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Introduction to South Ulster by Jack Storey South Ulster to me means "Clogher Diocese" which originated in the 12th century. I hope that the Storey / Story research I've exhibited on the Story Genealogy Network Website will be useful to researchers. The wealth of history in South Ulster is largely undiscovered and because I was born near the Fermanagh - Monaghan Border I feel that much of the history of Monaghan, Fermanagh, Cavan & Tyrone is a task I can tackle with confidence. Bishop Patrick J. Duffy's "Landscapes of South Ulster" is an indespensible aid to understanding the unique system of Parishes and Townlands of South Ulster. Unfortunately, this excellently presented book, now out of print, is almost a collector's item. The other aids which I value most are Shirley's History of the County of Monaghan (1879), County Monaghan Sources by Peter Collins (1998), & History of Monaghan for Two Hundred Years 1660 - 1860 by Denis Carolan Rushe (1925). These books contain excellent data and are easy to refer to. Monaghan's famous sons include Patrick Kavanagh, Champion Jockey Richard Dunwoody, Australian Minister of Health (1920s) Sir David Storey of Aghagaw, World Boxing Champion Barry McGuigan, Sir Thomas Lipton's father, temporary residents - Henry Francis Lyte (Hymnwriter of "Abide with me") & Oscar Wilde. South Ulster contains so many areas of exciting history that it is really impossible to single out one particular area. You can travel easily from the fine Museum at Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, through the historic towns of Belturbet where the famous Coote Family still live, to Crossdoney where the Storys lived at Bingfield, to Clones just across the Monaghan Border where St. Tiernach's Cathedral still dominates the landscape and where John Wesley preached at its gates to the biggest ever congregation of his Irish missionary journeys. The Storys (many of them "Reivers" from the Borders) settled in Killeshandra, Arva, Drumlane and Cloverhill during the early 1700s. At Clones where three counties meet - Monaghan, Cavan & Fermanagh, you can head in a North Westerly direction towards Enniskillen and the Lakeland of Fermanagh or pick up the main Monaghan road to Smithborough and eventually to Monaghan Town, just twelve miles from Clones. The Parish of Clones extends into Counties Cavan, Monaghan & Fermanagh. Clones is the home of ex-World Boxing Champion Barry McGuigan, son of famous Eurovision singing star Pat McGuigan. The road to Smithborough passes near the village of Newbliss, surely a world-phenomenon because of the famous sons it produced over the last two hundred years - Sir Thomas Lipton of Supermarket and Tea fame, the Moores of Wellworths Irish Supermarket fame and the home of Sir Tyrone Guthrie at Annaghmakerrig Estate, all in the Newbliss postal district. Two more wealthy families of Newbliss have also made their mark in the Retail business of Ireland. You can divert past Mount Louise House, once the home of the Evatts, then on to Clenamully the ancient home of the Forsters of Tullaghan and past Mullaharra where the Liptons built a house for one of their daughters. If you had stayed on the main road you would have passed Thornhill where a battle took place in the 1920s and if you turned towards Drumsnat Church you could visit the grave of Oscar Wilde's two daughters who died while attending a party in the Rectory in the 1870s. Nearby you will see Drumsnat Ancient Monastic site dating back to 550 AD. Along the Monaghan Road, if you're observant, you'll see the remains of the Ulster Canal which proved to be a lifeline for South Ulster in the 1800s by carrying linen fabric to the Belfast Market and fostering other industries in this area. It is hoped that European funding will re-establish part of this ancient waterway. Had you turned left in Clones you could not miss seeing the ancient Abbey on your right hand side and the old Round Tower dating back to mediaeval times which has in its shadow the grave of St. Tiernach. The road into Fermanagh must meander between the lakes which appear round every corner of the road. This is where English, German and Belgian Anglers spend weeks every year catching the well-fed roach, rudd, perch, bream and pike so plentiful in this area. As you enter Enniskillen you cannot but notice that this town is built on a series of Islands in Lough Erne. The town made famous in the 1689 - 93 Williamite Wars in Ireland because of the stubborn resistance of the Johnstons during the siege in that year. It is reported that there were upwards of twenty families of Johnstons involved as defenders during the siege. William proudly called on his Inniskillings to show him their fighting spirit at the Boyne in 1690. 1  2