Drumcrow (locally [ˌdrömˈkroː], from Irish Droim Cró 'bloody ridge'[2]) is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in the north of the parish with the Moyola River running along its northern boundary. It is bounded by the townlands of; Drumballyhagan, Drumballyhagan Clark, Drumconready, Kirley Lisnamuck, Moneyshanere, and Moybeg Kirley. It was apportioned to the Vintners company.[3]

Drumcrow
Irish transcription(s)
 • Derivation:Droim Cró
 • Meaning:"Bloody ridge"
Drumcrow is located in Northern Ireland
Drumcrow
Drumcrow
Drumcrow shown within Northern Ireland
Drumcrow is located in the United Kingdom
Drumcrow
Drumcrow
Drumcrow (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates: 54°49′12″N 6°43′41″W / 54.820°N 6.728°W / 54.820; -6.728
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryNorthern Ireland
CountyCounty Londonderry
BaronyLoughinsholin
Civil parishKilcronaghan
Plantation grantVintners Company
First recorded1613
Government
 • CouncilMid Ulster District
 • WardTobermore
Area
 • Total109.05 acres (44.13 ha)
Irish grid refH818977

The townland was part of Tobermore electoral ward of the former Magherafelt District Council, however in 1926 it was part of Tobermore district electoral division as part of the Maghera division of Magherafelt Rural District.[4] It was also part of the historic barony of Loughinsholin.[3]

Etymology edit

Drumcrow is suggested to derive its name from the Irish Droim Cró, meaning "bloody ridge". This is based upon the context of earlier forms of the name, which suggested the use of the noun cró, which means "blood, gore". An early Irish poem makes mention of a Droim Cró (now Drumcree) in County Westmeath, which was the site of a battle with the editor remarking that the final element of the name meant "blood, gore".[2] Ridges where an ideal defence-attack position, where the defender could rain missiles upon an enemy that had to climb uphill, and quickly take up an offensive position with a downhill charge.[2]

History edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Northern Ireland Environment Agency. "NIEA Map Viewer". Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 121. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, ISBN 0-85389-613-5
  3. ^ a b Notes on the Place Names of the Parishes and Townlands of the County of Londonderry, 1925, Alfred Moore Munn, Clerk of the Crown and Peace of the City and County of Londonderry
  4. ^ a b c d HistPop; County and County Borough of Londonderry, 1926, page 27
  5. ^ a b c d e f HistPop; Area, population and number of houses, Vol. III, Ireland, 1881, page 698
  6. ^ a b c HistPop; Area, houses, and population, Vol. III [Part 2], Ireland, 1901 Page 35
  7. ^ HistPop; County of Londonderry, 1851, page 241
  8. ^ Place Names NI - Drumcrow