Knockateggal

Knockateggal is a townland in the Civil Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Knockninny, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename “Cnoc-a'-tSeagail” which means ‘Hill of the Rye’. The oldest surviving mention of the name is in a grant dated 14 October 1612 where it is spelled ‘Knockshogill’. Spellings in later grants are 1629- Knocktegall, 1751 – Knockategal.[1]

It is bounded on the north by Gortahurk & Gortaree townlands, on the east by Ummera & Gortmullan townlands and on the south & west by the international border with County Cavan and the Republic of Ireland. Its chief geographical features are the Slieve Rushen mountain on whose eastern slope it lies reaching an altitude of 320 metres above sea-level and some swallow-holes.

The townland is traversed by the Border Road to Ballyconnell and some mountain lanes.

Knockateggal covers an area of 271 acres (1.10 km2) statute. The townland formed part of the ballybethagh of Calvagh in medieval times. At the beginning of the 17th century it was owned jointly by Bryan McPhilip O’Reyly and Edward Rutlidge but was confiscated by the Crown in the 1609 Ulster Plantation and it formed part of the half-territory of Aughrin which was granted to Sir Hugh Culme in 1610. Culme later relinquished his claim to the Crown, perhaps because there was confusion at the time as to whether the townland formed part of County Fermanagh or County Cavan. By an order of the Lord Deputy dated 14 October 1612 the townland was granted, inter alia, to Lady Margaret O’Neill, the widow of Sir Hugh Maguire deceased. In 1641 and also in 1670 it was owned by Sir William Balfour (general). The population of the townland in the 1841 census was 91. Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists twenty-eight occupiers in the townland.[2] In the 1911 census of Ireland, there are eight families listed in the townland.[3]

The historic sites in the townland are some old stone quarries and Teamneall na Regan (alias Temple na Regan or Teampall Regan which means 'The Church of Tomregan') in Tom Donohoe’s land. This was originally a medieval Roman Catholic church which served the inhabitants of Tomregan Parish who lived in County Fermanagh. After the Ulster Plantation of 1609 it was converted to Protestant worship. Local tradition states there was a graveyard around it. Rectangular ruins can be seen.

A hill in the adjoining townland of Aughrim, County Cavan is called 'Church Hill' and may have belonged to Knockateggal church in medieval times.

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