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The title, Baron of Baltimore, came with acreage, castles and the rents, crops and such
they produced. No history book has ever referred to the exact location in County
Longford.
However, I have a copy of an article "Baltimore" by Very Rev. M. Cannon J.
Masterson in The Ardagh & Clonmacnoise Antiquarian Society Journal, 1942, vol. II, No.
8 pp 88-94.
He goes to great lengths to locate Lord Baltimore's land. His conclusion is that part
of the granted land was in Ratheline and was Castle Ulfeede, presently known as Castle
Elfeete on Elkfeete Bay in Lough Ree.
The Baltimore part is indeed in Longford ans has no bearing or relation on Baltimore, a
seaport in southern Ireland.
I quote from the article: "Coming to the grant made to Calvert in the barony of
Longford, we find the following:--Drumlish, Barragy, Derawley, Moneyachill(Ohill?),
Shanabegg, Corlea, Janabegg (Eanbegs?), Garveoghill (Gar-rohill), and a number of
townlands now obsolete. Besides these 2324 acres of arable land he was granted 1400 acres
of bog and wood. A large portion of the said bog lies on both sides of the road from
Currygranny to Cloonageehir. In this latter townland I found Baltimore; or rather Canon
Gray found it for me. His parish, Bornacoola, includes several townlands in Co. Longford,
and he informs me that part of Cloonageehir which lies along the east bank of the Rinn
river is still called Baltimore. Thus Bornacoola has the double honor of supplying Lord
Calvert, the noble Catholic peer, with his title, and of lending a name to the Primatial
See of the greatest Republic in the world.
I freely admit that there is an element of conjecture in my "find" and my
conclusion. I found in Longford, Ballymores and Barraghmores, at first, but nowhere
Baltimore. I looked for it is in Cashel. Then, in a fortunate moment, I told Canon Gray
that, beyond all doubt, Lord Baltimore, founder of the great city and of Maryland State
had his title from Longford, and what he told me was not quite a revelation but a striking
discovery of what I had sought for, and about which I am quite content. Before I leave
this subject of my search for "Baltimore in Longford," may I observe that George
Calvert could hardly select an artistic title from any other part of his property? The
two chief centres of his property could not allure him. Lord Ulfeete, or Lord Drumlish
sound barbaric in comparison with Lord Baltimore. May I stress again that George Calvert
was created a peer and chose his title while still in Longford; and that having found
casually but fortunately one "Baltimore!
in Longford" we are not likely to find another."
Hope this answers your question? J
Hi