The historical account claims that the O'Gairbhin branch of the Garveys had their homeland in County Meath until driven out by the Norman invasion in the early 1200s. The account claims they then settled near Crossmolina in County Mayo. Few enough of the Garveys were left in this area 650 years later that it is difficult to guess where that original territory might have been. The only place that had any number of Garveys was in the very eastern portion of the county near Colp. There is also a large group of Garveys just across the border in County Louth centwered around Termonfeckon. Both these groups are pretty much centered around the city of Drogheda. Garvey history in that city may stretch a very long ways back in time.
The only other trace left of the original Garveys may be a small town named Ballymagarvey just southwest of Duleek.
In the mid-1500's (350 years after the Garveys were said to have left this area), the Elizabethan Prelate Archbishop John Garvey began his ministry in the area of County Meath and Eastern County Cavan. He was said to have residences in Termonfeckin, County Louth, and in the city of Drogheda. Interestingly enough, these are exactly the same places showing the highest concentration of Garveys in that area in Griffith's Valuation.
