The name Maghera is derived from the Irish Machaire Rátha meaning "plain of the fort", however this is itself derived from the older name for the parish, Ráth Lúraigh, meaning "Lúrach's fort". One manuscript states that Lúrach was from Ráith, which is given as possibly being an even earlier name for the parish before Lúrach's name was suffixed to it.[2]
Historyedit
Lúrach mac Cuanach is the 6th-century patron of the eccesliastical parish, with the local parish church, St. Lurachs, named after him. Lúrach's family held a degree of political importance in the area, with seven descendants of Lúrach's father Cuanu being kings of Airgíalla. Circumstantial evidence places their center of power at Ráth Lúraigh.[2]
St. Lurach's church was plundered by Vikings in 832 according to the Annals of Ulster, and in 1135 was one of several churches burnt down. The ruins of the medieval church still stand in the town of Maghera in the townland of Largantogher, with the earliest remaining sections dating to the 12th century.[2]
In 1111, the parish of Maghera was incorporated into the diocese of the Cinéal Eoghain, the seat of which was located at Ardstraw. In 1150 however the seat was transferred to Maghera, until 1254 when after complaints of its isolation from the "mainstream of civilisation" it was removed to Derry.[2]
The ecclesiastical parish of Maghera consists of 38 townlands,[3] however the civil parish consists of 37, with the townland of Upperland being omitted.[4] Until the 1840s, Maghera ecclesiastical parish consisted of 42 townloads, when the townloads of Beagh Temporal, Culnagrew, Swatragh and Knockoneill were transferred to the neighbouring parish of Killelagh.[5]
^Derry & Raphoe Diocese - Parish of Maghera 2011-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
^ abcdeToner, Gregory; Place-Names of Northern Ireland, Volume 5, County Londonderry I, The Moyola Valley, page 168. Institute of Irish Studies, 1996. ISBN0-85389-613-5
^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
^Public Records Office of Northern Ireland - Townlands of Maghera civil parish
^McAfee, Bill; Parish map of Maghera at www.billmacafee.com
December 08, 2023
maghera, parish, this, article, about, civil, parish, maghera, town, maghera, maghera, maghera, from, irish, machaire, rátha, plain, fort, parish, county, londonderry, northern, ireland, bordered, parishes, ballynascreen, ballyscullion, desertmartin, dungiven,. This article is about the civil parish of Maghera For the town of Maghera see Maghera Maghera from Irish Machaire Ratha plain of the fort is a parish in County Londonderry Northern Ireland It is bordered by the parishes of Ballynascreen Ballyscullion Desertmartin Dungiven Kilcronaghan Killelagh Magherafelt Tamlaght O Crilly and Termoneeny As a civil parish it lies within the former barony of Loughinsholin and as an ecclesiastical parish it lies within the Church of Ireland Diocese of Derry and Raphoe 1 MagheraparishIrish transcription s Derivation Machaire Ratha Meaning plain of the fortSovereign stateUnited KingdomCountryNorthern IrelandCountyLondonderryBaronyLoughinsholinSettlementsCulnady Curran Gulladuff Maghera and Upperlands Contents 1 Name 2 History 3 Settlements 4 Townlands 5 See also 6 ReferencesName editThe name Maghera is derived from the Irish Machaire Ratha meaning plain of the fort however this is itself derived from the older name for the parish Rath Luraigh meaning Lurach s fort One manuscript states that Lurach was from Raith which is given as possibly being an even earlier name for the parish before Lurach s name was suffixed to it 2 History editLurach mac Cuanach is the 6th century patron of the eccesliastical parish with the local parish church St Lurachs named after him Lurach s family held a degree of political importance in the area with seven descendants of Lurach s father Cuanu being kings of Airgialla Circumstantial evidence places their center of power at Rath Luraigh 2 St Lurach s church was plundered by Vikings in 832 according to the Annals of Ulster and in 1135 was one of several churches burnt down The ruins of the medieval church still stand in the town of Maghera in the townland of Largantogher with the earliest remaining sections dating to the 12th century 2 In 1111 the parish of Maghera was incorporated into the diocese of the Cineal Eoghain the seat of which was located at Ardstraw In 1150 however the seat was transferred to Maghera until 1254 when after complaints of its isolation from the mainstream of civilisation it was removed to Derry 2 As a result of the Plantation of Ulster the lands of the parish of Maghera were divided among three of the London livery companies the Drapers Mercers and Vintners A large portion of land around the modern settlement of Maghera was given over to the Established Church 2 Settlements editCulnady Curran Maghera Gulladuff UpperlandsTownlands editSee also List of townlands in Maghera The ecclesiastical parish of Maghera consists of 38 townlands 3 however the civil parish consists of 37 with the townland of Upperland being omitted 4 Until the 1840s Maghera ecclesiastical parish consisted of 42 townloads when the townloads of Beagh Temporal Culnagrew Swatragh and Knockoneill were transferred to the neighbouring parish of Killelagh 5 Ballymacilcurr Ballymacpeake Upper Ballynacross Ballynahone Beg Beagh Spiritual Bracaghreilly Craigadick Craigmore Crew Culnady Curragh Curran Dreenan Drumard Drumconready Drumlamph Drummuck Dunglady Falgortrevy Fallagloon Gorteade Grillagh Gulladuff Keady Kirley Largantogher Lisnamuck Macknagh Moneymore Moyagall Rocktown Slaghtybogy Tamnymartin Tamnymullan Tirgarvil Tirnageeragh ToberheadSee also editBeagh List of civil parishes of County LondonderryReferences edit Derry amp Raphoe Diocese Parish of Maghera Archived 2011 08 14 at the Wayback Machine a b c d e Toner Gregory Place Names of Northern Ireland Volume 5 County Londonderry I The Moyola Valley page 168 Institute of Irish Studies 1996 ISBN 0 85389 613 5 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 Public Records Office of Northern Ireland Townlands of Maghera civil parish McAfee Bill Parish map of Maghera at www billmacafee com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maghera parish amp oldid 1086015732, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
