Clanmahon (Irish: Clann Mhathúna[1]) is a barony in County Cavan, Ireland. Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.[2][3][4]

Clanmahon
Clann Mhathúna (Irish)
Pub in Kilcogy, Clanmahon
Pub in Kilcogy, Clanmahon
Barony map of County Cavan, 1900; Clanmahon is in the south, coloured yellow.
Barony map of County Cavan, 1900; Clanmahon is in the south, coloured yellow.
Sovereign stateIreland
ProvinceUlster
CountyCavan
Area
 • Total
207.08 km2 (79.95 sq mi)

Etymology

edit

Clanmahon takes its name from the Irish Clann Mathúna, originally Cloinne Mathghamhna, "Mathgamhain's tribe," the ruling Gaelic Irish dynasty in the area in the Middle Ages. The personal name Mathgamhain means "bear" and was a common name among warriors.[1]

Geography

edit

Clanmahon is the southern part of County Cavan, east of the River Erne and north of Lough Sheelin.[1]

History

edit
 
Map of Breifne in AD 700; Clanmahon is seen near to the "Cairpre Gabra" tribe.

The descendants of Tomas Mór O'Reilly, king of East Breifne 1384–92, were rulers of Clanmahon in the 15th century; Tomás was the son of Mathgamain Ua Raighillaigh. The Uí Shioradáin (O'Sheridans) were a vassal tribe.[5] The Ua Raghallaigh (O'Reillys) were also powerful landowners until the 16th century.[6] According to the Annals of the Four Masters, in 1537, "The son of O'Reilly (Brian, the son of Farrell), a great loss in his own country, was slain by the people of the English Lord Justice [Leonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane], who came to commit ravages in Clann-Mahon."[7]

The barony of Clanmahon was created by 1609 in the Plantation of Ulster.[8]

Clanmahon gives its name to Clanmahon Road, Donnycarney, Dublin; several streets in that area are named after Irish clans.[9]

List of settlements

edit

Below is a list of settlements in Clanmahon:

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Clann Mhathúna/Clanmahon". Logainm.ie.
  2. ^ "Drumloman Church of Ireland Church, BRACKLAGH (CLANMAHON BY.), CAVAN". Buildings of Ireland.
  3. ^ "Legwee Bridge, CORR (CLANMAHON BY.), CAVAN". Buildings of Ireland.
  4. ^ O'Donovan, John (23 February 1856). "Annala Rioghachta Eireann: 1501-1588". Hodges, Smith, and Company – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "The Baronies of Ireland - History". sites.rootsweb.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  6. ^ http://www.cavanlibrary.ie/file/Local-Studies/Library-Scanned-Docs/Breifny-Antiquarian-Society-Journal-1927-Vol-III-No-I.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  7. ^ "Annals of the Four Masters|Annala Rioghachta Eireann|Volume 5|English translation|An electronic edition". UCC.
  8. ^ Nicholls, Kenneth W. (23 February 1978). "Land, Law and Society in Sixteenth Century Ireland: O'Donnell Lecture Delivered at University College Cork, May 1976". National University of Dublin – via Google Books.
  9. ^ http://www.makingofdublincity.com/dublin/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Volume-5.pdf [bare URL PDF]