Annagh
Encyclopedia
Annagh is a townland
in the Parish of Tomregan
, Barony of Tullyhaw
, County Cavan
, Ireland. On the 1609 Ulster Plantation map it is split into two townlands named Shannaontra and Shannaititr. In an Inquisition dated 20 September 1630 the two townlands were spelled ‘Townaeiateragh’ & “Tawnaowteragh”, but by the Down Survey of 1655 both townlands were merged into one and it is named ‘Annagh alias Tannaghyeitragh alias Tannaghoteragh’. The usual meaning suggested for the place name is that Annagh is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Eanach” which means ‘A moor or marsh’. However it is more likely that Annagh is an abbreviation of ‘Tannagh’ (meaning a pasture) as the older names of the place in Gaelic were ‘Tamnach Íochtar’ & “Tamnach Uachtar” which mean ‘Lower Pasture’ and “Upper Pasture”.
Annagh is one of four townlands over which the town of Ballyconnell
extends. It is bounded on the north by the international border with Fermanagh and Northern Ireland, on the east by Cuillaghan, Killywilly, Corranierna
and Mullaghduff
townlands, on the south by Cullyleenan
townland and on the west by Doon
, Rakeelan
and Gortawee
townlands. Its chief geographical features are Annagh Lough, the Dhoogue stream, Scotchtown Island, Monkey’s Island, a chalybeate well, Bray Wood, some drumlin hills reaching an altitude of 200 feet (61 m) above sea-level and the Shannon-Erne Waterway
which flows north along the western boundary of the townland. Bray Wood is the finest and most extensive area of woodland along the Shannon-Erne Waterway, consisting principally of Ash and Hazel together with Oak, Elm and Rowan. The undergrowth consists of Holly, Blackthorn and Bramble, with a rich ground flora. Scotchtown Island has a wet woodland flora, dominated by Alder and Salex spp. The original non-canalised Woodford River Channel on the boundary with Cloncoohy contains rich wetland floras.
Annagh is traversed by Bridge Street, Daisy Hill, the Belturbet Road and some demesne lanes.
The townland covers 419 statute acres, including 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) of water. It formed part of the Manor of Calva which was granted to Walter Talbot in 1610 as part of the Plantation of Ulster
. The Hearth Money Rolls of 1664 list the occupiers of Ballyconnell as Thomas Gwyllym, John Squire, Henry Jordan and Denis Alarne, but this would have included both Doon and Annagh townlands as Thomas Gwyllym was the owner of Ballyconnell Castle and lived in Annagh. Griffith's Valuation
of 1857 lists only one landholder in Annagh, Dr. George Roe, the owner of Ballyconnell House. Further information and a detailed map showing the location of each holding can be seen online. The 1841 Census of Ireland gives a population of 25 for the townland, of which 9 were males and 16 were females, with 3 houses. The population probably consisted of the family and servants of Ballyconnell House. The 1851 Census of Ireland gives a population of 31, of which 12 were males and 19 were females, with 4 houses, 2 of which were probably the gatehouses of Ballyconnell House. In the 1911 census of Ireland
, there are eight families listed in the townland.
The historic sites in the townland are a medieval crannóg in Annagh Lough (Site number 1469, page 175, Annagh townland, in “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995) and Ballyconnell House with its Demesne & external buildings including a sweathouse and gatehouses (Site number 1798, page 228, Annagh townland, in “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995). A castle was erected there between 1611 & 1619. Samuel Lewis states in his 1837 ‘Topographical Dictionary of Ireland’ that the house was erected in 1764 by George Montgomery (MP)
on the site of Ballyconnell Castle which was entirely destroyed by an accidental fire. However this statement is contradicted by Rev. William Henry’s book “Upper Lough Erne” written in 1739, page 23 of which states ‘Here on the south side of the river, defended by huge old trees, stands a beautiful new seat of the Rev. George Leslie. This seat is of hewn stone without, and elegantly finished with stucco work within. The front is diversified with dark and light-coloured stones, resembling a pavement: It looks to the west; and the river answers to it as a canal.’ So either the new house was burnt down in 1764 and another one erected on its site or Lewis gave an incorrect date and the castle was burnt c.1739 and Ballyconnell House was erected then.
On the right-hand side of the lane heading north-east from Ballyconnell House is a very ancient yew tree (Taxus baccata). It has a massive girth and is reckoned to be well over 2,000 years old, possibly the oldest tree in Europe.
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 Parish of Tomregan
Tomregan
Tomregan civil parish straddles the international border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The chief town of the parish is Ballyconnell, County Cavan. Most of Tomregan's constituent townlands are situate in County Cavan, with the remainder in County Fermanagh...
, Barony of Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw
Tullyhaw is a Barony in County Cavan. The area has been in constant occupation since pre-4000 B.C....
, 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. On the 1609 Ulster Plantation map it is split into two townlands named Shannaontra and Shannaititr. In an Inquisition dated 20 September 1630 the two townlands were spelled ‘Townaeiateragh’ & “Tawnaowteragh”, but by the Down Survey of 1655 both townlands were merged into one and it is named ‘Annagh alias Tannaghyeitragh alias Tannaghoteragh’. The usual meaning suggested for the place name is that Annagh is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Eanach” which means ‘A moor or marsh’. However it is more likely that Annagh is an abbreviation of ‘Tannagh’ (meaning a pasture) as the older names of the place in Gaelic were ‘Tamnach Íochtar’ & “Tamnach Uachtar” which mean ‘Lower Pasture’ and “Upper Pasture”.
Annagh is one of four townlands over which the town of 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...
extends. It is bounded on the north by the international border with Fermanagh and Northern Ireland, on the east by Cuillaghan, Killywilly, Corranierna
Corranierna
Corranierna is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Cor an Iarna” which means ‘The Hill of the Skein ’, which derived its name from the weavers who lived there...
and Mullaghduff
Mullaghduff
Mullaghduff is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan and Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename ‘Mullach Dubh’ which means “The Black Hilltop”, which possibly derives from the blackish soil which covers the hill...
townlands, on the south by Cullyleenan
Cullyleenan
Cullyleenan is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan and Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename ‘Coill Uí Lionáin’ which means “O’Lenan’s Wood”, which possibly belonged to a member of the Uí Lionán family who were a bardic family from...
townland and on the west by Doon
Doon
Doon can refer to:Geography and places:*River Doon, Scotland*Loch Doon, Scotland*Doon River, New Zealand*Doon, Iowa, USA*Doon, County Cavan, Ireland*Doon, County Offaly, Ireland*Doon, County Limerick, Ireland...
, Rakeelan
Rakeelan
Rakeelan is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Rath Caolain” which means ‘Keelan’s Fort’...
and Gortawee
Gortawee
Gortawee is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, in the Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Gort Aodh Bhuide” which means ‘Hugh Boy’s Field’. The oldest surviving mention of the name is in the 1609 Ulster Plantation map where...
townlands. Its chief geographical features are Annagh Lough, the Dhoogue stream, Scotchtown Island, Monkey’s Island, a chalybeate well, Bray Wood, some drumlin hills reaching an altitude of 200 feet (61 m) above sea-level and the Shannon-Erne Waterway
Shannon-Erne Waterway
The Shannon-Erne Waterway is a canal linking the River Shannon in the Republic of Ireland with the River Erne in Northern Ireland. Managed by Waterways Ireland, the canal is in length, has sixteen locks and runs from Leitrim village in County Leitrim to Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh...
which flows north along the western boundary of the townland. Bray Wood is the finest and most extensive area of woodland along the Shannon-Erne Waterway, consisting principally of Ash and Hazel together with Oak, Elm and Rowan. The undergrowth consists of Holly, Blackthorn and Bramble, with a rich ground flora. Scotchtown Island has a wet woodland flora, dominated by Alder and Salex spp. The original non-canalised Woodford River Channel on the boundary with Cloncoohy contains rich wetland floras.
Annagh is traversed by Bridge Street, Daisy Hill, the Belturbet Road and some demesne lanes.
The townland covers 419 statute acres, including 33 acres (133,546.4 m²) of water. It formed part of the Manor of Calva which was granted to Walter Talbot in 1610 as part 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 Hearth Money Rolls of 1664 list the occupiers of Ballyconnell as Thomas Gwyllym, John Squire, Henry Jordan and Denis Alarne, but this would have included both Doon and Annagh townlands as Thomas Gwyllym was the owner of Ballyconnell Castle and lived in Annagh. Griffith's Valuation
Griffith's valuation
Griffith's Valuation was a survey of Ireland completed in 1868. -Griffith's background:Richard John Griffith started to value land in Scotland, where he spent two years in 1806-1807 valuing terrain through the examination of its soils...
of 1857 lists only one landholder in Annagh, Dr. George Roe, the owner of Ballyconnell House. Further information and a detailed map showing the location of each holding can be seen online. The 1841 Census of Ireland gives a population of 25 for the townland, of which 9 were males and 16 were females, with 3 houses. The population probably consisted of the family and servants of Ballyconnell House. The 1851 Census of Ireland gives a population of 31, of which 12 were males and 19 were females, with 4 houses, 2 of which were probably the gatehouses of Ballyconnell House. In the 1911 census of Ireland
Census of Ireland, 1911
The Census of Ireland, 1911, was a census that covered Ireland, and was conducted on Sunday 2 April 1911 as part of a broader Census of the United Kingdom. A census of Ireland had taken place every ten years beginning in 1821 until 1911. The next census would not take place until 1926 due to the...
, there are eight families listed in the townland.
The historic sites in the townland are a medieval crannóg in Annagh Lough (Site number 1469, page 175, Annagh townland, in “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995) and Ballyconnell House with its Demesne & external buildings including a sweathouse and gatehouses (Site number 1798, page 228, Annagh townland, in “Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan”, Patrick O’Donovan, 1995). A castle was erected there between 1611 & 1619. Samuel Lewis states in his 1837 ‘Topographical Dictionary of Ireland’ that the house was erected in 1764 by George Montgomery (MP)
George Montgomery (MP)
George Leslie Montgomery was an Irish politician.Montgomery sat as Member of Parliament for Strabane from 1765 to 1768. He purchased the seat from John McCausland of Strabane for £2,000 after the death of the incumbent Robert Lowry when a new writ was issued for the borough on 22 October 1765...
on the site of Ballyconnell Castle which was entirely destroyed by an accidental fire. However this statement is contradicted by Rev. William Henry’s book “Upper Lough Erne” written in 1739, page 23 of which states ‘Here on the south side of the river, defended by huge old trees, stands a beautiful new seat of the Rev. George Leslie. This seat is of hewn stone without, and elegantly finished with stucco work within. The front is diversified with dark and light-coloured stones, resembling a pavement: It looks to the west; and the river answers to it as a canal.’ So either the new house was burnt down in 1764 and another one erected on its site or Lewis gave an incorrect date and the castle was burnt c.1739 and Ballyconnell House was erected then.
On the right-hand side of the lane heading north-east from Ballyconnell House is a very ancient yew tree (Taxus baccata). It has a massive girth and is reckoned to be well over 2,000 years old, possibly the oldest tree in Europe.