Moherreagh

Moherreagh (from Irish: Mothar Riach meaning - The Grey Thicket) 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

Moherreagh is bounded on the north by Gub townland in Swanlinbar parish, on the west by Gortmore townland, on the south by Moherloob and Mullaghlea townlands and on the east by Finaghoo townland in Swanlinbar parish. Its chief geographical features are forestry plantations, a stream, dug wells and spring wells.

Moherreagh is traversed by minor roads and rural lanes.

The townland covers 196 statute acres.^[1]

History

The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the townland as part of Aghalough.^[2]

The 1665 Down Survey map depicts it as Knocke. (from Irish: Cnoc meaning ‘The Hill')^[3]

William Petty's 1685 map depicts it as Knock.

On 19 January 1586 Queen Elizabeth I of England granted a pardon (No. 4813) to Teig Oge M’Teig M’Tirlagh O Dollan of Aghholagh for fighting against the Queen's forces.^[4]

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 24 February 1614, King James VI and I granted, inter alia, one pole of Moghereogh to Phelim McHugh O'Reyly, Bryan McHugh O'Reyly and Cahir McHugh O'Reyly, the sons of Hugh Reyly, late of Ballaghaneo, County Cavan. Ballaghaneo is now the townland of Ballaghanea in Lurgan Parish, County Cavan, on the shores of Lough Ramor, so the O'Reillys were removed a long way from their home by the Plantation. Hugh Reyly was the great-grandnephew of the chief of the O'Reilly clan, Eoghan na Fésóige mac Seoain, who ruled from 1418–1449. The O’Reilly lands in Moherreagh were confiscated in the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 and were distributed as follows-

The 1662 Hearth Money Rolls show one Hearth taxpayer in Moheragh- Ternan Magowran.

By grant dated 9 September 1669 King Charles II of England gave Arthur Annesley, 1st Earl of Anglesey, inter alia, the lands of Knock with an area of 56 acres 15 roods 1 perch.

The 1790 Cavan Carvaghs list spells the name as Mogher, Reagh.^[5]

The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list twelve tithepayers in the townland.^[6][7]

In 1841 the population of the townland was 64, being 41 males and 23 females. There were ten houses in the townland, all were inhabited.^[8]

In 1851 the population of the townland was 51, being 31 males and 20 females, the reduction being due to the Great Famine (Ireland). There were nine houses in the townland, of which two were uninhabited.^[9]

Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists eleven landholders in the townland.^[10]

In 1861 the population of the townland was 51, being 26 males and 25 females. There were nine houses in the townland, of which one was uninhabited.^[11]

In 1871 the population of the townland was 55, being 30 males and 25 females. There were ten houses in the townland and all were inhabited. (page 296 of census)^[12]

In 1881 the population of the townland was 61, being 29 males and 32 females. There were ten houses in the townland, all were inhabited.^[13]

In 1891 the population of the townland was 47, being 21 males and 26 females. There were nine houses in the townland, all were inhabited.^[14]

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are eight families listed in the townland, ^[15] and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are still eight families listed in the townland.^[16]

A history of the O’Reillys of Moherreagh is viewable online at-

On 17 March 1943 a Royal Air Force Bristol Beaufighter JL710 crashed in Templeport Lake and one of the crew bailed out and landed safely in Moherreagh.^[17]

Antiquities

The only structures of historical interest in the townland seem to be stepping stones over the stream.

References

External links

• The IreAtlas Townland Data Base

Coordinates: 54°04′31″N 7°48′37″W / 54.07514°N 7.810271°W / 54.07514; -7.810271