Townlands of the Parish of Cloone Conmaicne

Adoon: Ath Duin. The ford of the dun or fort.  

The site of a “dun” here can still be traced. The northern end of the townland is locally called Cootes Woods after a local landlord called Coote.

 Annaghmaconway: Eanach Meacan Bhui. The marsh of the wild carrot, meaning a marsh where the wild carrot was found in abundance. O’Donovan and Pinkman give Eanach – Mhic-Chonmhaighe McConway’s marsh but the spelling on the Down Survey Map Annaghmaconvy seems to point to the first interpretation.

 Annaghmacooleen: Eanach Magh Cuilin, the marsh of the plain of the little corner or field. There is a dried - up lake in this townland and ‘Cuilin’ may mean a corner of land left on the north side by the lake when it existed. On the eastern side bordering Sonnaghmore is Faugill, Fachlach, a split or crack in moory ground from drought. O’Donovan gives Fo-choill, underwood.      

Bellakiltyfea: Beal-Atha-Coillte-Feadha. The ford mouth of the great or strong woods.     

The Cloone river runs on its eastern and a tributary runs on the west. Townlands included are:-

Currawn, Corran, rough land. Cankeel, Ceann Caol, the narrow hilltop. Drumdoo, Droim Dubh, the black–coloured  hill ridge. Clooneen, Cluainin, the little meadow.

Cloone: Cluain.  A meadow. A green arable spot.  

This is the townland in which the village of Cloone is situated. Just North of the old ruined protestant Church is Tork Hill, Cnoc an Toirc, the hill of the boar. South west of the village bordering the Grange is Corrowna Hill, Cor-Aibhne, the round hill by the river. The Camp Field, where the French troops bivouaced on the night of Sept. 7th ’98, lies opposite the new R.C. Church which was Blessed and dedicated by Most Rev C.B. Daly on

 Corduff:  Cor-Dubh, Black Round Hill.

In this townland are the Sheeoges, fairy places, which are in fact old pre-christian burial tombs.

Cornagher: Cor n-Eachair. The round hill of the horses from “Each” meaning a horse.   Included in this townland are: Meenaghan, Mineachan. A small parcel of smooth green land. Moher, Mothar, a clump of bushes or trees; a shrubbery. Graffy  Hill. Cnoc Grafann. Hill of neighing horses. The road running over this high hill is still called the French road. Lough Aguinneen, Achadh Cooinin, field of the rabbits.

Cornulla: Cor n-Uladh, Hill of the tombs or penitential stations.

The meaning of this townland is closely related to that of Halls borders Cornulla. See Halls further on. Included in Cornulla are:- Sonnaghenerty, Sonnach Shinhartaigh. Henerty’s Fortification. Written Sonnaghginity on the Ordnance Survey Map. Relia, Railgheach, meaning a place of oak trees.

Drumadorn: Droim a ‘Doirn. The fist-shaped hill is given by Pinkman.

But ‘Doirn’ may be derived from ‘Doire’, an oak grove.

Drumbore: Droim Bothair. The hill ridge of the road or pass.

Drumdarkin: Droim Dearcan. The ridge of the acorns.   

‘Dearcans’ or acorns which grew on oak trees, were once much used for pig-feeding and, sometimes, even for human food. In early christian times many who devoted themselves to a religious life built their cells in remote woody districts and nut meal formed a valuable human resource for those early hermits. (Pinkman).

Drumgowla: Droim-Gaibhle. The hill ridge of the river fork, i.e. between the fork prongs made by the junction of two rivers.

Drumhalla: Droim Shaileach. The hill ridge of the willows or sallies. 

Droim-Shalach, the dirty ridge, is hard to accept and would be spelled Droim-Salach. On the southern extremity of Drumhallagh, close to the village of Cloone, lies Gortahoirke, Gort an Choirce, field of the oats. A very interesting and archaeological pass runs from Gortahoirke along the Sheehaun drain towards Annaghmaconway called the Saint’s Walk. It ends at a spot called Cealldra, which means burial ground for infants. It appears that in ancient times deceased infants were brought from the Church at Cloone this way to be buried in a special plot. Hence, the name The Saints’ Walk and a very appropriate one too.

Drumharkin Glebe: Droim Ui Arcain, Harkin’s Ridge.

The Clann Arcain were a branch of the Conmaicne Rein  (Bk. of Fenagh) This interpretation is the one given by Pinkman and there is considerable doubt about it. Harkin is not a common Cloone name. Included in Drumharkan Glebe are:- (1) The Grange, from Grainnseach meaning an outlying farm attached to a monastery, no doubt in this case St. Fraoch’s ancient monastery. Overlooking the Grange and on its southern side is a wooded ridge called Potter’s Plantation called after Potter, who was connected with it in some way. The road round this ridge leads to the holy well of Criffer Ree, to which there is a pattern every year. (2) Annaghbrennan  locally pronounced Annaghbrenaghan, Brennaghan’s Marsh or moor. The Down Survey has Annaghbromhagan Eanach  Broghagan, The Moor or marsh of the rushes, from Brobh, a rush.   This is more likely to be the correct  meaning. Through this townland runs a road called Hurley Hill, over which, tradition says, St. Fraoch travelled from his monastery at Cloone to the home of his sister, Nemald, at Gortnalougher. (3) Streamstown, Baile Sruthan is a name, no doubt, conceived in landlord times. The extreme southern portion of the townland is called the Glebe, meaning church  lands. A  century or more ago, this townland was owned by the local Protestant minister. A spot in the Glebe of scrub-land is called Cooldao, Coill Dubh, the black wood.

Drumlegga: roim Leacach,   The hill ridge abounding in flagstones.

Drimna: Droimne, Hill Ridges. 

Included in Drumna is Lismaciniff, Lios Mhic Chonduibh, McNiff’s Fort (Pinkman). It might also mean Lios meacain Dhuibh, the fort surrounded by comfrey, which is a common herb or weed.    

Dunavinally: Dun-Abhann-Shailigh. The fort by the river of the willows or sallies. This townland lies in the extreme north of the parish and is locally called Sallyfield, no doubt a translation from Saileach, the willow.  

Edenbawn: Ladan Ban, The hill brow of the lea ground or dry pasture  land. 

Included in this townland is Gleann meaning valley. This small area borders Gubbs.   

Edergole: Eadar – Ghabhal, a place between two (river) prongs.

Esker: Eiscir.   A ridge of high land.  

Generally ‘eiscir’ is applied to a sandy ridge but sand is not found in this Esker.

Gorteenoran: Goirtin Uarain. The little field of the spring well.

Fuaran or uaran means “ a living fountain of fresh or cold water springing from the earth”.(Colgan). 

Camber: Gort na Cam Darach, The field of the crooked oak.

Locally called Camber, this townland straddles both Cloone and Aughavas parishes.

Gortnalougher: Gort na Luachra. The field of the rushes.  

In this Townland St. Berach or Barry, nephew of Cruimther Fhraoch of Cloone, was born.  

Gortnaraw: Gort na Ratha. Field of the Fort.  

This seems the best interpretation although no remains of a fort can be traced. On the eastern extremity, bordering Gortletteragh Parish, is a small area called Riverstown.  

Halls: Na h-Olladha, Cairns or Penitential Stations.  

Halls  is the English for the Irish plural. As the article causes ‘h’ to be prefixed to the word this is retained in the English translation. It appears that in pre-christian times people came here to worship and do certain works of penance. Included in Halls, lower portion, is Ardloher, Ard Luachra, the rushy height. The Gurteen meadows are part of Ardloher. Goirtin, little tillage field. 

Killeveha: Coill a ‘Bheithe, Wood of the birch tree.  

Included in Killyvehy are, Drumkerran, Droim Caorthainn, Hill ridge of the mountain ash or rowan tree. Drumcauskeen, Droim Caiscin, Ridge of the dried grain. ‘Caiscin’ means kiln-dried grain.A deep ravine on the eastern side is called the Altans from Altan meaning a small cliff.

Leckna: Leicne, Sloping land.  

Leicne is plural of Leaca and means any flat sloping surface (Dineen).

Mahanagh: Meathanach, a place abounding in twigs or saplings, from Meathan, a twig. These twigs were used in olden times for making sieves. On the ordinance survey map it is included in Lisagarvan which lies for the most part in the Parish of Aughavas.

Rocullion: Rath Chuilinn. The fort or rath of the holly trees.

Holly is still extremely plentiful in this townland.

Sunnaghmore: Sonnach Mor, Great Fortification. The remains of the fort are still visible on top of Sonnaghmore hill. Townlands included are,

Drumloughan, Droim Lachan, The duck-shaped ridge.   There was a lake partly in this townland, but now it is dried up, and this may have given the name Droim Lochain, the ridge of the little lake, to Drumloughan.

Aughakiltubrid, Achadh Cille Tobraide.   The field of the Church by the well. Spring wells abound in the place.

Drumrane, Droim Rathain.   The ferny ridge.

Gubbs. Goba. Points of land. As with Gubbs in Drumreilly this Gubbs contains bog and it has been suggested that the  name originated from the fact that stumps of trees were sticking up in abundance in these bogs, forming points or ‘goba.’  Barnaranna,  Barr na Raithneac. Top-most point of the ferna.

Mount Ida, this modern placenames originated in plantation times and was given to this district by a landlord called Nicholls. It is taken from Greek mythology, as is obvious. The ancient name was Knockroe, Cnoc Rua. Bellaknockaun, Bealach Cnocain. The road or pass over the hillock.   This small area consists of level meadows between the hills and in olden times was particularly noted for its hurling matches. Close by at the foot of Sunnaghmore are the graves of ‘croppies’ slaughtered here, it is said, on their way home from the Battle of Ballinamuck. The place is, incorrectly, called the monuments, but the correct  significance of the monuments seems to be the great megalithic tombs, cromlechs and standing stones, in Mount Ida and Drumlegga, which even to-day confirms the existence here of a huge pre-christian burial ground. A comprehensive archeological survey of this district would be very worth while.

(Thanks to Michael Whelan, Aughavas for his kind permission to use the above information on the "Townlands of Cloone".)