Gortullaghan
Gortullaghan (from Irish: Gort Tulacháin meaning 'Field of the Little Hillocks') is a townland in the civil parish of Templeport, County Cavan, Ireland. It lies in the Roman Catholic parish of Templeport and barony of Tullyhaw.
Geography
Gortullaghan is bounded on the north by Dunglave in Swanlinbar parish and Derrynacreeve townland in Corlough parish, on the west by Tawnagh townland in Corlough parish, on the south by Mullaghlea townland and on the east by Gortmore and Moherloob townlands. Its chief geographical features are a stream, spring wells and dug wells.
Gortullaghan is traversed by the national secondary N87 road (Ireland), minor roads and rural lanes.
The townland covers 171 statute acres.[1]
History
A sub-division of Gortullaghan is called Tomena (from Irish: perhaps Tuaim Aonaigh meaning 'Tumulus of the Fair or Meeting-Place' or Tuaim Maoine meaning 'Tumulus of the Wealth' or Tuaim Móna meaning ‘Tumulus of the Bog’)
The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the townland as Gortalachin.[2]
The 1652 Commonwealth Survey spells the name as Gartullaghen.
The 1665 Down Survey map depicts it as Gortinelechin.[3]
William Petty's map of 1685 depicts it as Gortenelehin.
The 1652 Commonwealth Survey lists the proprietor being Mr Henry Pigott and the tenant being Farell Duffe McBrian.
In the Hearth Money Rolls of 1662 there were two people paying the Hearth Tax in- Gartelaher- Castara O’Dolan and Thomas McEtire.
A grant dated 30 January 1668 from King Charles II of England to Richard Pyett included, inter alia, lands of Gortallaghan containing 41 acres 2 roods and 27 perches.
A grant dated 9 March 1669 from King Charles II of England to Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey included, inter alia, lands in the south part of Gortinelethin alias Gortinedickin containing 24 acres 1 rood and 13 perches at an annual rent of £0-6s-5 1/2d.
The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list seventeen tithepayers in the townland.[4]
In 1841 the population of the townland was 77, being 32 males and 45 females. There were fifteen houses in the townland, all of which were inhabited.[5]
In 1851 the population of the townland was 62, being 27 males and 35 females, the reduction being due to the Great Famine (Ireland). There were twelve houses in the townland, one of which was uninhabited.[6]
Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists twenty one landholders in the townland.[7]
In 1861 the population of the townland was 56, being 27 males and 29 females. There were eleven houses in the townland, of which one was uninhabited.[8]
In 1871 the population of the townland was 41, being 15 males and 26 females. There were seven houses in the townland and all were inhabited.[9]
In 1881 the population of the townland was 26, being 11 males and 15 females. There were seven houses in the townland, of which one was uninhabited.[10]
In 1891 the population of the townland was 23, being 9 males and 14 females. There were six houses in the townland, all were inhabited.[11]
In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are ten families listed in the townland, [12] and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are twelve families listed in the townland.[13]
Folklore from Gortullaghan in the 1930s is available at-[14]
Tomena School
The book Bawnboy and Templeport History Heritage Folklore by Chris Maguire gives the following description of the school-
Tomena National School. Taken under the National Board 27 July 1848. There was a teachers' residence attached to the schoolroom. The residence was burned about 1880 and two nephews of the teacher, Mrs. McManus, lost their lives in the fire. Later on the residence became a schoolroom, and Tomena a two-teacher school. A fire in 1944 destroyed the original schoolroom and two teachers had to work in the same room until the new school was built in 1953. Principals in Tomena N.S.- Thomas McPartlan (1848-'51); John Baxter; Hugh McManus, Tirnawannagh; Mrs. McManus; Mrs. Lunney; Mrs. O'Hara; Michael Byrne; Chris Maguire (1937-'42); Rose Maguire (1942-'47); Nuala Waldron (1947-'48); Chris Maguire (1948-'56); Seán Lennon (1956-'59); Cáit Curran ; Mrs. John F. McGovern; Mrs. Grace Doonan. Assistant Teachers:- Miss Farmer; Philomena O'Dowd; Mrs. Cornyn.
The 1854 Report from the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland state that Tomena School, Roll No. 5306, had 73 pupils, 35 boys and 38 girls.[15]
The 1874 Report from the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland state that Tomena School, Roll No. 5306, had 167 pupils, 92 boys and 75 girls.[16]
Antiquities
The chief structures of historical interest in the townland are the sites of Tomena National School and Derrynacreeve Post Office. The site of the tumulus is not known.
References
External links
