Knockateggal

Knockateggal is a townland in the Civil Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Knockninny, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

Etymology

The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Cnoc-a'-tSeagail” which means ‘Hill of the Rye’. The oldest surviving mention of the name is in a grant dated 14 October 1612 where it is spelled ‘Knockshogill’. Spellings in later grants are 1629- Knocktegall, 1751 – Knockategal.[1]

Geography

It is bounded on the north by Gortahurk & Gortaree townlands, on the east by Ummera & Gortmullan townlands and on the south & west by the international border with County Cavan and the Republic of Ireland. Its chief geographical features are the Slieve Rushen mountain on whose eastern slope it lies reaching an altitude of 320 metres above sea-level and some swallow-holes. The townland is traversed by the B127 Border Road to Ballyconnell and some mountain lanes. Knockateggal covers an area of 271 acres (1.10 km2) statute.

History

The townland formed part of the ballybethagh of Calvagh in medieval times. At the beginning of the 17th century it was owned jointly by Bryan McPhilip O’Reyly and Edward Rutlidge but was confiscated by the Crown in the 1609 Ulster Plantation and it formed part of the half-territory of Aughrin which was granted to Sir Hugh Culme in 1610. Culme later relinquished his claim to the Crown, perhaps because there was confusion at the time as to whether the townland formed part of County Fermanagh or County Cavan. By an order of the Lord Deputy dated 14 October 1612 the townland was granted, inter alia, to Lady Margaret O’Neill, the widow of Sir Hugh Maguire deceased. An Inquisition held at Newtownbutler on 20 January 1629 found that Thomas Duffe McCorie was seized of the lands of, interalia, Knocktegall. In 1641 and also in 1670 it was owned by Sir William Balfour (general).[2]

The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list the following tithepayers in the townland- Elliott, Emo, Prior, Clerk, McGuire, Curry, Drum, Beatty.[3]

In 1841 the population of the townland was 91, being 50 males and 41 females. There were seventeen houses in the townland, one of which was uninhabited.[4]

In 1851 the population of the townland was 59, being 31 males and 28 females, the reduction being due to the Great Famine (Ireland). There were twelve houses in the townland, all were inhabited.[5]

Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists twenty-eight occupiers in the townland.[6]

In 1861 the population of the townland was 148, being 25 males and 23 females. There were twelve houses in the townland, of which one was uninhabited.[7]

In 1871 the population of the townland was 35, being 15 males and 20 females. There were seven houses in the townland and all were inhabited.(page 606 of census)[8]

In 1881 the population of the townland was 26, being 14 males and 12 females. There were five houses in the townland, all were inhabited.[9]

In 1891 the population of the townland was 28, being 12 males and 16 females. There were eight houses in the townland, of which two were uninhabited.[10]

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are eight families listed in the townland.[11]

In the 1911 census of Ireland, there are seven families listed in the townland.[12]

Antiquities

The historic sites in the townland are some old stone quarries and Teamneall na Regan (alias Temple na Regan or Teampall Regan which means 'The Church of Tomregan') in Tom Donohoe’s land. This was originally a medieval Roman Catholic church which served the inhabitants of Tomregan Parish who lived in County Fermanagh. After the Ulster Plantation of 1609 it was converted to Protestant worship. Local tradition states there was a graveyard around it. Rectangular ruins can be seen. A story found in the Dúchas School's Collection at http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5044800/5039794 by Mr P. Gallen in 1938 gives more details.

A hill in the adjoining townland of Aughrim, County Cavan is called 'Church Hill' and may have belonged to Knockateggal church in medieval times.[13]

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Settlement on a Plantation Estate, the Balfour Rentals of 1632 and 1636 by John Johnston, in Clogher Record Vol. 12, No. 1 (1985), pp. 92-109
  3. ↑ Tithe Applotment Books 1827
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ KnockateggalGriffith’s Valuation 1857
  7. ↑
  8. ↑
  9. ↑
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ Census of Ireland 1901
  12. ↑ Census of Ireland 1911
  13. ↑ 'Churches and Priests of Knockninny' in Breifne Journal 1959 (Vol.1, no. 2), p.147 Rev. Terence Small

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