|
Page 12 of 14
Introduction
Claregalway Parish, as we know it today, covers a total area of over 12,000 statute acres. Claregalway itself is divided into 30 official townlands, used for present day administration. Townlands vary in size and most do not contain a town, indeed some lack inhabitants. Natural features such as the River Clare or manmade structures such as the N17 main road sometimes define their boundaries. The official townland names may not always be used, as locals may still use the older Irish townlands and placenames. As is the case all over Ireland, our local placenames are derived from various sources. Most are very old and have been passed down through the centuries by word of mouth or manuscript. These factors and the anglicised versions of Gaelic names have led to some placenames being lost or bearing little or no resemblance to the present features. Names such as Curraghmore (large boggy place) or Gortatleva (field of the hill) have changed only in spelling over the years.
In the following listings we have described Claregalway using the official townlands, along with some facts and local features. We have attempted to include as many local names as possible and have had to pick the most common spellings for some names. Included under each townland are the total area1 and its value2 under the Griffiths Poor Law Valuation of 1855, also included are the family names of that appear in the same Valuation.
1Area is given in acres, roods and perches where 1 acre = 4 roods = 160 perches
2 Value is given in old pounds, shillings and pence £1 = 20s = 240p
Carnmore/Cairn Mór (great heap of stones)
Area:180ac 3r 24p; Poor Law Valuation:£19 10s 6p
Landlord: Valentine Blake
Population: 12 people in 3 houses
Family Names: Kenny and Rabbitt
Placenames: Gortaleasa
Carnmore is at the extreme eastern side of the Parish adjoining Athenry along the Monivea Road where Johnny Greaney now lives. Land is mainly good.
Carnmore East/Cairn Mór (great heap of stones)
Area: 221ac 3r 25p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £7 18s 0p
Landlord: Valentine Blake
Population ~1851: 24 people in 5 houses
Family Names : Fox, Hynes, Rooney, Veitch;
Placenames: Clais Bhrein
Carnmore East is on the extreme eastern side of the Claregalway Parish adjoining Lackagh and Athenry Parishes. The land here is of mixed quality. There is a turlough in the area and the remains of a small lisheen. Some stone tools were discovered in this area a few years ago.
Carnmore West/Cairn Mór (great heap of stones)
Area: 2041ac 3r 29p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £359 12s 6p
Landlord: Valentine Blake
Population ~1851: 348 people in 63 houses
Family Names: Beatty, Behan, Burke, Butler, Carr, Cavanagh, Collins, Costello, ,Egan, Fahy, Finnegan, Ford, Fox, Grealish, Hanley, Higgins, Holland, Holmes, Hynes, Kelly, Kenny, Lardner, Linskey, Mahon, Morris, Quinn, Rabbitt, Rooney, Ruane, Rushe, Small, Walsh;
Placenames: Bearna an tSalann, Boithrín Tobar Núa, Caher, Cloch Maol, Cnocán Dorethy, Gortaleasa, Lochán Buí, Páirc Garbh, Páirc na Rasaí
Carnmore West is the largest townland in the parish, stretching from the airport to Greaney Glass and lies between Glenascaul and Lydacan. In this townland is the airport, school, community centre and GAA pitch. The land is of good quality. There is a souterrain in the area and a number of ringforts. There is also a Lisheen or Children's Burial ground within the townland. The remains of Cloch Maol castle can still be seen. There are burials around this castle where according to local tradition "Seán agus trifhichead Sheáin" are buried. There is also a monument of stones similar in form to a fort nearby.
Caherlea/Cathair Líath
Area: 147ac 3r 36p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £39 0s 0p
Landlord: H. Lynch
Population ~1851: 44 in 6 houses
Family Names: Collins, Duggan, Fox, Kerrigan, Melody;
Caherlea is one of the smaller townlands and it adjoins Lisheenavalla (which is in Lackagh parish). Land is mainly good there and suitable for all kind of farming. Taking the Irish translation of Cathair Líath to be a grey stone fort, would indicate that there was some ruins or fortress in the area at one time but no visible evidence has been found.
Cahergowan/Cathair Ghabhain (fort of the blacksmith/calves) (Or Summerfield/Páirc an tSamhraidh )
Area: 841ac 0r 25p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £384 13s 0p
Landlord: Lord Clanmorris
Population ~1851: 472 in 89 houses
Family Names: Boyle, Burke, Clanmorris, Cody, Cogwell, Conor, Corcuit, Cullinane, Donoghue, Duffy, Duggan, Egan, Fahy, Flaherty, Flesk, Ford, Fox, Gobbobs, Hession, Holland, Hughes, Joyce, Kelly, Lenehan, Linsky, Moloney, Moran, Murphy, Prendergast, Tully, Walsh and Wren;
Placenames: Clogher, Casuala, Carrow Keel, Páircín na Bpoll, Poll an Capall, Tobar Padraic, Cnocán Droighnean, Cúinne na Sceach, Cnocán Lurghan, Garaide an Uisce………
Cahergowan is unusual in that it has two official names Summerfield and Cahergowan. Both are used but Cahergowan would be used more frequently. This townland is large and has always been heavily populated. The river Clare separates it from the townland of Claregalway and it streches along the N17 as far as Pollaghreveagh and on the western side it adjoins Montiagh South. Clogher or Clochár is an old name that indicates a monastic settlement. The Taylor and Skinner road map of 1777 shows Summerville Blake Esq. as the occupants of the big house. At the back of the ball alley there is an old ruin of a church and this was used as a burial ground until recently. There are two pubs and three shops in Cahergowan. The land is mainly arable with some outcrop of rock and hazel and some low-lying land that is liable to flooding. There is also some bog but no turf is cut there now.Near Hessions shop, an old mile stone stands which is engraved with the figure '5' indicating that this spot is 5 Irish miles from Eyre Square.
Claregalway/Baile an Chláir/Baile Chláir na Gaillimhe (Town of the plain)
Area: 585ac 0r 0p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £228 0s 0p
Landlord: Lord Clanmorris
Population ~1851: 133 people in 19 houses
Family Names: Allen, Byrne, Casserley, Duggan, Finnerty, Ryan;
Placenames: Cloonbiggen, Móinín Ribeach, Léana, Cúinne Cam, Bóithrín O'Kane, Bóithrín Lachach;
Claregalway townland stretches from Claregalway Bridge to the Garda barracks and westward along the river as far as Gortcloonmore. The village of Claregalway itself does not lie within this townland. The Parish name was taken from this townland possibly because the original church was located on the grounds of the 13th century Franciscan Friary, one of the main landmarks in the area. Claregalway's present-day graveyard surrounds the ruins of the friary. A short distance from the friary the remains of a 15th century castle stands, overlooking the River Clare. The Nine Arches Bridge also lies within the Claregalway townland. A new landmark is the S.M.A house opposite the friary. Cloonbiggin is a better known name for part of Claregalway townland. A reference exists in an article about the friary in 1387 when six acres of land in Cloynbiggin were given to the friars.There is also a small river, which rises from a spring near Lough George, and it flows through Cloonbiggin into the River Clare. There are some spring wells in this area also. One is known as Tobar Dubh. The land is mainly good but some of it is low lying and liable to flooding in winter.The origin of the name Claregalway is not clear. Variations used in the past include Baile An Chláir meaning Town of the Plank, (Used for crossing the river) and Town of the Plain. Baile Chláir Na Gaillimhe is a direct translation of Claregalway and has been in use for the last 80 years.
Cloon /Cluain (Meadow)
Area: 440ac 3r 7p; Poor Law Valuation: £100 4s 0p
Landlord: James Ffrench
Population 1851: 187 people in 27 houses
Cloon is situated 2 miles from Claregalway village on the western side of the N17. It lies between the townlands of Cloonacauneen and Pollaghrevagh. Cloon and Pollaghrevagh are separated by a by-road, with Cloon lying to the left as you go into the area, although most people living along the boundary would actually use Cloon as their address. The land within Cloon is classed as 233 acres being bog-land and the remaining 207 acres is fertile land suitable for all types of farming.
Cloonacauneen /Cluain an Chainin
Area: 29ac 0r 16p; Poor Law Valuation: £13 5s 0p
Landlord: Robert Faire
Population 1851: 41 people in 5 houses
Family Names: No Record
Place Names: 'Holmes Hill'
There is another townland of the same name in Castlegar parish and both join at the top of Holmes' Hill. There are no houses there now. The land is of mixed quality. It lies next to Cloon townland and the N17.
Cloughaun /Clochan (River/Stepping Stone)
Area: 11ac 1r 39p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £9 10s 0p
Landlord: James S. Lambert
Population ~1851: 21 people in 4 houses
Family Names: Golding, Nolan, Rabbitt
Cloughaun townland is the smallest townland in the parish. In reality the townland is divided between the parishes of Claregalway and Lackagh. The roads to Liscananaun and Baunmore from Baunmore Cross divide the townland and parishes. The land here is of mixed quality. There are no traces of any historical monument in the townland in the present day.
Cregboy / Creag Bui/Creig Bui (Yellow Rock)
Area: 676ac 0r 8p; Poor Law Valuation:£222 6s 0p
Landlord: James Galbraith
Population 1851: 176 people in 31 houses
Family names in 1855 :Boyle, Burke, Casserly, , Tully, Hession, Corenit, Maloney, McDonagh, Morris , Murphy Quinn, Samways, Daly, Heany, Moran, Long, Giles, Connolly, Wade, Kearns and Kelly.
Placenames:Baile Fanach, Gort na Guaillini
Baile Fanach (Bally Faunagh) is an old name for Cregboy and there is evidence of it being used in 1847. It was used by the teachers of Claregalway school up until 1960. There are several definitions in the dictionary for 'fanach' such as aimless, wandering and futile. Gort na Guaillini is the old name of part of Cregboy that joins Lydacan, where the Fahys and Shaughnessy family presently live. It is defined as 'fields with triangles'. The land is of mixed quality. Some very good and dry suitable for all kinds of farming and some with rocky out-crops with hazel. Cregboy is situated off the N17 and extends from the Claregalway/Oranmore road as far as the Kiltulla road. The first 'mile-stone' in the Parish was standing near Ruane's house, near the Kiltulla road, but was removed from there by the County Council. It was re-erected in 1998 at a different location nearby. This stone is inscribed with the figure '4'.
Curraghmore/Currach Mór ( large swampy field )
Area: 792ac 3r 11p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £30 0s 0p
Landlord: Lord Clanmorris
Population in 1851: 8 people in 2 houses
Family Names: Burke, Feeney
Placenames: Curraghline
Curraghmore is a large townland lying at the most westerly part of the parish and running as far as the shores of Lough Corrib. At present it has no human inhabitants. The Galway to Headford road known as the Curraghline runs through Curraghmore. It was built during the mid 19th century, prior to which boats ferried people across the Cregg river and the river Clare too. The Feeney family was the last family to live there. They left around 1960. The River Clare runs alongside Curraghmore and as the land is low lying it is prone to flooding in winter or indeed any time of severe rainfall. Most of Curraghmore is peat bog. Although alot of turf is harvested there every summer, a lot of the area is virgin bogland known as Gaelige as Eanach. The remainder of the land is good pastureland in summer.
Gortadooey /Gort a Dubha / Gort an Dúaigh (black field )
Area: 229ac 2r 26p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £42 0s 0p
Landlord: James S. Lambert
Population ~1851: 108 people in 15 houses
Family Names: Collins, Concannon, Cassidy, Duggan, Grealy, Glynn, Fahy, Henegan, Lambert, Lenehan, Moloney
Placenames: Ceann na Gairde, Crochan na Creithe, Tolan Ruid, Cappagh Eoghan
Gortadooey lies between Waterdale and Claregalway off the Mullaghruttery road. Gortadooey got its name from the land in the area because when it was dug it was blackish in colour. Land there is mainly good quality although some is liable to flooding.There was supposed to be a well in the area that had a dark dye which, when mixed with other material substances made a type of ink. It is said the friars in Claregalway used it for writing. James Greally was the herdsman for the landlord and his descendants lived in the same house until about 1980.
Gortatleva / Gort an tSleibhe (Field of the Mountain)
Area: 336ac 2r 27p;Poor Law Valuation:£106 13s 0p
Landlord: Andrew H. Lynch
Population 1851: 89 people in 15 houses
Family Names: Bodkin, Cavanagh, McDonagh, Qualter, Walsh, Williams, Hughes, O'Brien, Carr and Murphy
Placenames: Garraigh Raven
There was a pub in this townland in the past, across the road from Walshs. Most of the land is of good quality and is suitable for all types of farming, but also has some low-lying land which is liable to flooding. Gortatleva is situated next to Lydacan.
Gortcloonmore /Gort Clúain Mor ( the big meadow)
Area: 517ac 2r 39p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £50 10s 0p
Landlord: James S Lambert
Population ~ 1851: 64 people in 13 houses
Family Names: Duggan, Feeney, Greally, Noon, Qualter
Placenames: An Loch bheag
Gortcloonmore adjoins the Waterdale River on the north side and Montiagh North at the other end. Gortcloonmore is mainly low lying but has a mixture of land ranging from good grazing pastures to bog. Turf is cut there and in the past it supplied many households in the parish with winter fuel. It has a small population today, with one family home inhabited, another not in everyday use and the Autistic Society/Western Health Board have a house and farm there as well. During the early 20th century, when the Waterdale Estate was divided, some Gortcloonmore families moved to land they got in the division.
Kiltrogue /Cill Tróg (Trog's church)
Area: 98ac 0r 0p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £49 14s 0p
Landlord: Lord Bishop of Cashel
Population in 1851: 76 people in 12 houses
Family Names: Currane, Duffy, Egan, Greaney, Kelly, Kenny, Kyne, Moylan, O'Dea, Ryan
Placenames: Tonn an Cnoic
Similar to Cloghaun, Kiltrogue townlnad is also a strange division. The townland is split into land that is in the Claregalway Parish and the remainder is in Lackagh. Of the land in Claregalway, the area is in two parts, both of which are fully surrounded by the Lackagh part of Kiltrogue. Land is good and suitable for all kinds of farming. Kiltrogue got its name from St. Trog who had a church there, only the bare remains of this survive to this day. A Lisheen is also close by. Kiltrogue Castle, which is still in good order lies in Lackagh parish.
Kiniska /Cinn Uisce (Water's head / River mouth)
Area: 505ac 0r 22p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £192 5s 0p
Landlord: Lord Clanmorris
Population ~ 1851: 155 people in 33 houses
Family Names: Burke, Casserley, Commins, Connell, Kelly, Long, Nalty, Shaughnessy.
Placenames: Bun an Uisce, Caraun (Carán), Pollanrumpa, Tón an Cnoic
Kiniska adjoins the River Clare and Kiltrogue. Quality of land is mainly good with some low-lying land beside Kiniska River. Kiniska River rises, as the name would suggest at Bun an Uisce and joins the River Clare about one mile away. There is a childrens burial ground not far from Bun an Uisce and the last children were buried at the turn of the century. There is a souterrain or cave near the village. Lord Clanmorris retained 18 acres for his own use for hunting it was described as a fox cover in Griffiths Valuation of 1855, that area may have been the wood that was on Pat Duggan's land until about 1953 when it was cut down. The herd at that time was Patrick Nalty.
Knockdoemore/Cnoc Tuadh Mór (Hill of the big axe)
Area: 269ac 1r 30p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £86 11s 0p
Landlord: William Burke
Population ~1851: 61 people in 11 houses
Family Names: Bane, Browne, Comer, Connell, Lardner, Pearse.
Placenames: Tinkers Lane, Baile Úi Chonaill
Historical sites: Enclosure and Ringfort.
Knockdoemore is situated to the east of the N17. Land is mainly very good with some rocky outcrops. Knockdoemore is at the base of the where the famous Battle of Knockdoe was fought in 1504. Tinkers Lane runs through Knockdoemore from the N17 to the Roscommon road. Baile Úi Chonaill has been associated a lot with O'Connell families. Thomas Browne was the herd for the landlord in 1855.
Lakeview / Radharc na Locha
Area: 352ac 3r 18p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £157 7s 0p
Landlord: James Galbraith
Population in 1851: 61 people in 12 houses
Family Names: Hession, Galway, Commons, Duggan, Cordial, Morris, Lynch, Small, Murphy and Giles.
Placenames: Droim Na Gaoithe, Turloch Bréige, Bóithrín De Burca
Lakeview is the name of the townland where the present church, school and leisure centre lie. The old post office, which was owned by the Cahill family until 1927 was also in this townland. This was situated across the road from Dunleaveys bar not far from the Nine Arches Bridge. Local knowledge tells us of a church situated in the same area in the past but very little is known about it. Most of the land is of good quality with some low lying land near the river which floods in very wet weather when the River Clare floods the surrounding land, hence the name "Turloch Breige" (False Lake). "Droim Na Gaoithe" is the name on the O.S. maps Radharc Na Locha is a direct translation of Lakeview.
Lissarulla / Lios a Rúla (Ploughed Lios)
Area: 305ac 3r 20p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £118 7s 0p
Landlord: Andrew H Lynch
Population ~1851: 101 people in 15 houses
Family Names: Murphy, Hanley, Qualter, Finnerty, Culkeen, Cunneer .
Placenames: Ballymurphy, Ballinacreg,
Lisarulla lies between Lydacan and Caherlea. Lissarulla is the official name on the ordance survey maps covering Ballymurphy and Ballinacreg but is not used by locals as often as the unofficial ones. Ballymurphy or Baile Uí Mhurchú, got its name from all the Murphys who lived there. It is also the more commonly used name by locals to this day. Ballinacreg or Baile Na Creige is not an offical townland either but is on the ordance survey maps as a recognised village name. There is a ruin of an old castle near Ballymurphy and also the ruins of an old settlement cluster.
Loughgeogre / Leacht Seoirse (George's monument)
Area: 31ac 3r 38p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £20 15s 0p
Landlord: Directors of Alliance Insurance company
Population ~1851: 36 people in 3 houses
Family Names: O'Brien and Scully.
Placenames: Cimín
Loughgeorge is located along the N17. All the land is good and while the local Garda Barracks is not in Loughgeorge itself the Garda District is known as Loughgeorge. There is a well-known pub and restaurant named Kynes Central Tavern. Galway GAA football board has purchased a field in Loughgeorge to be used for training county teams. Loughgeorge or Leacht Seoirse means George's Stone and it is believed that a man named George fell from his horse, was killed and is buried under a large stone in the area. The Cimín is the name of the field across the road from Kynes Restaurant. It was reputed to have been used as a cattle pound in the past. The third mile-stone is standing in this townland and is enscribed with the figure '6'.
Lecarrowmore / Leath Ceathru Mór
Area: 47ac 1r 20p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £17 10s 0p
Landlord: Lord Dunsandle
Population ~1851: 16 people in 3 houses
Family Names: O'Brien, Cassidy and Kirrane.
Lecarrowmore is on the left after you pass the garda Barracks on the Mullacuttrey road. Land is mainly good.
Lydacan / Lideachán/ Laighdeacán
Area: 852ac 2r 26p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £280 7s 0p
Landlord: Andrew H Lynch
Population ~1851: 122 people in 18 houses
Family Names: Collins, Fahy, McDonald, Malony, Cullinane, Walsh, Gardinder, Glynn, Flesk, Flynn, Dillon, Kemple, Sheridan, O'Dea, and Qualter
Placenames: An Feilm, Cathair na Finneoga Cnoc na Leacht, Cnocán Aoibeann, Geata na Geann, Gort na gCuailíní, Páirc an Asail, Rock Road, Tónruadh
Historical Sites: Ringfort, Liseen, Castle and Souterrain
This townland is unique within the parish in that it was a parish at one stage with a church. Lydacan lies between Lakeview and Gortatleva and extends as far as the River Clare. One feature of the area was the landlord's house. The house was burned in 1922 and the occupants, the Greated Family, moved away and bought a farm in Co. Wexford. Their land in Lydacan was divided among the local farmers at the time. Also beside the Lydacan Castle was a constabulary hut. The land is mostly fertile with some acres of rocky outcrops and has Hazel growing there. Cnoc Na Leacht –is the Irish name for Lydacan Hill. It got its name from an old custom of building small heaps of stones inside the wall while a corpse was been taken to the church. Cnocan Aoibeann – is the name of the fields owned by John Fahy and are situated at the back of the commercial truck garage. Geata Na Geann – was the name of the big gates that were at the entrance to Greateds Castle. These gates were in turn given to Canon Moran to be used at the entrance to the old Claregalway Church and were to be seen there until 1974 when the church and walls were knocked. Tonruadh 'Tonroe' – is part of Lydacan between Carnmore and Lydacan. The area gets its name from the red ferns to be seen locally. Cathair Na Finneoga- is the Irish name the old fort beside the rockroad at Lydacan. Páirc an Asail – Name of the field beside Lydacan castle where the Greateds kept a few Asses.
Montiagh South / Mointeach Teas
Area: 331ac 2r 23p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £84 5s 0p
Landlord: Lord Clanmorris
Population ~1851: 238 people in 43 house
Family Names: Burke, Collins, Duggan, Glynn, Heavey, Lenehan, Moran, Noone, Thorpey, Keany, Wall,
Placenames: Leana, An Barlan, Garrai an Botan, Garrai Beag, Gort Clúain mBuilan, Oileean an Coireann
The townland of Montiagh is located along the River Clare between Cahergowan, Cloon and Pollaghreavagh and at the extreme westside it adjoins Sylaun in the parish of Castlegar. As in the parish of Claregalway Irish was the spoken language but it survived more so in Montiagh than in other parts of the parish. There was a hedge school here as well in the past. Tomásín was the name of the teacher and his reward for the teaching of the pupils was vegatables and groceries. There was also a lisheen there it is about 70 years since any child was buried there. As the river is so close to the village boats were very important, in the past, for the transporting of turf, hay and other products. It was also used for shooting and fishing. The type of boat that was used was a flat bottom boat, which was suitable for travelling over flooded land. There are none of those boats in use now only the standard lake boats. Fishing was a very important part of the lifestyle in Montiagh in the past. Salmon were very plentiful then and the catch would be transported to hotels in Galway City, hidden in cartloads of turf. The land is mainly low lying except where the village is situated, and in winter is liable to flooding from the nearby River Clare. Most of the land is good pasture. There is also some bog and turf is cut there up to the present time.
Montiagh North / Mointeach Thaudh
Area: 454ac 2r 17p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £48 0s 0p
Landlord: Lord Clanmorris
Population ~1851: 5 people 1 in house
Family Names: Duggan
The river separates Montiagh North from Montiagh South. The land is low lying and floods in the winter but is good pastureland in summer. There is also a bog here and part of the cut away bog (200 acres) was acquired by the forestry in 1960 and planted. It is now a large wood. Turf is still cut in the remaining bog. Montiagh North adjoins Curraghmore to the west and Gortcloonmore to the North. There hasn't been anybody living there for the past hundred years.
Mullaghruttery / Mullacuttra / Mullach Otraigh / Mullach Chrotaire (Hill of the red cat)
Area: 180ac 0r 16p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £74 11s 0p
Landlord: James S. Lambert
Population ~1851:55 people in 8 houses
Family Names: Connell, Glynn, Golding, Herwood, Hogan, Keane, Hughes, Lambert and Lyons.
It is told in a story from Irish folklore that the name Mullacuttra originated from Mullach a 'Chait Rua' which was a Great Red Cat that guarded a treasure buried in the area in olden times.Land is arable suitable for grazing and tillage.Mullaghruttery is on the right as you go to Currandullla. It adjoins Peak. A feature of the area is the striking stone walls dividing the fields.
Peake / Péic ( Red Ferns )
Area: 220ac 2r 0p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £85 0s 0p
Landlord: William Burke
Population ~1851: 22 people in 5 houses
Family Names: Browne, Carthy, Forde, Griffin.
The townland is situated on the left as you go to Tuam after passing Loughgeorge. Land is arable and suitable for grazing and tillage. There are very nice stone walls dividing the fields here.
Pollaghrevagh / Pollach Ríabach
Area: 417ac 3r 28p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £92 3s 0p
Landlord: James Ffrench
Population ~1851: 29 people in 4 houses
Family Names: Ffrench, Hardiman, O'Brien, Nohilly, Nolan, Wall, Moran, Kineen, Quinn.
Pollaghrevagh lies between Cahergowan and Cloon of the N17. Most of the land is fertile, and there is also some woodland and bog. Locals seldom use the name Pollaghrevagh.
Rockwood / Leach na Coille (Rock in the wood)
Area: 41ac 0r 34p; Poor Law Valuation ~1851: £45 0s 0p
Landlord: John Galway
Population ~1851: 4 people in 1 house
Family Names ~1855: Galway
Placenames: Holmes hill
Rockwood is situated on the left as one travels into Galway from Claregalway. It begins at Kiltulla Road and ends at the top of Holmes hill. The only house in this area at the time was the landlord's house. This is the last remaining landlord's house in the parish to this day. In recent times the house went into disrepair for some years until the Divilly family bought it and restored it to its former glory.
Rooaunmore / Ruadh án Mór ( Large red ferns )
Area: 220ac 2r 0p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £72 11s 0p
Landlord: Lessor
Population in 1851: 35 people in 7 houses
Family Names: Hughes, Gaynor, Mooney, O'Brien, Smith, McGrath, and Clancy.
Rooaunmore is situated on the Roscommon road adjoining Kiniska, Loughgeorge and Knockdoemore. In the past there were very few houses in the area as the landlord retained all the land because of its good quality. Due to the size of the fields, horse races were held there in the early part of this century. Here in Rooaunmore is the only remaining forge to be found in the parish. It has been in the Smith family since the last century. Presently Michael Smith is the owner and he continues with this trade to this day.
Waterdale /Eochaill (Oakhill)
Area: 679ac 3r 0p; Poor Law Valuation ~1855: £225 12s 0p
Landlords: Lambert owned 610ac 1r 34p Blake owned 69ac 1r 0p
Population in 1851: 105 people in 22 houses
Family Names: Blake, Carley, Cullinane, Duggan, Glenane, Keeney, Moran, Walsh, Golding,
Placenames: Leana Clocha, Baile Na Móna, Páirc na Ceartan, Waterdale River
The old name Eochaill meant yew wood and bears no resemblance to the English name Waterdale that was given to the area by the Anglo Norman's who owned the land. There is another name for part of Waterdale known as Leana Clocha the Keany family live in that area now. In the past many families lived in Leana Clocha but when the land was divided among the tenants some built their new houses in Waterdale. Waterdale Townland was once one whole estate owned by Lady Lambert. She lived in Waterdale house. There was a church beside the house. The land was divided in 1908 when Lady Lambert left. There are very good examples of an old ring fort and also a Lisheen - a fairies field. Over half the land is of a good quality with the remainder bog or lowlying land liable to flooding. The fourth milestone in the parish is situated near the entrance to Waterdale Village. This stone is enscribed with the figure '7'.
|
