Mullinalaghta
Encyclopedia
Mullinalaghta also officially referred to as Mullanalaghta, is a half-parish
in the north-eastern part of County Longford
, Ireland
, located about eight kilometres north of Granard
. Its name means "Hill of the standing stones (or gravestones)", and is derived from a hill in the centre of the area which was the original site of the local church. The area consists of eleven townlands: Aghanoran (Achadh an Fhuaráin), Cloonagh (Cluain Each), Clooneen (Cluainín), Culleenmore (An Cuilleann Mór), Derrycassan (Doire an Chasáin), Druminacrehir (Droimeann na Criathrach), Kilmore (An Chill Mhór), Larkfield (Cluain Fhuiseog), Leitrim (Liathdhroim), Mullinroe (An Muileann Rua) and Toome (An Tom). Mullinalaghta is not itself a townland, but is part of the townland of Cloonagh. The area has well-defined boundaries, with Lough Gowna
and the River Erne
bounding it to the west and north, the parish of Mullahoran in County Cavan
on its eastern border, and a tributary of the Erne, the Clooneen River, separating it from the rest of County Longford on the south.
Mullinalaghta formed part of the medieval territory of Annaly
, largely corresponding to today's County Longford. It was under the control of the Mac Gearadháin (Gaynor) family, being referred to in sixteenth century documents as Muntergerran (Muintir Gearadháin). Ecclesiastically, it was under the control of the abbey of Inchmore in Lough Gowna, founded by Saint Colmcille in the 6th century. This was reflected by Mullinalaghta forming part of the civil parish of Columbkille and also being part of the same Roman Catholic parish until 1839, when it was joined with the Cavan parish of Scrabby to its north, with which it has since been united. The area has been hard hit by emigration, with the population declining from a pre-Famine peak of over 3,200 (figures from 1841 Census at http://www.eppi.ac.uk/ImageRep02/eppi/derived/jpeg1200//1860_1879/00318016%23vol_1863-1863_0054-0054_sv001/p0000164.jpghttp://www.eppi.ac.uk/ImageRep02/eppi/derived/jpeg1200//1860_1879/00318016%23vol_1863-1863_0054-0054_sv001/p0000165.jpg) to its present population of less than five hundred.
Mullinalaghta is notable for its attractive scenery, with the combination of rolling drumlins, lakes, and woodland having earned it the description of "the new West Cork
" by the well-known Irish
journalist Mary Kenny
. Tourism is important in the area, with Lough Gowna and the river Erne being noted for their coarse fishing
. A former landlord's demesne
at Derrycassan on the shore of Lough Gowna has been planted with both deciduous
and coniferous trees by the Irish Forestry Commission
, and has been developed by the local community as a tourist attraction with scenic walks and picnic areas. The demesne was owned by the Dopping family, who built a mansion there, reputedly with stones from the medieval abbey on Inchmore; in what might be viewed as an early example of recycling, when Derrycassan House was demolished in the 1930s, the stones were bought by the local community to be used to build a new Catholic church in the parish.
The area is mainly agricultural, with dairy and drystock cattle farming and sheep farming predominating. The main centre of population is in the adjacent townlands of Cloonagh and Larkfield, which contains the Roman Catholic Church (erected in 1939) and a graveyard including the site of an earlier church from 1832, as well as facilities such as a primary school, post office, community centre, shop and two public houses.
Gaelic football
is the main sport in the area, with the local club having been founded in 1891. The club colours are maroon and white. The club was noted for its success during the 1940s and 1950s, winning several league and championship titles at county level - a remarkable achievement for an area with a small population even by local standards. The club currently has teams competing in both men's and women's
Gaelic football, and is developing its facilities at Derrycassan, with a good-quality full-size pitch, expanded dressing rooms, and a stand and car-parking facilities.
The well-known Irish country music
singer, Larry Cunningham
, is a native of Mullinalaghta.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in the north-eastern part of County Longford
County Longford
County Longford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Longford.Longford 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...
, located about eight kilometres north of Granard
Granard
Granard is a town in the north of County Longford, Ireland and has a traceable history going back to 236 A.D.. It is situated just south of the boundary between the watersheds of the Shannon and the Erne, at the point where the N55 national secondary road and the R194 regional road...
. Its name means "Hill of the standing stones (or gravestones)", and is derived from a hill in the centre of the area which was the original site of the local church. The area consists of eleven townlands: Aghanoran (Achadh an Fhuaráin), Cloonagh (Cluain Each), Clooneen (Cluainín), Culleenmore (An Cuilleann Mór), Derrycassan (Doire an Chasáin), Druminacrehir (Droimeann na Criathrach), Kilmore (An Chill Mhór), Larkfield (Cluain Fhuiseog), Leitrim (Liathdhroim), Mullinroe (An Muileann Rua) and Toome (An Tom). Mullinalaghta is not itself a townland, but is part of the townland of Cloonagh. The area has well-defined boundaries, with Lough Gowna
Lough Gowna
Lough Gowna is a fresh water lake which is the uppermost lake on the River Erne. It is located on the border between County Longford and County Cavan, with the largest part of the lake being in County Longford....
and the River Erne
River Erne
The River Erne , in the northwest of Ireland, rises in Beaghy Lough, two miles south of Stradone in County Cavan and flows 64 miles through Lough Gowna, Lough Oughter and Upper and Lower Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, to the sea at Ballyshannon, County Donegal...
bounding it to the west and north, the parish of Mullahoran 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...
on its eastern border, and a tributary of the Erne, the Clooneen River, separating it from the rest of County Longford on the south.
Mullinalaghta formed part of the medieval territory of Annaly
Annaly
Annaly was a medieval lordship in central Ireland.Its territory roughly coincided with modern County Longford. It was associated with the O'Farrell family. The history of the Lords of Annaly is mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters....
, largely corresponding to today's County Longford. It was under the control of the Mac Gearadháin (Gaynor) family, being referred to in sixteenth century documents as Muntergerran (Muintir Gearadháin). Ecclesiastically, it was under the control of the abbey of Inchmore in Lough Gowna, founded by Saint Colmcille in the 6th century. This was reflected by Mullinalaghta forming part of the civil parish of Columbkille and also being part of the same Roman Catholic parish until 1839, when it was joined with the Cavan parish of Scrabby to its north, with which it has since been united. The area has been hard hit by emigration, with the population declining from a pre-Famine peak of over 3,200 (figures from 1841 Census at http://www.eppi.ac.uk/ImageRep02/eppi/derived/jpeg1200//1860_1879/00318016%23vol_1863-1863_0054-0054_sv001/p0000164.jpghttp://www.eppi.ac.uk/ImageRep02/eppi/derived/jpeg1200//1860_1879/00318016%23vol_1863-1863_0054-0054_sv001/p0000165.jpg) to its present population of less than five hundred.
Mullinalaghta is notable for its attractive scenery, with the combination of rolling drumlins, lakes, and woodland having earned it the description of "the new West Cork
West Cork
West Cork refers to a geographical area in south-west Ireland, lying within Ireland's largest county, County Cork. Traditionally a popular tourist destination, the area is seen as being distinct from the more populated northern or eastern parts of the county, as well as the more urban area of...
" by the well-known Irish
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...
journalist Mary Kenny
Mary Kenny
Mary Kenny is an Irish author, broadcaster, playwright and journalist. She was a founder member of the Irish Women's Liberation Movement, though she has modified her radical past, but not rejected feminist principles....
. Tourism is important in the area, with Lough Gowna and the river Erne being noted for their coarse fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. A former landlord's demesne
Demesne
In the feudal system the demesne was all the land, not necessarily all contiguous to the manor house, which was retained by a lord of the manor for his own use and support, under his own management, as distinguished from land sub-enfeoffed by him to others as sub-tenants...
at Derrycassan on the shore of Lough Gowna has been planted with both deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
and coniferous trees by the Irish Forestry Commission
Coillte Teoranta
Coillte is a state-sponsored company in the Republic of Ireland, based in Newtownmountkennedy. Coillte is a commercial company operating in forestry, land-based businesses and added-value processing operations....
, and has been developed by the local community as a tourist attraction with scenic walks and picnic areas. The demesne was owned by the Dopping family, who built a mansion there, reputedly with stones from the medieval abbey on Inchmore; in what might be viewed as an early example of recycling, when Derrycassan House was demolished in the 1930s, the stones were bought by the local community to be used to build a new Catholic church in the parish.
The area is mainly agricultural, with dairy and drystock cattle farming and sheep farming predominating. The main centre of population is in the adjacent townlands of Cloonagh and Larkfield, which contains the Roman Catholic Church (erected in 1939) and a graveyard including the site of an earlier church from 1832, as well as facilities such as a primary school, post office, community centre, shop and two public houses.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
is the main sport in the area, with the local club having been founded in 1891. The club colours are maroon and white. The club was noted for its success during the 1940s and 1950s, winning several league and championship titles at county level - a remarkable achievement for an area with a small population even by local standards. The club currently has teams competing in both men's and women's
Ladies' Gaelic football
Ladies' Gaelic football is a team sport for women, very similar to Gaelic football, and co-ordinated by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association...
Gaelic football, and is developing its facilities at Derrycassan, with a good-quality full-size pitch, expanded dressing rooms, and a stand and car-parking facilities.
The well-known Irish country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer, Larry Cunningham
Larry Cunningham
Larry Cunningham is an Irish country music singer, who was one of the leading figures of the showband scene in the 1960s and 1970s.-Life and career:...
, is a native of Mullinalaghta.