Cornacleigh


Cornacleigh is a townland in the civil parish of Templeport, and barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. The local pronunciation is Curnacloyche.

Geography

Cornacleigh is bounded on the north by Corlough townland, on the west by Leitra, Corlough townland, on the south by Cartronnagilta and Cronery townlands and on the east by Corratillan and Knockmore, County Cavan townlands. Its chief geographical features are the River Blackwater, County Cavan, a stream, forestry plantations and spring wells. Cornacleigh is traversed by minor public roads and rural lanes. The townland covers 108 statute acres.

History

In earlier times the townland was probably uninhabited as it consists mainly of bog and poor clay soils. It was not seized by the English during the Plantation of Ulster in 1610 or in the Cromwellian Settlement of the 1660s so some dispossessed Irish families moved there and began to clear and farm the land.
A lease dated 17 September 1816 John Enery of Bawnboy includes Carnacliff otherwise Carnacligh.
The landlord of Cornacleigh in the mid-19th century was John Finlay.
Records of inhabitation include:
Cornacleigh lies in the Roman Catholic parish of Corlough.

Cornacleigh National School

The roll number was 8713. In 1862 Michael McAuley, a Roman Catholic, was the headmaster. There were 88 pupils, all Roman Catholic. The Catechism was taught to the Catholic pupils on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3pm to 3:30pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 12 noon.
1874: It was changed to an Ordinary Agricultural School which meant a national school with a small farm attached. One male teacher who received an annual salary of £37. There were 82 pupils, 33 boys and 49 girls.