- Magherastephana
-
Magherastephana (from Irish: Machaire Stepanach meaning "plain of [unknown]") is a barony in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.[1] To its south-west lies Upper Lough Erne, and it is bordered by five other baronies: Tirkennedy to the north; Knockninny to the south-west; and Coole to the south; Clankelly to the south-east; and Clogher to the north-west.[1]
The barony of Magherastephana is previously recorded as Machaire Stepanach,[2][3] however the origins of the name are unknown.[3] O'Donovan alleged that it was named after a Steafan (Stephen) who was the son of Odhar, the progenitor of the Maguires, and a figure of the 10th century. The problem however is that the name Stephen didn't arrive into Ireland until the 12th century when the Normans brought it in with them.[3] Added to this is the fact that in the genealogies of the Annals there is no reference to a family group or individual by the name of Steafan connected with Fermanagh.[3]
The MacCaffery (Irish: Mac Gafraidh) sept of the Clan Maguire were centered at Ballymacaffry within this barony.[2] They would become one of the five most powerful families in Fermanagh by 1580.[4]
List of main settlements
List of civil parishes
Below is a list of civil parishes in Magherastephana:[5]
- Aghalurcher (split with barony of Clogher)
- Aghavea
- Derrybrusk (split with barony of Tirkennedy)
References
- ^ a b PRONI Baronies of Northern Ireland
- ^ a b The Baronies of Ireland - Family History
- ^ a b c d The Letters of John O'Donovan
- ^ Bell, Robert; The Book of Ulster Surnames, page 134. The Black Staff Press, 2003. ISBN 0-85640-602-3
- ^ PRONI CIvil Parishes of County Fermanagh
Categories:- Baronies of County Fermanagh
- County Fermanagh
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