THE TOWNLAND OF DERRYCUGHAN
The townland of Derrycughan is in the parish of Kilclooney in Armagh County.
It is labelled number 13 on the map.
The 1826 Schools Commission report describes the school in the townland:
“Derrycughan – A pay school under the care of James McMurray,
of the Presbyterian denomination, who was in receipt of 7l per annum. The school
operated in a one-roomed thatched house built at a cost of 10l. The school provided
education for approximately 30 scholars.”
Paterson (Armachiana, Vol. 16, p.212 ) notes:
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…Derry (Doire) is one of the most prolific roots in Irish place-names giving
name to about 60 townlands and entering as a prefix into the names of over 500
others, an indication of the former abundance of such trees. It occurs in County
Armagh as a place-name and in various combinations. The situation of the townland
on the breast (uchta) of rising ground is indicative of the origin of the termination.
PRONI records: FIN.23/2/2B/1198 (Landlord Francis R. Cope re Alexander Woods,
tenant.); OS/6/2/17/1 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved 1835.); OS/6/2/17/2 (Surveyed
1835. Engraved 1835. Revised 1860. Engraved 1863.); OS/6/2/17/3 (Surveyed 1835.
Revised 1906. Published 1908. Reprinted 1929, 1932.); OS/6/2/17/4 (Surveyed
1906. Revised 1954-5. Levelled 1889, 1892 and 1906. Published 1958 (2 copies).);
VAL/1B/216 (1st valuation records.); VAL/12B/10/34A, VAL/12B/10/34B, VAL/12B/10/34C,
VAL/12B/10/21A, VAL/12B/10/21B (Valuation annual revision list.); VAL/2B/2/9A
(Griffith valuation list.); D/1553 (Poster announcing spelling Bee to be held
in school house.).
H985373
In the accompanying audio recording, Betty Stewart talks about Derrycughan Primary School (1min 13s).
Use the audio controller to listen to this talk, given in 2013.