Scotstown - History

History

A crannog in the local Hollywood lake was the headquarters of Patrick Mac Art Moyle MacMahon. In 1591, Lord Deputy Fitzwilliam broke up the MacMahon lordship in Monaghan when "The MacMahon", hereditary leader of the sept, resisted the imposition of an English sheriff; he was hanged and his lordship divided. Patrick Mac Art Moyle MacMahon became one of the independent leaders of the divided MacMahon lordship. The MacMahons generally fought amongst themselves during most of the Nine Years' War (1594–1603), and Patrick Mac Art Moyle MacMahon, along with other MacMahon leaders, ultimately surrendered to Baron Mountjoy in 1601. Although the MacMahon's retained most of their land after the war, unable to raise taxes they would eventually give up their land as payment for those taxes.

A Catholic church was built in the neighbouring townland of Drumdesco in 1785 (rebuilt in the 1820s), referred to locally as Urbleshanny Chapel, but officially dedicated to St Mary. Church registers go back to 1835 for births and 1825 for marriages. It is one of the three catholic churches in the Parish of Tydavnet. St. Mary's has an adjoining cemetery with graves dating back to the late 18th century. Urbleshanny chapel served as a pro-cathedral for the Catholic Diocese of Clogher from 1801 to 1824, while Dr. James Murphy was bishop. At the time it was noted to have no ceiling, no boards on the floor, and only partially fitted with pews. A tradition in Urbleshanny after weddings was to hold a race for a bottle of whiskey, and there is still a place near the chapel called Whiskey Hollow were these races were said to have taken place. Another Presbyterian cemetery exists close to the village center, but is no longer in use.

The village national school is also called Urbleshanny and is located in Carrowhatta. Urbleshanny National School is thought to be the earliest Catholic school in the Diocese of Clogher, having been set up in 1791, just after the penal laws were repealed.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the lowlands surrounding Scotstown were favored by the landed classes, and as a consequence, they have left some ornamental woodland behind, including Hollywood and Mullaghmore.

During the 18th century, Scotstown developed as a small market center and by the 1830s, Scotstown was known to have a thriving fair, which centred on the village green, and the green is still an open space today. Records show that traders came to sell calico, printed and course linens, stockings, socks, combs, brushes, cutlery and other hardware. Also in the 18th century, Scotstown served as a depot for quarried stones coming from a number of locations in the Sliabh Beagh mountains.

In October 1878 five thousand "Fenian's" attended a rally at Scotstown under "Green and Gold banners" demanding the release of "Fenian" prisoners, "ownership of the soil by the toillers" and an end to the parliamentary road to home rule. The first branch of the Land League in Monghan was established by John Dillion in Scotstown in 1880.

It is on record in 1938 as having a blacksmith. Scotstown also had a Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks, with probably 4 officers stationed here. Electric power first arrived in Scotstown in 1948.

In the 1970s and 80s, Scotstown and the rural community around were known for having a number of active members of the Provisional IRA. One of these, Seamus McElwain was killed close to Roslea in 1986, and his funeral at Urbleshanny chapel was a significant media event, drawing an estimated 3000 people to the village.