Mormeal

Mormeal
Irish transcription(s)
 • Derivation: Mír Mhíchíl
 • Meaning: "Michael's portion"
Mormeal

Mormeal shown within Northern Ireland

Coordinates: 54°47′28″N 6°44′38″W / 54.791°N 6.744°W / 54.791; -6.744Coordinates: 54°47′28″N 6°44′38″W / 54.791°N 6.744°W / 54.791; -6.744
Country Northern Ireland
County County Londonderry
Barony Loughinsholin
Civil parish Kilcronaghan
Plantation grant Church lands
First recorded 1654
Government
 • Council Magherafelt District Council
 • Ward Tobermore
Area[1]
 • Total 217.65 ha (537.82 acres)
Irish grid ref H8094

Mormeal (locally [ˌmɔrˈmeːl] and [ˌmɔrˈmiːl], from Irish Mír Mhíchíl, meaning "Michael's portion"[2]) is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in the west of the parish with the Altagoan river to its west forming the parish boundary with Ballynascreen. It is bounded by the townlands of: Brackaghlislea, Drumard, Duntibryan, Gortnaskey, Granny, Tamnyaskey. It wasn't apportioned to any of the London livery companies, being kept as church lands.[3]

The townland is currently part of Tobermore electoral ward of 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 historic barony of Loughinsholin.[3]

Etymology

The actual Irish origin of Mormeal is unknown with several different variants provided, most notably by Alfred Munn Moore. The most recent translation as of 2002 states its origin as being; Mír Mhíchíl, meaning Michael's portion.[5] Older origins include:

History

Along with the townlands of Granny, Tamnyaskey, and Tullyroan, Mormeal 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.[6]

The ruins of the ancient parish church of Kilcronaghan lie within the townland of Mormeal. In the east of the townland on a hill (438 ft.) lies an ancient ráth, and one on another hill (450 ft.) to the south.

Statistics

Population
Year Pop.
1841 330 [7]
1851 254 [7]
1861 244 [7]
1871 220 [7]
1881 209 [7]
1911 150 [4]
1926 127 [4]
Size (acres, roods, poles)
Year a, r, p
1851 515, 1, 3 [8]
1881 515, 1, 3 [7]
1926 527, 1, 31 [4]
Earlier recorded forms[5]
Year Form
1654 Mirrimeith
1657c Merinnch (D.S.) [3]
1659c Mirmihellgrany
(joined with Granny)
1661 Merrinnieth
1661c Mirmichell
1672c Mermeth
1680 Mermeale
1686 Meremeala
1767 Mermeal
1813 Mormeal (S.M.) [3]
(D.S.) - Down Survey Map
(S.M.) - Sampson's Map

See also

References

  1. ↑ Northern Ireland Environment Agency. "NIEA Map Viewer". Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 130-1. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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. 1 2 3 4 HistPop; County and County Borough of Londonderry, 1926, page 27
  5. 1 2 Place Names NI - Mormeal
  6. ↑ Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 112. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 HistPop; Area, population and number of houses, Vol. III, Ireland, 1881, page 698
  8. ↑ HistPop; County of Londonderry, 1851, page 241
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