Mullaghduff (Irish: Mullach Dubh) is a townland in the Parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland. Etymology The townland name is an anglicisation of the Gaelic placename 'Mullach Dubh' which means "The Black Hilltop", which probably derives from the blackish soil which covers the hill. The 1609 Ulster Plantation Baronial map spells the name as Mulladuff. A 1610 grant spells the name as Mullaghduffe. A 1630 Inquisition spells it as Mullaghduffe. The 1641 Rebellion Depositions as Mullaighduffe, the 1652 Commonwealth Survey as Mullaghduffe and the 1659 Down Survey map spells it as Mullaghduffe. A 1666 grant spells it as Mullaghduffe. William Petty's 1685 map spells it as Mulladuf. Geography It is bounded on the north by Annagh and Corranierna townlands, on the west by Cullyleenan and Agharaskilly townlands, on the south by Cavanagh (townland) and on the east by Cranaghan and Killywilly townlands. Its chief geographical features are Killywilly Lough on its eastern boundary and a central drumlin hill which rises to 309 feet above sea level. Mullaghduff is traversed by the N87 road (Ireland), the local L1505 road (known locally as the Yellow Road, so called because it was originally surfaced with yellow gravel and sandstone), Murray's Lane and by the disused Cavan & Leitrim Railway. The townland covers 253 statute acres, including three acres of water. History Until the beginning of the 19th century, the present day townland of Corranierna formed part of Mullaghduff. In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 23 June 1610, along with other lands, King James VI and I granted two polls in Mullaghduffe and one poll of Cloghane to Hugh Culme, esquire, as part of the Manor of Calva. Cloghane in Irish is Clochán, which can mean either 'A circular stone house' or "A stony ford, a row of stepping stones in a ford". Culme then surrendered his interest in Mullaghduff to Walter Talbot of Ballyconnell. Walter Talbot died on 26 June 1625 at Ballyconnell and his son James Talbot succeeded to the Mullaghduff lands aged just 10 years. An Inquisition held in Cavan Town on 20 September 1630 stated that Walter Talbot's lands included two polls in Mullaghduffe and one poll in Cloughan. James Talbot married Helen Calvert, the daughter of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore of Maryland, USA, in 1635 and had a son Colonel George Talbot who owned an estate in Cecil County, Maryland which he named