Magherastephana

Magherastephana (from Irish: Machaire Stepanach meaning "plain of [unknown]") is a barony in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.^[1] To its south-west lies Upper Lough Erne, and it is bordered by five other baronies: Tirkennedy to the north; Knockninny to the south-west; and Coole to the south; Clankelly to the south-east; and Clogher to the north-west.^[1]

The barony of Magherastephana is previously recorded as Machaire Stepanach,^[2][3] however the origins of the name are unknown.^[3] O'Donovan alleged that it was named after a Steafan (Stephen) who was the son of Odhar, the progenitor of the Maguires, and a figure of the 10th century. The problem however is that the name Stephen didn't arrive into Ireland until the 12th century when the Normans brought it in with them.^[3] Added to this is the fact that in the genealogies of the Annals there is no reference to a family group or individual by the name of Steafan connected with Fermanagh.^[3]

The MacCaffery (Irish: Mac Gafraidh) sept of the Clan Maguire were centered at Ballymacaffry within this barony.^[2] They would become one of the five most powerful families in Fermanagh by 1580.^[4]

List of main settlements

• Brookeborough
• Lisnaskea
• Maguiresbridge

List of civil parishes

Civil parishes within the barony of Magherastephana, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Below is a list of civil parishes in Magherastephana:^[5]

• Aghalurcher (split with barony of Clogher)
• Aghavea
• Derrybrusk (split with barony of Tirkennedy)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} PRONI Baronies of Northern Ireland
2. ^ ^{a b} The Baronies of Ireland - Family History
3. ^ ^{a b c d} The Letters of John O'Donovan
4. ^ Bell, Robert; The Book of Ulster Surnames, page 134. The Black Staff Press, 2003. ISBN 0-85640-602-3
5. ^ PRONI CIvil Parishes of County Fermanagh