Killarah

Killarah (Irish derived place name either Coill an Rátha meaning 'The Wood of the Fort' or Coill Leath Ráth = 'The Wood of the Half-Fort' or Coill Áth Ráth meaning 'The Wood of the Ford of the Rath') is a townland in the civil parish of Kildallan, barony of Tullyhunco, County Cavan, Ireland.

Its chief geographical features are Bellaheady Mountain which rises to 328 feet, Lough Andoul (Loch an Diabhail = The Devil’s Lake), the Shannon-Erne Waterway, small streams, forestry plantations, sand pits, gravel pits and dug wells.

The land was split by the river but the names of the two parts were interchangeable, being called either Bellheady, Rossbressal or Killarah.

About 1600 it was owned by Thomas McKiernan, along with the townlands of Ned, Coraghmuck and Doogary, all in Tullyhunco Barony.

Owen was worried that his lands would be confiscated under the Plantation of Ulster so he made representations to the Lords of the Council in Whitehall, London.

Recommend to his favourable consideration in the settlement of the natives, the bearer, Owen Carnan, who sued for 800 acres of land lying in the county of Cavan, which have belonged (as he informs them) to his father, uncle, & others his predecessors, time out of mind, without any attainder for matter of disloyalty.

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 4 June 1611, King James VI and I granted four polls of land containing 200 acres, including Killarah, Ned, Tullyhunco, Coraghmuck (alias Greaghacholea) and Doogary to Wony McThomas McKernan (alias Owen Carnan).

John alias Shane McKiernan, his son and heir, was then aged 30 years and married.

[11] After the rebellion concluded, the land was confiscated in the Cromwellian Settlement and the 1652 Commonwealth Survey lists the townland as belonging to Lieutenant-Colonel Tristam Beresford and by a further confirming grant from King Charles II on 6 November 1666, the lands of Rospressell containing 2 poles or 431 acres & 31 perches was granted to the aforementioned Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet at an annual rent of £5-16s-5d.

[16] In 1739 Dean John Richardson (the rector of Annagh Parish, County Cavan 1709-1747) stated- At Kilara in the Parish of Kildallan there are three large cairns, 30 yards diameter, vitz: Carn na mban fion, i.e., the monument of the fair woman, and Leabui Doarmud and Leabui Graniu, that is Dermot’s bed and Granny’s bed.

In the first there was found about 40 years ago (1700) a golden chalice of considerable value by a farmer, who thinking it to be brass made a present of it to Capt.

The losing candidates were George Montgomery (MP) of Ballyconnell and Barry Maxwell, 1st Earl of Farnham.