Emyvale
Encyclopedia
Emyvale, known before the Plantation of Ulster
as Scarnageeragh or Scarna , is a village
and townland
in the north of County Monaghan
, Ireland
. It sits upon the main Dublin to Derry
and Letterkenny
road, the (N2), about 10 km north of Monaghan
and 8 km south of Aughnacloy. Its population is about 800.
tomb
was discovered here placing the village at over 3000 years old. Unfortunately for historians, the urn
and other artifacts found were inadvertently destroyed when the tomb was being excavated.
The name 'Scairbh na gCaorach' (the Irish language
name for Emyvale) means 'crossing of the sheep', referring to a low (and easily traversable) point in the Mountain Water river on which Emyvale is situated. The name is thought to have come from the Ui Meith tribe, the village's first inhabitants. Scairbh na gCaorach was abbreviated to "Scarna" in the early part of the 19th Century (indeed a local hostelry bears this name), although this fell out of common usage, and village is now referred to by its English language name; Emyvale.
In the 8th century, the McKenna
Clan arrived, and by the 12th century they had established an independent túath
or kingdom in North Monaghan, which would last for the next 450 years.
In more recent times, Emyvale was immortalised by the renowned nineteenth-century Irish writer William Carleton
as part of his "Traits and Stories of The Irish Peasantry" series. The volume, which included 'The Fair at Emyvale', a short story based upon the writer's experiences of the north Monaghan landscape in which he was educated as a young man, is recognised as one of the most significant commentaries on Irish life in the Victorian era.
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...
as Scarnageeragh or Scarna , is a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and townland
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 the north of County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan 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 Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
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...
. It sits upon the main Dublin to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
and Letterkenny
Letterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
road, the (N2), about 10 km north of Monaghan
Monaghan
Monaghan is the county town of County Monaghan in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 7,811 . The town is located on the main road, the N2 road, from Dublin north to both Derry and Letterkenny.-Toponym:...
and 8 km south of Aughnacloy. Its population is about 800.
History
In 1959, a Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
was discovered here placing the village at over 3000 years old. Unfortunately for historians, the urn
Urn
An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. "Knife urns" placed on pedestals flanking a dining-room sideboard were an English innovation for high-style dining rooms of the late 1760s...
and other artifacts found were inadvertently destroyed when the tomb was being excavated.
The name 'Scairbh na gCaorach' (the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
name for Emyvale) means 'crossing of the sheep', referring to a low (and easily traversable) point in the Mountain Water river on which Emyvale is situated. The name is thought to have come from the Ui Meith tribe, the village's first inhabitants. Scairbh na gCaorach was abbreviated to "Scarna" in the early part of the 19th Century (indeed a local hostelry bears this name), although this fell out of common usage, and village is now referred to by its English language name; Emyvale.
In the 8th century, the McKenna
McKenna
McKenna, also MacKenna, is the anglicized form of the Gaelic Irish surname "Mac Cionaoith", also spelt Mac Cionaodha or Mac Cionnaith, meaning "son of Cionaodh". The meaning of "Cionaodh" can be translated, Cion being an old Irish word for respect and affection, and "aodh" Aodh, a Gaelic personal...
Clan arrived, and by the 12th century they had established an independent túath
Tuath
Túath is an Old Irish word, often translated as "people" or "nation". It is cognate with the Welsh and Breton tud , and with the Germanic þeudō ....
or kingdom in North Monaghan, which would last for the next 450 years.
In more recent times, Emyvale was immortalised by the renowned nineteenth-century Irish writer William Carleton
William Carleton
William Carleton was an Irish novelist.Carleton's father was a Roman Catholic tenant farmer, who supported fourteen children on as many acres, and young Carleton passed his early life among scenes similar to those he later described in his books...
as part of his "Traits and Stories of The Irish Peasantry" series. The volume, which included 'The Fair at Emyvale', a short story based upon the writer's experiences of the north Monaghan landscape in which he was educated as a young man, is recognised as one of the most significant commentaries on Irish life in the Victorian era.