Gortnaleg (Irish derived place name Gort na Lag, meaning 'The Field of the Hollows') is a townland in the civil parish of Kinawley, barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. Geography Gortnaleg is bounded on the north by Tircahan townland, on the west by Borim (Kinawley), Dunglave, and Gortlaunaght townlands and on the east by Cullion (Kinawley), Gub (Kinawley) and Newtown (Kinawley) townlands. Its chief geographical features are the Blackwater river which later flows into the River Cladagh (Swanlinbar), mountain streams, woods, a spring well and dug wells. Gortnaleg is traversed by minor public roads and rural lanes. The townland covers 170 statute acres. History In medieval times Gortnaleg was owned by the McGovern Clan and formed part of a ballybetagh spelled (variously) Aghycloony, Aghcloone, Nacloone, Naclone and Noclone (Irish derived place name Áth Chluain, meaning 'The Ford of the Meadow'). The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the ballybetagh as Naclone. In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 26 June 1615, King James VI and I granted, inter alia, The precinct or parcel of Nacloone otherwise Aghcloone to Sir George Graeme and Sir Richard Graeme to form part of the Manor of Greame. A history of Richard and George Graham is viewable online. The Grahams took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and after the war their lands were confiscated under the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652. The 1652 Commonwealth Survey spells the name as Gortneleg and gives the owner as Mr Thomas Worshipp and the tenants as William Graham & others, so the Grahams had been reduced to tenant status. In a deed dated 2 August 1714 Morley Saunders granted to Richard Hassard, inter alia, - the land of Gortnalegg. A deed by Thomas Enery dated 29 Jan 1735 includes the lands of Gortnelegg. In a deed dated 13 August 1738 John Enery conveyed to Richard Hassard, inter alia, the lands of Gortnaleg. In 1766 Gortnaleg was one of the first Methodist communities founded in County Cavan. A Methodist Pioneer: or the Life and Labours of John Smith (1885), by Charles Henry Crookshank, states on page 196, "In 1766, however, in connection with the zealous and faithful labours of John Smith, a large number of Societies were formed, including those at Mullalougher, Killashandra, Bawnboy, Belturbet, Cavanagh, Ballyconnell, Swanlinbar, Furnaceland and Gortnaleg." Page 278 states, "Once when John Smith went to Gortnaleg, he was so hoarse that he