Places

The history of Creggan is rooted in the land itself. The fields, hills, roads, and rivers of the Upper Fews and surrounding townlands have witnessed centuries of human life — from ancient settlements and medieval monasteries to rural cottages, battle sites, and modern parish centres.

This page is dedicated to exploring some of the places that have shaped the identity of the Creggan region. Each one carries its own stories, legends, and associations. Some are well-known; others are quiet corners, passed daily without notice — yet all have played their part in the unfolding history of this landscape.

The Upper Fews and Creggan Parish

The Society focuses on the Barony of the Upper Fews, located in south Armagh, and that part of the Creggan Parish which lies in County Louth. This borderland region spans rugged drumlin country, wooded valleys, and upland bog, scattered with farms, schools, and small villages.

Despite political boundaries, the area shares a strong cultural and historical continuity. Townlands straddle county lines, families intermarried across generations, and traditions passed fluidly between Armagh and Louth.

Understanding this region involves more than tracing maps — it requires listening to the language of place names, walking the boreens, and recognising the layers of memory in the land itself.

Townlands: Ireland’s Oldest Land Divisions

At the heart of local geography are townlands — the smallest administrative land units in Ireland, and a key to unlocking both genealogical and historical understanding. There are dozens of townlands in the Creggan area, each with a name rooted in Irish, often describing physical features, ownership, or historical events.

Some examples include:

  • Tullynavall – from Tulaigh na bhFeall (“hill of the traitors”)

  • Crossmaglen – from Crois Mhic Lionnáin (“Mac Lennon’s Cross”)

  • Ballykeel – from Baile Caol (“narrow townland”)

  • Lisleitrim – from Lios Liatroma (“fort of Leitrim”)

These names hold centuries of meaning — often blending myth, memory, and topography. Understanding their origins brings insight into how people once saw and used the land.

The Townlands page provides more detailed resources, including lists, maps, and related records.

Religious and Cultural Sites

The Creggan area is home to several sites of deep religious, historical, and cultural significance. Among the most prominent:

  • Creggan Churchyard – A burial site for many notable local figures, including 18th-century poets such as Peadar Ó Doirnín and Séamus McMurphy, as well as clergy and political activists. The ruins of the old church and the surrounding graves reflect centuries of community continuity.

  • St. Patrick’s, Cullyhanna – A central place of worship and community gathering, and location of Áras an Chairdinéil Ó Fiaich, the Society’s meeting venue.

  • Urney Graveyard – An older burial ground still remembered in local tradition and visited by those tracing family roots.

These sacred places are more than historical curiosities — they remain active sites of memory and reflection, linking present-day communities with generations past.

Monuments and Megaliths

The physical landscape of Creggan contains many ancient markers — reminders of a deep human presence stretching back thousands of years.

  • Ballykeel Dolmen – A Neolithic portal tomb, among the best preserved in the region. Its striking capstone and setting make it a powerful symbol of prehistoric settlement.

  • Kilmichael Stone Circle – A lesser-known but significant megalithic site, surrounded by folklore and seasonal traditions.

  • Rath and Ringfort Sites – Scattered across the region, often hidden in fields or overlooked as hills, these earthen remains are the footprints of early settlements and defended farmsteads.

These monuments speak to an enduring relationship between people and place — one that predates written history and continues to inspire local interest and scholarly attention.

Places of Struggle and Change

The landscape also bears the marks of political, social, and military history. The hills and back roads of Creggan were no strangers to conflict, resistance, and resilience, particularly during:

  • The 1798 Rebellion

  • The Land War of the 19th century

  • The War of Independence and Civil War period

  • The more recent Troubles of the late 20th century

While often painful, these histories are part of what gives the area its character. Sites associated with ambushes, safe houses, or commemorative crosses remind us of the sacrifices and convictions of past generations.

Living Places

It is easy to speak of “historic places” as if they were frozen in time — but the truth is, the places of Creggan are living and evolving. Farms continue to be worked. Schools educate new generations. Roads and housing change, yet townland names endure. Local accents, customs, and festivals carry echoes of older ways.

At the Creggan History Society, we believe in recognising history as something woven into everyday life. Every field, chapel, bridge, or shop has a story — and each one is worth preserving.

Help Us Map the Story

We welcome contributions from anyone with stories or information about local places — especially lesser-known sites, family landmarks, or vanished buildings. Photographs, map copies, personal recollections, and folklore are all of great value.

If you have something to share about a particular place — even just a memory — please contact us or post on the Messages page. Together, we can continue mapping the human story written across this landscape.

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