Mullaghduff, County Cavan
Mullaghduff (Irish: Mullach Dubh) is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland.
Etymology
The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename ‘Mullach Dubh’ which means "The Black Hilltop", which possibly derives from the blackish soil which covers the hill. The 1609 Ulster Plantation map spells the name as ‘Mulladuff’, the 1641 Rebellion Depositions as 'Mullaighduffe' and the 1659 Down Survey map spells it as ‘Mullaghduffe’.
Geography
It is bounded on the north by Annagh and Corranierna townlands, on the west by Cullyleenan and Agharaskilly townlands, on the south by Cavanagh townland and on the east by Cranaghan townland. Its chief geographical features are Killywilly Lough on its eastern boundary and a central drumlin hill which rises to 309 feet above sea level. Mullaghduff is traversed by the N87 road (Ireland), the Yellow road, Murray’s Lane and by the disused Cavan & Leitrim Railway.
The townland covers 253 statute acres, including three acres of water.
History
It formed part of the Manor of Calva which was granted to Walter Talbot in 1610 as part of the Plantation of Ulster. The 1641 Rebellion Depositions for County Cavan state that the following Irish rebels lived in Mullaghduff at the time- Farrell Og McKiernan, Turlogh McFarrell McKiernan, Owen McFarrell McKiernan, Patrick McIlmartin and Hugh McIlmartin.
Four deeds relating to land transactions in Mullaghduff in 1749 are now in the Farnham Papers[1] held in the National Library of Ireland (Collection List No. 95). They are described as-
Lease for one year from Robert King to William Lennox of Mullaghduff in the barony of Tullyhaw and Ardarragh and other lands in the barony of Tullyhunco. 1749 Mar. 5
Conveyance of mortgage from Robert King to William Lennox secured by Mullaghduff in the barony of Tullyhaw and Ardarragh and other lands in the barony of Tullyhunco. 1749 Mar. 6.
Lease for one year from Mrs. Mary Carmichael to Robert King of Mullaghduff in the barony of Tullyhaw and Ardarragh and other lands in the barony of Tullyhunco. 1749 May 1.
Mortgage between Mrs. Mary Carmichael and Robert King secured by Mullaghduff in the barony of Tullyhaw and Ardarragh and other lands in the barony of Tullyhunco in consideration of the sum of £400. 1749 May 2.
The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list the following tithepayers in the townland- Moore, Gallagher, Whitely, Sturdy, Sheridan, Taylor, Quinn, Reilly, Graham, Gerty, Watt, Baxter, Matthews, O'Brien.[2]
The Ordnance Survey Name Books for 1836 give the following description of the townland- "Mullach Dubh which means Black Summit. This was in old times considered a part of Cavans & in patent called Cavan Mullaghduff. Property of Montgomery. Rent from 14 shillings to £1 per arable acre. Gravelly soil. Stone houses. Crops are oats, rye, flax and potatoes. Road in good repair. Inhabitants are comfortable."
The 1841 Census of Ireland gives a population of 87 in Mullaghduff, of which 44 were males and 43 were females, with 18 houses.
The 1851 Census of Ireland gives a population of 54, a decrease of 33 on the 1841 figure, due to the intervening Irish Famine of 1845–47, of which 26 were males and 28 were females, with 9 houses.
Griffith’s Valuation of 1857 lists the landlord of the townland as Netterfield and the tenants as Cochrane, Quinn, Fallon, Moore, Faris, McGinn, Reilly, Graham, Gallahar and Roe.[3]
In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are six families listed in the townland.[4]
In the 1911 census of Ireland, there were seven families in the townland.[5]
Antiquities
The only items of historical interest are the disused Cavan & Leitrim Railway and a sandpit.
References
External links
Places in County Cavan | ||
|---|---|---|
| Towns |  | |
| Villages |
| |
| Townlands | ||
| Landforms | ||
| ||