PARISH OF TEMPLEMORE. 
name. The northern part merged in the principality of Eoghan, (Owen), the son of king Niall, 
which as lying between the two arms of the sea, Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly, by which it 
was very nearly insulated—received the appellation of Imp 605 am, (Inishowen), or Owen’s Is¬ 
land. The southern part was allotted to Enda, or Enna, his brother, and hence received the 
name Cip 6 noa, or the land or country of Enda. This territory contained 30 quarters of land. 
An Irish poem, a thousand years old, referred to by Colgan, shews that the posterity of Enda 
were deprived of their patrimony by the Kinel Connell and Kinel Owen at a very remote time; 
and though that ancient authority states that they recovered it in the 6 th century, it appears 
certain from the whole stream of Irish history that they were soon after again stript of their 
territory by the dominant power of the kings of Aileach of the race of Owen, by whom it was 
retained till the close of the 14th century. As long as the regal succession of the kings of 
Aileach was preserved, the territory of Moy Iha or Tir Enda, appears to have constituted the 
lordship of the R lojoarivna or heir apparent to the northern crown, as the princes styled Lords, of 
Moy Iha by the annalists, are also generally called heirs of Aileach, and, excepting when they 
were cut off prematurely, appear subsequently as kings. Previously to the twelfth century, Moy 
Iha appears to have been occupied by a branch of the Kinel-Owen called Clan Conor, of which 
the most distinguished families were the O’Cathans, O’Cairellans, O’Murrys, O’Kennedys, 
O’Corrans, O’Quins and O’Dugans. Most of them subsequently crossed the Foyle, and possessed 
themselves of territories in the present county of Derry, and their place in Moy Iha was occupied 
by the Kinel Moen, another branch of the Kinel Owen, of whom the O’Gormlys and O’Loonys 
were generally the chiefs. And these in turn were also driven across the Foyle by the Kinel 
Connell in the fifteenth century. In Inishowen, the principal families were the Mac Loughlins 
(of royal rank), O’Deerys, O’Deromys, O’Brollagbans and O’Brolys, who were also of the Kinel 
Owen, but after the destruction of the fortress of Aileach, these also became subject to the power 
of the Kinel Connell, though permitted to retain their lands, and O’Dogherty was placed in the 
lordship of the peninsula at the commencement of the fifteenth century.—(See Castle of 
Aileach.) 
About half the parish of Templemore, or what is generally called the northern liberties of 
Londonderry, was comprised in Inishowen, before the formation of the county of Londonderry, as 
is evident from an inquisition taken at Derry in the seventh year of the reign of James I., from 
which it appears that a jury composed of resident English and ancient Irish natives, of the prin¬ 
cipal septs of the district, “ did upon their oaths find and present that the auntient and knowne 
meares of the countrey of Inishowen, alias O’Dogliertie’s countrey, to the south and south-east, 
are and have been, tyme out of mynde, as followeth, viz. from the part or braunch of Lough 
Swilly, on the weste and south-west parte of Birt, thorough the midst of a bog which extendeth 
to Lough Lappan, (O’Lappan’s Lake,) from a well or spring' upon Mullaghknockemona, and 
from the topp of that mountayne the meare extended thorough a small bog, which runneth alonge 
the top of the hill of Ardenemahill, and soe to the top of the hill of Knockenagh, upon the easte 
part of which hill ariseth the streame of Altbally M‘Rowertie, which runneth a meare betweene 
Bally Mac Rowertie in Ennishowen, and parte of the landes of the Derry and Garrowgarle to 
the cawsy under Ellogh, and soe down thorough the bog to Logh Swilly, and from the foresaid 
cawsy the meare of Inishowen aforesaid is thorough the midst of the Bog to Lough Foile.” The 
southern part of the parish was in Tir-Enda. 
It appears from this inquisition and some others, that Sir John O’Dogherty was possessed of 
the townlands of Ballyarnett, Ballymagrorty, Coshquin, Culmore (then called Leharden), and Elagh- 
more, being a part of his principality of Inishowen, all which was upon a surrender confirmed to him 
by letters patent in the 30th year of the reign of Elizabeth. In the year 1599, Sir John O’Dogherty, 
rebelled, and forfeited all Inishowen, but it was afterwards regranted to his son, Sir Cahir, as appears 
from an inquisition taken at Derry in the 7th yearof James the 1st, with the exception of the quarter 
of Ballyarnet, the half quarter of Leharden (now Culmore townland), and 300 acres allotted to the 
castle of Culmore. In the year 1608 Sir Cahir also rebelled, and his letters patent, therefore, be¬ 
coming null and voide, his whole property was granted to Arthur Lord Chichester, of Belfast, by 
letters patent bearing date the 20th of November, in the 19th year of the reign of James the 1st. 
It appears from the same inquisitions, that Lord Chichester being thus seized, leased his possessions 
here to Faithful Fortescue, Knt., Arthur Usher, Tristram Berrisford, and Charles Points, and 
to their heirs. (Vide Inquisition, No. 1, Tempore Car. 1.) 
The townlands of Ballougry, Ballymagowan, Ballynagard, Ballynashallog, Creevagh, Killea, 
Mullennan, and Termonbacca, belonged to the abbey of St. Columbkille, at Derry. 
The quarter of Craggin and Drumniurny and the half-quarter of Courneglogh, all which 
seem to be included in the present townlands of Creggan and Edenballymore, belonged to the 
bishop, and the townland of Ballynagalliagh, as its name imports, was a part of the property of 
the nunnery of Derry. (Vide Inquisition, 7 James I.) 
