Rakeeranbeg
Rakeeranbeg (also Rathkeeranbeg) is a townland in the Dromore area in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
Pronunciation and Origin of the Name
The name of the townland is locally pronounced as [ɹəˌciəɹənˈbeːɟ] or [ɹaθˌciəɹənˈbeːɟ], corresponding to Standard English [ɹəˌkɪəɹənˈbɛɡ] and [ɹæθˌkɪəɹənˈbɛɡ]. The name is derived from Irish Ráth Caorthainn Beag meaning "little fort of the rowan".
Geography
Rakeeranbeg lies mid-way between the villages of Dromore and Fintona in western County Tyrone (Irish Grid Reference H3860). It is bordered by the townlands Cornamucklagh, Tullyclunagh and Lissaneden. It is bounded on the west side by a tributary of the Owenreagh River locally known as the Shannaragh River, on the north side by a small burn, and on the southeast side by bog. The northern and western edges of the townland, adjacent to the river and burn, consist of flat 'holmes' which are prone to flooding, whilst the centre of the townland is dominated by a low drumlin (at just over 100m above sea-level).[1] Other than the bog, the land, which is divided by hedgerows of hawthorn and ash into small fields, is used for cattle grazing, although historically potatoes, oats, flax and turnips were grown. The bog was traditionally used as a source of turf for fuel, and consists of a mix of raised bog, marsh and birch and willow carr.
Two minor roads run through the townland, Rakeeran Road and Corbally Road (locally known as 'the Bog Road').
History
- The fort which gave Rakeeranbeg is no longer apparent (nor are there any rowan trees), but it is clearly marked on maps from 1830 and 1850.[2] Research suggests that ringforts in Ulster were typically constructed between 600AD and 900AD,[3] giving an indication of the length of settlement in Rakeeranbeg.
- The name of the townland was first recorded in 1609, as Rathkerhinn, and subsequently the name is recorded in 1610 (?Rathkirhin), 1613 (?Rathkirhin), 1655 (Rakeran beg), 1661 (Rakerranbegg), 1666 (Rikirran), 1730 (Rakerinbegg), and 1784 (Rakeeranbeg).[4]
- 1830 map
- Great Northwestern Railway
- 1850 map
- 1901 census
- 1911 census
- Tarring of the road
- Closure of the railway
- Current population
References
- ^ Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland, Discoverer Series (1:50,000), Sheet 18
- ^ http://www.placenamesni.org/placenamesniviewer/map.phtml?me=235684,358358,241684,363358
- ^ Matthew Stout, The Irish Ringfort, Four Court Press, Dublin, 1997; Matthew Stout, 'Early Christian Ireland: Settlement and environment' in A History of Settlement in Ireland, TB Barry (ed), London, 2000, p. 81-109.
- ^ http://www.placenamesni.org/resultsdetail.phtml?entry=8582