Gortnaleck

Gortnaleck (from Irish Gort na Leac meaning ‘The Small Field of the Flagstones or Bedrock’) 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'.

The original purpose was to enable the farmer, who controlled the baile, to provide hospitality for those who needed it, such as poor people and travellers.

This is confirmed in a visitation by George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes in autumn 1611 when he states that Magauran had his own land given him on this division.

[7] An Inquisition of King Charles I held in Cavan town on 4 October 1626 stated that the aforesaid Phelim Magawrane died on 20 January 1622 and his lands including one poll of Gortnaleck went to his son, the McGovern chief Brian Magauran who was aged 30 (born 1592) and married.

[8] In the Irish Rebellion of 1641 William Reynolds of Lisnaore made a deposition about the rebellion in Lissanover which referred to two rebels from Gortneleck, Daniel McGowran and his son Edmund McGowran, as follows- folio 260r William Reinoldes of Lisnaore in the parrish of Templeport in the County of Cavan gent sworne & examined deposeth and sajth That about the begining of the presente Rebellion this deponent was deprived robbed or otherwise dispoiled & Lost by the Rebells: his meanes goodes & chattells concisting of horses mares beasts Cattle Corne hay howsholdstuff implements of husbandry apparell bookes provition silver spoones swyne & the benefite of his howse and six Poles of Land: due debts & other thinges of the value of three hundreth Sixtie fowre Powndes nine shillings sterling.

Two grants dated 30 January 1668 were made by King Charles II of England as follows[11]- Firstly one cartron of land in Gortnelecke containing 29 acres to Hugh McFaden.

Secondly to Mary Boyd in the parte of ye cartron of Kilcrohan containing 34 acres 0 roods 6 perches at an annual rent of £0-9s-2 1/4d In the Templeport Poll Book of 1761 there was one person registered to vote in Gortnaleg in the 1761 Irish general election[12] - Richard Hazard.