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From: Don McGovern <>
Subject: McGovern Ancestor Stories: Glangevlin
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 06:33:05 -0700 (PDT)


I have been blessed to be able to trace my Irish ancestors back many
years. My McGovern were living near Ballinamore in County Leitrim in
the 1833 Tithe Applotment survey.

From my understanding of the McGovern surname I know my ancestors
probably lived in Tullyhaw in Co. Cavan before living in Leitrim. I
would like to find their earlier home if possible. I know that church
and civil records won't be able to help. But I thought if I share
several of the stories passed down orally by my ancestors, maybe
someone would recognize something that would give me a clue what
townland they might be from.

The stories my ancestors passed down from generation to generation must
have some meaning or I don't think they would have taken the time to
tell their children and grandchildren. The stories go like this, my
ancestors left Tullyhaw several generations before Bernard McGovern (my
great granuncle born 1824 in Leitrim). They supposedly left because of
some disagreements, maybe even a fued, with other McGoverns in the
area. My ancestors had a saying (please forgive me but this saying is
theirs, not mine) "You can never trust a Dolan". As you can see my
ancestors appeared to not be getting along with their neighbors well..
I hear there are alot of Dolans in Cavan.

When Bernard was telling his children and grandchildren about our
ancestors he said they were "Black" McGoverns from a "Corney" family.
He stated that we had a branch in the family that someone was the
bishop of Ardagh.

I know I am going to be making several big assumptions here, but
interpret the reference of "Corney" to a small village near Glangevlin,
called Corneenflynn. The term "Black" might relate to our Black Irish
appearance or the Black River that runs through the area. I also noted
that a Dr. James Magauran, bishop of Ardagh was from Moneensauran, not
far from Glangevlin. Lastly, there are several Bernard and Bryan
McGoverns from the area around Glangevlin (Bernard and Bryan was not a
very common given name... not like James or John). So, all of this
points me in the direction of Glan.

Does anyone know of a local historian from the Glangevlin area I might
call or write?

Don McGovern



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