Aghavoher is bounded on the north by Cranaghan townland, on the west by Clifton, County Cavan, Mullynagolman and Carrigan townlands, on the south by Breandrum, Tullyhunco townland and on the east by Greaghrahan and Carn townlands. Its chief geographical features are Aghavoher Lough and the Rag River on its northern boundary and a small hill which rises to 306 feet above sea level. Aghavoher is traversed by the Kildallan road and Carrigan lane. The townland covers 228 statute acres[3] including eleven acres of water. The sub-divisions of the townland are Sandville and Sandybrook.
History
The earliest surviving spelling of the townland name is in a printed list of Cavan townlands dated 1790 where it is spelled Aughiogher.[4] Ambrose Leet's 1814 Directory spells the name as Augavoher with the resident being Mr. Patterson.[5] Centuries before that the townland formed part of the Black Pig's Dyke in pre-Christian times.
The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list the following tithepayers in the townland: Profet, McKiernan, Stevens, Lee, Murrey, Berry, Patterson.[6]
A deed dated 23 February 1835 now in the Cavan Archives Service (ref P017/0043[7]) is described as:
Deed of indemnity made between Mary Anne Patterson, Sandybrook, County Cavan, widow, devisee and an executor named in will of Alexander Patterson, late of Sandybrook, esquire, of the first part, William Rogers, junior, Cornacrum, County Cavan, gentleman, of the second part, and Joseph Denham, Killeshandra, County Cavan, gentleman, trustee, of the third part. Patterson grants to Denham the lands of Aghavoher (Aughavoher) known by the name Sandybrook, barony of Lower Loughtee, County Cavan, by virtue of lease now held by. Lands granted in order to indemnify Rogers against the payment of several legacies and annuities outlined in the will of Alexander Patterson, dated 28 February 1832.
The Ordnance Survey Name Books for 1836 give the following description of the townland:
Achadh a mothar, 'field of the cluster'. It lies in the South-East extremity of the parish. It is bounded on the North-West by Carigan and Mullynagolman. On the West by Clifden. On the North by Cranaghan. On the East by Drumlane and on the South by Kildallan. The proprietor J.C. Jones Esq and the Protestant Bishop of Kilmore. The land agent is Mr. Knipe of Belturbet. The soil is of good quality and produces wheat, oats, flax and potatoes. The houses are built of stone. Tenants have it in lots which are held by leases of years. Inhabitants in good circumstances. Held in freehold. Rent per acre is 5s/6d to the bishop and 5s to Mr. Jones. Contains Sandybrook House which is the residence of Mrs Paterson. A neat house.
The Aghavoher Valuation Office Field books are available for December 1838.[8][9]
Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists the landlords of the townland as Jones and Moore and the tenants as Berry, Winslow and Kellett.[10]
^Site number 94, page 20, Aghavoher townland, in "Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan", Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, where it is described as- Marked 'Fort' on OS 1836 and 1876 eds. Sited on the S slope of a steep hill. Raised circular area (int. diam. 11.8m) enclosed by a low earthen bank with a wide, deep internal fosse. The internal area is greatly disturbed by a modern field boundary running NNW-SSE which divides the site into two roughly equal portions. Original entrance not recognisable.
^Site number 1467, page 175, Aghavoher townland, in "Archaeological Inventory of County Cavan", Patrick O’Donovan, 1995, where it is described as- Small circular island (diam. c. 20m) in Aghavoher Lough, c. 1 km from the shoreline marked on all OS eds. Davies recorded that it was apparently a log platform and detailed finds from the site including several animal bones and shells, hones, two pieces of quern, a block of iron, a jug handle and c. twenty sherds of unglazed crannóg pottery from which seven pots were identified. He noted the former presence of a 19th-century stone cottage on the island and contemporary glazed sherds and pieces of an iron cauldron. It was suggested that the crannóg was occupied principally in the 16th century.
