Urhannagh

Geography

Urhannagh is bounded on the north by Clontycarnaghan townland, on the west by Munlough North townland, on the east by Bofealan townland and on the south by Cavanaquill and Killynaff townlands. Its chief geographical features are a small stream and cow pastures. Urhannagh is traversed by rural lanes.

The townland covers 68 statute acres.

History

The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the townland as Doorawnagh. The 1665 Down Survey map depicts it as Unshonagh.

Walter Talbot of Ballyconnell died on 26 June 1625 and his son James Talbot succeeded to the Ballyconnell estate aged just 10 years. An Inquisition held in Cavan on 20 September 1630 found that James Talbot was seized of one poll of Dowerhannagh, along with other lands. In 1635 James Talbot married Helen Calvert, the daughter of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore of Maryland, USA. In the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652, James Talbot's estate was confiscated because he was a Catholic and he was granted an estate in 1655 at Castle Rubey, County Roscommon instead. He died in 1687. Talbot's land in Urhannagh was distributed as follows-

John Blachford obtained Urhannagh after the Cromwellian settlement. He was born in 1598 in Ashmore, Dorset, England, the son of Richard and Frances Blachford. He became a merchant in Dorchester, Dorset but fled to France in 1633 when facing a warrant from the Exchequer for not paying customs. He married Mary Renald from Devon and died at Lissanover, County Cavan in 1661 and was buried at St. Orvins in Dublin despite wishing to be buried back in Dorchester. His will was published on 9 January 1665 leaving his son John Blachford as his sole heir. An Inquisition held in Cavan on 21 May 1667 found that his widow Mary Blachford and his heir John were seized of, inter alia, the land of Urhunaght alias Unshonagh alias Doorhawnaght. He had sons John, Thomas, Ambrose and William (who became a Major) and daughters Mary and Frances. Major William Blachford was born in 1658 and died at Lissanover on 28 March 1727. The Blachford family gravestones in Templeport Church read as follows- This monument was erected by MAJOR WILLIAM / BLASHFORD of Lisnover in 1721 to the memory of / his father, JOHN BLASHFORD, late of the same Esqr. but / from Dorchester in Dorsetshire, the place of his / nativity, who in his lifetime chose this for a burying / place, for himself and family, but died in Dublin / was buried in St. Orvins Church but his wife, MARY / RENALD of a Devonsheire family is buried here / as also three sons and two daughters, viz JOHN / AMBROSE AND THOMAS; MARY AND FRANCES / Here likewise lies buried two wives of MAJOR WILLIAM BLASHFORD, son to the said JOHN BLASHFORD viz / MARY MAGHEE of an ancient Family in Lincolnsheire. CORNET CHIDLEY BLACHFORD, son to MAJOR WILLIAM BLACHFORD, leys buried here who dyed August ye 29th, 1722. This aboue MAJOR WILLIAM BLACHFORD. / That erected this monument, died the 28th of March 1727, aged 69 years.

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

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

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

Antiquities

There seem to be no sites of historical interest in the townland.