GEOGRAPHY OF MAGH SLECHT

The parish of Templeport was, in the early Christian period, very approximately co-extensive with the district of Magh Slecht.

It comprised the present parishes of Templeport, Curlough and Glan.

Magh Slecht was the ancient name of Tullyhaw. Its geographical spot was on a hill overlooking the plain around the village of Ballymagauran.

The present barony of Tullyhaw includes the entire district of Magh Slech, no part of which extended beyond the boundaries of County Cavan.

Recent (not as of this writing very recent) researches have shown that the rath on the hill of Derryragh is the actual enclosure within which the idol, Crom, stood  

The Barony of Teallach Eadchach, now Tullyhaw , the mountainous and picturesque district which occupies the extreme west of County Cavan, represented the territory belonging to the tribe of Eochaid, a chieftain descended from Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, a fourth century monarch of Ireland.

From Brian, son of this Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, were descended all the tribes of the Ui Briuin of Connacht whose rule later extended over Breiffne.

The sept of Mac Samhradhan, belonging to the race of Eochaidh were the chieftains of Tullyhaw... their strongholds were at Bawnboy, Ballmagauran and Lissanover. Several of their chieftains are mentioned in the Four Masters.

( Mag Samhradhan. now Magauran, or Mac Govern, a name which is still numerically strong in Tullyhaw. The form MacGovern of comparatively modern adoption and does not appear to have been in general use in Tullyhaw a century ago when O'Donovan was compiling his notes. Referring to the Mac Gaurans of County Meath, he comments on the fact that they were then generally adopting the form Mac Govern... a change of name which he strongly condemned. )

At the time of St., Patrick the territory of Magh Sleacht belonged to the Masraighe, one of the rent paying tribes of ancient Ireland.

The Masraighe appear to have retained considerable power in the fifth century, for an entry in the Four Masters refers to a foray which they made in that year... 464... into Meath.

In the sixth century the Ui Briuin, who had already been in possession of Magh Rein, took possession of Magh Sleacht, and the Masraighe were reduced to serfdom.

The Masraighe had received Christianity from St. Patrick but after the sixth century they ceased to be a distinct unit and thus passed out of history.

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