna took their name from Delbáeth who is stated as being a legendary High King of Ireland but was more likely a god of the Tuatha Dé Danann; he would have been their ancestor-deity in the same way that Woden was to the Anglo-Saxons.