Moneyshanere () is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in the north-west of the parish on the boundary with the civil parish of Ballynascreen, and it is bounded by the townlands of: Calmore, Drumcrow, Drumballyhagan Clark, Duntibryan, Granny, Moneyguiggy, Moybeg Kirley, and Tobermore. It was apportioned to the Drapers company and Crown freeholds.
The townland was part of Tobermore electoral ward of the former Magherafelt District Council, however in 1926, it was part of Tobermore district electoral division as part of the Maghera division of Magherafelt Rural District. It was also part of the historic barony of Loughinsholin.
The town of Tobermore lies partially in this townland, and those of Calmore, Moyesset, and Tobermore. The local parish church of Kilcronaghan also lies within Moneyshanere.
Etymology The Irish origin the name Moneyshanere derives from is unknown. Several possible origins have however been given over the years: Moín na Seánoir (bog of the old man/bard/druid) Muine Sean Iúir (thicket of old yews) Muine Sean Oir (thicket of old spindle trees) Muine Sean Fhéir (brake of the old coarse grass) Mona Sean Saighir (crest/ridge of the ancient priest)
Alfred Munn Moore in his Notes on the Place Names of the Parishes and Townlands of the County of Londonderry, makes note that St. Ciaran was known as the "ancient priest" or "Sean Saighir", possibly referring to St. Ciarán of Saigir.
History
+ PopulationYearPop. 1841 137 1851 115 1861 105 1871 99 1881 109 1891 59 1901 76 1911 342 1926 99
+ Size (acres, roods, poles) Year a, r, p 1851 369, 0, 27 1881 369, 0, 27 1901 369, 0, 27 1926 368, 3, 16
+ Earlier recorded forms Year Form 1609 Mollishanare (O.S.) 1613 Mollyshanare (Charter) 1613 Montshenar 1622 Moneshanar 1654 Manishinor 1657 Molyshanare 1659c Monishnare 1661 Mannishinore 1663 Morishnose 1767 Monishanere 1813 Monishanere (S.M.) (O.S.) - Ordnance Survey map 1609(Charter) - Charter of Londonderry 1613(S.M.) Sampson's Map
See also Kilcronaghan List of townlands in Tobermore Tobermore
In literature Moneyshanere is remembered in F. L. Lucas's poem 'Her answer, in after years' (1935),Lucas, F. L., 'Her answer, in after years', from Poems, 1935, Cambridge University Press recalling a visit to County Londonderry and expressing a craving For the twilit air by Moneyshanere That the peat-smoke scents afar, For the stream that croons her lonely tunes By the road from Magherá.
References HistPop; County and County Borough of Londonderry, 1926, page 24 HistPop; County of Londonderry, 1851, page 241 HistPop; Area, population and number of houses, Vol. III, Ireland, 1881, page 698 Place Names NI - Moneyshanere Notes on the Place Names of the Parishes and Townlands of the County of Londonderry, 1925, Alfred Moore Munn, Clerk of the Crown and Peace of the City and County of Londonderry
Toner, Gregory: Place-Names of Northern Ireland, page 129-130. Queen's University of Belfast, 1996, HistPop; Area, houses, and population, Vol. III [Part 2], Ireland, 1901 Page 35