Aughanduff
Encyclopedia
Aughanduff is a small hamlet and townland
in the Parish of Forkhill, Division of Camly, and Barony of Upper Orior, County Armagh
.
The hamlet sits adjacent to Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church on the Silverbridge Road on the southern end of the townland. The townland lies 2 miles (3 km) north of the village of Mullaghbawn
and 3½ miles (5 km) from Silverbridge, County Armagh
, neighbouring Carricknagavina to the north, Tullymacrieve to the east, Cashel to the south, and Umericam, Ummerinvore and Tullyogallaghan to the west. Aughanduff was created as part of the 'Silurian' period granite outer ring of Gullion some 390 million years ago. Aughanduff lies 5 miles (8 km) from the border with the Republic of Ireland
and Newry, at nine miles (13 km) off to the east, is the nearest large town.
Comprising 893 acres (3.6 km²), Upper and Lower Aughanduff mountains form one half of a valley with the mountains of Carricknagavina and Tullymacrieve on the other side. The townland is described as "poor, gravelly and rocky" in a map of 1827 and the area is mostly gravel and rock, with heather and bog but also significant tracts of pasture and some arable ground.
UK Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly
Countituencies. At Westminister level it is represented by Conor Murphy
(Sinn Féin
), and in the Northern Ireland Assembly by C. Boylan, D. Bradley, M. Brady, W. Irwin, D. Kennedy and C. Murphy. The Townland also forms part of the Slieve Gullion ward of Newry and Mourne District Council
where it is represented by Cllrs G. Donnelly, A. Flynn, P.J. Mc Donald, T. Hearty, and C. Burns.
, Philadelphia and further afield. The townland boasts scenic views of Slieve Gullion, Dromintee, and counties Louth
and Monaghan
to the south and west, as well as a small holy well
. The townland is traversed by two roads and the main Newry to Crossmaglen
road runs along part of its south eastern boundary.
or Dundalk
and return to the area at night, although some commute as far as Belfast
(45 miles) and Dublin (62 miles). While the primary economic activity carried out within the townland remains farming (and specifically grazing
), revenue is largely generated in services carried out outside the townland such as building, government and retail with most farmers engaging on the activity on a part time basis. In 2007 Aughanduff saw its first electricity generating wind turbine
/windmill erected, and the area also has access to broadband internet via satellite.
generated by the Gulf Stream
with damp mild winters, temperatures rarely dropping below freezing during daylight hours and though frost is not infrequent in the months November - February, snow rarely lies for longer than a few hours. Summers are also mild and somewhat damp with sunshine often interspersed with showers during summer months.
and American
extraction. In terms of religion most inhabitants are Roman Catholic or non-religious with Our Lady Queen of Peace being the sole house of worship in the area.
As indicated by the table on the right, the population of the townland has fallen significantly since the Irish Famine, with decline continuing from the 1840s until the 1980s. Recent years have seen a halt brought to this trend with something of a mild resurgence in terms of numbers resident in the townland.
English is by and large the sole language of communication used in the area today with Irish being spoken as a native tongue among a minority as late as the early 20th century - the last native Irish speaker in the townland, Molly Kavanagh, died in 1940. While the last monoglot Irish speakers appear to have died out in the mid-19th century, neighbouring Carricknagavina saw its last native Irish speaker, Annie Quinn, die at age 105 in 1997.
On Census
night, April 29, 2001, it was revealed that of the population of Aughanduff;
More recent statistical surveys of the area have revealed that among the townland's inhabitants;
and indeed lies just over a mile (2 km) from An Aughnaclough mullion, where in 1815 the first, and reportedly most remarkable, megalith
tomb in Ireland (subsequently destroyed) was discovered by Mr. John Bell of Newry. Several prehistoric stone structures have been found and documented in the area but many have been lost over the years. An example of such a structure was a ring fort named 'the Lis' which appears on the map of 1827 as being in the field adjacent to where the Church now stands, however this structure has since been destroyed.
throughout the Middle Ages into the early modern period with Roche and Moyry Castle
s lying in its immediate hinterland.
Aughanduff formed part of the historic area of Orior (from Irish 'Airthir' meaning 'Easterns') and was controlled by the O'Hanlon Sept
chiefs of Orior. The Territory neighbored the Fews (from Irish 'An Fiodh' or 'the wood'), which was described by Marshal of Crown Forces in Ulster at the time of the Nine Years' War, Henry Bagenal
as "Borderth upon the English Pale, within three miles (5 km) of Dundalk; it is a very strong country of woode and bog."
During the Tudor conquest of Ireland, Elizabeth I of England granted Aughanduff to Captain Thomas Chatteron who travelled from Dublin to Dundalk to take possession of his grant but after having gauged the condition of his domain failed to settle it and forfeit his grant to the crown. With no effective English control, the land remained in the possession of the O'Hanlons and indeed lies close to the Gap of the North and the route the Ulster and English armies took following the Battle of the Yellow Ford
in 1598.
In the Aftermath the defeat of the Great O'Neill at Kinsale, Aughanduff was shired into the County of Armagh as part of the Barony of Orior (Upper) but escaped plantation (as happened nearby areas such as Forkhill
and Newtownhamilton
to varying degrees).
The turmoil of the Plantation of Ulster
, Wars of the Three Kingdoms
, and Williamite War saw Aughanduff pass into the hands of Richard Whaley, a cousin of Oliver Cromwell
following confiscation from its native owners. The 18th century and saw ownership pass amongst various Ascendancy and gentry
figures until in 1800 it was purchased by the McGeogh-Bonds, holders of some 6000 acres (24.3 km²) throughout the county.
, County Dublin, from whom it was purchased by its tenants under the Irish Land Acts
in the early 20th century - significantly later than neighbouring Carricknagavina which was amongst the first townlands in the country bought out by its tenants. Immediately prior to the Great Famine some 425 souls inhabited the townland, which had reduced by almost half to 214 in 1901.
The famine hit poor in the area hardest with stories circulating over a century later of the destitute starving with their mouths turned green, having resorted to eating grass. The 19th century, as well as seeing hunger and emigration, saw the disappearance of stores and shibeens which had existed before the famine but also the instigation of an education system with a national (elementary) school constructed in the townland during the 1820s for a cost of £112 and funded by the state (through the Kildare Place Society) and by the local Landlord. In 1824 this school records having one Episcopal
and some forty-five Roman Catholic schoolchildren enrolled.
with newspaper reports of at least one shooting incident involving Black and Tans
. The area saw a return to quiet normalcy in the period following the Partition of Ireland
and although incorporated within the new Northern Ireland
state, the area remained a mere 5 miles (8 km) from the border with the Irish Free State
. The mid-20th century saw the arrival of electricity, mains water and telephones in the area as well as the closing of the local school in June 1972 as all schools in the parish were amalgamated into two with one at Mullaghbawn and another at Forkhill. The Troubles from 1969 onwards saw little by way of direct conflict as the area remained quiet but also saw frequent British Army
patrols and Helicopter activity which largely ended during the later stages of the Northern Ireland Peace Process
. The later years of the 20th century also seem to indicate the end of the long process of population decline with population figures stabilising and finally beginning to grow from the end of the 1980s.
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
in the Parish of Forkhill, Division of Camly, and Barony of Upper Orior, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
.
Name
Aughanduff or Annduff (Also spelt Aghaduffe, Aueghanduff, or Agheduff) is said to come from the Irish Áth an Daimh, meaning "ford of the oxen". However, another theory on the origin of the name sees it derived from Achadh Dubh meaning "black fields". It is commonly pronounced Ann-duff.Location and geography
Mullaghbawn
Mullaghbawn or Mullaghbane is a small village and townland near Slieve Gullion in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 402...
and 3½ miles (5 km) from Silverbridge, County Armagh
Silverbridge, County Armagh
Silverbridge is a small village in the townland of Legmoylin in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the Newry and Mourne District Council area. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 165 people.- See also :*The Troubles in Silverbridge...
, neighbouring Carricknagavina to the north, Tullymacrieve to the east, Cashel to the south, and Umericam, Ummerinvore and Tullyogallaghan to the west. Aughanduff was created as part of the 'Silurian' period granite outer ring of Gullion some 390 million years ago. Aughanduff lies 5 miles (8 km) from the border with the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
and Newry, at nine miles (13 km) off to the east, is the nearest large town.
Comprising 893 acres (3.6 km²), Upper and Lower Aughanduff mountains form one half of a valley with the mountains of Carricknagavina and Tullymacrieve on the other side. The townland is described as "poor, gravelly and rocky" in a map of 1827 and the area is mostly gravel and rock, with heather and bog but also significant tracts of pasture and some arable ground.
Politics
Aughanduff is part of both the Newry and ArmaghNewry and Armagh
Newry and Armagh can refer to:*Newry and Armagh *Newry and Armagh...
UK Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
Countituencies. At Westminister level it is represented by Conor Murphy
Conor Murphy
Conor Terence Murphy is an Irish republican Sinn Féin politician.According to An Phoblacht, Murphy first became involved with the Irish Republican Army during the 1981 hunger strikes...
(Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
), and in the Northern Ireland Assembly by C. Boylan, D. Bradley, M. Brady, W. Irwin, D. Kennedy and C. Murphy. The Townland also forms part of the Slieve Gullion ward of Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council
Newry and Mourne District Council is a local council in Northern Ireland. It includes much of the south of County Armagh and the south of County Down and has a population of approximately 93,400. Council headquarters are in Newry, the largest settlement and only city in the area; it has a...
where it is represented by Cllrs G. Donnelly, A. Flynn, P.J. Mc Donald, T. Hearty, and C. Burns.
Features
A brook known locally as the 'roaring stream' forms part of the boundary of Aughanduff as well as the Parish of Forkhill and also marks the border between the ancient territories of Orior and Fews. Historically, an important local feature was the 'lone bush' which stood on top the mountain. Today most recognisable man-made feature in the area is Our Lady Queen of Peace Church on the Silverbridge Road, dedicated in 1957, and built with donations coming from families in the locality as well as New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Philadelphia and further afield. The townland boasts scenic views of Slieve Gullion, Dromintee, and counties Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
and Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
to the south and west, as well as a small holy well
Holy well
A holy well, or sacred spring, is a small body of water emerging from underground and revered either in a Pagan or Christian context, often both. Holy wells were frequently pagan sacred sites that later became Christianized. The term 'holy well' is commonly employed to refer to any water source of...
. The townland is traversed by two roads and the main Newry to Crossmaglen
Crossmaglen
Crossmaglen or Crosmaglen is a village and townland in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,459 people in the 2001 Census and is the largest village in south Armagh...
road runs along part of its south eastern boundary.
Economic activity
The map of 1827 shows two lime kilns in the area, however these seem to have fallen out of use by the turn of the 20th century and despite the rocky nature of the townland no commercial quarrying activities take place today. Many people in Aughanduff work in services in nearby towns such as NewryNewry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
or Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
and return to the area at night, although some commute as far as Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
(45 miles) and Dublin (62 miles). While the primary economic activity carried out within the townland remains farming (and specifically grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
), revenue is largely generated in services carried out outside the townland such as building, government and retail with most farmers engaging on the activity on a part time basis. In 2007 Aughanduff saw its first electricity generating wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
/windmill erected, and the area also has access to broadband internet via satellite.
Climate
Aughanduff, lying a mere ten miles (16 km) from the sea enjoys a typical Oceanic climateOceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
generated by the Gulf Stream
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe, the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful, warm, and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates at the tip of Florida, and follows the eastern coastlines of the United States and Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic Ocean...
with damp mild winters, temperatures rarely dropping below freezing during daylight hours and though frost is not infrequent in the months November - February, snow rarely lies for longer than a few hours. Summers are also mild and somewhat damp with sunshine often interspersed with showers during summer months.
People
The population of the townland is currently in excess of two hundred persons, with those of Irish descent comprising almost all inhabitants bar a few residents of EnglishEnglish people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
extraction. In terms of religion most inhabitants are Roman Catholic or non-religious with Our Lady Queen of Peace being the sole house of worship in the area.
As indicated by the table on the right, the population of the townland has fallen significantly since the Irish Famine, with decline continuing from the 1840s until the 1980s. Recent years have seen a halt brought to this trend with something of a mild resurgence in terms of numbers resident in the townland.
English is by and large the sole language of communication used in the area today with Irish being spoken as a native tongue among a minority as late as the early 20th century - the last native Irish speaker in the townland, Molly Kavanagh, died in 1940. While the last monoglot Irish speakers appear to have died out in the mid-19th century, neighbouring Carricknagavina saw its last native Irish speaker, Annie Quinn, die at age 105 in 1997.
Demographics
| Historical populations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census year | Households | Population | | | |
| 1841 United Kingdom Census 1841 The United Kingdom Census of 1841 recorded the occupants of every UK household on the night of 6 June, 1841. It was described as the "first modern census" in that it was the first to record information about every member of the household and because it was administered as a single event, under... |
78 | 425 | ||
| 1851 United Kingdom Census 1851 The United Kingdom Census of 1851 recorded the people residing in every household on the night of 30 March 1851, and was the second of the UK censuses to include details of household members... |
71 | 346 | ||
| 1861 United Kingdom Census 1861 The United Kingdom Census of 1861 recorded the people residing in every household on the night of 7 April 1861, and was the third of the UK censuses to include details of household members.-See also:*Census in the United Kingdom... |
78 | 324 | ||
| 1871 | 64 | 295 | ||
| 1891 | 62 | 244 | ||
| 1901 United Kingdom Census 1901 A nationwide census was conducted in England and Wales on 31 March 1901. It contains records for 32 million people and 6 million houses, It covers the whole of England and Wales, with the exception of parts of Deal in Kent. Separate censuses were held in Scotland and Ireland... |
57 | 214 | ||
| 1911 | 57 | 201 | ||
| 1926 | 43 | 177 | ||
| 1937 | 39 | 149 | ||
| 1951 | 31 | 109 | ||
On Census
Demographics of Northern Ireland from the 2001 United Kingdom census
This article discusses the Demographics of Northern Ireland as presented by the United Kingdom Census in 2001.See List of United Kingdom nations by population for a breakdown of regional population statistics* Population** total: 1,685,267...
night, April 29, 2001, it was revealed that of the population of Aughanduff;
- 29.0% were under 16 years old and 12.3% were aged 60 and above;
- 55.7% of the population were male and 44.3% were female;
- 98.2% were from a Catholic Community Background;
- 1.0% were from a Protestant or Other ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Community Background; - The Average age of residents as 32.2;
- Population densityPopulation densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was approximately 0.39 persons per hectareHectareThe hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
; - 16.5% had degree level or higher qualifications;
- 59.0% were economically active, 41.0% were economically inactive;
- 5.0% were unemployed, of these 76.9% were long-term unemployed;
- 16.9% of people had a limiting long-term illness, health problem or disability;
- 7.1% of the population provided unpaid care to family, friends, neighbours or others;
- 75.6% of people stated that their general health was good;
- 89.7% of dwellings were owner occupied and 10.3% were rented;
- 49.1% of dwellings were owned outright;
- 12.7% of households were lone pensionerPensionerIn common parlance, a pensioner is a person who has retired, and now collects a pension. This is a term typically used in the United Kingdom and Australia where someone of pensionable age may also be referred to as an 'old age pensioner', or OAP. In the United States, the term retiree is more...
households; - 5.2% of households were lone parent households with dependent children;
- 44.4% of households had one or more persons with a limiting long-term illness;
- The average household size was 3.39;
- 87.9% of all residents had access to a private motor vehicle; and
- 80.1% of all persons 16-74 in employment usually travelled to work by private motor vehicle;
More recent statistical surveys of the area have revealed that among the townland's inhabitants;
- 10.7% of persons aged 18–59 were claiming Income Support;
- 11.4% of persons aged 16–59/64 were claiming Incapacity Benefit; and
- 2.8% of persons aged 16+ were claiming Housing Benefit.
Early History
Aughanduff was probably first settled in the Bronze AgeBronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
and indeed lies just over a mile (2 km) from An Aughnaclough mullion, where in 1815 the first, and reportedly most remarkable, megalith
Megalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
tomb in Ireland (subsequently destroyed) was discovered by Mr. John Bell of Newry. Several prehistoric stone structures have been found and documented in the area but many have been lost over the years. An example of such a structure was a ring fort named 'the Lis' which appears on the map of 1827 as being in the field adjacent to where the Church now stands, however this structure has since been destroyed.
The Middle Ages & Early Modern Period
Formed into the See of Armagh in the Early Christian period, Aughanduff and indeed the South Armagh region in which it lies formed part of a buffer zone between the Gaelic Irish and expanding English paleThe Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
throughout the Middle Ages into the early modern period with Roche and Moyry Castle
Moyry Castle
Moyry Castle is situated in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was built in 1601 by Lord Mountjoy to help secure Moyry Pass and the Gap of the North...
s lying in its immediate hinterland.
Aughanduff formed part of the historic area of Orior (from Irish 'Airthir' meaning 'Easterns') and was controlled by the O'Hanlon Sept
O'Hanlon Sept
The Ó h-Anluain family was an agnatic extended family comprising one of a string of dynasts along the Ulster-Leinster border. Depending on the advantage to the sept, the named leader—The Ó Hanlon—supported either the Earl of Tyrone or authorities within the English Pale. During the 15th century,...
chiefs of Orior. The Territory neighbored the Fews (from Irish 'An Fiodh' or 'the wood'), which was described by Marshal of Crown Forces in Ulster at the time of the Nine Years' War, Henry Bagenal
Henry Bagenal
Sir Henry Bagenal was marshal of the army in Ireland during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.-Life:He was the eldest son of Nicholas Bagenal and Eleanor Griffith, daughter of Sir Edward Griffith of Penrhyn...
as "Borderth upon the English Pale, within three miles (5 km) of Dundalk; it is a very strong country of woode and bog."
During the Tudor conquest of Ireland, Elizabeth I of England granted Aughanduff to Captain Thomas Chatteron who travelled from Dublin to Dundalk to take possession of his grant but after having gauged the condition of his domain failed to settle it and forfeit his grant to the crown. With no effective English control, the land remained in the possession of the O'Hanlons and indeed lies close to the Gap of the North and the route the Ulster and English armies took following the Battle of the Yellow Ford
Battle of the Yellow Ford
The Battle of the Yellow Ford was fought in western County Armagh, Ulster, in Ireland, near the river Blackwater on 14 August 1598, during the Nine Years War ....
in 1598.
In the Aftermath the defeat of the Great O'Neill at Kinsale, Aughanduff was shired into the County of Armagh as part of the Barony of Orior (Upper) but escaped plantation (as happened nearby areas such as Forkhill
Forkhill
Forkhill or Forkill is a small village in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the Ring of Gullion, near Slieve Fuad. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 366.- Name :...
and Newtownhamilton
Newtownhamilton
Newtownhamilton is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland of Tullyvallan and the barony of Upper Fews. It is part of the Newry and Mourne District Council area...
to varying degrees).
The turmoil of the Plantation of Ulster
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
, Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
, and Williamite War saw Aughanduff pass into the hands of Richard Whaley, a cousin of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
following confiscation from its native owners. The 18th century and saw ownership pass amongst various Ascendancy and gentry
Gentry
Gentry denotes "well-born and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past....
figures until in 1800 it was purchased by the McGeogh-Bonds, holders of some 6000 acres (24.3 km²) throughout the county.
19th Century
On the Death of Robert J. McGeough, the land passed into the possession of Alice Blacker-Douglass of KillineyKilliney
Killiney is a suburb of Dublin in south County Dublin, Ireland. It is within the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County. The area is by the coast, south of neighbouring Dalkey, and north to Shankill area in the most southern outskirt of Dublin....
, County Dublin, from whom it was purchased by its tenants under the Irish Land Acts
Irish Land Acts
The Land Acts were a series of measures to deal with the question of peasant proprietorship of land in Ireland in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Five such acts were introduced by the government of the United Kingdom between 1870 and 1909...
in the early 20th century - significantly later than neighbouring Carricknagavina which was amongst the first townlands in the country bought out by its tenants. Immediately prior to the Great Famine some 425 souls inhabited the townland, which had reduced by almost half to 214 in 1901.
The famine hit poor in the area hardest with stories circulating over a century later of the destitute starving with their mouths turned green, having resorted to eating grass. The 19th century, as well as seeing hunger and emigration, saw the disappearance of stores and shibeens which had existed before the famine but also the instigation of an education system with a national (elementary) school constructed in the townland during the 1820s for a cost of £112 and funded by the state (through the Kildare Place Society) and by the local Landlord. In 1824 this school records having one Episcopal
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
and some forty-five Roman Catholic schoolchildren enrolled.
20th Century
As well as the transfer of land ownership back to native dwellers, the early 20th century also saw activity on the part of both sides during the Irish War of IndependenceIrish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
with newspaper reports of at least one shooting incident involving Black and Tans
Black and Tans
The Black and Tans was one of two newly recruited bodies, composed largely of British World War I veterans, employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland...
. The area saw a return to quiet normalcy in the period following the Partition of Ireland
Partition of Ireland
The partition of Ireland was the division of the island of Ireland into two distinct territories, now Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland . Partition occurred when the British Parliament passed the Government of Ireland Act 1920...
and although incorporated within the new Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
state, the area remained a mere 5 miles (8 km) from the border with the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
. The mid-20th century saw the arrival of electricity, mains water and telephones in the area as well as the closing of the local school in June 1972 as all schools in the parish were amalgamated into two with one at Mullaghbawn and another at Forkhill. The Troubles from 1969 onwards saw little by way of direct conflict as the area remained quiet but also saw frequent British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
patrols and Helicopter activity which largely ended during the later stages of the Northern Ireland Peace Process
Northern Ireland peace process
The peace process, when discussing the history of Northern Ireland, is often considered to cover the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Belfast Agreement, and subsequent political developments.-Towards a...
. The later years of the 20th century also seem to indicate the end of the long process of population decline with population figures stabilising and finally beginning to grow from the end of the 1980s.
See also
- County ArmaghCounty Armagh-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
- TownlandTownlandA townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
- History of Northern IrelandHistory of Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is today one of the four countries of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, having been created as a separate legal entity on 3 May 1921, under the Government of Ireland Act 1920...