Derryconnessy

Derryconnessy is bounded on the north by Derry More and Derrynaslieve townlands, on the west by Tonlegee townland, on the south by Arderry and Muineal townlands and on the east by Moneynure townland. Its chief geographical features are a stream, gravel pits and spring wells. Derryconnessy is traversed by the R202 road (Ireland) and rural lanes. The townland covers 112 statute acres.^[1]

In medieval times the McGovern barony of Tullyhaw was divided into economic taxation areas called ballibetoes, from the Irish Baile Biataigh (Anglicized as 'Ballybetagh'), meaning 'A Provisioner's Town or Settlement'. The original purpose was to enable the farmer, who controlled the baile, to provide hospitality for those who needed it, such as poor people and travellers. The ballybetagh was further divided into townlands farmed by individual families who paid a tribute or tax to the head of the ballybetagh, who in turn paid a similar tribute to the clan chief. The steward of the ballybetagh would have been the secular equivalent of the erenagh in charge of church lands. There were seven ballibetoes in the parish of Templeport. Derryconnessy was located in the ballybetagh of Ballymackgonghan (Irish = Baile Mac Eochagain, meaning 'McEoghan's Town').

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 24 February 1614, King James VI and I granted, inter alia, one pole of Dirriconosy to Phelim McHugh O'Reyly, Bryan McHugh O'Reyly and Cahir McHugh O'Reyly, the sons of Hugh Reyly, late of Ballaghaneo, County Cavan.^[2] Ballaghaneo is now the townland of Ballaghanea in Lurgan Parish, County Cavan, on the shores of Lough Ramor, so the O'Reillys were removed a long way from their home by the Plantation. Hugh Reyly was the great-grandnephew of the chief of the O'Reilly clan, Eoghan na Fésóige mac Seoain, who ruled East Breifne from 1418–1449. The O’Reilly lands in Derryconnessy were confiscated in the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 and were distributed as follows-

The 1652 Commonwealth Survey depicts the townland as Direcumisk with the proprietor being Captain Payne and the tenant as Daniell McConnell.

A lease dated 31 January 1718 from Morley Saunders to John Enery of Bawnboy includes the lands of Derriconisey.^[3]

A lease dated 10 December 1774 from William Crookshank to John Enery of Bawnboy includes the lands of Derryconessey.^[4] A further deed by John Enery dated 13 December 1774 includes the lands of Derryconesse otherwise Derryconessy.^[5]

The 1790 Cavan Carvaghs list spells the name as Derryconnisy.^[6]

A map of the townland drawn in 1813 is in the National Archives of Ireland, Beresford Estate Maps, depicts the townland as Derryhaunis and the proprietor as John Ennery.^[7]

A lease dated 17 September 1816 John Enery of Bawnboy includes Derinyconesey otherwise Dereconocy.^[8]

The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list eleven tithepayers in the townland.^[9]

The Derryconnessy Valuation Office Field books are available for September 1839.^[10][11]

In 1841 the population of the townland was 36, being 17 males and 19 females. There were five houses in the townland, all of which were inhabited.^[12]

In 1851 the population of the townland was four, being 2 males and 2 females, the reduction being due to the Great Famine (Ireland). There were five houses in the townland, three of which were uninhabited and one in the course of erection.^[12]

Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists four landholders in the townland.^[13]

In 1861 the population of the townland was 21, being 9 males and 12 females. There were four houses in the townland, of which one was uninhabited.^[14]

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are four families listed in the townland, ^[15] and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are three families listed in the townland.^[16]