Barony of Tirkeeran
Encyclopedia
Tirkeeran is a barony in County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. It connects to the north-Londonderry coastline, and is bordered by four other baronies: Keenaght to the east; Strabane Lower
to the south-east; North West Liberties of Londonderry to the south-west; Strabane Upper
to the south.
clan; Ui Mhic Carthainn (MacCartin), one of the earliest tribes in the area based to the south-east of Locha Febail (Lough Foyle
). The Ui Mhic Carthainn are claimed to descend from Forgo mac Carthainn, the great-great-grandson of Colla Uais.
Dunchad mac Ultain is cited as king of the Ui Meic Cairthinn in 677, when he was killed by the Cenél nEóghain
king, Mael Fithrich. It was around this period that the Cenél nEóghain were attempting to expand eastwards from their homeland in Innishowen, in modern day County Donegal and into central Ulster. Eventually the Cenél nEóghain crushed the power and independence of the Ui Mhic Carthainn and subjugated them, however it would remain in some minor form until the end of the eleventh century when the Annals cite Conchobhor ua hAinniaraidh, king of Cianachta and Ua Cein king of the Ui Meic Carithinn fell by each other in combat.
By the 12th century, the area of Tirkeeran was divided into three districts, given as belonging to the O'Ettigans in the 12th century: Teallach Caghalain; Teallach Duibhailbe; and Teallach Braeain. Prior to the 13th century the septs of O'Carolan and MacEttigan are cited as ruling the territory of Clann Diarmatta (south-east of Lough Foyle), which contained the present-day parish of Clondermot (which derives its name from the territory). These septs descend from the Cenél nEóghain branch Clan Connor of Moy Ith , of which the O'Cahans were the principal sept and who would later dominate and rule a territory spanning the baronies of Tirkeeran, Keenaght, and Coleraine.
When the baronies of Ulster were being created by the English around 1585, the general manner was to name it after the principal town or castle lying within the area, in which they held their court, baron, and gaol. This resulted in Firnacreeve being renamed as the barony of Coleraine, and Kinel-Ferady to the barony of Clogher. An attempt was made to rename Tirkeeran to Annagh, after the lord of the districts castle, which stood on an island in Lough Enagh
, however the ancient established territorial name was maintained instead.
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, 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...
. It connects to the north-Londonderry coastline, and is bordered by four other baronies: Keenaght to the east; Strabane Lower
Strabane Lower
Strabane Lower is a barony in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is bordered by five other baronies in Northern Ireland: North West Liberties of Londonderry to the north; Tirkeeran to the north-east; Strabane Upper to the east; Omagh East to the south; and Omagh West to the south-west...
to the south-east; North West Liberties of Londonderry to the south-west; Strabane Upper
Strabane Upper
Strabane Upper is a barony in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is bordered by six other baronies: Tirkeeran and Keenaght to the north; Loughinsholin and Dungannon Upper to the east; Omagh East to the south; and Strabane Lower to the west.-List of main settlements:There are few settlements...
to the south.
History
Tirkeeran derives its name from the territory of the AirgiallanAirgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
clan; Ui Mhic Carthainn (MacCartin), one of the earliest tribes in the area based to the south-east of Locha Febail (Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle
Lough Foyle, sometimes Loch Foyle , is the estuary of the River Foyle in Ulster. It starts where the Foyle leaves Derry. It separates the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland from County Londonderry in Northern Ireland.-Transport:...
). The Ui Mhic Carthainn are claimed to descend from Forgo mac Carthainn, the great-great-grandson of Colla Uais.
Dunchad mac Ultain is cited as king of the Ui Meic Cairthinn in 677, when he was killed by the Cenél nEóghain
Cenél nEógain
Cenél nEóġain is the name of the "kindred" or descendants of Eógan mac Néill , son of Niall Noígiallach who founded the kingdom of Tír Eoghain in the 5th century...
king, Mael Fithrich. It was around this period that the Cenél nEóghain were attempting to expand eastwards from their homeland in Innishowen, in modern day County Donegal and into central Ulster. Eventually the Cenél nEóghain crushed the power and independence of the Ui Mhic Carthainn and subjugated them, however it would remain in some minor form until the end of the eleventh century when the Annals cite Conchobhor ua hAinniaraidh, king of Cianachta and Ua Cein king of the Ui Meic Carithinn fell by each other in combat.
By the 12th century, the area of Tirkeeran was divided into three districts, given as belonging to the O'Ettigans in the 12th century: Teallach Caghalain; Teallach Duibhailbe; and Teallach Braeain. Prior to the 13th century the septs of O'Carolan and MacEttigan are cited as ruling the territory of Clann Diarmatta (south-east of Lough Foyle), which contained the present-day parish of Clondermot (which derives its name from the territory). These septs descend from the Cenél nEóghain branch Clan Connor of Moy Ith , of which the O'Cahans were the principal sept and who would later dominate and rule a territory spanning the baronies of Tirkeeran, Keenaght, and Coleraine.
When the baronies of Ulster were being created by the English around 1585, the general manner was to name it after the principal town or castle lying within the area, in which they held their court, baron, and gaol. This resulted in Firnacreeve being renamed as the barony of Coleraine, and Kinel-Ferady to the barony of Clogher. An attempt was made to rename Tirkeeran to Annagh, after the lord of the districts castle, which stood on an island in Lough Enagh
Enagh Lough
Enagh Lough is a pair of lakes in Northern Ireland called East lake and Westlake, situated between Judges Road and Temple Road in Maydown, County Londonderry.-Features:Under the surface at the bottom of the lake there is ice age water...
, however the ancient established territorial name was maintained instead.
Villages
- ClaudyClaudyClaudy is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies southeast of Derry, where the River Glenrandal joins the River Faughan. Claudy is located in the Faughan Valley....
- DrumahoeDrumahoeDrumahoe is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies to the east of Derry and was once a village, but has been absorbed by the city. It is home to Institute F.C., an Irish Premier League football club. The busy A6 road from Belfast to Derry passes through the...
- EglintonEglinton, County LondonderryEglinton is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Derry, to which it serves as a sleeper village, and west of Limavady. Many inhabitants of the village work in Derry city and send their children to school there. Eglinton had a population of 3,165 people in the 2001...
- FeenyFeenyFeeny is a village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is between Dungiven and Claudy. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 542. Feeny lies just inside the boundary of the Sperrins Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.-Features:...
- GreysteelGreysteelGreysteel or Gresteel is a village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies to the east of Derry and to the west of Limavady on the main A2 coast road between Limavady and Derry, overlooking Lough Foyle...
- LettershendoneyLettershendoneyLettershendoney or Lettershendony is a small village and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, close to Drumahoe. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 506 people.- 2001 Census :...
- NewbuildingsNewbuildingsNewbuildings or New Buildings is a large village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies about 1 km from the banks of the River Foyle and 5 km south of the city of Derry...
List of civil parishes
Below is a list of civil parishes in Tirkeeran:- Banagher (split with barony of Keenaght)
- Clondermot
- Cumber Lower
- Cumber Upper
- Faughanvale
- Learmount (split with barony of Strabane Lower)