County Monaghan Homeland - Aerial Views of Townlands


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View: Rossnaglogh around Corravilla.  Click to Enlarge.

View:  Corravilla aerial map.  Click to Enlarge. 

View: County Monaghan Planning Map.  Click to Enlarge.

Closer View of Corravilla.  Click to Enlarge.

 Someday we plan on seeing the plots our ancestors farmed in County Monaghan, Ireland. Our ancestors eked out a living as best they could. Our great grandmother, Susan McPhillips, was born in Corravilla Townland. Corravilla in Gaelic means either the 'hill of the brilla (branchy tree)' or 'hill of the aged tree'. "Irish" John was born nearby in East Rossnaglogh Townland. Rossnaglogh means 'wood of the stones'. Other Smyths lived in Faltagh which means either 'wall' or 'hedges, enclosures'. "Irish" John's mother, Catherine Greenan, was born somewhere in County Monaghan. Greenan cousins lived nearby in Urcher Townland, which means 'throw, cast or shot'.

What did this land look like? From satellite photos it appears this land has remained unchanged from what it looked like 160 years ago. The buildings may be newer and there are fewer dwellings today; however, the layout of the land looks similar to what was mapped out many years ago.


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Corravilla Map and Aerial View - This map shows how the lay of the land has remained unchanged through the years. Corravilla Townland is adjacent to East Rossnaglogh Townland in Aghabog Civil Parish in County Monaghan. The aerial map is compared against an ordnance map created in the early to mid 1800's. The blue shaded area is land once leased by William and Mary Smyth. Their daughter, Mary Smyth, later married Michael McPhillips. Mary and Michael McPhillips' first child, Susan, was also born in Corravilla. Susan McPhillips later married "Irish" John Smith (Smyth) in Keyesville, Wisconsin, USA.

County Monaghan Planning Map - Newer map showing various townlands in County Monaghan. These townlands would have been well known to our Smyth, Greenan and McPhillips ancestors.

Milltown aerial view and map - Milltown Townland is located in Ematris Civil Parish, County Monaghan, which is just south of Aghabog Civil Parish. Milltown perhaps is just a couple miles south of East Rossnaglogh Townland, where "Irish" John was born and lived. The ordnance map was created in the early to mid 1800's and the landscape remains mostly unchanged. In earlier times there would have been more shanties. The areas shaded in blue were leased by Edward Greenan. Edward and "Irish" John Smith were close relatives.

More maps - Rossnaglogh Corravilla Faltagh - East Rossnaglogh Townland is 125 acres and Corravilla Townland is 168 acres. The area shaded in blue is where "Irish" John Smith was born and lived. The area shaded in red is where our Smyth/McPhillips ancestors lived. Both families lived in close proximity and is very likely they knew each other in Ireland. Townland borders are shown in 'brown'. The southern Townland, Faltagh, means 'Wall' and was leased by other Smyth families. There are 640 acres in a square mile.

Smyths of Rossnaglogh map and aerial view - Compare the old ordnance map with the aerial view. The area highlighted in yellow is where Irish John was born and lived. The land layout remained almost unchanged through the years. Of course, the buildings shown on the map no longer exist.

Urcher aerial view and map - Urcher Townland is located Kilmore Civil Parish, County Monaghan. Urcher is a short distance east of Corravilla Townland in adjacent Aghabog Civil Parish. "Irish" John Smith visited Greenan cousins in Urcher. One was named Terry Greenan. In the mid-1800's the ordnance survey showed Terry Greenan living in section 10; however, that would have been a different Terry Greenan. The earliest Terry Greenan we believe eventually moved to Wisconsin. The blue highlighted area was leased by Catharine Smyth. Was this Irish John's mom? The upper portion of this map (section 2) shows it was leased at one time by Michael McPhillips.

View:  Smyths of Rossnaglogh map and1a.jpg

View:  Urcher aerial view and map combination.  Click to Enlarge.

View:  Corravilla Map and Aerial View.   Click to Enlarge.