Bellaleenan

Bellaleenan (from Irish Béal Átha an Líonáin meaning 'The Entrance to the Ford of the Gorge') is a townland in the civil parish of Templeport, County Cavan, Ireland.

[1] In medieval times the McGovern barony of Tullyhaw was divided into economic taxation areas called ballibetoes, from the Irish Baile Biataigh (Anglicized as 'Ballybetagh'), meaning 'A Provisioner's Town or Settlement'.

An Inquisition of King Charles I of England held in Cavan Town on 31 March 1635[5] stated that Cahell O Reily was seized in his lifetime of, inter alia, one poll of Bealaghlynan.

The O'Reilly lands in Bellaleenan were confiscated in the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 and were distributed as follows- In the Hearth Money Rolls compiled on 29 September 1663[6] there was one person paying the Hearth Tax in Ballylenan- Phelemy McKelagher The 1652 Commonwealth Survey lists the townland (spelled Balleleanan) as belonging to Lieutenant-Colonel Tristam Beresford and a further confirming grant dated 3 November 1666 was made by King Charles II of England to the aforementioned Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet which included, inter alia, 96 acres-2 roods-32 perches of land in Gortnegloigh or Gorteengloigh alias Ballymagough or Ballynegough.

[9] In a marriage settlement made 18 Oct 1718 with his wife Katherine (née Lowther), the said James Kirkwood settled the lands, including Ballilenam, on his children.

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.

Memorial witnessed by: said Andrew Rutledge, and John Balfour, city of Dublin, attorney.The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list eighteen tithepayers in the townland.

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 ten families listed in the townland [19] and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are thirteen families listed in the townland.