Gortmore

Geography

Gortmore is bounded on the north by Dunglave and Gub townlands in Swanlinbar parish, on the west by Gortullaghan townland, on the south by Moherloob townland and on the east by Moherreagh townland. Its chief geographical features are a stream, a stone quarry and dug wells.

Gortmore is traversed by minor roads and rural lanes.

The townland covers 113 statute acres.

History

The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the townland as Gortmore.

The 1665 Down Survey map depicts it as Gortmore.

William Petty's map of 1685 depicts it as Gortmore.

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 26 June 1615, King James VI and I granted, inter alia, one poll in Gortmore to Sir George Graeme and Sir Richard Graeme to form part of the Manor of Greame. An Inquisition held at Cavan Town on 31 October 1627 found that George Greames was seized of one poll in Gortmore and he died 9 October 1624. By his will dated 1 May 1615 he left his lands to his son and heir William Greames then 30 years old (born 1594) and unmarried. After the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 the Graham family were still in possession of Gortmore.

In the Hearth Money Rolls of 1662 there was one person paying the Hearth Tax in- Cartmore- Mahon O'Logan.

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

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

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are ten families listed in the townland, and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are only six families listed in the townland.

A distinguished native of the townland was Thomas McGovern (politician), M.P. for West Cavan in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1900 to 1904.

Antiquities

The chief structures of historical interest in the townland are

1. An earthen ringfort.