Tawnagh

Tawnagh (from Irish Tamhnach meaning The Green Field) 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.

[5] In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 29 April 1611, King James VI and I granted the town and lands of Gortatowill containing 6 polls, comprising a total of 300 acres at an annual rent of £3-4s., to Mulmore McHugh McFarrall O'Rely, gent.

He was the grandson of the chief of the O'Reilly clan, Fearghal mac Seaán, who ruled East Breifne from 1526 to 1534.

Hugh O’Reyly, his son and heir has reached his maturity and now holds the land from the king in free and common socage.

At the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion of 1641 Hugh O'Reilly still held the townland according to the Books of Survey and Distribution.

A grant dated 3 November 1666 was made by King Charles II of England to Sir Tristram Beresford, 1st Baronet which included, inter alia, the lands of Downagh.

On 13 March 1706 Marcus Beresford, 1st Earl of Tyrone leased the land of Downagh to Robert Saunders (Irish lawyer), one of the founders of the village of Swanlinbar, for a term of 99 years.

[12] Saunder's son Morley later sold his leasehold interest to Colonel John Enery of Bawnboy.

A lease dated 23 December 1720 from Morley Saunders to Thomas Enery of Bawnboy includes the lands of Towmin.

[16] A lease dated 10 December 1774 from William Crookshank to John Enery of Bawnboy includes the lands of Towmin.

[21][22] The 1836 Ordnance survey Namebooks state- Contains 146 acres of which 132 are cultivated, 6 are uncultivated rough pasture and 8 of bog.

The muddled land history of the area prior to this is described in the 1838 Exchequer case, "Attorney General of Ireland v The Lord Primate".