Gailenga was the name of two related peoples and kingdoms found in medieval Ireland in Brega and Connacht.
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Along with the Luighne, Delbhna, Saitne and Ciannachta, the Gailenga claimed descent from Tadc mac Cein mac Ailill Aulom. Francis John Byrne, in agreement with Eoin MacNeill, believes that "they were vassal tribes of fighting men whom the Connachta and Ui Neill ... planted on the lands they conquored." (IKHK, p. 69) While Byrne and MacNeill believed they originated in Connacht, recent research on the derivation of the term Connachta would indicate that they originated within Brega, and were transplanted west across the Shannon by the Connachta.
A genealogy, cited by Geoffrey Keating, states: "Tadhg son of Cian, son of Oilill Olom, had two sons, namely, Connla and Cormac Gaileang. From Iomchaidh son of Connla comes O Cearbhaill, and from Fionnachta son of Connla comes O Meachair. From Cormac Gaileang son of Tadhg, son of Cian, comes O Eadhra and O Gadhra and O Conchubhair Ciannachta. The following are the territories they acquired, namely: Gaileanga, east and west; Ciannachta, south and north; Luighne, east and west."
Rawlinson B 502 or Rawlinson B 512 contains the following genealogy:
Léocán m. Laidgneáin m. Máeláin m. Éicnich m. Dúnchada m. Cináeda m. Léocáin m. Donngaile m. Conchobair m. Moínaich m. Máel Mórda m. Adamra m. Dechraich m. Dergscáil m. Leae nó oe m. Cormaicc [Gaileang] m. Taidg m. Céin m. Ailella Auluimm.
Byrne goes to say that the Gailenga and Luigni were closely associated as neighbours and allies in Connacht,"situated south of the Ox Mountains they formed a large block between the northern Ui Fiachrach and the Ui Briuin. They themselves dominated smaller tribes, and have some claim to be considered an over-kingdom, as recognised in the twelfth century when their lands were absorbed into the diocese of Achonry. Their ruling families of O'Gara and O'Hara remained prominent well into the seventeenth century. The baronies of Gallen in Mayo and Leyney in Sligo, along with Corrand and Coolavin in the Curlew Mountains, lloming over the fertile plain of Moylurg, into which the Ui Briuin Ai were to expand, were crowded with small tribes, some of whom are intimately connected with the origin legends of the Connachta." (p.233)
Septs of the Gailenga Móra and Brega adopted the surnames Ó Lóthcháin, Ó hAonghusa, and Mac Maoláin.
All references taken from the Annals of the Four Masters, unless otherwise stated.