Inishowen West

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Inishowen West

Inis Eoghain Thiar (Irish)
Baronies of Donegal.jpg
Barony map of County Donegal, 1900; Inishowen West is in the northeast, coloured yellow.
Ireland adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Inishowen West
Barony map of County Donegal, 1900; Inishowen West is in the northeast, coloured yellow.
Coordinates: 55°4′N7°21′W / 55.067°N 7.350°W / 55.067; -7.350 Coordinates: 55°4′N7°21′W / 55.067°N 7.350°W / 55.067; -7.350
Sovereign state Republic of Ireland
Province Ulster
County Donegal
Area
  Total310.91 km2 (120.04 sq mi)

Inishowen West (Irish : Inis Eoghain Thiar), also called West Inishowen or Innishowen West, [1] [2] is a barony in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. [3] [4] Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. [5]

Contents

Etymology

Inishowen West takes its name from Inishowen, in Irish Inis Eoghain, "Eoghan's island [peninsula]", referring to Eógan mac Néill, a semi-legendary king of the 5th century AD and ancestor of the Cenél nEógain dynasty. [6]

Geography

Inishowen West is located in the southwest of the Inishowen Peninsula. [7]

History

Between the 9th and 13th centuries Inishowen was divided into three sectors, Aileach, Bredach and Cairrge Brachaidhe (Carraickabraghy) in the west. O'Mulhall (Mulfaal) and O'Hogain are cited as chiefs of Carrichbrack (Carrickbraghy). [8] Inishowen was originally a single barony but was divided by 1851 into East and West.

List of settlements

Below is a list of settlements in Inishowen West: [9]

Related Research Articles

County Donegal County in Ireland

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Inishowen Peninsula in Ireland

Inishowen is a peninsula in the north of County Donegal in Ireland. Inishowen is the largest peninsula on the island of Ireland.

Buncrana Town in Ulster, Ireland

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Eógan mac Néill King of Ailech

Eógan mac Néill was a son of Niall Noígiallach and the eponymous ancestor of the Cenél nEógain branch of the Northern Uí Néill. The Cenél Eoghan would found the over-kingdom of Ailech and later Tír Eoghain, which would span the greater part of Ulster. His burial place is said to be in the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland which was named after him.

ODoherty family

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Grianan of Aileach

The Grianan of Aileach is a hillfort atop the 244 metres (801 ft) high Greenan Mountain at Inishowen in County Donegal, Ireland. The main structure is a stone ringfort, thought to have been built by the Northern Uí Néill, in the sixth or seventh century CE; although there is evidence that the site had been in use before the fort was built. It has been identified as the seat of the Kingdom of Ailech and one of the royal sites of Gaelic Ireland. The wall is about 4.5 metres (15 ft) thick and 5 metres (16 ft) high. Inside it has three terraces, which are linked by steps, and two long passages within it. Originally, there would have been buildings inside the ringfort. Just outside it are the remains of a well and a tumulus.

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Carrickabraghy Castle Townland in Ulster, Ireland

Carrickabraghy Castle stands in the townland of Carrickabraghy on a rocky outcrop at the north-western extremity of the Isle of Doagh, at the head of Pollan Bay, in the north of Inishowen, a peninsula on the north coast of County Donegal, Ireland. The townland and its castle are located in the Parish of Clonmany in the Barony of Inishowen East. Known as 'The Castles', the site is of local historical importance.

Northern Uí Néill

The Northern Uí Néill is the name given to several dynasties in north-western medieval Ireland that claimed descent from a common ancestor, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Other dynasties in central and eastern Ireland who also claimed descent from Niall were termed the Southern Uí Néill. The dynasties of the Northern Uí Néill were the Cenél Conaill and Cenél nEógain, named after supposed sons of Niall: Conall and Eógain.

The Cenél nEógain or Kinel-Owen are a branch of the Northern Uí Néill, who claim descent from Eógan mac Néill, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Originally their power-base was in Inishowen, with their capital at Ailech, in modern-day County Donegal in what is now the west of Ulster. Under pressure from the Cenél Conaill, they gradually spread their influence eastwards into modern counties Tyrone and Londonderry, pushing aside the Cruithin east of the River Bann, and encroaching on the Airgiallan tribes west of Lough Neagh. By the 11th century their power-base had moved from Ailech to Tullyhogue outside Cookstown, County Tyrone. By the 12th century the Cenél Conaill conquered Inishowen; however, it mattered little to the Cenél nEóghain as they had established a powerful over-kingdom in the east that had become known as Tír Eoghain, or the "Land of Owen", preserved in the modern-day name of County Tyrone.

The Cenél Conaill, or "kindred of Conall", are a branch of the Northern Uí Néill, who claim descent from Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, and allegedly the first Irish nobleman to convert to Christianity. Their kingdom was known as Tír Conaill, with their powerbase at Mag Ithe in the Finn valley, however they gradually expanded to cover what is now counties Donegal and Fermanagh. The Cenél Conaill clashed regularly with their kin the Cenél nEogain, eventually capturing the latters original power-base of Ailech in the Inishowen peninsula—in modern-day County Donegal—by the 12th century.

Isle of Doagh Island in Ireland

The Isle of Doagh is a small peninsula in the north of Inishowen on the north coast of County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland. It once was an island. Over time, the channel between Doagh and the mainland silted up and it became joined to the mainland. Nevertheless, the area continued to be referred as the Isle of Doagh or Doagh Island. The area comprises five townlands; Ballymacmoriarty, Carrickabraghy, Carrowreagh, Fegart and Lagacurry. Doagh Island is very near the village of Ballyliffin.

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Inishowen East Barony in Ulster, Republic of Ireland

Inishowen East, also called East Inishowen or Innishowen East, is a barony in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.

References

  1. Belfast, Arthur Chichester Baron Chichester of (21 March 1890). "The Radical Cure for Ireland: A Letter to the People of England and Scotland Concerning a New Plantation". W. Blackwood via Google Books.
  2. Ireland, Royal Society of Antiquaries of (21 March 1951). "Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland". Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland via Google Books.
  3. Hanna, Sam (6 December 2018). "The Farrells of Donegal: And Associated Families". WestBow Press via Google Books.
  4. Britain, Great (21 March 1885). "The Practical Statutes of the Session ..." Law Times Office. via Google Books.
  5. General Register Office of Ireland (1904). "Alphabetical index to the baronies of Ireland". Census of Ireland 1901: General topographical index. Command papers. Cd. 2071. HMSO. pp. 966–978.
  6. Lords, Great Britain Parliament House of (21 March 1898). "Public Bills" via Google Books.
  7. "Inishowen West". www.townlands.ie.
  8. "The Baronies of Ireland - History". sites.rootsweb.com.
  9. "Bronze Age Burial near the ancient road | Guarding Grianán Aileach".