Tonymore
Tonymore 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 “Tamhnaigh Mór” which means ‘The Big Pasture’. Another meaning which has been suggested is “Tonnaigh Mór” which means ‘The Big Rampart’. The oldest surviving mention of the name is in a grant dated 1659 where it is spelled ‘Tonymore’. Spellings in later grants are 1751 – Tonymore.[1] Ambrose Leet's 1814 Directory spells the name as Tonymore.[2].
Geography
It is bounded on the north by Aghyoule townland, on the east by Gortaree townland, on the south by Gortahurk townland and on the west by the international border with County Cavan and the Republic of Ireland. Its chief geographical features are several springs, mountain streams with several waterfalls, Tonymore Hill and Slieve Rushen mountain on whose eastern slope it lies reaching to an altitude of 1,269 feet above sea-level.
The townland is traversed by mountain lanes.
Tonymore covers an area of 443 statute acres.
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. In 1641 and also in 1670 it was owned by David Creighton.[3]
The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list the following tithepayers in the townland- Rourke, McCormick, Kellagher, Clarke, Brady, McGauran, Curry, Drum.[4]
In 1841 the population of the townland was 86, being 46 males and 40 females. There were eighteen houses in the townland, all were inhabited.[5]
In 1851 the population of the townland was 50, being 27 males and 23 females, the reduction being due to the Great Famine (Ireland). There were nine houses in the townland, all were inhabited.[6]
Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists fourteen occupiers in the townland.[7] One of the occupiers Philip Cox was the great great grandfather of U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
In 1861 the population of the townland was 39, being 20 males and 19 females. There were eight houses in the townland and all were inhabited.[8]
In 1871 the population of the townland was 48, being 25 males and 23 females. There were eight houses in the townland and all were inhabited.(page 606 of census)[9]
In 1881 the population of the townland was 46, being 26 males and 20 females. There were nine houses in the townland, all were inhabited.[10]
In 1891 the population of the townland was 45, being 25 males and 20 females. There were eight houses in the townland, all were inhabited.[11]
In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are nine families listed in the townland.[12]
In the 1911 census of Ireland, there are eight families listed in the townland.[13]
Antiquities
The only historic site in the townland is Carrickbrack.
References
External links