Mormeal ( and , ) is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in the west of the parish with the Altagoan river to its west forming the parish boundary with Ballynascreen. It is bounded by the townlands of: Brackaghlislea, Drumard, Duntibryan, Gortnaskey, Granny, Tamnyaskey. It wasn't apportioned to any of the London livery companies, being kept as church lands.
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. It was also part of the historic barony of Loughinsholin.
Etymology The actual Irish origin of Mormeal is unknown with several different variants provided, most notably by Alfred Munn Moore. The most recent translation as of 2002 states its origin as being; Mír Mhíchíl, meaning Michael's portion. Older origins include:
Mor-meall meaning "great hillock". Mór Mael(án) in modern Irish. Baile mor miol meaning "town of the monsters". Magh-adhair m-bheal (pronounced "mawr-meal") meaning "plain of the fire, or adoration, of the god Belus (the sun)".
History Along with the townlands of Granny, Tamnyaskey, and Tullyroan, Mormeal comprises the four townlands that make up the Bishop of Derrys lands in the parish. Prior to the Plantation of Ulster, these four townlands constituted the termon (or erenagh) land of the parish, and were known as "Ballintrolla, Derreskerdan, Dirrygrinagh et Kellynahawla". Despite these townlands being in the same location as the later townlands, it is now impossible to match their names accurately.
The ruins of the ancient parish church of Kilcronaghan lie within the townland of Mormeal. In the east of the townland on a hill (438 ft.) lies an ancient ráth, and one on another hill (450 ft.) to the south.
Statistics
+ PopulationYearPop. 1841 330 1851 254 1861 244 1871 220 1881 209 1891 162 1901 142 1911 150 1926 127
+ Size (acres, roods, poles) Year a, r, p 1851 515, 1, 3 1881 515, 1, 3 1901 515, 1, 3 1926 527, 1, 31
+ Earlier recorded forms Year Form 1654 Mirrimeith 1657c Merinnch (D.S.) 1659c Mirmihellgrany(joined with Granny) 1661 Merrinnieth 1661c Mirmichell 1672c Mermeth 1680 Mermeale 1686 Meremeala 1767 Mermeal 1813 Mormeal (S.M.) (D.S.) - Down Survey Map(S.M.) - Sampson's Map
See also Kilcronaghan List of townlands in Tobermore Tobermore
References HistPop; County and County Borough of Londonderry, 1926, page 27 HistPop; County of Londonderry, 1851, page 241 HistPop; Area, population and number of houses, Vol. III, Ireland, 1881, page 698 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 Place Names NI - Mormeal
Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 130-1. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 112. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, HistPop; Area, houses, and population, Vol. III [Part 2], Ireland, 1901 Page 35