Ballycowan (barony)

Ballycowan or Ballycowen (Irish: Baile Mhic Comhainn) is a barony in County Offaly (formerly King's County), Ireland.

Ballycowan Baile Mhic Comhainn (Irish)
Barony
Baronies of County Offaly. Ballycowan is shaded blue.
Coordinates: 53.2881°N 7.5670°W / 53.2881; -7.5670
Sovereign state	Ireland
County	Offaly
Area
• Total	156.25 km2 (60.3 sq mi)

Etymology

Ballycowan derives its name from Ballycowan Castle (near Tullamore) and the townland of Ballycowan (Irish Baile Mhic Comhainn, "settlement of Mac Comhainn").^[1]

Location

Ballycowan is located in north County Offaly, around the valleys of the Clodiagh River and Silver River.

History

Ballycowan was part of the territory of the Ó Maolmhuaidh (O'Molloy) sept of the Southern Uí Néill. The Uí Shuanaig (Fox?) sept is cited here near Rathan.^[2]

List of settlements

Below is a list of settlements in Ballycowan:

• Durrow
• Rahan
• Screggan
• Tullamore