Our Heritage Journey

The Stonemason’s Cottage in Ballyrory,  Claudy, Co Derry was built by Micheal and Mary Deeny (O ‘Duibhne) circa 1843. It is the ancestral home of the Deenys in Ulster.

The Deeny’s were originally from Glenvar, Fanad Peninsula, North Donegal. They were renowned Stonemasons having been involved in the building of what are now many of the heritage buildings such as churches and schools in the North Sperrins area. 

Originally, they worked at Learmount Castle, the home of the local landlord (De Barré-Beresford) who would have employed them as Stonemasons. It is likely that Owen Deeny and brothers moved from Glenvar to Ballyrory in the late 1790s first to Ardmore (Ashbrook) and then to Ballyrory ( Ballyrory Townland, Co. Londonderry). 

In 1840s the Landlords in Ulster changed the Land Management system from Rundale to Tenant holdings. People were encouraged to move out of the ‘clachans’ onto individual tenant farms. This change permitted people to move out of the ‘clachan’ (  Ballyrory) up  Sliabh Buí to make new farms and pick new sites for houses. Owen Deeny’s son, Michael Deeny was about to marry Mary "láidir"  Mclaughlin. Mary was from Dreen.

On their new farm they picked  a site for their new house and more than likely the neighbours helped them built it.  All building materials were sourced locally including wood for the cruck trusses, scraw, scallops and thatch which probably was flax. The sash windows were also made locally with glass being readily available in Ulster in the 1840s. The flagstone floors and the existence of a  ‘parlour’   

( lower room), a half loft, a gable window, and a double outshoot ( for weaving).

Alongside many other new houses on Sliabh Buí Hill in Ballyrory, built in the 1840’s, thankfully the Stonemason’s Cottage is still standing as  a testament to the knowledge and skills of the people at that time.