Carrigallen (Irish: Carraig Álainn) is a barony in County Leitrim, Ireland.

Carrigallen
Carraig Álainn (Irish)
CountryIreland
ProvinceConnacht
CountyLeitrim
Area
 • Total
252.5 km2 (97.49 sq mi)

Etymology

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Carrigallen barony takes its name from the village of Carrigallen (Irish: Carraig Álainn, "beautiful stone").[1]

Location

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Carrigallen is found in southeast County Leitrim, stretching from Bencroy to Garadice Lough to Gulladoo Lough.

Carrigallen barony is bordered to the west by Drumahaire and Leitrim; to the south by Mohill (all the preceding baronies are also in County Leitrim); to the north by Tullyhaw, County Cavan; to the east by Tullyhunco, County Cavan; to the southeast by Longford and Granard, County Longford.

History

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The Mag Dorchaidh (Darcy) were chiefs of Cenél-Luachain in the modern parish of Oughteragh. The MacRannall chiefs held much of this barony as part of the territory called Conmaicne Mag Rein.[2] During at least the 19th and 20th centuries, three annual fairs were held at Longfield townland on – 16 May, 10 October, and 27 December, while four annual fairs were held at Carrigallen on- 7 May, 9 August, 8 October, and 31 December.[3]

Museum artefacts

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There are a number of medieval artifacts from Carrigallen barony preserved in a collection at the Royal Irish Academy museum in Dublin. A small medieval brooch-pin with highly decorated penannular rings was found on the bed of the Yellow river near the Ballyduff Bridge near Ballinamore, Oughteragh parish in county Leitrim,[4] and a bronze medieval sword blade was found in the crevice of a rock on the same river, the blade being perfect, with a broad leaf pattern, bevel edge, handle-piece welded, six rivet-holes on the handle (two not through), with hilt notches, measures 0.46 metres (1 ft 6.1 in) long by 3.2 centimetres (1.3 in) width.[5][6] A Celt was found in the bed of the river at Ballyheedy bridge, at Ardrum downland near Ballinamore in county Leitrim, a good long narrow specimen, of bright yellow bronze, triangular shaped, flat-surfaced, and roughly decorated with a hammered fan-tailed ornament radiating towards the blade.[7]

List of settlements

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Below is a list of settlements in Carrigallen barony:

References

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Primary sources

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  1. ^ "Carraig Álainn/Carrigallen".
  2. ^ "The Baronies of Ireland - Family History".
  3. ^ Longman 1819, pp. 405.
  4. ^ Wilde 1857, pp. 585.
  5. ^ Wilde 1857, pp. 472.
  6. ^ Mulvany et al. 1852, pp. lix.
  7. ^ Wilde 1857, pp. 406.

Secondary sources

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