Anne:
I did a little Googling.
Templeport is about 3 miles from Bawnboy.
Bawnboy is a gateway between the gentle rolling hills and lakes of central Cavan and the rugged uplands of West Cavan. The only historic building in the village is the rather grim workhouse or poorhouse, built in 1853. These institutions were built by the British government to give insufficient relief and assistance to the needy in Ireland. Bawnboy workhouse was built just after the Great Famine, whose effects in this area were particularly severe.
About a mile and a half to the south of Bawnboy village lies Kildorragh Catholic church. From the outside it looks like a barn. It was built in the 1790s and used for religious service for nearly two centuries.
On Saint Mogue’s Island in nearby Templeport Lake, was an important monastery in the later Middle Ages, though little remains now accept some ruins and a cemetery.
William Rutledge, a native of the Bawnboy area, emigrated to Australia in the 1830s where he established the town of Kilmore, to the north of Melbourne.
For more on St. Mogue's Island
http://www.lakeavenuehouse.com/news.asp?id=17Magh Slécht (pronounced Moy Slett) is the name of an historic plain in Ireland. It comprises an area of about three square miles (8 km²) situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw and County of Cavan. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Russell mountain, on the south by the Woodford canal & on the west by the Blackwater river. Magh Slécht formed part of the Province of Connacht until the 16th century when it was made part of the Province of Ulster.
It was originally named Magh Senaig (the plain of the hill-slope) but the name was later changed to Magh Slécht (The plain of prostrations) as it became the nationwide centre of the cult of the god Crom Cruaich. The ancient Irish prayed by prostrating themselves in a similar fashion to today's Muslims, ie by kneeling down on both knees and touching the forehead against the earth. The plain is not flat but consists of little drumlin hills. However as it is surrounded by mountains it is a plain in comparison.
Magh Slécht (pronounced Moy Slett) is the name of an historic plain in Ireland. It comprises an area of about three square miles (8 km²) situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw and County of Cavan. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Russell mountain, on the south by the Woodford canal & on the west by the
Blackwater river. Magh Slécht formed part of the Province of Connacht until the 16th century when it was made part of the Province of Ulster.
Times were incredibly bad in those days in Cavan. For more details,
http://www.rootsweb.com/~irlcav/cavan2.htmAnd here is another link which might be helpful.
http://www.genealogylocator.com/results/cavan.htmlGood luck,
Pat
