Ballymagirril

Ballymagirril (from Irish: Baile Mhig Iriail meaning 'McGirl's townland') 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

Ballymagirril is bounded on the north by Bellaleenan townland, on the west by Sraloaghan townland in County Leitrim, on the south by Greagh townland and on the east by Stranadarragh and Cornagunleog townlands. Its chief geographical features are the River Blackwater, spring wells and dug wells.

Ballymagirril is traversed by minor roads and rural lanes.

The townland covers 157 statute acres.^[1]

Etymology

The McGirl family probabably owned the townland. The name is still common in the area, e.g. John Joe McGirl.

History

Until the 19th century the modern townland of Greagh formed a sub-division of Ballymagirril.

The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the townland as B:McGirrill.^[2]

The 1665 Down Survey map depicts it as Ballymagurke.^[3]

William Petty's 1685 map depicts it as Ballimagurt.

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 29 April 1611, along with other lands, King James VI and I granted four polls of Ballymagirrell to the McGovern Chief, Phelim Magawran, but it is probable that the lands had been in the possession of the McGovern clan for several hundred years before this and it was just a Surrender and regrant confirming the existing title to the McGoverns.

An Inquisition of King Charles I of England held in Cavan town on 4 October 1626 stated that the aforesaid Phelim Magawrane died on 20 January 1622 and his lands, including 4 polls in Ballymagerrill, went to his son Brian who was aged 30 (born 1592) and married.

The McGovern lands in Ballymagirril were confiscated in the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 and were distributed as follows-

In the Hearth Money Rolls of 1662 there was one person paying the Hearth Tax in- Ballimagirrill- William Mungomery

A grant dated 3 November 1666 was made by King Charles II of England to Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet which included, inter alia, the lands of Ballynagurke or Ballyregerrill. By grant dated 11 September 1670 from King Charles II of England to said Sir Tristram Beresford, the said lands of Ballynagurke or Ballyregerrill were included in the creation of a new Manor of Beresford.

In the Templeport Poll Book of 1761 there were six people registered to vote in Ballymagirril in the Irish general election, 1761^[4] - James Elliott, John Johnston, Robert Johnston, John Rutledge, Robert Rutledge and William Rutledge. They all lived in Ballymagirril apart from James Elliott who lived in Drumlougher but had a freehold in Ballymagirril. They were entitled to two votes each. The four election candidates were Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont and Lord Newtownbutler (later Brinsley Butler, 2nd Earl of Lanesborough), both of whom were then elected Member of Parliament for Cavan County. The losing candidates were George Montgomery (MP) of Ballyconnell and Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham. Elliott and William Rutledge both voted for Lord Newtownbutler and George Montgomery. John Johnston, Robert Johnston and John Rutledge all voted for Newtownbutler and Coote. Robert Rutledge voted for Coote and Maxwell. Absence from the poll book either meant a resident did not vote or more likely was not a freeholder entitled to vote, which would mean most of the inhabitants of Ballymagirril.

In 1804 Lowther Kirkwood of Mullinagrave, parish of Templeport, Co. Cavan, gentleman made the following will-

2 July 1804. To his grandnephew Lowther Brien, city of Dublin, attorney, and his heirs his lands of Awengallis, Ballylenan, Ballymagirill, Stranadarragh, Carnagimlie, Cullagh, Drumleden, Leitry [Leitra], Corlagh, Lananleragh [Lannanerriagh], Gowlanlea and Drumlogher, Co. Cavan, held under lease from the Beresford family. He had begun a suit in Chancery, Ireland, against John Brien, late of Salvon, Co. Fermanagh, deceased, for setting aside a fradulent deed obtained by said John Brien, which suit against the representatives is to be continued by said Lowther Brien, his sole exor. Witnesses: John Johnston and Andrew Rutledge, both of Ballymagiril, and Thos. Stephenson, Drumleaden, Co. Cavan, gent. Memorial witnessed by: said Andrew Rutledge, and John Balfour, city of Dublin, attorney.^[5]

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

Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists nine landholders in the townland.^[7]

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are eight families listed in the townland, ^[8] and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are still eight families listed in the townland.^[9]

A distinguished native of the townland was William Rutledge who later became a politician in Victoria (Australia).

Antiquities

The only structure of historical interest in the townland seems to be stepping stones over the River Blackwater

References

1. "IreAtlas". Retrieved 29 February 2012.
2. National Archives Dublin
3. Trinity College Dublin: The Down Survey of Ireland.
6. and
9. Census of Ireland 1911

External links

• The IreAtlas Townland Data Base

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