The Laigin, modern spelling Laighin (Irish pronunciation: [ˈl̪ˠəinʲ]), were a Gaelic population group of early Ireland. They gave their name to the Kingdom of Leinster, which in the medieval era was known in Irish as Cóiced Laigen, meaning "Fifth/province of the Leinstermen" (Modern Irish Cúige Laighean), where their descendants ruled till the 17th century. Their territory, located in south-east Ireland, is thought to have once extended from the River Shannon to the River Boyne. The surnames of those descended from the Laigin are still counted amongst the most numerous in Ireland.
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Laigin in the context of Early Scandinavian Dublin
Early Scandinavian Dublin was a major Viking settlement and pivotal center of Hiberno-Norse power in Ireland from its establishment in the mid-9th century until the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1170. The First Viking Age in Ireland began in 795, when Vikings began carrying out hit-and-run raids on Gaelic Irish coastal settlements. Over the following decades the raiding parties became bigger and better organized; inland settlements were targeted as well as coastal ones; and the raiders built naval encampments known as longphorts to allow them to remain in Ireland throughout the winter.
In the mid 9th century, Viking leader Turgeis or Thorgest founded a stronghold at Dublin, plundered Leinster and Meath, and raided other parts of Ireland. He was killed by the High King, Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid, which was followed by several Irish victories against the Vikings and the seizure of Dublin in 849. Shortly after, a new group of Vikings known as the Dubgaill ("dark foreigners") came to Ireland and clashed with the earlier Viking settlers, now called the Finngaill ("fair foreigners").
Laigin in the context of Mac Mathghamhna
McMahon, also spelt MacMahon (older Irish orthography: Mac Mathghamhna; reformed Irish orthography: Mac Mathúna), were different Middle Age era Irish clans. Their name is derived from the Gaelic Mac Mathghamhna meaning 'son of the bear'. According to historian C. Thomas Cairney, the MacMahons were one of the chiefly families of the Dal gCais or Dalcassians who were a tribe of the Erainn who were the second wave of Celts to settle in Ireland between about 500 and 100 BC. The same historian stated that another group of McMahons were a chiefly family of the Oirghialla or Airgíalla tribe who were in turn from the Laigin tribe who were the third wave of Celts to settle in Ireland during the first century BC.
Laigin in the context of Conmhaícne
The Conmaicne (Old Irish pronunciation: [ˈkɔnˠˌβ̃ɑkʲːnʲɛ]; Modern Irish: Conmhaicne) were a people of early Ireland, perhaps related to the Laigin, who dispersed to various parts of Ireland. They settled in Connacht and Longford, giving their name to several Conmaicne territories. T. F. O'Rahilly's assertion the Conmaicne were non-Goidelic is not widely accepted.