Within these dynasties, we can begin to trace the emergence of sub-groups - distinct families or septs[1] - taking an identity from a particular ancestor, which by the 11th or 12th century becomes a consistent surname. The principal septs of Cenél Conaill are the Ó Domhnaill (O’Donnells), Ó Dochartaigh (O’Dohertys), Ó Gallchobhair (O’Gallaghers) and Ó Baoighill (O’Boyles).

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According to the ancient genealogies, Baighill, (or Baoighal) a descendant of Conall living about the 9th century is the ancestor of the O’Boyle sept. Baighill’s grandson Aindilis is credited as the first named Taoiseach or Chief of the sept.

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The leaders of each of these septs were recognised chieftains of their people, with loosely-defined territories and complicated codes of rights privileges and responsibilities, and they would have had a good deal of autonomy and independence within their own territory, or oireacht.

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However, territorial boundaries were being steadily eroded as dynasties vied for control over weaker branches of their own kindred and neighbouring rivals.

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In time, the O’Donnells become the dominant sept of Tír Chonaill and overlords of the others, demanding tribute from them in the form of goods (usually cattle) and military service. Likewise, among Cenél Eoghain, the O’Neills achieve dominance, not only in their original territory, but eventually over most of the province of Ulster.

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However, Gaelic society differed fundamentally from feudal-based societies such as England in the way people thought about territorial boundaries and the ownership and use of land. Wealth lay in the produce of the land, rather than in the land itself. Instead of individuals owning specific tracts of land, it may be more useful to think of the sept as a corporation holding the land as a resource and managing and distributing it to its members generate wealth.

 

The most significant form of wealth was cattle. “Rather than the extent of his territorial reach, it was the number of cattle that a tiarna [lord] possessed that constituted his power, the tribute and service he received being primarily for the lease of his cattle rather than the right to occupy land. In a country as sparsely populated as Ulster, land was plentiful and, therefore, relatively valueless without the people and cattle necessary to make it economically productive.”[2]

 

Thus the exercise of sovereignty and the pattern of rights and duties that existed within a Gaelic lordship was expressed through access to and profit from the use of cattle, and not by neatly defined territorial boundaries. “Such boundaries could contract, expand, or simply move, especially in times of dislocation.”[3]

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[1] Sept, from the Irish sliocht, meaning offspring, progeny. Used to descxr9be a kinship group who believe themselves to be descended from a particular individual, usually some notable personage in the past. A number of septs may consider themselves to belong to the same cineal (or cenel), descended from an even more distant, often mythical ancestor in the past.

[2] Farrell (2017) p. 166

[3] Farrell (2017) p.158