McTernan Sept is historically based in County Meath and were chiefs of Teallach Dunchada (signifying the tribe or teritory of Donogh), now the barony of Tullyhunco, in the county Cavan. While Meath is no longer a province, it was one of the five provinces in early Irish history.

The five provinces were originally seven kingdoms, with the other two kingdoms of Oriel and Ail each merging into Ulster in the 1600s. This McTernan Sept is located in the Barony of Moyfenragh, one of 331 Baronies in Ireland. Meath is not in Connacht, rather it is in Leinster which translates to Territory of Spears. The MacTernans in that area were Chiefs of Teallach Dunchada, the tribe or territory of Donogh. Teallach Dhonnchadh was the site of the ancient O'Ruairc inauguration place, a round hill named Corhanagh [Cruachan] mic Tighernain or Corann Cruachan. The Barony of Tullyhunco comprises three civil parishes: Kildallan in the NW, Killashandra in the center and Scabby in the SE. All the parishes border Co Leitrim. The root Gallic word of Tully means small hill. The name McTiernan is written, MacTigearnain in its Irish form, and has been anglicized at different times to various spellings and may be a form of McTier or Mctear, which are shortened forms of McIntyre. The family name can be spelled either MacTiernan, McTernan or McTiernan, with or without the "i" or the "a" in Mac.

In 1470, the Annals speak of Tullyhunco [Teallach Donnchadha] as MacTiernan's country. The Barony of Tullyhunco was the site of the ancient O'Ruairc inauguration place, a round hill named Corhanagh [Cruachan] mic Tighernain or Corann Cruachan. This is now called Croaghan. This hill in Co. Cavan is less than a mile northwest of Killashandra in Killeshandra civil parish, PLU of Cavan. Again in 1470, the O'Donnell's hoped to inaugurate Domhnall O'Ruairc as King of Bréifne in Cruachan. The territory was no longer the property of the O'Ruairc's. The MacTiernan's who were sub chieftains of the O'Ruairc's of Bréifne denied O'Donnell and Domhnall O'Ruairc access to Cruachan. Down further in the O'Rourke line there was Ualarg, who had two sons named Tiernan and Donald. Donald was an ancestor of MacTiernan of Corry and Tiernan O'Rourke was the last Prince of West Brefney. Tiernan O'Rourke, nicknamed "One Eye" married Dervorgill, daughter of Murcha, last king of Meath.

Another McTiernan Sept from the north-eastern part of Co Roscommon are descended from Tiernan, grandson of Turlough Mor O'Connor, King of Ireland. As yet, there is no connection between my McTernan family from Sheskin, Barony of Drumahaire, Co Leitrim, Connacht and either of these Septs mentioned here other than the identical surname. The McTiernan townland of Sheskin is in the civil parish of Killarga and the Catholic parish of Killargue. Drumahaire means "ridge of two air demons". The area is referred to as the area of "The Wild Rose". The other inference is that it is the area of the "Howling Dog". The 6th Viscount Gormanston, [the oldest Viscountcy in Ireland, established in 1478] acquired the Barony of Drumahaire from Charles I in 1636.

 

 

 

The Compostition Book of the province of Connaught and Thomond. This book contains the Commission, 15 July 1585. The return of Byngham and the Commissioners, 3 Oct. 1585. The abstract of the composition, which was retunred into the Court of Chancery in Ireland.

The names of 41 Mc's (Macks) and 26 O's (Oes) who surrendered their Irish names and customs of inheritance, and received their castles and lands by patent, to them and their heirs, in English succession. The Macs are, M'William Eighter, M'Ne Marra Fynn, M'Ne Marra Reoghe, M'Gilly Reoghe, M'Glaneghee,M'Everhin, M'Hubberte, M'Oughe, M'William Roe, M'Cremon, M'Walter, M'Huighe, M'Edmonde, M'Gyrraughe, M'Reamon, M'Thomas, M'Vavye, M'Walter, M'Dermott, M'Padyn, M'Tybbott, M'Phillippen, M'connell, M'Glaughe, M'Tyernan, M'Keallye, M'Gravell, M'Deirmotte Roe, M'Branan, M'Kehernye, M'Evillye, M'Costolowe, M'Jordan, M'Murreye, M'Enawe, M'Loughlin, M'Granill, M'Donoghe encorren, M'Donoghe cobea, M''Dermott Gall, and M'Manys. The Oes are, O'Rourk, O'Connor Sligo, O'Connor Dunne, O'Connor roe, O'Kelly, O'Flaherty, O'Male, O'Heyne, O'Maddyne, O'Dowdy, O'Harry Bwye, O'Harry Reoghe, O'Naughtyne, O'Loughlin, O'Guffe, O'Neylan, O'Murrye, O'Mannyn, O'Cowchanon, O'Byrne, O'Flynne, O'Hanlye, O'Hartye, O'Lorkan, O'Flanegane, and O'Mulrenyn.

Names of the five baronies in O'Rourke's country, viz., in Mynterolles, two baronies called Leitrim and Moyghell. The M'Grannells enjoyed these two baronies as their proper lands, until the late O'Rourke's father supplanted them by strong ahdn, and since that time they have lived under the spending and tyranny of O'Rourke. A third barony is called Carryg Allen and is occupied by a sept of the O'Rourkes, called the O'Rourkes of Carryg Allen. All these three baronies lie on this side the mountain Sleighoneron, which divideth the whole country as it were into two parts, the lands and grounds thereof are fruitful, though some bog and woods. The other to baronies lie beyond the said mountain of sleighoneyron, viz., the barony of Dromaheare, in which is the country called Brenny O'Rourke, O'Rourke's ancient castle having fifty or sixty quarters lying about it called Canarvy. This barony is most champaign ground and the best land in all the country. The barony of Roselougher, M'Glannough's country. A fast country full of bogs and woods. And the Carrhy, Owen O'Rourke's country, called the O'Rourkes of the Carrhy, a champaign and very fruitfull. O'Rourke's house, called the newton, is in none of these baronies, but standeth upon the border of his country, near to Sligo, and hath belonging unto it eight quarters of land in demsne called Mooyghhellys. The chief freeholders in the country of O'Rourke are the two MacGrannells, in Mynterooles, McGlannough, in the Dartry, the O'Rourkes of Carryg Allen, the O'Rourkes of the Carrhy, and the MacGawrains. The chief ordinary forces and strength of men to serve O'Rourke in his wars are, the McLoughlins, the McMorrices, and the Clantyernene. These had sixteen quarters of land amoungst them as their inheritance, called Ylaugh, and the lands of Cleanlough. These had never bonnaught of O'Rourke but only their shares of preys and spoils that were taken."

Notes for O'Rourke's country. In O'Rourke's country there two sorts of freeholders. As the M'Glannoughs, M'Grannells, who were chieftains but subject to O'rourke's spending. These pretend that they owe no service to her Majesty, but only to O'rourke. The others are persons of inferior calling and made freeholders by the Commissioners at the establishment of the late composition, with reservations of service and tentures to her Majesty. Most of both sorts are chargeable with the forfeiture of their freeholds by law, for, though some may stand clear of complicity with O'Rourke, they may be called upon to prove their first grants, and, not being able to do so, Her Majesty may either resume their lands or re-grant them with reservations of rent in lieu of their former contributions to O'Rourke, as was done in the Brenny, Annaley, and now in Monaghan.Or else Her Majesty may expel them all and plant English there, which would be hardly taken. All O'Rourke's places of strength in islands, loughs, &c., should be demolished or put into the hands of the English. If the Earl of Kildare could be drawn to relinquish his claim to the barony of Sligo and take in lieu of it lands in O'Rourke's country, it would tend to the civilisation of the country, and John Newton and other suitors might by recompensed from the same lands.

The Irish Chiefs and Clans O'Hart "Irish Pedigrees" : Brefney

 

Creevylea Abbey was a Franciscan Friary founded by Margaret, wife of Owen O' Rourke in 1508. It was the last such foundation before the suppression of the monasteries during the reign of Henry VIII. The ruin consists of a nave, choir, south transept, and a tower which was converted into living quarters in the 17th century, A cloister with some interesting stone carvings is surrounded by some domestic buildings.

At Fenagh two church ruins stand on the site of an earlier monastery, founded by St. Caillin in the 6th century. A number of standing stones in the vicinity represent the petrified bodies of druids who tried to expel St. Caillin from Fenagh. There are a number of other prehistoric remains located in or near the village. A portal tomb, to the north of the village is said to be the burial place of the great King Conal Gulben. Nineteen Gaelic Kings are said to be buried in the graveyard. There was a celebrated divinity school at Fang. It is believed that some kind of community life continued up to 1652 when Cromwellian soldiers sacked it. It was damaged by cannon fire during the Williamite wars in 1690 and the last service was said tin 1729. Errew the 16th century graveyard & Kilahurk Ring Fort St. Patrick is said to have passed through this region. While there he baptised followers at St. Patrick's holy well in Aughawilliam and before leaving the region he blessed the ancient graveyard of Errew/ The 16th century graveyard is situated about 2 miles east of Carrigallen overlooking the beautiful Gulladoo Lake. St Mary's Holy Well (Tobair Mhuire), an ancient place of pilgrimage and was attached to a religious settlement, Cill Fearga, which according to the Annals of the Four Masters was founded by a holy woman, St Fearga, as early as the 6th century.

MacClancy Castle ruins- Survivors of shipwrecked sailors from the Spanish Armada took refuge in this castle on Lough Melvin in 1588. There is a plaque at the lakeside and the Four Maters Memorial is approximately 1 mile from Kinlough on the Donegal border.

Old Town Gate & Medieval Friary in Leitrim is a gate is all that is left of the fortified town walls which were erected when the town was founded by Sir Charles Coote in 1625. It was significant enough to receive a Royal Chartar from James I. A stone cross over a small gate, right, leads to the ruin of a Franciscan friary of the convent of the Friars' Minor. A synod held here in 1650 repudiated the Marquis of Dromod, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and excommunicated his followers. Jamestown Abbey is a Stone cross over a small gate, outside the old town gate, leads to the remains of a Francican friary of the convent of the Friars' Minor. The Franciscan convent of the Friars Minor was not founded until the occupation of Jamestown in 1642 by the O'Rourkes. Caislean Na Chairte is the ruin of an O'Rourke castle where gunpowder was first used in Ireland and can be seen off the main Sligo/Manorhamilton road.