Maghera (parish)
Encyclopedia
Maghera is a parish in County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. It is bordered by the parishes of Ballynascreen, Ballyscullion, Desertmartin, Dungiven, Kilcronaghan
, Killelagh, Magherafelt, Tamlaght O'Crilly, and Termoneeny. As a civil parish
it lies within the former barony of Loughinsholin and as an ecclesiastical parish it lies within the Church of Ireland
Diocese of Derry and Raphoe
.
. Circumstantial evidence places their center of power at Ráth Lúraigh.
St. Lurachs church was plundered by Vikings in 832 according to the Annals of Ulster, and in 1135 was one of several churches burnt down. The ruins of the medieval church still stand in the town of Maghera in the townland of Largantogher, with the earliest remaining sections dating to the 12th century.
In 1111, the parish of Maghera was incorporated into the diocese of the Cinéal Eoghain
, the seat of which was located at Ardstraw
. In 1150 however the seat was transferred to Maghera, until 1254 when after complaints of its isolation from the "mainstream of civilisation" it was removed to Derry
.
As a result of the Plantation of Ulster
, the lands of the parish of Maghera were divided among three of the London
livery companies
, the Drapers
, Mercers
, and Vintners
. A large portion of land around the modern settlement of Maghera was given over to the Established Church
.
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 is bordered by the parishes of Ballynascreen, Ballyscullion, Desertmartin, Dungiven, Kilcronaghan
Kilcronaghan
Kilcronaghan is a civil parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Containing one major settlement, Tobermore, and lying on the descending slope of Slieve Gallion, Kilcronaghan is bordered by the civil parishes of Ballynascreen, Desertmartin, Maghera, and Termoneeny. It lies within the former...
, Killelagh, Magherafelt, Tamlaght O'Crilly, and Termoneeny. As a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
it lies within the former barony of Loughinsholin and as an ecclesiastical parish it lies within the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
Diocese of Derry and Raphoe
Diocese of Derry and Raphoe
The Diocese of Derry and Raphoe is a diocese of the Church of Ireland located in the north of Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh...
.
Name
The name Maghera is derived from the Irish Machaire Rátha meaning "plain of the fort", however this is itself derived from the older name for the parish, Ráth Lúraigh, meaning "Lúrach's fort". One manuscript states that Lúrach was from Ráith, which is given as possibly being an even earlier name for the parish before Lúrach's name was suffixed to it.History
Lúrach mac Cuanach is the 6th-century patron of the eccesliastical parish, with the local parish church, St. Lurachs, named after him. Lúrach's family held a degree of political importance in the area, with seven descendants of Lúrach's father Cuanu being kings of AirgiallaAirgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
. Circumstantial evidence places their center of power at Ráth Lúraigh.
St. Lurachs church was plundered by Vikings in 832 according to the Annals of Ulster, and in 1135 was one of several churches burnt down. The ruins of the medieval church still stand in the town of Maghera in the townland of Largantogher, with the earliest remaining sections dating to the 12th century.
In 1111, the parish of Maghera was incorporated into the diocese of the Cinéal Eoghain
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...
, the seat of which was located at Ardstraw
Ardstraw
Ardstraw is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, three miles northwest of Newtownstewart. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 222 people....
. In 1150 however the seat was transferred to Maghera, until 1254 when after complaints of its isolation from the "mainstream of civilisation" it was removed 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"...
.
As a result of 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...
, the lands of the parish of Maghera were divided among three of the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
livery companies
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
, the Drapers
Worshipful Company of Drapers
The Worshipful Company of Drapers is one of the 108 Livery Companies of the City of London; it has the formal name of The Master and Wardens and Brethren and Sisters of the Guild or Fraternity of the Blessed Mary the Virgin of the Mystery of Drapers of the City of London but is more usually known...
, Mercers
Worshipful Company of Mercers
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in order of precedence. It is the first of the so-called "Great Twelve City Livery Companies". It was incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1394...
, and Vintners
Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, England.- History and origins :It probably existed as early as the twelfth century, and it received a Royal Charter in 1364. Due to the Royal Charter, the Company gained a monopoly over wine imports from Gascony...
. A large portion of land around the modern settlement of Maghera was given over to the Established Church
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
.