Fir Ol nEchmacht


Fir Ol nEchmacht was the name of a group or race of people living in pre-historic Ireland. The name may be translated as "men of the race/people of Echmacht". Some scholars believe they are connected to, or the same as, the Nagnatae tribe, mentioned in Ptolemy's 2nd century AD work Geography.
Virtually all of Ireland west of the Shannon was once named after them and was called Cóiced Ol nEchmacht until the early historic era.
It was only with the rise of the Connachta dynasty that the term Fir Ol nEchmacht was dropped and the province was renamed Connacht.