Ballyconnell
Encyclopedia
Ballyconnell is a town in County Cavan
, Ireland
. It is situated on the N87
national secondary road
at the junction of four townlands Annagh
, Cullyleenan
, Doon
and Derryginny
in the parish of Tomregan
, Barony of Tullyhaw
. The town has an altitude of 55 metres above sea level. The mean daily January temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius and the mean daily July temperature is 15 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall is 1,000 mm. The average annual hours of sunshine are 1,250. Ballyconnell won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition
in 1971 and was joint winner with Trim, County Meath
in 1974.
It lies astride the Shannon-Erne Waterway
which was opened in 1993, formerly known as the Woodford Canal
which was finally completed in 1860. Prior to being canalised it was known as the River Grainne. The town sits at the foot of Slieve Rushen
mountain and is a mile from the border between Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland. The population of Ballyconnell according to the most recent census undertaken in 2006 was 747 persons, an increase of 31% on the previous 2002 census.
for the year 1323 A.D., which states "Rory Mac Mahon, son of the Lord of Oriel, Melaghlin O'Seagannain, and Mac Muldoon, were slain by Cathal O'Rourke at Bel-atha-Chonaill". Before being named Ballyconnell it was named Áth na Mianna which means Ford of the Miners. It was also named Gwyllymsbrook between 1660 and 1702 by its then owner Thomas Gwyllym.
The name is an anglicization of Bél Átha Conaill which means "The entrance to Conall's Ford". The ford was a shallow crossing over the River Grainne and was the ancient border crossing for travellers going between Ulster
and Connacht
. The ford was caused by silt and gravel washed down from the nearby Slieve Rushen mountain by the Tanyard Stream which flows into the Grainne about 20 yards upriver from Ballyconnell bridge on the western outskirts of the town.
Conall was the great Ulster
Hero and Red Branch
knight Conall Cernach
, who was killed at Ballyconnell by the three Ruadhcoin sent by Queen Maeve
of Connacht
to avenge the slaying of her husband Ailill by Conall.
The area was settled at an early date, as evidenced by the double-court tomb
in the town dating from c. 3,500 B.C. and a ring barrow in the same field (Sites number 31 & 107, Doon townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, pp. 7 & 22).
The ford would have been a logical place to erect a settlement and it probably dates from the time of the court tomb. The earliest inhabitants were hunter-gatherers rather than farmers. They lived by fishing, hunting wild game and foraging for berries and nuts. This area would have been thickly wooded at the time, with no roadways. The easiest way to travel would have been by boat via the river and the numerous lakes and streams in the area. The only other known megalith in the parish is a wedge tomb dating from 2000 B.C. on the side of Slieve Rushen
mountain in Aughrim
townland (Site number 7, Aughrim townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”,
Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, p. 2). However after remaining undisturbed for 4,000 years it was recently dug up by the Quinn Group
to enable them to mine sand deposits from the mountain. It was relocated to the grounds of the group's hotel, The Slieve Russell, to serve as a tourist attraction.
Medieval
In ancient times, Ballyconnell lay on the eastern part of Magh Slécht
named ("the little plain"), so called because it was a narrow strip bounded on the north by Slieve Rushen mountain and on the south by the River Graine. Maigin was the birthplace of Saint Dallán Forgaill
.
In medieval times the town belonged to the McGovern
chiefs who had a fort there. Ballyconnell was situated in one of the ballybetoes of Tullyhaw
named Calmhagh (Calva), which basically means almost the same as Maigin, the narrow plain. As it was on the border between Fermanagh and Breifne, Ballyconnell was a flash-point for the wars between the Maguires,O'Rourkes, O'Reillys, McGoverns, McKiernans and their allies. The Annals of Ireland record incidents at Ballyconnell in the following years-
1323 Rory MacMahon, Mel O'Seagannain & MacMuldoon were slain at Ballyconnell by Cathal O'Rourke.
1457 Brian Maguire fought with Lochlann O'Rourke, the Mcgoverns & McKiernans at Ballyconnell.
1470 O'Donnell & O'Rourke fought with O'Reilly, the English and the McKiernans at Ballyconnell.
1475 Hugh Roe O'Donnell went to Ballyconnell to make peace with the O'Reilly.
1595 O'Donnell camped at Ballyconnell after raiding the town of Cavan.
Post-1600
In 1605 Captain Richard Tyrrell bought the Calva estate from Cormac Magauran. He sold the estate to Walter Talbot, a recusant servitor from the Dublin Pale
and a burgess of Cavan Corporation, before 1609 but the title was defective. However in the Plantation of Ulster
in 1609 Sir Arthur Chichester, the Lord Deputy of Ireland
, allowed Talbot to keep his estate as he had begun bringing in settlers and building houses. It was regranted to Talbot as the Manor of Calva. The lands granted were the town of Ballyconnell and the surrounding townlands of Derrogeny, one poll; Killog, one poll; Gortulleran, one poll; Mucklagh, one poll; Skeagh, one poll; Gortewey, one poll; Rathkillin, one poll; Downe, one poll; Enagh, one poll; Townaciateragh, one poll; Cowlynan, one poll; Cloughan, one poll; Cavan
, 2 polls; Mullaghduffe, 2 polls; Kilcloghan, 2 polls; Carraghmore, 4 polls; Nationna, 2 polls; Ardagh, one poll; Rosbreassell, one poll; Crosse, 2 polls; Kildannagh, 2 polls; Kiltragh, one poll; Knocks
, one poll; Killenawe, one poll; Dowerhannagh, one poll; Uzren, one poll; Nidd, one poll; Bartony, 2 polls; Dromyne, one poll; Cavanickehall, one poll and Barrin, 2 polls.
When Talbot arrived the only notable buildings in Ballyconnell were the Catholic
church at the top of Church Street (Site number 1815, Doon townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, p. 230) and an old McGovern fort. The rest of the buildings were mud huts belonging to the Irish natives. In September 1611 a survey found that Talbot had built a strong timber house and two other wattled houses (Site number 1798, Annagh townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, p. 228). He had also felled 40 trees but did no other work. By 1619 Pynnar's Survey of Land Holders found that Talbot had built a strong defensive wall called a bawn
, which was a square measuring 100 feet (30.5 m) along each side and 12 ft high, with two flanking towers. Within the bawn was erected a strong castle of lime and stone three stories high which "stands in a very good and convenient place for the strength and service of the country". In August 1622 another survey found that- "Walter Talbot has 1,500 acres called Ballyconnell, upon which there is builded a strong castle of stone and lyme, with two flanckers at each cross corner. This castle and ye flanckers are three stories and a half high and standeth in a very good place and convenient for the strength and defence of that parte of the country which is an obscure and bordering corner of the countie. Mr Walter Talbott, his wife and familie are now dwelling there. There are severall Palemen estates, some in fee farm, some for lives and some for yeares, upon part of the land. The rest are leased to natives of the country. The said Walter Talbott and all his tenants are recusants. Armes in the castle are 11 pikes, 3 callivers, 5 head peeces, 3 targetts and 1 halbert". The castle was accidentally destroyed in a fire before 1739 and Ballyconnell House was erected on its site in Annagh townland. However, some of the ruins are still visible and a section of the bawn wall was recently uncovered in an archaeological excavation.
Walter Talbot died on 26 June 1625 at Ballyconnell and his son James Talbot succeeded to the Ballyconnell estate aged just 10 years. James Talbot married Helen Calvert, the daughter of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
of Maryland
, USA, in 1635 and had a son Colonel George Talbot who owned an estate in Cecil County, Maryland
which he named Ballyconnell in honour of his native town in Cavan. George Talbot was appointed Surveyor-General of Maryland in 1683. In the aftermath of the Irish Rebellion of 1641
James Talbot's estate in Ballyconnell was confiscated because he was a Catholic and he was granted an estate in 1655 at Castle Rubey, County Roscommon
instead. He died in 1687.
After the Rebellion the confiscated Ballyconnell estate was granted to Captain Thomas Gwyllym of Cromwell's army in August 1666 and the town was renamed Gwyllymsbrook in his honour. He was a native of Glenavy, County Antrim where his father, Rev.Meredith Gwyllym, was vicar of the parishes of Glenavy, Camlin, Tullyrusk, Ballinderry & Magheragall from 1622 until sometime after 1634. Gwyllym had already been in temporary possession of the estate as his name appears in the 1664 Hearth Money Rolls with five hearths in Ballyconnell. Thomas Gwyllym died in 1681 and his son Colonel Meredith Gwyllym inherited the Ballyconnell estate.
The Gwyllym estate was sold for £8,000 in 1724 to Colonel Alexander Montgomery (1686–1729)
of Convoy House, County Donegal
, M.P. for Donegal Borough 1725 to 1727 & for Donegal County 1727 to 1729. He died in 1729 and left the Ballyconnell estate to his nephew George Leslie who then assumed the name George Leslie Montgomery
. George Leslie Montgomery was M.P. for Strabane
, County Tyrone
from 1765 to 1768 and for County Cavan from 1770 to 1787, when he died and left the Ballyconnell estate to his son George Montgomery, whose estate was administered by the Court of Chancery
as he was a lunatic
. George Montgomery died in 1841 and his estate went to his Enery cousins of Bawnboy
. In 1856 they sold the estate to take advantage of its increased value owing to the opening of the Woodford Canal
through the town in the same year. The estate was split up amongst different purchasers including George Roe (who bought Ballyconnell House, a few houses in the village and a few townlands including Annagh, Corranierna and part of Rakeelan) and Earl Annesley
(who purchased the townlands of Carrowmore, Gortoorlan, Moher, Mullinacre and Snugborough). Another well-known family in the town were the Benisons of Mount Pleasant and Slieve Russell who owned a flax mill in Ballyconnell. Miss Josephine Benison, a daughter of James Benison, married Tom Arnold
who was grandfather of Aldous Huxley
, brother of the famous English poet Matthew Arnold
and son of Dr. Thomas Arnold
, the headmaster of Rugby Public School who appears as head master in the book Tom Brown's Schooldays
. An account of this and Josephine's photo can be seen online at- http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DOTQjDRdfkIC&pg=PA3&dq=%22josephine+benison%22&hl=en&ei=D9oYTI29EJKC4Qb8-pToCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22josephine%20benison%22&f=false. Josephine's headstone in St.Brigid's R.C. graveyard in Ballyconnell reads- "In loving memory of Josephine M. Arnold widow of Thomas Arnold M.A. F.R.I., died 16th January 1919, aged 87 years."
Griffith's Valuation
of 1857 lists about 90 landlords and tenants for Doon and Ballyconnell. Further information and a detailed map showing the location of each holding can be seen online.
The population of Ballyconnell in 1821 was 353. The 1841 Census of Ireland gives a population of 387 in Ballyconnell, of which 193 were males and 194 were females, with 75 houses, of which eleven were uninhabited and one in the course of erection. The 1851 Census of Ireland gives a population of 503, an increase of 116 on the 1841 figure, due to people moving from the countryside to the town to escape the intervening Irish Famine of 1845-47, of which 252 were males and 251 were females, with 85 houses, of which five were uninhabited and one in the course of erection.
In the 1911 census of Ireland
, there are 134 families listed in Ballyconnell.
), a plastics factory and an animal feeds plant. Tourism is an important part of the town's economy with cabin cruisers using it as a stopping place when navigating the Shannon-Erne Waterway
. The town has a proud record in the National Tidy Towns Competition, winning the overall award in 1971 & 1975, together with many County winner awards through the years. In the 18th century lead, silver, coal, limestone, granite, marble, gravel, sand and iron were all mined from Slieve Rushen
mountain.
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is situated on the N87
N87 road (Ireland)
-Route:Belturbet – Ballyconnell – Swanlinbar – -See also:*Roads in Ireland*Motorways in Ireland*National primary road*Regional road-References:* – Department of Transport...
national secondary road
National secondary road
A national secondary road is a category of road in Ireland. These roads form an important part of the national route network, but are secondary to the main arterial routes which are classified as national primary roads. National secondary roads are designated with route numbers higher than those...
at the junction of four townlands Annagh
Annagh
Annagh is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. On the 1609 Ulster Plantation map it is split into two townlands named Shannaontra and Shannaititr...
, Cullyleenan
Cullyleenan
Cullyleenan is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan and Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename ‘Coill Uí Lionáin’ which means “O’Lenan’s Wood”, which possibly belonged to a member of the Uí Lionán family who were a bardic family from...
, Doon
Doon, County Cavan
Doon is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Dún” which means ‘A fort’. The oldest surviving mention of the name is in the 1609 Ulster Plantation map where it is spelled ‘Doone’. At the time...
and Derryginny
Derryginny
Derryginny is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Doire Goinimhe” which means the ‘Oakwood of the Sand’, which possibly derives either from the sandbanks which form along the rivers running...
in the parish of Tomregan
Tomregan
Tomregan civil parish straddles the international border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The chief town of the parish is Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Most of Tomregan's constituent townlands are situate in County Cavan, with the remainder in County Fermanagh...
, Barony of Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw is a Barony in County Cavan. The area has been in constant occupation since pre-4000 B.C....
. The town has an altitude of 55 metres above sea level. The mean daily January temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius and the mean daily July temperature is 15 degrees Celsius. The average annual rainfall is 1,000 mm. The average annual hours of sunshine are 1,250. Ballyconnell won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition
Irish Tidy Towns Competition
Tidy Towns is an annual competition, first held in 1958, organised by the Irish Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in order to honour the tidiest and most attractive cities, towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland...
in 1971 and was joint winner with Trim, County Meath
Trim, County Meath
Trim is the traditional county town of County Meath in Ireland, although the county town is now Navan. The town was recorded in the 2006 census to have a population of 6,870....
in 1974.
It lies astride the Shannon-Erne Waterway
Shannon-Erne Waterway
The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canal linking the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. Managed by Waterways Ireland, the canal is in length, has sixteen locks and runs from Leitrim village in County Leitrim to Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh...
which was opened in 1993, formerly known as the Woodford Canal
Shannon-Erne Waterway
The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canal linking the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. Managed by Waterways Ireland, the canal is in length, has sixteen locks and runs from Leitrim village in County Leitrim to Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh...
which was finally completed in 1860. Prior to being canalised it was known as the River Grainne. The town sits at the foot of Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen is a mountain which straddles the border between County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It is also called Slieve Russell or Ligavegra . It has an altitude of 404 metres above sea-level. OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 27A & 26...
mountain and is a mile from the border between Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the Republic of Ireland. The population of Ballyconnell according to the most recent census undertaken in 2006 was 747 persons, an increase of 31% on the previous 2002 census.
Name
The earliest surviving mention of the name Ballyconnell is an entry in the Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
for the year 1323 A.D., which states "Rory Mac Mahon, son of the Lord of Oriel, Melaghlin O'Seagannain, and Mac Muldoon, were slain by Cathal O'Rourke at Bel-atha-Chonaill". Before being named Ballyconnell it was named Áth na Mianna which means Ford of the Miners. It was also named Gwyllymsbrook between 1660 and 1702 by its then owner Thomas Gwyllym.
The name is an anglicization of Bél Átha Conaill which means "The entrance to Conall's Ford". The ford was a shallow crossing over the River Grainne and was the ancient border crossing for travellers going between Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
and Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
. The ford was caused by silt and gravel washed down from the nearby Slieve Rushen mountain by the Tanyard Stream which flows into the Grainne about 20 yards upriver from Ballyconnell bridge on the western outskirts of the town.
Conall was the great Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
Hero and Red Branch
Red Branch
The Red Branch is the name of two of the three royal houses of the king of Ulster, Conchobar mac Nessa, at his capital Emain Macha , in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
knight Conall Cernach
Conall Cernach
Conall Cernach is a hero of the Ulaidh in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. He is said to have always slept with the head of a Connachtman under his knee. His epithet is normally translated as "victorious" or "triumphant", although it is an obscure word, and some texts struggle to explain it...
, who was killed at Ballyconnell by the three Ruadhcoin sent by Queen Maeve
Medb
Medb – Middle Irish: Meḋḃ, Meaḋḃ; early modern Irish: Meadhbh ; reformed modern Irish Méabh, Medbh; sometimes Anglicised Maeve, Maev or Maive – is queen of Connacht in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology...
of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
to avenge the slaying of her husband Ailill by Conall.
History
PrehistoricThe area was settled at an early date, as evidenced by the double-court tomb
Court cairn
The court cairn or court tomb is a megalithic type of chamber tomb and gallery grave, specifically a variant of the chambered cairn, found in western and northern Ireland, and in mostly southwest Scotland...
in the town dating from c. 3,500 B.C. and a ring barrow in the same field (Sites number 31 & 107, Doon townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, pp. 7 & 22).
The ford would have been a logical place to erect a settlement and it probably dates from the time of the court tomb. The earliest inhabitants were hunter-gatherers rather than farmers. They lived by fishing, hunting wild game and foraging for berries and nuts. This area would have been thickly wooded at the time, with no roadways. The easiest way to travel would have been by boat via the river and the numerous lakes and streams in the area. The only other known megalith in the parish is a wedge tomb dating from 2000 B.C. on the side of Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen is a mountain which straddles the border between County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It is also called Slieve Russell or Ligavegra . It has an altitude of 404 metres above sea-level. OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 27A & 26...
mountain in Aughrim
Aughrim, County Cavan
Aughrim is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Each Druim” which means ‘Horse Hill’. The oldest surviving mention of the name is in the Fiants of Queen Elizabeth I dated 19 January 1586...
townland (Site number 7, Aughrim townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”,
Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, p. 2). However after remaining undisturbed for 4,000 years it was recently dug up by the Quinn Group
Quinn Group
The QUINN group is a business group headquartered in Derrylin, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The privately owned group has ventured into cement and concrete products, container glass, general insurance, radiators, plastics, hotels, and real estate...
to enable them to mine sand deposits from the mountain. It was relocated to the grounds of the group's hotel, The Slieve Russell, to serve as a tourist attraction.
Medieval
In ancient times, Ballyconnell lay on the eastern part of Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht is the name of an historic plain in Ireland. It comprises an area of about three square miles situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw and County of Cavan. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Rushen mountain,...
named ("the little plain"), so called because it was a narrow strip bounded on the north by Slieve Rushen mountain and on the south by the River Graine. Maigin was the birthplace of Saint Dallán Forgaill
Dallan Forgaill
Saint Dallán Forgaill —also Dallán Forchella; Dallán of Cluain Dalláin; born Eochaid Forchella—was an early Christian Irish poet best known as the writer of the Amra Choluim Chille and the early Irish poem Rop tú mo baile, the basis of the modern English hymn Be Thou My Vision.-Personal...
.
In medieval times the town belonged to the McGovern
McGovern
McGovern may refer to ther following:* McGovern , surname of Irish origin* McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchPeople:* Barry McGovern, Irish Actor* Brian McGovern, former Irish professional footballer...
chiefs who had a fort there. Ballyconnell was situated in one of the ballybetoes of Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw is a Barony in County Cavan. The area has been in constant occupation since pre-4000 B.C....
named Calmhagh (Calva), which basically means almost the same as Maigin, the narrow plain. As it was on the border between Fermanagh and Breifne, Ballyconnell was a flash-point for the wars between the Maguires,O'Rourkes, O'Reillys, McGoverns, McKiernans and their allies. The Annals of Ireland record incidents at Ballyconnell in the following years-
1323 Rory MacMahon, Mel O'Seagannain & MacMuldoon were slain at Ballyconnell by Cathal O'Rourke.
1457 Brian Maguire fought with Lochlann O'Rourke, the Mcgoverns & McKiernans at Ballyconnell.
1470 O'Donnell & O'Rourke fought with O'Reilly, the English and the McKiernans at Ballyconnell.
1475 Hugh Roe O'Donnell went to Ballyconnell to make peace with the O'Reilly.
1595 O'Donnell camped at Ballyconnell after raiding the town of Cavan.
Post-1600
In 1605 Captain Richard Tyrrell bought the Calva estate from Cormac Magauran. He sold the estate to Walter Talbot, a recusant servitor from the Dublin Pale
The Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
and a burgess of Cavan Corporation, before 1609 but the title was defective. However in the Plantation of Ulster
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
in 1609 Sir Arthur Chichester, the Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
, allowed Talbot to keep his estate as he had begun bringing in settlers and building houses. It was regranted to Talbot as the Manor of Calva. The lands granted were the town of Ballyconnell and the surrounding townlands of Derrogeny, one poll; Killog, one poll; Gortulleran, one poll; Mucklagh, one poll; Skeagh, one poll; Gortewey, one poll; Rathkillin, one poll; Downe, one poll; Enagh, one poll; Townaciateragh, one poll; Cowlynan, one poll; Cloughan, one poll; Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
, 2 polls; Mullaghduffe, 2 polls; Kilcloghan, 2 polls; Carraghmore, 4 polls; Nationna, 2 polls; Ardagh, one poll; Rosbreassell, one poll; Crosse, 2 polls; Kildannagh, 2 polls; Kiltragh, one poll; Knocks
The Knocks
The Knocks are an electronic music duo consisting of Ben "B-Roc" Ruttner and James "JPatt" Patterson. Their single, "Make It Better," was released on Neon Gold Records in July 2010...
, one poll; Killenawe, one poll; Dowerhannagh, one poll; Uzren, one poll; Nidd, one poll; Bartony, 2 polls; Dromyne, one poll; Cavanickehall, one poll and Barrin, 2 polls.
When Talbot arrived the only notable buildings in Ballyconnell were the Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
church at the top of Church Street (Site number 1815, Doon townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, p. 230) and an old McGovern fort. The rest of the buildings were mud huts belonging to the Irish natives. In September 1611 a survey found that Talbot had built a strong timber house and two other wattled houses (Site number 1798, Annagh townland, “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, p. 228). He had also felled 40 trees but did no other work. By 1619 Pynnar's Survey of Land Holders found that Talbot had built a strong defensive wall called a bawn
Bawn
A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house. It is the anglicised version of the Irish word badhún meaning "cattle-stronghold" or "cattle-enclosure". The Irish word for "cow" is bó and its plural is ba...
, which was a square measuring 100 feet (30.5 m) along each side and 12 ft high, with two flanking towers. Within the bawn was erected a strong castle of lime and stone three stories high which "stands in a very good and convenient place for the strength and service of the country". In August 1622 another survey found that- "Walter Talbot has 1,500 acres called Ballyconnell, upon which there is builded a strong castle of stone and lyme, with two flanckers at each cross corner. This castle and ye flanckers are three stories and a half high and standeth in a very good place and convenient for the strength and defence of that parte of the country which is an obscure and bordering corner of the countie. Mr Walter Talbott, his wife and familie are now dwelling there. There are severall Palemen estates, some in fee farm, some for lives and some for yeares, upon part of the land. The rest are leased to natives of the country. The said Walter Talbott and all his tenants are recusants. Armes in the castle are 11 pikes, 3 callivers, 5 head peeces, 3 targetts and 1 halbert". The castle was accidentally destroyed in a fire before 1739 and Ballyconnell House was erected on its site in Annagh townland. However, some of the ruins are still visible and a section of the bawn wall was recently uncovered in an archaeological excavation.
Walter Talbot died on 26 June 1625 at Ballyconnell and his son James Talbot succeeded to the Ballyconnell estate aged just 10 years. James Talbot married Helen Calvert, the daughter of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
Sir George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, 8th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland was an English politician and colonizer. He achieved domestic political success as a Member of Parliament and later Secretary of State under King James I...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, USA, in 1635 and had a son Colonel George Talbot who owned an estate in Cecil County, Maryland
Cecil County, Maryland
Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is part of the Delaware Valley. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , who was the first Proprietary Governor of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat is Elkton. The newspaper...
which he named Ballyconnell in honour of his native town in Cavan. George Talbot was appointed Surveyor-General of Maryland in 1683. In the aftermath of the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
James Talbot's estate in Ballyconnell was confiscated because he was a Catholic and he was granted an estate in 1655 at Castle Rubey, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
instead. He died in 1687.
After the Rebellion the confiscated Ballyconnell estate was granted to Captain Thomas Gwyllym of Cromwell's army in August 1666 and the town was renamed Gwyllymsbrook in his honour. He was a native of Glenavy, County Antrim where his father, Rev.Meredith Gwyllym, was vicar of the parishes of Glenavy, Camlin, Tullyrusk, Ballinderry & Magheragall from 1622 until sometime after 1634. Gwyllym had already been in temporary possession of the estate as his name appears in the 1664 Hearth Money Rolls with five hearths in Ballyconnell. Thomas Gwyllym died in 1681 and his son Colonel Meredith Gwyllym inherited the Ballyconnell estate.
The Gwyllym estate was sold for £8,000 in 1724 to Colonel Alexander Montgomery (1686–1729)
Alexander Montgomery (1686–1729)
Colonel Alexander Montgomery was an Irish soldier and politician.Montgomery of the Scots Greys cavalry, lived in Convoy House, Convoy, County Donegal, Ireland. He was born in 1686, the second son of Major John Montgomery and his first wife Catherine, the daughter of the Reverend James Auchinleck...
of Convoy House, County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, M.P. for Donegal Borough 1725 to 1727 & for Donegal County 1727 to 1729. He died in 1729 and left the Ballyconnell estate to his nephew George Leslie who then assumed the name George Leslie Montgomery
George Montgomery (MP)
George Leslie Montgomery was an Irish politician.Montgomery sat as Member of Parliament for Strabane from 1765 to 1768. He purchased the seat from John McCausland of Strabane for £2,000 after the death of the incumbent Robert Lowry when a new writ was issued for the borough on 22 October 1765...
. George Leslie Montgomery was M.P. for Strabane
Strabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
from 1765 to 1768 and for County Cavan from 1770 to 1787, when he died and left the Ballyconnell estate to his son George Montgomery, whose estate was administered by the Court of Chancery
Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of...
as he was a lunatic
Lunatic
"Lunatic" is a commonly used term for a person who is mentally ill, dangerous, foolish, unpredictable; a condition once called lunacy. The word derives from lunaticus meaning "of the moon" or "moonstruck".-Lunar hypothesis:...
. George Montgomery died in 1841 and his estate went to his Enery cousins of Bawnboy
Bawnboy
Bawnboy is a small village in a valley at the foot of Slieve Rushen, between Ballyconnell and Swanlinbar, in County Cavan, Ireland). The current population is about 250. A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house...
. In 1856 they sold the estate to take advantage of its increased value owing to the opening of the Woodford Canal
Shannon-Erne Waterway
The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canal linking the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. Managed by Waterways Ireland, the canal is in length, has sixteen locks and runs from Leitrim village in County Leitrim to Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh...
through the town in the same year. The estate was split up amongst different purchasers including George Roe (who bought Ballyconnell House, a few houses in the village and a few townlands including Annagh, Corranierna and part of Rakeelan) and Earl Annesley
Earl Annesley
Earl Annesley, of Castlewellan in the County of Down, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 17 August 1789 for Francis Annesley, 2nd Viscount Glerawly, with special remainder to his younger brother the Hon. Richard Annesley. He had previously represented Downpatrick in the Irish...
(who purchased the townlands of Carrowmore, Gortoorlan, Moher, Mullinacre and Snugborough). Another well-known family in the town were the Benisons of Mount Pleasant and Slieve Russell who owned a flax mill in Ballyconnell. Miss Josephine Benison, a daughter of James Benison, married Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold (actor)
Thomas Dwaine "Tom" Arnold is an American actor and comedian. He has appeared in many films, perhaps most notably True Lies . He was the host of The Best Damn Sports Show Period for four years.-Early life:...
who was grandfather of Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley
Aldous Leonard Huxley was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Best known for his novels including Brave New World and a wide-ranging output of essays, Huxley also edited the magazine Oxford Poetry, and published short stories, poetry, travel...
, brother of the famous English poet Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
and son of Dr. Thomas Arnold
Thomas Arnold
Dr Thomas Arnold was a British educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement...
, the headmaster of Rugby Public School who appears as head master in the book Tom Brown's Schooldays
Tom Brown's Schooldays
Tom Brown's Schooldays is a novel by Thomas Hughes. The story is set at Rugby School, a public school for boys, in the 1830s; Hughes attended Rugby School from 1834 to 1842...
. An account of this and Josephine's photo can be seen online at- http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DOTQjDRdfkIC&pg=PA3&dq=%22josephine+benison%22&hl=en&ei=D9oYTI29EJKC4Qb8-pToCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22josephine%20benison%22&f=false. Josephine's headstone in St.Brigid's R.C. graveyard in Ballyconnell reads- "In loving memory of Josephine M. Arnold widow of Thomas Arnold M.A. F.R.I., died 16th January 1919, aged 87 years."
Griffith's Valuation
Griffith's valuation
Griffith's Valuation was a survey of Ireland completed in 1868. -Griffith's background:Richard John Griffith started to value land in Scotland, where he spent two years in 1806-1807 valuing terrain through the examination of its soils...
of 1857 lists about 90 landlords and tenants for Doon and Ballyconnell. Further information and a detailed map showing the location of each holding can be seen online.
The population of Ballyconnell in 1821 was 353. The 1841 Census of Ireland gives a population of 387 in Ballyconnell, of which 193 were males and 194 were females, with 75 houses, of which eleven were uninhabited and one in the course of erection. The 1851 Census of Ireland gives a population of 503, an increase of 116 on the 1841 figure, due to people moving from the countryside to the town to escape the intervening Irish Famine of 1845-47, of which 252 were males and 251 were females, with 85 houses, of which five were uninhabited and one in the course of erection.
In the 1911 census of Ireland
Census of Ireland, 1911
The Census of Ireland, 1911, was a census that covered Ireland, and was conducted on Sunday 2 April 1911 as part of a broader Census of the United Kingdom. A census of Ireland had taken place every ten years beginning in 1821 until 1911. The next census would not take place until 1926 due to the...
, there are 134 families listed in Ballyconnell.
Structures of note
- Ballyconnell is famous for having both the oldest man-made structure within the boundary of any town in Ireland (The 5,500 year old double court-cairn in Doon townland) and also for the oldest living thing in Ireland (The 2,000-5,000 year old Ballyconnell Yew tree in Ballyconnell Demesne).
- Ballyconnell Market House is a five bay, two storey building dating from about 1838 and was used by the Defence Forces as a border post during the troubles in Northern Ireland. It was also used by the Reserve Defence Force until 2005 when the building was sold to Cavan County Council. It is now unused and lying dormant.
Transport
- Ballyconnell railway station opened on 24 October 1887, but finally closed on 1 April 1959. It was part of the narrow gauge Cavan and Leitrim RailwayCavan and Leitrim RailwayThe Cavan & Leitrim Railway was a narrow-gauge railway in the counties of Leitrim and Cavan in the north-west of Ireland, which ran from 1887 until 1959.Unusually for Ireland, this 914mm -gauge line survived on coal traffic, from the mine at Arigna...
.
Economy
The industry in the area is mainly agricultural, but it also has a large cement factory (owned by former billionaire businessman, Sean QuinnSeán Quinn
Seán Quinn is an Irish businessman and conglomerateur, now bankrupt. In 2008 he was the richest person in Ireland, but he now has debts...
), a plastics factory and an animal feeds plant. Tourism is an important part of the town's economy with cabin cruisers using it as a stopping place when navigating the Shannon-Erne Waterway
Shannon-Erne Waterway
The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canal linking the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. Managed by Waterways Ireland, the canal is in length, has sixteen locks and runs from Leitrim village in County Leitrim to Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh...
. The town has a proud record in the National Tidy Towns Competition, winning the overall award in 1971 & 1975, together with many County winner awards through the years. In the 18th century lead, silver, coal, limestone, granite, marble, gravel, sand and iron were all mined from Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen
Slieve Rushen is a mountain which straddles the border between County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland. It is also called Slieve Russell or Ligavegra . It has an altitude of 404 metres above sea-level. OS 1/50k Mapsheet: 27A & 26...
mountain.
Sport
The first GAA club in Ulster was founded in Ballyconnell in 1885 and named Ballyconnell First Ulsters.See also
- TomreganTomreganTomregan civil parish straddles the international border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The chief town of the parish is Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Most of Tomregan's constituent townlands are situate in County Cavan, with the remainder in County Fermanagh...
- TullyhawTullyhawTullyhaw is a Barony in County Cavan. The area has been in constant occupation since pre-4000 B.C....
- Market Houses in IrelandMarket Houses in the Republic of IrelandMarket houses are a notable feature of many Irish towns with varying styles of architecture, size and ornamentation making for a most interesting feature of the streetscape. Originally there were three, four or even five bays on the ground floor which were an open arcade. An upper floor was...
- George Montgomery (MP)George Montgomery (MP)George Leslie Montgomery was an Irish politician.Montgomery sat as Member of Parliament for Strabane from 1765 to 1768. He purchased the seat from John McCausland of Strabane for £2,000 after the death of the incumbent Robert Lowry when a new writ was issued for the borough on 22 October 1765...
- Alexander Montgomery (1686–1729)Alexander Montgomery (1686–1729)Colonel Alexander Montgomery was an Irish soldier and politician.Montgomery of the Scots Greys cavalry, lived in Convoy House, Convoy, County Donegal, Ireland. He was born in 1686, the second son of Major John Montgomery and his first wife Catherine, the daughter of the Reverend James Auchinleck...
- AnnaghAnnaghAnnagh is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. On the 1609 Ulster Plantation map it is split into two townlands named Shannaontra and Shannaititr...
- CullyleenanCullyleenanCullyleenan is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan and Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename ‘Coill Uí Lionáin’ which means “O’Lenan’s Wood”, which possibly belonged to a member of the Uí Lionán family who were a bardic family from...
- DerryginnyDerryginnyDerryginny is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Doire Goinimhe” which means the ‘Oakwood of the Sand’, which possibly derives either from the sandbanks which form along the rivers running...
- Doon, County CavanDoon, County CavanDoon is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Dún” which means ‘A fort’. The oldest surviving mention of the name is in the 1609 Ulster Plantation map where it is spelled ‘Doone’. At the time...
- Mary FreehillMary FreehillMary Freehill was the 329th Lord Mayor of Dublin. She served during the Millennium Year from 5 July 1999 to 3 July 2000. She is the Labour Party Councillor for Rathmines Pembroke Ward on Dublin City Council...
- James Dillon (Bishop)James Dillon (Bishop)Dr. James Dillon was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kilmore from 1800 to 1806.- Early Life :James Dillon was born in the Diocese of Armagh in 1738. He studied for the priesthood at the Sorbonne, University of Paris, France and graduated as a Doctor of Divinity...
- Leona MaguireLeona MaguireLeona Maguire is an Irish amateur golfer. As of 11th September 2011 she is ranked 6th in the world on the Women's Amateur Golf rankings A native of County Cavan. Her parents are schoolteachers Declan and Breda Maguire. At the age of 9 she gave up a promising swimming career to concentrate on golf...
- Lisa MaguireLisa MaguireLisa Maguire is an Irish amateur golfer. As of 11th September 2011 she is ranked 35th in the world on the Women's Amateur Golf rankings A native of County Cavan. Her parents are schoolteachers Declan and Breda Maguire. At the age of 9 she gave up a promising swimming career to concentrate on...
External links
- Cavan Tourism from cavantourism.com
- A modern map of the town
- An 1857 street plan of the town
- Old Ballyconnell maps & Photos
- The Tidy Towns of Ireland "Celebrating 50 years"
- Aerial photo of town from buildingsofireland.ie
- Ballyconnell Genealogy Records
- Catalogue & maps of Ballyconnell Estate sale in 1856, from cavanlibrary.ie