West Breifne

Kingdom of West Breifne
Bréifne Ua Ruairc (in Irish)
1256–1605
Coat of arms of West Breifne
Coat of arms
Motto: Buagh
(English: Victory)
A map of 1450 Ireland showing Breifne O'Rourke
A map of 1450 Ireland showing Breifne O'Rourke
CapitalDromahair
Common languagesIrish
Religion
Roman Catholic
GovernmentElective monarchy
King (Lord) 
• 1250–1257
Conchobar Ó Ruairc
• 1603–1605
Tadhg O'Rourke
History 
• Dissolution of Breifne
1256
• Shired
1583
• Dissolved
1605
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Breifne
Kingdom of Ireland
Today part ofIreland

The Kingdom of West Breifne (Irish: Breifne Ua Ruairc) or Breifne O'Rourke was a historic kingdom of Ireland that existed from 1256 to 1605, located in the area that is now County Leitrim. It took its present boundaries in 1583 when West Breifne was shired and renamed Leitrim, after the village of Leitrim, which was an O'Rourke stronghold. The kingdom came into existence after a battle between the ruling O'Rourke clan and the ascendant O'Reillys caused the breakup of the older Kingdom of Breifne and led to the formation of East Breifne and West Breifne. The kingdom was ruled by the O'Rourke clan and lasted until the early 17th century, when their lands were confiscated by England.[1]

  1. ^ "Ancestry.com – Kingdom of Bréifne". Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2013.