In the 17th century when the Scottish planters arrived in the area around Drumreagh, the area wasn’t as fertile as it once had been. Despite this its position was important as it was at the edge of the territory, which had already been planted, and it was on the other side of the River Bann from one of the main re-settlement districts. The people from this district were full of jealousy and anger and these feelings of resentment became public in the rebellion of 1641, when Drumreagh was the first place they attacked.