THE TOWNLAND OF BALLYMACANAB

The townland of Ballymacanab is in the parish of Lisnadill in Armagh County.
It is labelled number 8 on the map. H893381. St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ballymacnab, is in the townland of Ballymacanab. It was built in 1898.

The Environment and Heritage Service Sites and Monuments Record (2002) notes the following in this townland:

Enclosure of uncertain period
SMR NO: ARM 016:035
Irish Grid Reference: H88953884
Townland: BALLYMACANAB
CONDITION: No visible remains
The 1835 OS 6″ map shows a circular “Fort” c.40m in diameter on a gentle NNW slope. The area is now improved pasture and no trace of an antiquity can be seen.

Rath? of the Early Christian Period and tree ring? of the Eighteenth-nineteenth century.
SMR NO: ARM 016:036
Irish Grid Reference: H89623765
Townland: BALLYMACANAB
CONDITION: destroyed
The 1835 OS 6″ map shows a “Fort” on the summit of a prominent drumlin. The site has recently been levelled but field records of 1966 describe a circular enclosure 21.5m in diameter, defined by a small bank 1.8m wide & 0.3m high. Outside was a shallow ditch, 1.8m wide and up to 0.45m deep.

Stone of uncertain period
SMR NO: ARM 016:042
Irish Grid Reference: H89023857
Sitename: BULL’S TRACK
Townland: BALLYMACANAB
CONDITION: some remains
No description available – the site is traditionally associated with St. Patrick.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
PATERSON, T. G. F. “HARVEST HOME, THE LAST SHEAF” 1975, 211
PATERSON, T. G. F. NOTES, Vol. I
PSAMNI, 1940, 71

Souterrain of the Early Christian Period.
SMR NO: ARM 016:066
Irish Grid Reference: H89463731
Townland: BALLYMACANAB
CONDITION: No visible remains
The site of this cave’was pointed out along a field fence on the W flank of a N-S ridge. There is a fine view westwards from the site over the surrounding countryside.

PRONI records: D.1644 (Expired leases of earl of Charlemont’s estate in Ballymacanab area.); OS/6/2/16/1 (Surveyed 1834-35. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/16/2 (Surveyed 1834-35. Engraved 1835. Revised 1860. Engraved 1862.); OS/6/2/16/3 (Surveyed 1834-35. Revised 1906. Levelled 1888-89 and 1906. Published 1908. Reprint 1952, 1954.); OS/6/2/16/4 (Surveyed 1834-35. Revised 1906. Levelled 1888-89 and 1906. Published 1908. Reprint 1929.); OS/6/2/16/5 (Surveyed 1834-35. Revised 1906. Levelled 1888-89 and 1906. Published 1908. Reprint 1952, 1954 with Mss. markings in red and stamped ref. 2568.); OS/6/2/16/6 (Surveyed 1906. Revised 1955. Levelled 1906. Published 1958. (2 copies).); VAL/1B/211 (1st valuation records.); VAL/12B/10/32A, VAL/12B/10/32B, VAL/12B/10/32C, VAL/12B/10/32D, VAL/12B/10/32E (Valuation annual revision list.); VAL/2B/2/12B (Griffith valuation list.).