Termonmaguirc Historical Society was formed in 1984, with Fr. John Bradley, curate in Termonmaguirc from July 1983 to November 1985, along with a few others, being the main driving forces.

The first officers elected were as follows:

President: Joe Fox

Chairman: Fr. John Bradley

Secretaries: Eoin Kerr, (later succeeded by John McManus & Mickey Haughey)

Treasurers: Pat Kelly (later succeeded by Mick Daly)

PRO: Cormac McAleer

Membership: Alphonsus Daly

Publications: Paddy Grogan & Damian Woods

Over the next few years membership quickly grew, with people from all over the parish, and

beyond, getting involved. Among the early local activities carried out by the society were the rebuilding of the lime kiln on Traceys’ farm on the Camlough Road in Mullaslin, and the collapsed sweathouse on Loughrans’ farm in Creggandovesky, the replacing, with Mons. Faul’s permission, of the memorials on the priests’ graves in St Colmcille’s Church, a clearing of the path up Mullinalap, the replacing of missing milestones in three local sites, and the erection of townland name plaques in Carrickmore graveyard.

A number of informative talks took place during these years, with a range of excellent speakers, including Joe Fox, Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, Fr. John Bradley, Damian Woods, An Dochtúir Séamus Ó Catháin, Paddy Hamill, Claire Foley, Jack Johnston, Fr. Peter Kerr, Sheila McAleer, Eoin Kerr, Pat John Rafferty, Sean McClory, Danny Donnelly, Mons. Raymond Murray, Mons. Denis Faul and Dr. Dermot Devlin.

The society was very active on the publications front throughout these years, with members producing a wide range of books, magazines and pamphlets. Following sterling work by Paddy Grogan and his “An Tearmann” group in bringing us the first three editions of the parish magazine, Paddy carried on with seven further editions under the banner of the Historical Society. Under Paddy’s stewardship, a special Townlands edition went to press, packed with photographs and invaluable townland information. Fr Peter Kerr circulated separate copies of his Seanchas Ard Mhacha articles on Michael Davitt in Carrickmore, Land Agitation in Termonmaguirc 1885-86 and the townland of Inishatieve. Another publication in 1997, “St. Colmcille 597-1997”, marking the 1400 th anniversary of the death of St. Colmcille, contains a veritable mountain of information on the saint and related topics.

Arguably the most detailed publication produced by the society came in 2000, with “Glimpses of Carrickmore”, a hardback history of 557 pages, covering so many aspects of our past. Packed with facts, figures, statistics, memoirs and photographs, it will remain a valuable reference for future generations.

While the society arranged visits to a number of local sweathouses, kilns, Mass-rocks, landmarks, and the various archaeological sites in the parish, longer full-day tours were arranged to destinations further afield. We visited the two cathedrals in Armagh, Derry City, South Armagh, Carlingford, Devenish Island, the Glens of Antrim, Glenveagh and Gartan, Dublin, Drogheda and the Boyne Valley.

Perhaps the most ambitious project carried out by the Termonmaguirc Historical Society was the establishment of the Nally Heritage Centre in the Nally Stand. This Marvellous, state-of-the arts facility was the culmination of many months work by a diligent sub-committee led by Larry Sheeran and Ian McGarrity, which had succeeded in winning Lottery Heritage Funding for the project, only for the site to fall victim to the terrible flooding of 2017. Fortunately, all of the digital resources, and most of the artefacts, so meticulously collected over a number of years, survived the deluge.

After a very fruitful first couple of decades since its formation, Termonmaguirc Historical Society’s activities slowed down somewhat in the ensuing years, due, in varying degrees, to an aging profile, the passing of so many experienced members, the transfer of valued clerical historians, and a failure to attract new blood. By 2019, a greater awareness of our local history became apparent among the younger generation, and more parishioners were asking about when new editions of “An Tearmann” would be printed. A number of the older hands managed to encourage these keen young adults to come aboard. The power of social media was harnessed, helping to attract and promote new ideas, with the result that the 2019 Annual General Meeting saw an influx of new members, which combined with the continued presence of older ones, resulted in a fresh impetus, following this hiatus of sorts.

That meeting attracted dozens of people, and a vibrant, enthusiastic committee emerged.

The officers elected that year were as follows:

Chairman: Cormac McAleer

Vice Chairman: Arthur McCallan

Secretary: Brigid McAleer

Treasurer: Johnny Donovan

P.R.O. Gavan McElroy

I.T. Officers: Paul McKay & Ronan McGee

In the years since, THS has been working hard, in spite of early disruption caused by COVID.

Among its initiatives have been the following:

•  Registration with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

•  Affiliation with the Federation for Ulster Local Studies

• Establishment of a base in the Patrician

• Winning Lottery support for the installation of a secure display cabinet in the Patrician.

• Establishing excellent working relation with the Heritage officials in Fermanagh & Omagh Council.

•  Reaching agreement with FODC for the extended loan of some of the Altanagh  excavation artefacts.

• The staging of an attractive and informative townland display, which drew large crowds.

•  The purchase of the Rev. Charles Cobbe Beresford’s personal copy of his “Book of Common Prayer”, printed in 1638.

• The publication, by long-standing THS member, Peadar Montague, with the help of society colleagues, of his masterly townland study of Creggandevesky.

• Another fabulous publication was a similar townland study, this time of Altanagh. Completed in 2024, this was the culmination of 20 years work by Ian McGarrity, who had gathered so much material over two decades, but who did not live to see it come to fruition. Following Ian’s passing, the baton was taken up by other members of the society, who had helped Ian in his research, as well as members of the McGarrity family. They saw it over the line, and it stands as a great tribute to Ian.

• We are currently in the process of compiling Volume XI of “An Tearmann”, after a long gap since Vol. X.

• We have hosted some really enthralling talks during the past few years, with Damian Woods (Irish Townlands), Adam Winstanley (The Altanagh Excavation) and Diarmuid McGurk (The Rev. Charles Cobbe Beresford) addressing hundreds of people packed into the Patrician, while Margaret Marshall (Memories of Carrickmore in the 1950s and 1960s) delivered a great illustrated talk to a packed Termonmaguirk Church Hall.

• We have set up a Facebook page, keeping members, friends and other interested parties abreast of our activities, while at the same time receiving useful feedback.

• Perhaps the most exciting development is the fact that our website is now up and running, providing what will eventually prove a huge source of information for our kith and kin at home and abroad, as well as a comprehensive research base for all..