Kilnacross

Kilnacross (Irish derived place name, meaning 'The Wood of the Crosses') is a townland in the civil parish of Kildallan, barony of Tullyhunco, County Cavan, Ireland.

Geography

Kilnacross is bounded on the east by Clontycoo, Kilnaglare and Mullaghboy townlands, on the west by Carn, Tullyhunco townland, on the south by Listiernan townland and on the north by Ballyhugh townland. Its chief geographical features are Carn Lough, small streams, a dug well and spring wells. Kilnacross is traversed by minor public roads and rural lanes. The townland covers 110 acres. It is around 5 km south-east of Ballyconnell.

Etymology

The derivation of the placename is given in the Life of Saint Máedóc of Ferns. Secondly it is also a copy of a similar miracle performed on by Saint Berach of Termonbarry. Thirdly the had no presence in County Cavan until about two hundred years after the time lived. It is evident the fable was a 14th century fabrication by the Augustinian monks of the nearby Drumlane monastery. They used it to extort tribute from the O'Rourke and O'Reilly clans by pretending the ancestor of those clans, , had promised tribute to Drumlane.

In the Dúchas folklore collection a similar tale is told to explain the name of Kilnagross townland in County Leitrim.

History

From medieval times up to the early 1600s, the land belonged to the McKiernan Clan.

The 1540 Life of Mogue spells it as . The 1609 Plantation of Ulster Map depicts the townland as "Keilnagros". A grant of 1610 spells the name as "Killnagrosse". A lease of 1611 spells the name as "Killingrosse". An inquisition of 1629 spells the name as "Kyllnagrosse". The 1652 Commonwealth Survey spells the name as "Kilnegrosse".

In the Plantation of Ulster King James VI and I by grant dated 27 June 1610, granted the Manor of Keylagh, which included one poll in Killnagrosse, to John Achmootie, a Scottish Groom of the Bedchamber. His brother Alexander Achmootie was granted the neighbouring Manor of Dromheada. On 16 August 1610 John Aghmootie sold his lands in Tullyhunco to James Craig. On 1 May 1611 James Craig leased, inter alia, "1 poll of Killingrosse to Eugene mac Cahell McKernan". On 29 July 1611 Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester and others reported that "John Auchmothy and Alexander Auchmothye have not appeared at the lands awarded to them. James Craige is their deputy for five years, who has brought 4 artificers of divers sorts with their wives and families and 2 other servants. Stone raised for building a mill and trees felled, a walled house with a smith's forge built, 4 horses and mares upon the grounds with competent arms". An Inquisition held at Ballyconnell on 2 November 1629 stated that the poll of ''Kyllnagrosse'' contained nine sub-divisions named ", , , , , , , and ". Sir James Craig died in the siege of Croaghan Castle on 8 April 1642. His land was inherited by his brother John Craig of Craig Castle, County Cavan and of Craigston, County Leitrim, who was chief doctor to both King James I and Charles I. The 1652 Commonwealth Survey lists the townland as belonging to Lewis Craig.

In the Hearth Money Rolls compiled on 29 September 1663 there were three Hearth Tax payers in ''Kilnegrosse alias Cilnecros- Hugh McGilmartin, James McIlmartin and Laghlin Brady''.

The 1790 Cavan Carvaghs list spells the townland name as "Kilnecross".

The 1825 Tithe Applotment Books list three tithepayers in the townland.

The Kilnacross Valuation Office books are available for April 1838.

Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists five landholders in the townland.

In the 19th century Kilnacross was partly owned by Captain Bedel Stanford. The Stanford Estate papers are in the National Archives of Ireland.

Census

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there were four families listed in the townland.

In the 1911 census of Ireland, there were three families listed in the townland.

Antiquities

# A Holy Well called (Máedóc's Well) which is the supposed site of the referred to in the above etymology. The 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan' (Site No. 1770), describes it as "Marked on all OS eds. Situated in wet low-lying ground. Large irregular pool now used as a watering-hole for cattle".
# Kilnacross Church of Ireland National School.
# A foot-stick over the stream which is the site of the ford of .

References

External links

The IreAtlas Townland Data Base

{{County Cavan

Townlands of County Cavan