Drumbar (Kinawley)

Drumbar (Irish derived place name Droim Bairr, meaning the ‘Ridge of the Summit’) is a townland in the civil parish of Kinawley, barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland.

[2] In medieval times Drumbar was owned by the McGovern Clan and formed part of a ballybetagh spelled (variously) Aghycloony, Aghcloone, Nacloone, Naclone and Noclone (Irish derived place name Áth Chluain, meaning the ‘Ford of the Meadow’).

[3] In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 26 June 1615, King James VI and I granted, inter alia, The precinct or parcel of Nacloone otherwise Aghcloone to Sir George Graeme and Sir Richard Graeme to form part of the Manor of Greame.

[5] The Grahams took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and after the war their lands were confiscated under the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652.

The 1652 Commonwealth Survey spells the townland as Drombarre with the proprietor being Mr Thomas Worshipp and the tenants being Edmond Magwire & others.

[23] The Dúchas collection has a story about the aforementioned teacher, John O'Brien- There was another school in Drumbar.

Some of the neighbours carried them on their backs to him because carts were scarce in these days, and some gave him half a crown.

This place was a sheltry one and he was walking past one day when he spied a bit of oaten cake on the ground.

His mother fell out with her own people and carried him on her back from the Midlands, to Drumshambo and then to Swanlinbar.

If a young fellow passed by his house without singing or whistling he'd curse him for a druim an drú.

He'd pray for them to be burning in the blue blazes of hell ten times a day.

They wore white sleeved waistcoats, "courdaroy" trousers, shirts made from flax, and nether shoe nor sock.

Well he went into a fourth and the woman gave him a drink and asked him to sit down and take some dinner.

He often prayed for the curse of God to fall on any one called McGuire, and for the race to be extinguished root and branch for "his heart was broken trying to teach them".

O'Brien called in to see the child and said he was going to the fair and would put the man out home-which he did and left him out a quarter of a mile.

If a neighbour was making hay he'd send out a half dozen of big boys to give a hand at it in the middle of the day (from school).

In the Spring time he often sent out a few children to gather "brosna" for a Brigid McGovern who lived in Drumbar beside the school.

During the Boer War he prayed every day that " the curse of God English might be swept into hell root and branch".

He taught for a short time in Tiercahan and the day he left he gave the children a great feast of sweets, buns, loaf and tea.