THE TOWNLAND OF DRUMBEE MORE
The townland of Drumbee More is in the parish of Kildarton in Armagh County.
It is labelled number 6 on the map.
Environment and Heritage Service Sites and Monuments Record (2002) notes the
following in this townland:
Enclosure of uncertain period and tree ring of the 18th or 19th century.
SMR NO: ARM 012:038
GRIDREF: H90844389
CONDITION: DESTROYED
“On the N end of the crest of a drumlin, a little below the summit. An
oval “Fort” is shown on the OS 6 map of 1835, but the site
was removed in 1980. Only a slight mound, no more than 0.3m high, and defined
by a gentle scarp can be seen. Earlier field reports suggest that the site
may have been a landscaping feature, c.24m in diameter.”
The 1826 Schools Commission report describes the school in the townland:
“Drumbeemore – A pay school under the care of Edward Donelly,
of the Roman Catholic denomination, who was in receipt of 12l per annum. The
school was conducted in a barn, providing education for 30 scholars.”
Paterson (Armachiana, Vol. 16, p.22) notes:
-
Drumbeebeg, Drumbeecross and Drumbeemore. “The ridge of the food or provisions”,
in other words productive ground. Drum (Druim) is one of the most common names
and figures as a prefix to about 2,400 places besides an equal number in which
it is combined. Bee (bia) means food or provisions and the terminations of the
three townlands signify little (beg), cross, probably an ancient track or crossing,
and big (or more) meaning the larger. Such terminations are frequent in the
county — fore instance Annaghmore, the great moor or marsh; Ballymore, the
great town; Ballynahonebeg, the little town of the river; Ballynahonemore, the
great town of the river, etc..
PRONI records: D.958 (Landed estates court rental, etc., of lands, property
of Wilkin family.); D.1201/1 (Encumbered estates rental, etc.); D.958 (Rental,
particulars and conditions of sale of lands.); OS/6/2/12/1 (Surveyed 1835. Engraved
1835.); OS/6/2/12/2 (Surveyed 1835. Revised 1860. Engraved 1860 (Stat file copy).);
OS/6/2/12/3 (Not Received.); OS/6/2/12/4 (Surveyed 1835. Revised 1905-06. Reprinted
1931-1947. Published 1931 with mss markings in red and stamped references 2566,
2567, 2573.); OS/6/2/12/5 (Surveyed 1906. Revised 1948. Levelled 1888 and 1906.
Levels revised 1949. Published 1953. (2 copies) – 1 being reprint 1953, 56,
61).); VAL/1B/211 (1st valuation records.); VAL/12B/10/29A, VAL/12B/10/29B,
VAL/12B/10/29C, VAL/12B/10/29D (Valuation annual revision list.); VAL/2B/2/12B
(Griffith valuation list.); D.958/5 (Landed estates rental.11 July 1874); D.266/357;
D.1201/1/20 (Encumbered estates rental.13 Nov. 1855).
H909437
