Cavanagh (from Irish Cabhanach, meaning 'abounding in hollows'[1]) is a townland in the civil parish of Tomregan, County Cavan, Ireland.
The oldest surviving mention of the name is in the 1609 Ulster Plantation Baronial map where it is spelled Cavan.
Its chief geographical features are Lough Rud (Loch Roda = The Red Lake) and a drumlin hill reaching to 219 feet (67 m) above sea-level.
[10] James Talbot married Helen Calvert, the daughter of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore of Maryland, USA, in 1635 and had a son Colonel George Talbot who owned an estate in Cecil County, Maryland which he named Ballyconnell in honour of his native town in Cavan.
[11] Gwyllym's name first appears in the area as the owner in the 1652 Commonwealth Survey, which lists the townland as belonging to Captain Gwilliams.
A deed by the aforesaid Meredith Gwyllym dated 2 May 1724 includes the townland as: Cavan alias Caven.
The estate, including Cavanagh, was split up among different purchasers and maps & details of previous leases of the sold parts are still available.
[16] In the Cavan Poll Book of 1761, there was one person registered to vote in Cavanagh in the Irish general election, 1761: William Smith.
A Methodist Pioneer: or the Life and Labours of John Smith[18] (1885), by Charles Henry Crookshank, states on page 196- In 1766, however, in connection with the zealous and faithful labours of John Smith, a large number of Societies were formed, including those at Mullalougher, Killashandra, Bawnboy, Belturbet, Cavanagh, Ballyconnell, Swanlinbar, Furnaceland and Gortnaleg.
The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list the following tithepayers in the townland- Patterson, Armstrong, Core, Taylor, Hacket.
[20][21][22] Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists the landlord of the townland as Vernon & the tenants as Faris, Taylor, Kells, Netterfield, Pattison, Armstrong and Stokes.
[23] In the Dúchas Folklore Collection, a story by James Taylor relates a fairytale that occurred in Cavanagh in the 1850s.
[27] The only historic site in the townland is the disused track and Level Crossing of the Cavan and Leitrim Railway.