<P> Up to the early historic era, Connacht then included County Clare, and was known as Cóiced Ol nEchmacht . Later myths state the Fir Bolg ruled all Ireland before the Tuatha Dé Danann arrived . When the Fir Bolg were defeated, the Tuatha Dé Danann drove them to Connacht . </P> <P> Sites such as the Céide Fields, Knocknarea, Listoghil, Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetery and Rathcroghan, all demonstrate intensive occupation of Connacht far back into prehistory . </P> <P> Enigmatic artefacts such as the Turoe stone and the Castlestrange stone, whatever their purpose, denote the ambition and achievement of those societies, and their contact with the La Tène culture of mainland Europe . </P> <P> In the early historic era (c . A.D. 300 - c . A.D. 600), Ol nEchmacht was not a united kingdom but a region . It comprised dozens of major and minor túath; rulers of larger túatha (Maigh Seóla, Uí Maine, Aidhne and Máenmaige) were accorded high - king status, while peoples such as the Gailenga, Corco Moga and Senchineoil were lesser peoples given the status of Déisi . All were termed kingdoms, but according to a graded status, denoting each according the likes of lord, count, earl, king . </P>

A city and its county share this name in connacht