Ballymagirril

Geography

Ballymagirril is bounded on the north by Bellaleenan townland, on the west by Sraloaghan townland in County Leitrim, on the south by Greagh townland and on the east by Stranadarragh and Cornagunleog townlands. Its chief geographical features are the River Blackwater, County Cavan, spring wells and dug wells.

Ballymagirril is traversed by minor roads and rural lanes.

The townland covers 157 statute acres.

Etymology

The McGirl family probabably owned the townland. The name is still common in the area, e.g. John Joe McGirl.

History

Until the 19th century the modern townland of Greagh formed a sub-division of Ballymagirril.

The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the townland as B:McGirrill.

The 1665 Down Survey map depicts it as Ballymagurke.

William Petty's 1685 map depicts it as Ballimagurt.

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 29 April 1611, along with other lands, King James VI and I granted four polls of Ballymagirrell to the McGovern Chief, Phelim Magawran, but it is probable that the lands had been in the possession of the McGovern clan for several hundred years before this and it was just a Surrender and regrant confirming the existing title to the McGoverns.

An Inquisition of King Charles I of England held in Cavan town on 4 October 1626 stated that the aforesaid Phelim Magawrane died on 20 January 1622 and his lands, including 4 polls in Ballymagerrill, went to his son Brian who was aged 30 (born 1592) and married.

The McGovern lands in Ballymagirril were confiscated in the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 and were distributed as follows-

In the Hearth Money Rolls of 1662 there was one person paying the Hearth Tax in- Ballimagirrill- William Mungomery

A grant dated 3 November 1666 was made by King Charles II of England to Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet which included, inter alia, the lands of Ballynagurke or Ballyregerrill. By grant dated 11 September 1670 from King Charles II of England to said Sir Tristram Beresford, the said lands of Ballynagurke or Ballyregerrill were included in the creation of a new Manor of Beresford.

In the Templeport Poll Book of 1761 there were six people registered to vote in Ballymagirril in the Irish general election, 1761 - James Elliott, John Johnston, Robert Johnston, John Rutledge, Robert Rutledge and William Rutledge. They all lived in Ballymagirril apart from James Elliott who lived in Drumlougher but had a freehold in Ballymagirril. They were entitled to two votes each. The four election candidates were Charles Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont and Lord Newtownbutler (later Brinsley Butler, 2nd Earl of Lanesborough), both of whom were then elected Member of Parliament for Cavan County. The losing candidates were George Montgomery (MP) of Ballyconnell and Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham. Elliott and William Rutledge both voted for Lord Newtownbutler and George Montgomery. John Johnston, Robert Johnston and John Rutledge all voted for Newtownbutler and Coote. Robert Rutledge voted for Coote and Maxwell. Absence from the poll book either meant a resident did not vote or more likely was not a freeholder entitled to vote, which would mean most of the inhabitants of Ballymagirril.

In 1804 Lowther Kirkwood of Mullinagrave, parish of Templeport, Co. Cavan, gentleman made the following will-

2 July 1804. To his grandnephew Lowther Brien, city of Dublin, attorney, and his heirs his lands of Awengallis, Ballylenan, Ballymagirill, Stranadarragh, Carnagimlie, Cullagh, Drumleden, Leitry [Leitra], Corlagh, Lananleragh [Lannanerriagh], Gowlanlea and Drumlogher, Co. Cavan, held under lease from the Beresford family. He had begun a suit in Chancery, Ireland, against John Brien, late of Salvon, Co. Fermanagh, deceased, for setting aside a fradulent deed obtained by said John Brien, which suit against the representatives is to be continued by said Lowther Brien, his sole exor. Witnesses: John Johnston and Andrew Rutledge, both of Ballymagiril, and Thos. Stephenson, Drumleaden, Co. Cavan, gent. Memorial witnessed by: said Andrew Rutledge, and John Balfour, city of Dublin, attorney.

A deed of land dated 10 April 1830 now in the Cavan Archives Service (ref P017/0036) is described as-

Assignment and conveyance made between Edward Rutledge, Ballimagirl, County Cavan, farmer, and Thomas Rutledge, his son, of the first part, and Thomas Johnston, Ballimagirl, County Cavan, farmer, of the other part. Recites that Edward Rutledge is seized of part of the lands of Ballymagirril (Ballimagirl), parish of Templeport, County Cavan, by virtue of assignment. Formerly held by his father, Robert Rutledge, deceased, and includes house, garden and outbuildings. Bounded on the east by James Rutledge's kitchen garden, on the west by a house and garden occupied by Mary Rutledge, on the north by John Rutledge's holding and on the south by the field known as Spring Well Park. In consideration of sum of £4.10.0 sterling, paid to Edward Rutledge and Thomas Rutledge by Thomas Johnston, they release to him the property including dwelling house, garden and other buildings formerly occupied by Robert Rutledge. Noted that a memorial of the deed was entered in the Register Office, city of Dublin, on 19 May 1830, in book 859, page 258, number 573258.

In the 1825 Registry of Freeholders for County Cavan there was one freeholder registered in Ballymagirril- James Rutledge. He had no landlord as he owned the fee simple himself.His holding was valued between £20 and £49.[7]

The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list ten tithepayers in the townland.

A deed of the townland dated 10 April 1830 is held in The County Cavan Archives (ref P017/0036). The description is-

Assignment and conveyance made between Edward Rutledge, Ballimagirl, county Cavan, farmer, and Thomas Rutledge, his son, of the first part, and Thomas Johnston, Ballimagirl, county Cavan, farmer, of the other part. Recites that Edward Rutledge is seized of part of the lands of Ballymagirril (Ballimagirl), parish of Templeport, county Cavan, by virtue of assignment. Formerly held by his father, Robert Rutledge, deceased, and includes house, garden and outbuildings. Bounded on the east by James Rutledge's kitchen garden, on the west by a house and garden occupied by Mary Rutledge, on the north by John Rutledge's holding and on the south by the field known as Spring Well Park. In consideration of sum of £4.10.0 sterling, paid to Edward Rutledge and Thomas Rutledge by Thomas Johnston, they release to him the property including dwelling house, garden and other buildings formerly occupied by Robert Rutledge. Noted that a memorial of the deed was entered in the Register Office, city of Dublin, on 19 May 1830, in book 859, page 258, number 573258.

Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists nine landholders in the townland.

On 6 July 1857 the Incumbered Estates Commission published the following notice-

In the Matter of the Estate of James Brien, Geo. Brien, Edward Brien and Francis Brien, Owners. Exparte by Isabella Crummer, Petitioner. The commissioners having ordered a Sale of the Lands of Shanadaragh and Curnagunlogh, Cullegh, Drumlohgher, Drumledin, Sananaragh, and Drumledin, and Corlough, situate in the Barony of Tullyhaw, and County of Cavan, held under lease dated the 10th April, 1718, from the Bishop Raphoe, for lives renewable for ever, and which Lands are included in the denominations of Ballymagord, Owngally, Gortneglough, Drumedin or Ballylennin, in said lease mentioned:

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are eight families listed in the townland, and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are still eight families listed in the townland.

A distinguished native of the townland was William Rutledge who later became a politician in Victoria (Australia).

Antiquities

The only structure of historical interest in the townland seems to be stepping stones over the River Blackwater