Townland of Bredagh Glen

Area: 873 acres
Irish Name: Meaning: Named after a tribe called the Bredagh; also name of river; can mean a hallow place. One of ancient divisions of Inishowen.
Spelling Variations: Breda - Bréadach Means 'Broken Land' (Taken from A Dictionary of Ulster Place-Names by Patrick McKay).

Brady Glen
Taken from Inishowen - Maghtochair
From the parish of Culdaff we will proceed to Lower Moville. For a part of the way the road passes along Brady Glen, which, in ancient times, belonged to the McDermotts, who, in the Annals of the Four masters, are styled the lords of Bradyglen, and the princes of hospitality. There is a bridge in this glen named Friar's Bridge, from a tradition that a friar was drowned in crossing the river at that place.

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Caldragh (Early Christian)
Near Bredagh Glen National School about 2.5 miles from Moville on Malin road. Arable. Good view up and down glen. This Infant's Burial Ground is E. of the school on the opposite side of the road. It touches the S.E. side of the wall which skirts the field on the N.E. It is a small piece of rough ground with stones, and overgrown with brambles etc.

Lithmore Fort (Iron Age or Later)
In the next field to the Caldragh at the top near farmhouse. Arable. Commanding view. The fort is locally called Lismore (when John O'Donovan was locating the names of townlands for the survey of the mid 1830's, perhaps he was informed by someone with a lisp). Although within sight of the road it could easily be passed by unnoticed, as it blends with the landscape on the edge of a ridge, and is used as farmland. There is a field wall through the middle, running N.E. - S.W.: the N.W. half of this circular earth rath has been ploughed in, but the rise of the mound can be traced: the S.E. half is grass-covered with the E. bank still visible,. The enclosure is level. There is a stream at the S.E. (flowing into the Bredagh River), from where the fort looks most impressive.

Craiganaffrin (Post Plantation)
Approached by Malin road from Moville about 2 miles, a road forks backwards towards Moville; just over 0.25 mile along it at crossroads, branch left (N.E.) to Tullynaprasky. Arable, just below rough ground. Restricted view. The ridge of rock running E.-W. known as Craiganaffrin (Rock of the Mass), lies mostly in the above townland but running into Gulladoo. Sheltered by it is the Mass Rock. People living close by pointed out what they believe is the right spot. These people, the McDaids, whose family has been living here since before the Famine, say that their house owes its name, Tullynaprasky, to the abundance of the weed charlock, also known as prascha, thus Tullynaprasley means, 'Hillock of the Prasha They say that during the Famine, "people came from far and near to make broth with it".

Lisarue (Iron Age, or later)
Along Malin Road from Moville about 1.5 miles, leave road, cross field on left or W. to Bredagh River; on its N.E. bank, just above where a stream joins it from N.E. there is a waterfall; also remains of a Scotch Mill. Arable. View partly restricted. The fort is at the river bend, and is much overgrown, whin abounding. The presumed diameter is about 85 ft.
Local Tradition: Lisarue (Fort of Sadness?) is linked with Lithmore 1.5 miles N. as the crow flies. "When the fairies who lived at Lismore died they were carried crying down the winding river to Lisarue where they were buried". (Perhaps it was the accompanying live fairies who wept) "They could be heard keening down the river".

(Taken from The Heritage of Inishowen by Mabel R. Colhoun)

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