the territories granted to alan encompassed most of what is today county antrim and county londonderry, stretching from glenarm to coleraine. the vast scale of alan's allotment suggests that it was almost certainly a speculative grant, with little prospect that he could assemble the necessary men and resources to enfeoff and populate the area. furthermore, his territories lay on the fringes of former lacy power, in a region where native gaelic power was still strong. alan was not the only member of his family allotted ulster lands from the english. his brother, thomas, and his cousin, donnchad mac gilla brigte, earl of carrick, also received grants of lands nearby.