Desertmartin (parish)

Desertmartin
Irish transcription(s)
• Derivation:	Díseart Mhartain
• Meaning:	"hermitage of St. Martin"
Country	Northern Ireland
County	Londonderry
Barony	Loughinsholin
Townlands	24
Settlements	Desertmartin, Cullion

Desertmartin (from Irish Díseart Mhartain, meaning 'hermitage of St. Martin') is a civil and ecclesiastical parish in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Containing one major settlement, Desertmartin, it is bordered by the civil parishes of Ballynascreen, Desertlyn, Kilcronaghan, Lissan, Maghera, and Magherafelt. It lies within the former barony of Loughinsholin and is situated in Magherafelt District Council. As a Church of Ireland parish it is within the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe.

The parish of Desertmartin lies at the foot of Slieve Gallion, on the easternmost limit of the Sperrin Mountains range. Slieve Gallion rises to an elevation of 1,730 feet (530 m) and is near the south-western boundary of the parish. The rest of the parish is comparatively low averaging around 270 feet (82 m) above sea level, and in its easterly descent from Slieve Gallion is broken by small glens and ravines, such as; Reuben's, Gortanewry, and Quilly.

The main hills in the parish are; Slieve Gallion Cairn, 1,625 feet (495 m) high; Brackamore Hill, 418 feet (127 m) high; Windy Castle, 1,216 feet (371 m) high; Tirgan Rock, 590 feet (180 m) high.

Desertmartin has no river flowing through it, however does contain several small streams, the principal of which is the Grange (also known as the Desertmartin River), which after a course of 5 miles (8.0 km) discharges into the River Moyola.

Desertmartin also contains a lake, Loughinsholin (from Irish Loch Inse Ui Fhloinn, meaning 'lough of O'Lynns island'), which contained an artificial island on which was situated a fort. This fort was the seat of the Ó Floinn (O'Lynn) dynasty, who also gave their name to the townland of Moneysterlin (from Irish Mainister Uí Fhloinn, meaning 'O'Lynns monastery') in the parish.

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