TOWNLANDS are one of the oldest ways that land was divided. The size of a townland varies a lot. The average size of a townland is about 350 acres (or 1.4 square kilometres or 200 football pitches).
In very early times, townlands were divided up into PLOUGH-LANDS and GNEEVES.
10 acres = 1 gneeve
2 gneeves = 1 sessiagh
3 sessiagh = 1 tate or ballyboe
2 ballyboes = 1 ploughland, seisreagh or carrow
4 ploughlands = 1 ballybetagh or townland
30 ballybetaghs = 1 trioca cead or barony.
(Census of Population 1901: General Topographical Index)
The townlands listed on the left are those in and around Markethill and District. The list includes all the townlands in the parishes of Ballymore, Kilcluney, Kildarton, Lisnadill, Loughgilly and Mullaghbrack.
View a map with townland names. Here is a 1938 map showing townlands, used by Sam Hetherington, retired postman.
Note that PRONI's Valuation Revision Book records are online and can be searched at http://applications.proni.gov.uk/dcal_proni_val12b/SearchResults.aspx.
The following is a list of the townlands in the area around Markethill grouped under the baronies they come within. They are the townlands that appear on our townland map. The full townland list for each barony is greater.
Barony of Fews Upper: Armaghbrague, Corran, Farranamucklagh, Lislea (Fews Upper), Lisnadill,
Barony of Armagh: Aghavilly, Ballyards, Ballycoffey or Ballyhoy, Ballyheridan, Ballynahone Beg, Baltarran, Cavanacaw, Enagh, Farmacaffly, Kennedies, Killynure, Lisbanoe, Lisdrumard, Lislea (Armagh), Magherarville, Moneypatrick, Moneypatrick, Tirearly.
Barony of Fews Lower: Balleer, Ballybrolly, Ballymacanab, Ballymoran, Ballynagalliagh, Broughan, Cashel, Drumconwell, Drumgaw, Ennislare, Foley, Killycapple, Killyfaddy, Latmacollum, Outlack, Seagahan, Tanderagee, Tullybrone, Tullynagin, Ballindarragh, Ballylane, Ballymacawley, Brackly, Carnavanaghan, Carricklane, Cavanagrow, Clady Beg, Clady More, Damoily, Edenykennedy, Enagh, Glasdrummond, Kilbracks, Kilmachugh, Lisnagat, Seaboughan, Ballyanny, Ballygroobany, Ballynewry, Bryandrum, Cabragh (Fews Lower), Carrowmoney, Coolmillish, Cornacrew, Corry, Crunaght, Drumachee, Drumatee, Drumfergus, Drumlack, Drumman, Drumnagloy, Drumorgan, Drumshallan, Dunesmullan, Garvagh, Gosford Demesne, Hamiltonsbawn, Johnstown, Killyruddan, Lattery, Lurgaboy, Macantrim, Magherydogherty, Mullaghbane, Mullaghbrack, Mullurg, Ratarnet, Rocks, Calone, Derrynaught, Derryraine, Drumbee Beg, Drumbee More, Drumbeecross, Drumennis, Drumsavage, Edenaveys, Edenknappagh, Killeen, lenalea, Crunagh, Derlett, Drumgane, Lisdrumchor Lower, Lisdrumchor Upper, Lurgyross.
Barony of Orior Lower: Derrycughan, Drumalaragh, Maghnavery, Ballenan, Ballydogherty, Ballygorman, Ballyvally, Bolton, Brackagh, Carran, Cornagrally, Corrinare, Corrinure, Creeve, Drumcrow, Drummilt, Drummond, Keady Beg, Keady More, Kilcon, Killycarn Lower, Killycarn Upper, Lisnisk, Mavemacullen, Maytone, Mountnorris, Mullaghmore, Rathcarbry, Rathconvil, Tullyallen, Tullyherron, Acton, Aghantaraghan, Aughlish, Ballyargan, Ballymore, Ballynagreagh, Ballynaleck, Ballyreagh, Ballysheil Beg, Ballysheil More, Brannock, Cargans, Carrickbrack, Clare, Cloghoge, Coolyhill, Corcrum, Corernagh, Corlust, Crew Beg, Crew More, Cullentragh, Demoan, Derryallen, Druminargal, Druminure, Drumnaglontagh, Drumnaleg, Federnagh, Glasdrumman, Lisbane, Lisnagree, Lisnaskea, Lisraw, Mavemacullen, Monclone, Moodoge, Mullaghglass, Mullanary, Mullantur, Shaneglish, Skegatillida, Tannyoky, Terryhoogan, Tullyhugh, Tullylinn, Tullymacann, Tullynacross.
Barony of Orior Upper: Belleek, Carrickananny, Carrickgallogly, Carrowmannan, Creggan Lower, Creggan Upper, Drumharriff, Drumnahoney, Drumnahunshin, Greyhillan, Lisadian, Tullyah, Tullywinny.
Barony of Oneilland West: Cabragh (Oneilland), Dinnahorra, Drumart, Drumnamether, Marlacoo Beg, Marlacoo More, Moyrourkan, Shanecrackan Beg, Shanecrackan More, Tannaghmore, Teemore, Altaturk, Legavilly, Mullaghbane, Mullanasilla, Mullyloughran, Rathdrumgran, Tirnascobe.
In the accompanying audio recording, Neil McGleenon, retired headmaster and local historian, talks about the origins of land divisions such as Baronies and Townlands.
Use the audio controller to listen to this talk, given in 2003.
In this audio recording, Dr. McGleenon talks about his interest in the Irish language and the derivation of townland names (1min 3s).
Use the audio controller to listen to this talk, given in 2003.
