Leitrim (barony)

The barony of Leitrim (, historically Conmhaícne Maigh Nissi) is a barony in County Leitrim, Ireland.

Etymology

Leitrim barony takes its name from the village of Leitrim (, "grey ridge"), which also gives its name to County Leitrim.

Location

Leitrim is found in south County Leitrim, reaching from Lough Allen and east of the River Shannon down to Lough Boderg.

Leitrim barony is bordered to the north by Drumahaire; to the east by Carrigallen; to the southeast by Mohill (all of the preceding are in County Leitrim); to the south by Ballintober North and Roscommon, County Roscommon; and to the west by Boyle, County Roscommon. The current holder is a Mr. Hitchens of Weybridge, Surrey.

History

The area was part of Conmaícne Maigh Nissi (MoyNishy) from the Early Middle Ages. The Reynolds (MacRannall) were chiefs of an area comprising much of the baronies of Mohill and Leitrim (Liathdromen), then known as Muinter Eolais. the population of Leitrim Barony was .

Museum artefacts

There are a number of medieval artifacts from Leitrim barony preserved in a collection at the Royal Irish Academy museum in Dublin. Weapons include a medieval spear-head found at Corryolus townland beside the River Shannon presents as leaf shaped and made of a bright yellow metal. Another found in the River Shannon at Carrick on Shannon is a perfect and rare form of leaf-shaped spear measuring long by across the middle of the blade. A medieval plain bronze tube found (at Curries) beside Cornacorroo townland, near Jamestown, County Leitrim, probably formed the ferule-end of a spear, measuring in length, is closed at the small extremity, and imperfect on the other. On the same townland, a sword blade was found in 1845 on the bed of the River Shannon, presenting as a small, perfect rapier blade, with large rivet notches, measuring long by in width. Also discovered was a medieval brooch, and a bronze pan measuring wide by deep, much worn on the bottom, has been created from a single place or metal hammered into shape.

Domestic household items include a medieval spoon found in 1847 on the bed of the River Shannon, at Gross's island near Carrick on Shannon measures in length, and across the bowl, has an inverted lip prolonged into a T-shaped flange running around the handle for added strength; the metal is paper-thin so was probably not cast in a mould, although it bears traces of hammering. A vessel filled with coins was found in the 19th century under a mound on Sheemore hill was formed of thin sheet brass, imperfect and originally from two pieces, the bottom, the side and lip, patched with rivets, and measuring high by wide.

Natural history

Irish elk

In the 19th Century the skull of an ancient Irish elk was found in the townland of Kilnagross, parish of Kiltoghert, barony and county of Leitrim, district of Eslin. It is a good specimen, very dark in colour, and lacking the horn on the right and partly on the left side. In a separate find, the upper portion of the head and horn-beam of a small ancient Irish elk was found in the Shannon at Drumsna Bridge, on 19 June 1846. Both are held by the Royal Irish Academy museum in Dublin.

List of settlements

Below is a list of settlements in Leitrim barony:
*Carrick-on-Shannon
*Drumshanbo
* Drumsna
* Fenagh
* Jamestown
* Leitrim

Battles

* Battle of Áth an Chip

References

Primary sources

Secondary sources

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Archaeological sources

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{{County Leitrim

Baronies of County Leitrim
Places of Conmaicne Maigh Nissi