Tullyroan (locally [ˌtӧliˈrɔːən, -ˈrɔːnən] [sic];[2] Irish: Tulaigh Uí Ruáin, meaning 'O'Rowan's hill') is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in the centre of the parish and is bounded by the townlands of: Brackaghlislea, Calmore, Cloughfin, Coolsaragh, Gortahurk, Tamnyaskey. It wasn't apportioned to any of the London livery companies, being kept as church lands.[3]

Tullyroan
Irish transcription(s)
 • Derivation:Tulaigh Uí Ruáin
 • Meaning:"O'Rowan's hill"
Tullyroan Methodist Church
Tullyroan Methodist Church
Tullyroan is located in Northern Ireland
Tullyroan
Tullyroan
Tullyroan shown within Northern Ireland
Tullyroan is located in the United Kingdom
Tullyroan
Tullyroan
Tullyroan (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates: 54°47′35″N 6°43′05″W / 54.793°N 6.718°W / 54.793; -6.718
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryNorthern Ireland
CountyCounty Londonderry
BaronyLoughinsholin
Civil parishKilcronaghan
Plantation grantChurch lands
First recorded1655
Government
 • CouncilMid Ulster District
 • WardTobermore
Area
 • Total
331.66 acres (134.22 ha)
Irish grid refH8294

The townland was part of the Tobermore electoral ward of the former Magherafelt District Council, however in 1926 it was part of Tobermore district electoral division as part of the Maghera division of Magherafelt Rural District.[4] It was also part of the former barony of Loughinsholin.[3]

Etymology

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The townland of Tullyroan is derived from the Irish Tulaigh Uí Ruáin meaning "O'Rowan's hill".[2] Tulaigh (or Tulach), which means "hillock/hill" likely refers to Belmount Hill which is in this townland. The second element could be of several different origins such as ruán in the sense of buckwheat, which grew well on small hills, or in the sense of red land or soil, of which Tullyroan contains a considerable amount of heath especially around Belmount Hill. Despite this it is postulated that it in fact derives from the name O'Rowan, a name found in western Ireland, however in the 1663 Hearth Money Rolls, a "Knogher O'Rome" (read as O'Roine) is recorded within this parish.[2]

Belmount Hill in this townland is derived from the French Bel Mont, meaning "beautiful mountain".[2]

History

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Along with the townlands of Granny, Mormeal, and Tamnyaskey, Tullyroan comprises the four townlands that make up the Bishop of Derrys lands in the parish. Prior to the Plantation of Ulster, these four townlands constituted the termon (or erenagh) land of the parish, and were known as "Ballintrolla, Derreskerdan, Dirrygrinagh et Kellynahawla". Despite these townlands being in the same location as the later townlands, it is now impossible to match their names accurately.[5]

Statistics

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See also

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Tullyroan Primary School

References

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  1. ^ Northern Ireland Environment Agency. "NIEA Map Viewer". Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 134-5. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
  3. ^ a b c d Notes on the Place Names of the Parishes and Townlands of the County of Londonderry, 1925, Alfred Moore Munn, Clerk of the Crown and Peace of the City and County of Londonderry
  4. ^ a b c d HistPop; County and County Borough of Londonderry, 1926, page 27
  5. ^ Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 112. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
  6. ^ a b c d e f HistPop; Area, population and number of houses, Vol. III, Ireland, 1881, page 698
  7. ^ a b c HistPop; Area, houses, and population, Vol. III [Part 2], Ireland, 1901 Page 35
  8. ^ HistPop; County of Londonderry, 1851, page 241