Desertmartin (civil parish)
Encyclopedia
Desertmartin is a civil and ecclesiastical parish in County Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. Containing one major settlement, Desertmartin
, it is bordered by the civil parishes of Ballynascreen, Desertlyn, Kilcronaghan
, Lissan, Maghera
, and Magherafelt. It lies within the former barony of Loughinsholin and is situated in Magherafelt District Council
. As an ecclesiastical parish it is within the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe
.
, on the easternmost limit of the Sperrin Mountains range. Slieve Gallion rises to an elevation of 1730 feet (527.3 m) and is near the south-western boundary of the parish. The rest of the parish is comparatively low averaging around 270 feet (82.3 m) above sea level, and in its easterly descent from Slieve Gallion is broken by small glens and ravines, such as; Reuben's, Gortanewry, and Quilly.
The main hills in the parish are; Slieve Gallion Cairn, 1625 feet (495.3 m) high; Brackamore Hill, 418 feet (127.4 m) high; Windy Castle, 1216 feet (370.6 m) high; Tirgan Rock, 590 feet (179.8 m) high.
Desertmartin has no river flowing through it, however does contain several small streams, the principle of which is the Grange (also known as the Desertmartin River), which after a course of 5 miles (8 km) discharges into the River Moyola
.
Desertmartin also contains a lake, Loughinsholin , which contained an artificial island on which was situated a fort. This fort was the seat of the Ó Floinn (O'Lynn) dynasty, who also gave their name to the townland of Moneysterlin in the parish.
The Ó Floinn (O'Lynn) sept came to prominence in the Airgialla
n client-kingdom of Ui Tuirtri, with their power-base situated at Loughinsholin. In 1178 the O'Lynns were almost "exterminated" by the Ó Cathaín (O'Kanes) who attacked and plundered their territory. The O'Lynns would however recover and extend their power all the way to Carrickfergus
and the north-Antrim
coast, until the 1350s when the Clandeboye O'Neills stepped into the power-vacuum left by the collapse of the Earldom of Ulster and expanded to encompass all of Ui Tuirtri.
The last recorded lord of Loughinsholin was Brian Carrach O'Neill from a branch of the Clandeboye O'Neills. His residence lay in the neighbouring parish of Ballynascreen. His daughter Anne, was the second wife of last prince of Clandeboye, Shane MacBryan O'Neill of Edenduffcarrick, later known as Shane's Castle
, Antrim. Brian Carrach died in 1586.
The Flight of the Earls in 1607 saw the confiscation of the earls forfeited lands, which were then granted to the City of London Corporation and its livery companies
to undertake its development as part of the Plantation of Ulster
. In 1609 it is recorded that a fort was erected on the Loughinsholin crannog by Sir Josiah Bodley, who accompanied Sir Arthur Chichester, and his army, when they were marching throughout the confiscated lands.
In 1613, the barony of Loughinsholin which had been created during the reign of Elizabeth I, and which was part of County Tyrone
, was combined with County Coleraine
and several environs to become County Londonderry.
Shane More O'Hagan of Tullyhogue
would later marry a lady of the O'Lynns and take up residence in the O'Lynns seat in Loughinsholin. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Cormac O'Hagan lead a rebel force that took possession of Moneymore and looted the village and the Draper's Company's Castle. In response Cormac O'Hagan would have to defend Loughinsholin from the English
, when it was ineffectively attacked twice by cannon.
The following year, 1642, Sir John Clotsworthy, whose residence was in Moneymore, retook Moneymore, and twice attacked Loughinsholin, first in April, and then again in August when they diverted a local stream and drained the lake. Sir John Clotsworthy would recover the valuables looted by Cormac O'Hagan from the castle and his residence and burn Cormac O'Hagans residence to the ground.
Other than Loughinsholin, the O'Lynns would also give their name to the townland of Moneysterlin , which lies near the lough, and is said to have been built for the O'Lynn wife of Shane More O'Hagan, as well as the neighbouring parish of Desertlyn .
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, 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...
. Containing one major settlement, Desertmartin
Desertmartin
Desertmartin is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is four miles from Magherafelt, at the foot of Slieve Gallion. In the 2001 Census Desertmartin greater area had a population of 1,276. It had a population of 2257 in 1837 and 3101 in 1910. It lies within Desertmartin...
, it is bordered by the civil parishes of Ballynascreen, Desertlyn, Kilcronaghan
Kilcronaghan
Kilcronaghan is a civil parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Containing one major settlement, Tobermore, and lying on the descending slope of Slieve Gallion, Kilcronaghan is bordered by the civil parishes of Ballynascreen, Desertmartin, Maghera, and Termoneeny. It lies within the former...
, Lissan, Maghera
Maghera (parish)
Maghera is a parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is bordered by the parishes of Ballynascreen, Ballyscullion, Desertmartin, Dungiven, Kilcronaghan, Killelagh, Magherafelt, Tamlaght O'Crilly, and Termoneeny...
, and Magherafelt. It lies within the former barony of Loughinsholin and is situated in Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council
Magherafelt District Council is a district council in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. Council headquarters are in Magherafelt. The Council area stretches from Lough Neagh and the River Bann in the east and into the Sperrin Mountains in the west and is divided by the Moyola River. It covers...
. As an ecclesiastical parish it is within the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe
Diocese of Derry and Raphoe
The Diocese of Derry and Raphoe is a diocese of the Church of Ireland located in the north of Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh...
.
Topography
The parish of Desertmartin lies at the foot of Slieve GallionSlieve Gallion
Slieve Gallion is a mountain in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. By road, it is from Moneymore, from Cookstown, and from Magherafelt. It is the eastern limit of the Sperrin Mountains range...
, on the easternmost limit of the Sperrin Mountains range. Slieve Gallion rises to an elevation of 1730 feet (527.3 m) and is near the south-western boundary of the parish. The rest of the parish is comparatively low averaging around 270 feet (82.3 m) above sea level, and in its easterly descent from Slieve Gallion is broken by small glens and ravines, such as; Reuben's, Gortanewry, and Quilly.
The main hills in the parish are; Slieve Gallion Cairn, 1625 feet (495.3 m) high; Brackamore Hill, 418 feet (127.4 m) high; Windy Castle, 1216 feet (370.6 m) high; Tirgan Rock, 590 feet (179.8 m) high.
Desertmartin has no river flowing through it, however does contain several small streams, the principle of which is the Grange (also known as the Desertmartin River), which after a course of 5 miles (8 km) discharges into the River Moyola
River Moyola
The River Moyola or Moyola River stretches for approximately 27 miles from the Sperrin Mountains to Lough Neagh. The Moyola starts a small river for the first few miles of its length and proceeds to expand to a medium sized river and then to a large river for its last couple of miles before...
.
Desertmartin also contains a lake, Loughinsholin , which contained an artificial island on which was situated a fort. This fort was the seat of the Ó Floinn (O'Lynn) dynasty, who also gave their name to the townland of Moneysterlin in the parish.
History
The civil parish of Desertmartin derives its name from the ecclesiastical parish, which in turn is named after an ancient church allegedly built as a retreat by St. Columba in the 6th century in honour of St. Martin. This gave its name in Irish; Díseart Mhartain, the hermitage of St. Martin. It is also recorded however that it was built by St. Martin instead.Loughinsholin
At some stage a crannog (an artificial island) was built in the only lough within the parish, lying in the townlands of Anagh and Stranagard. This lake would be later called Loughinsholin , and the name is preserved to this day as the name of the barony of Loughinsholin.The Ó Floinn (O'Lynn) sept came to prominence in the Airgialla
Airgíalla
Airgíalla or Airgialla was the name of an Irish federation and Irish kingdom which first formed around the 7th century...
n client-kingdom of Ui Tuirtri, with their power-base situated at Loughinsholin. In 1178 the O'Lynns were almost "exterminated" by the Ó Cathaín (O'Kanes) who attacked and plundered their territory. The O'Lynns would however recover and extend their power all the way to Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
and the north-Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
coast, until the 1350s when the Clandeboye O'Neills stepped into the power-vacuum left by the collapse of the Earldom of Ulster and expanded to encompass all of Ui Tuirtri.
The last recorded lord of Loughinsholin was Brian Carrach O'Neill from a branch of the Clandeboye O'Neills. His residence lay in the neighbouring parish of Ballynascreen. His daughter Anne, was the second wife of last prince of Clandeboye, Shane MacBryan O'Neill of Edenduffcarrick, later known as Shane's Castle
Shane's Castle
Shane's Castle is a ruined castle near Randalstown in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The castle is on the north-east shores of Lough Neagh. Built in 1345 by a member of the O'Neill dynasty, it was originally called Eden-duff-carrick...
, Antrim. Brian Carrach died in 1586.
The Flight of the Earls in 1607 saw the confiscation of the earls forfeited lands, which were then granted to the City of London Corporation and its livery companies
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...
to undertake its development as part 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...
. In 1609 it is recorded that a fort was erected on the Loughinsholin crannog by Sir Josiah Bodley, who accompanied Sir Arthur Chichester, and his army, when they were marching throughout the confiscated lands.
In 1613, the barony of Loughinsholin which had been created during the reign of Elizabeth I, and which was part of County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, was combined with County Coleraine
County Coleraine
County Coleraine, called County of Colerain in the earliest documents was one of the counties of Ireland from 1585 to 1613. It was named after its intended county town, Coleraine...
and several environs to become County Londonderry.
Shane More O'Hagan of Tullyhogue
Tullyhogue
Tullyhogue, also called Tullaghoge or Tullahoge , is a small village and townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is within the civil parish of Desertcreat and is about three kilometres south of Cookstown....
would later marry a lady of the O'Lynns and take up residence in the O'Lynns seat in Loughinsholin. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
Cormac O'Hagan lead a rebel force that took possession of Moneymore and looted the village and the Draper's Company's Castle. In response Cormac O'Hagan would have to defend Loughinsholin from the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, when it was ineffectively attacked twice by cannon.
The following year, 1642, Sir John Clotsworthy, whose residence was in Moneymore, retook Moneymore, and twice attacked Loughinsholin, first in April, and then again in August when they diverted a local stream and drained the lake. Sir John Clotsworthy would recover the valuables looted by Cormac O'Hagan from the castle and his residence and burn Cormac O'Hagans residence to the ground.
Other than Loughinsholin, the O'Lynns would also give their name to the townland of Moneysterlin , which lies near the lough, and is said to have been built for the O'Lynn wife of Shane More O'Hagan, as well as the neighbouring parish of Desertlyn .