Ballymagauran
Encyclopedia
Ballymagauran is a village and townland
in County Cavan
, Ireland
. It lies on the border with County Leitrim
, within the parish of Templeport
and barony of Tullyhaw
on the Ballinamore
to Ballyconnell
road.
and describes various incidents at Ballymagauran. The Vikings may also have been in the area as the pommel of an inlaid Viking sword (Petersen Type H) dating from c.900 A.D. has been excavated from a fort on the shore of Ballymagauran Lake.
The earliest surviving mention of the placename is in the Annals of the Four Masters
under the year 1431 A.D., which states that "Thomas, proceeded with a great host into Teallach Eachdhach, to take vengeance on the inhabitants for the death of his kinsman. He plundered, spoiled, and ravaged the territory, and slew many of the chiefs of it. He also burned Ballymagauran, and then he returned home in triumph."
In 1455 the Annals state that a war broke out between Philip, the son of Thomas Maguire, heir to the lordship of Fermanagh, and Magauran. Philip pitched his camp at Beann-Eachlabhra and Brian and Tuathal, Philip's sons, "went forth with twelve horsemen and thirty-seven infantry, burned Magauran's town, and the greater part of his territory, and killed Melaghlin Duv Magauran and a great number of his people; after which he returned home triumphantly."
In 1459, the village was burnt down by Thomas Oge, after seizing the area. It was burnt again in 1485 by Turlough Maguire, son of John. On the following day Magauran "with his kinsmen, went in pursuit of the army, and deprived them of sixteen men, who were killed or taken prisoners, and two hundred horses."
Philip, the son of Turlough Maguire and Thomas, son of Manus Magauran went to Teallach Eachdhach and killed Turlough. They then proceeded to the Crannog of Magauran and took Magauran prisoner, only to set him free and leave him behind as he had become sick, making transport inconvenient. The son of O'Reilly, Edmond Roe then "came up with these men of Fermanagh, and with the son recte grandsons of Manus, defeated them, and slew Donough, the son of Redmond, son of Philip Maguire; Philip, the son of Owen, son of Donnell Ballagh Maguire; Hugh, the son of Owen, son of Turlough Maguire; Murtough Roe, son of Murrough; and James, the son of Magrath Maguire, besides many others; and many horses were taken from them on that day."
The older seat of the McGoverns was on a crannog in the nearby Killlywillin Lake.
In the Plantation of Ulster
in 1609 the lands of the McGoverns were confiscated, but some were later regranted to them. The Manor of Ballymagauran was regranted to the chief of the clan, Felim McGovern. The name of the townland in which the village was situated was called Drumcork or Drumhirk at that time and was only renamed as Ballymagauran in the Ordnance Survey of 1836. The grant to Felim McGovern included "Dromcorck, 1 poll". In a visitation by Sir George Carew in autumn 1611 he states that "Magauran had his own land given him on this division".
By 1619 Pynnar's Survey of Land Holders found that Magauran had built a castle on his holdings. Felim died on 20 January 1622 and the estate went to his son and heir Brian McGawran. A survey taken in August 1622 stated that "Brian Magauran hath 1,000 acres in which is a bawn of sodds and within it a stone howse thatched, with chymneys and a part of it lofted. He setts his land from yeare to yeare to ye Irish, who plowgh by ye taile". Brian was married to Mary O'Brien and he died in 1631 leaving the estate to his son and heir Edward Magauran who was born in 1616.
The castle that Felim Magauran erected after 1611 was besieged and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell's army in 1649. Sir William Petty
’s Down Survey
map of 1659 shows the castle in the townland of Dromkirke with inscription "Stone house in repair". In the Hearth Money Rolls of 1664 there were only two houses in Templeport with two hearths at Munlough and Sruagh, indicating that the castle had been abandoned by that time.
After the Irish Rebellion, Ballymagauran was confiscated from the Magaurans and was granted to Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet
under the Act of Settlement by patent on 3 November 1666. The grant included "Ballymagowran alias Drumherke". On 11 September 1670, King Charles II
created the 'Manor of Beresford' out of lands in Tullyhaw which Beresford acquired, at a rent of £0-6s-8d per annum for each fair & market held there. Beresford died on 15 January 1673 and was succeeded by his son Sir Randal Beresford
.
Major Edward Magauran was born in Ballymagauran on 16 April 1746, the grandson of Colonel Bryan M’Gauran, the Chief of the Clan McGovern who fought in the Battle of the Boyne for King James II against William III of Orange. In his autobiography , he states "I was born in 1746 at the residence of the M'Gauran family, called from them Balli M’Gauran. It is a market town of some note, wherein four considerable fairs are annually held. During their prosperous days, a stately castle reared its head, adjoining to the town, and was the abode of the Barons, but it was dismantled by order of Oliver Cromwell, and now lies in ruins."
The ruined castle is described and pictured as 'Site No.1846, Tower House, Ballymagauran townland' in "Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan" and in “The Castles of County Cavan”.
Nicholas Carlisle stated that "Ballymagauran, in the Barony of Tullaghagh, Co. of CAVAN, and Province of Ulster. It is 4 in. N. E. from Ballynamore. The Fairs are holden on the 93d of May, 12th of August, and 23d of November."
Samuel Lewis described it as "Ballymagauran, a village, in the parish of TEMPLEPORT, barony of TALLAGHAGH, county of CAVAN, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (N. E.) from Ballinamore, on the road to Killesandra; containing 20 houses and 89 inhabitants. Fairs are held on May 23rd, Aug. 12th, and Nov. 23rd, of which the last is a good fair for cattle. Some remains of the old castle, which was destroyed by Cromwell, yet exist."
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland for 1845 noted that Ballymagauran was "A hamlet in the parish of Templeport, barony of Tullaghagh. Co.Cavan, Ulster" and that "It stands on the western frontier of the county, four miles north-east of Ballinamore. Fairs are held on May 23, Aug. 12 and Nov.23. Population in 1831 was 89."
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
in County Cavan
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 lies on the border with County Leitrim
County Leitrim
County Leitrim 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 village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
, within the parish of Templeport
Templeport
Templeport civil parish is situated in the Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Republic of Ireland. The chief towns in the parish are Bawnboy and Ballymagauran...
and barony of Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw is a Barony in County Cavan. The area has been in constant occupation since pre-4000 B.C....
on the Ballinamore
Ballinamore
Ballinamore is a small town in County Leitrim, Ireland, from the border with Northern Ireland. It is located on the R202 regional road where it is joined by the R199 and R204. means "mouth of the big ford", and the town is so named because it was the main crossing point of the Yellow River,...
to Ballyconnell
Ballyconnell
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...
road.
History
In medieval times, Ballymagauran was the chief seat of the McGovern clan, who were lords of Tullyhaw. A medieval Duanaire or Poembook belonging to them is the oldest such surviving book in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and describes various incidents at Ballymagauran. The Vikings may also have been in the area as the pommel of an inlaid Viking sword (Petersen Type H) dating from c.900 A.D. has been excavated from a fort on the shore of Ballymagauran Lake.
The earliest surviving mention of the placename is in the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals 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...
under the year 1431 A.D., which states that "Thomas, proceeded with a great host into Teallach Eachdhach, to take vengeance on the inhabitants for the death of his kinsman. He plundered, spoiled, and ravaged the territory, and slew many of the chiefs of it. He also burned Ballymagauran, and then he returned home in triumph."
In 1455 the Annals state that a war broke out between Philip, the son of Thomas Maguire, heir to the lordship of Fermanagh, and Magauran. Philip pitched his camp at Beann-Eachlabhra and Brian and Tuathal, Philip's sons, "went forth with twelve horsemen and thirty-seven infantry, burned Magauran's town, and the greater part of his territory, and killed Melaghlin Duv Magauran and a great number of his people; after which he returned home triumphantly."
In 1459, the village was burnt down by Thomas Oge, after seizing the area. It was burnt again in 1485 by Turlough Maguire, son of John. On the following day Magauran "with his kinsmen, went in pursuit of the army, and deprived them of sixteen men, who were killed or taken prisoners, and two hundred horses."
Philip, the son of Turlough Maguire and Thomas, son of Manus Magauran went to Teallach Eachdhach and killed Turlough. They then proceeded to the Crannog of Magauran and took Magauran prisoner, only to set him free and leave him behind as he had become sick, making transport inconvenient. The son of O'Reilly, Edmond Roe then "came up with these men of Fermanagh, and with the son recte grandsons of Manus, defeated them, and slew Donough, the son of Redmond, son of Philip Maguire; Philip, the son of Owen, son of Donnell Ballagh Maguire; Hugh, the son of Owen, son of Turlough Maguire; Murtough Roe, son of Murrough; and James, the son of Magrath Maguire, besides many others; and many horses were taken from them on that day."
The older seat of the McGoverns was on a crannog in the nearby Killlywillin Lake.
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 the lands of the McGoverns were confiscated, but some were later regranted to them. The Manor of Ballymagauran was regranted to the chief of the clan, Felim McGovern. The name of the townland in which the village was situated was called Drumcork or Drumhirk at that time and was only renamed as Ballymagauran in the Ordnance Survey of 1836. The grant to Felim McGovern included "Dromcorck, 1 poll". In a visitation by Sir George Carew in autumn 1611 he states that "Magauran had his own land given him on this division".
By 1619 Pynnar's Survey of Land Holders found that Magauran had built a castle on his holdings. Felim died on 20 January 1622 and the estate went to his son and heir Brian McGawran. A survey taken in August 1622 stated that "Brian Magauran hath 1,000 acres in which is a bawn of sodds and within it a stone howse thatched, with chymneys and a part of it lofted. He setts his land from yeare to yeare to ye Irish, who plowgh by ye taile". Brian was married to Mary O'Brien and he died in 1631 leaving the estate to his son and heir Edward Magauran who was born in 1616.
The castle that Felim Magauran erected after 1611 was besieged and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell's army in 1649. Sir William Petty
William Petty
Sir William Petty FRS was an English economist, scientist and philosopher. He first became prominent serving Oliver Cromwell and Commonwealth in Ireland. He developed efficient methods to survey the land that was to be confiscated and given to Cromwell's soldiers...
’s Down Survey
Down Survey
The Down Survey, also known as the Civil Survey, refers to the mapping of Ireland carried out by William Petty, English scientist in 1655 and 1656....
map of 1659 shows the castle in the townland of Dromkirke with inscription "Stone house in repair". In the Hearth Money Rolls of 1664 there were only two houses in Templeport with two hearths at Munlough and Sruagh, indicating that the castle had been abandoned by that time.
After the Irish Rebellion, Ballymagauran was confiscated from the Magaurans and was granted to Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet
Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet
Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet was an Irish soldier and politician. He is ancestor of the Marquesses of Waterford, the Barons Decies and the Beresford Baronets, of William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford and Charles Beresford, 1st Baron Beresford.He was the eldest son of Tristram Beresford,...
under the Act of Settlement by patent on 3 November 1666. The grant included "Ballymagowran alias Drumherke". On 11 September 1670, King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
created the 'Manor of Beresford' out of lands in Tullyhaw which Beresford acquired, at a rent of £0-6s-8d per annum for each fair & market held there. Beresford died on 15 January 1673 and was succeeded by his son Sir Randal Beresford
Randal Beresford
Sir Randal Beresford, 2nd Baronet was an Irish politician and baronet.He was the son of Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet and his first wife Anne Rowley, daughter of John Rowley. Beresford entered the Irish House of Commons in 1661, sitting for Coleraine until 1668...
.
Major Edward Magauran was born in Ballymagauran on 16 April 1746, the grandson of Colonel Bryan M’Gauran, the Chief of the Clan McGovern who fought in the Battle of the Boyne for King James II against William III of Orange. In his autobiography , he states "I was born in 1746 at the residence of the M'Gauran family, called from them Balli M’Gauran. It is a market town of some note, wherein four considerable fairs are annually held. During their prosperous days, a stately castle reared its head, adjoining to the town, and was the abode of the Barons, but it was dismantled by order of Oliver Cromwell, and now lies in ruins."
The ruined castle is described and pictured as 'Site No.1846, Tower House, Ballymagauran townland' in "Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan" and in “The Castles of County Cavan”.
Nicholas Carlisle stated that "Ballymagauran, in the Barony of Tullaghagh, Co. of CAVAN, and Province of Ulster. It is 4 in. N. E. from Ballynamore. The Fairs are holden on the 93d of May, 12th of August, and 23d of November."
Samuel Lewis described it as "Ballymagauran, a village, in the parish of TEMPLEPORT, barony of TALLAGHAGH, county of CAVAN, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (N. E.) from Ballinamore, on the road to Killesandra; containing 20 houses and 89 inhabitants. Fairs are held on May 23rd, Aug. 12th, and Nov. 23rd, of which the last is a good fair for cattle. Some remains of the old castle, which was destroyed by Cromwell, yet exist."
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland for 1845 noted that Ballymagauran was "A hamlet in the parish of Templeport, barony of Tullaghagh. Co.Cavan, Ulster" and that "It stands on the western frontier of the county, four miles north-east of Ballinamore. Fairs are held on May 23, Aug. 12 and Nov.23. Population in 1831 was 89."