The Townlands of the Parish of Taghmon (Part 1)

The Townlands of The Parish of Taghmon (Part 1)

Brendan Hamilton

The parish of Taghmon is one of the largest in the Diocese of Ferns. It includes the medieval parishes of Taghmon and Coolstuff with parts of Whitechurch, Glynn, Kilbrideglynn, Kilgarvan and a small portion of Horetown.

There are 73 townlands ranging in size from Camross, at 1388 acres, (561 Ha) to Knocknamarshall at 23 acres (9.3 Ha).

In 1853, Griffiths Valuation was completed and its purpose was to apply rates to finance the relief of the poor. All property over a rateable value of five shillings (25p) was included and the names were published in books which can be inspected in the Wexford County Library.

The purpose of this article is to trace the present owners of the various properties, some of which are still in the same name and the resulting lists can become a valuable source of family history.

It would be impossible to trace the entire list as many of the enormous number of small holdings that existed in 1853 have been absorbed into much larger holdings. Where a larger holding has now more than one owner, the owner of the portion which includes the original house will be named. There were not too many of these, as the vast majority were less than 100 acres (40.5 Ha) and in most cases less than 20 acres (8.1 Ha)

The following is the list of townlands in alphabetical order with the area to the nearest hectare. The translation of the Irish names are given where they apply. The Townlands of The Parish of Taghmon (drawn by Margaret O'Gorman)

OCCUPIER - OCCUPIER - TOWNLAND MEANING H/A GRIFFITH'S VAL. AT PRESENT Pat. Flynn; Moses Walsh; Adam O'Neill; S.Jeffares; J.Morrissey; ARDINAGH GREAT Ard-eanach (High Ellen Cullen; Jas. John White; 112 There is a castle marked on the Ordnance Marsh) Doyle; Thos. J.Doyle; Larry Survey Map Doyle; Mary O'Connor; Pat Mellea; Thos. & Murphy; David Walsh; R.Cleary; Michael Donnelly;

W.Cody; John Donnelly; Jas. & Luke Cody; Pat Furlong; T & E. ARDINAGH LITTLE Redmond; P. & M. G.McGee; There was a total of 29 houses in this Donnelly; J.Kehoe; P.McGee; Ollie townland in 1853, very few of which survive. W.Donnelly; Stenning; There are also the ruins of a small church T.Walsh; M.Lacey; J.Morrissey; and a blessed well Tobar Shibaun. The 132 T.Hill; J.Williams; P.Williams; Mangan family who are mentioned here are N.Kehoe; Rep. Martin ancestors of John Mangan,(b.1872 at P.Mangan; Mary Crosbie; Blastknock) World Champion Weight Carty; W.Connors; P.Donnelly Thrower. The family moved to Kilmuckridge. M.Purcell; M.Martin; J.Furlong; M. Carroll; J..Connors; Nicholas Furlong; Eachar Munna Pat Doyle; Peter Pat Breen; AUGHERMON (St. Munna's 132 Doyle; Jas. J.Wallace; Field) Forrestal; Mary Whites; Doyle. Catherine Doyle; James Kehoe; Wally Kehoe; Nicholas Sinnott; Nicholas Atha Fada Walter Hore; I.& R. AUGHFAD 176 Sinnott; George (The Long Field) Whelan; M. Redmond; Kearns; M. Walsh; Charltons; S. Miscal; P. Duigan; M.French; AUGHNAGAN Ath na gCeann Lar. Hayes; Pat W.Kehoe; The Codds have lived here for over 200 (Ford of The 55 Stafford; John M.Stafford; years. During the 'troubles' a Free State Heads) Codd; John Doyle; Ed.Codd; soldier died at the bridge in an ambush. Baile an Tuartain Nich. Codd;Trevor N.Winters; BALLINTARTAN (Place of The 42 Hawkshaw; John M.Dunne; Knoll) Brennan; BALLINTLEA Thos. Breen; Mgt. Fintan Goff; Baile an tSleibhe The Sparrow family were members of the & Cath. Hore; Rep. Tom (Place of the 113 Quaker Community who owned a lot of land Robert Sparrow; Stafford; John Mountains) around Taghmon. Rev. John Harley. Goff; Baile Bheag Nich. Murphy; BALLYBEG Shliabh Bhui 40 Thos. Murphy. Tom (Little Townland Carty; Jas. Foley; of Sliabh Bhui) P.Nolan; B.Doyle; Baile Ui Choinneagain Denis Hanlon; G.Rynehart; BALLYHENNIGAN 64 (O'Coinneagain's Matthew Fanning. Con Donnelly; Town) Redmonds; Moses McGraths; John Baile Hurst Connors; Jas. BALLYHUST 89 O'Connor; (Hurst's Town) Sinnott; Geo. Reps. Mullins; Redmond; BALLYNAGALE Baile na Rep. Canon Ballynagale was, for many years, the home gCailleach P. Kelly; J.Pierce; Brandon; 107 of the Rossiter family of clerical and sporting (Town of Old M.Evoy; P.Murphy; H.Phipps; connections Women) Charltons; Baile Ui Pat. Hamilton; John BALLYSHELIN B.Hamilton; Shleibhleachain Hamilton; Pat Trinity Church stands in this townland. There 83 J.Codd; (O'Shleibhlachan's Conor; Lar. White; are also traces of a castle built by the Hores. M.Stafford; Town) Peter Kehoe. Walter Whitty; Martin Whitty; Martin Walsh; John Cnoc Na Gaoithe Staffords; BLASTKNOCK 91 Donnelly; Francis (Windy Gap) Eustaces; Davis; Pat Murphy; Charltons; John Walsh J. Murphy; L.Furlong; J.Purcell; T.Busher; Kellys; Nolans; BRICKETSTOWN J.Kehoe; J.Furlong; C.Donnelly; Bricketstown House is one of the few large Baile Bhriocain M.Murphy; P.Doyle; 208 houses in the parish - partly built in the mid (Brickenstown) J.Fanning; J. P.Banville; 1600's by the Stannards. Kehoe; S. J.Reilly; Kavanagh; E.McGee; S.Kenrick; J.Doyle; J.Stannard BROWNSCASTLE Fortune's woollen mills thrived in this area Johanna Fortune; J. J.Murphy;Sam 100 for many years. There is also a castle here Doyle; E. Brennan. Simmons; built by the Brownes J. Jackman; M. J.Connors; Kehoe; T.Bradley; Delaneys; CAMAROSS P.Egan; J.Browne: J.Furlong; Camaross, usually pronounced Camross is P.Lannon; P.Kehoe; P.Delaney; the largest townland in the parish. In1853, W.Fitzhenry; P.English; there were 87 houses and a huge amount of M.Doyle; J.Kent; small holdings. One would need a long time O.Caulﬁeld; P. T.Foley; to sort them all, so quite a few had to be left Cotteral; J.Power; M.Doyle; out. It is recorded in the Book of Leinster L.Hynes; D.Nolan; W.Bowles; M. & P. J.Deacon; that inthe 3rd century Breasal Belach, the Cam-ros Broadhurst; M.Jordan; King of Leinster, wished for the help of Finn- (Crooked Wood) 562 P.Jordan;M.Carty; M.Colfer; Dan Mac-Cool and his warriors to defend his Tom Morrissey; Morrissey; countrymen against Monarch Caoibre, J.Carroll; D.& E. O'Gormans; whose army was marching into Leinster to Byrne; M.Mevoy; M.O'Gorman; levy the Borumean Tribute. Finn's warriors, M. Wicken; Denis Nolan; with those of the King of Leinster, defeated M.Kavanagh; N. J.Doyle; the Monarch's forces amounting to 20,000, of Cullen; B.Murphy; T.Foley; Nolan whom 9,000 were slain at a place called J.Reilly; & Foley; Chambros, now Camross, two and a half M.Kearney; Nolans; miles from Taghmon J.Cormack; J. S.Kavanagh; Kiely; M.Gorman; D.Nolan; R.Somers; P.O'Gorman John Gorman; T. Morgan; P.Gorman; An Cheathru Jas. Gorman; J & P. P.O'Gorman; Riabhach CARROWREAGH 89 Rea; P. & J. Cadogans; (The Striped Redmond; T.Hannon; Quarter) W.Flood; John Doyle; M. McDonnell; T.Roche; J.Greene; R.Dalton; E.Nolan; M.Wickham; R.Greene; D.Kavanagh; CASTLEHAYESTOWN A.Kelly; J.Callaghan; A. & There was a castle here and also a blessed 180 D.Doyle; N.Murphy; well. P.Callaghan; W.Brien; J.Parle; R.Sullivan; T.Foley; J.Morrissey; R.Dalton; Kings; J.Parle; F. Wright; T.Donnelly; J. Byrne; P.Roche; C.Waddy; O & N P.Murphy; O'Connor; M.Banville; CLOGHULATAGH Cloch Chodlatach T.Stafford; Reps M.Jones; The rest of this townland forms part of the (The Sleepy 110 J.Brown; Tom village of Taghmon, including the present RC Stone) N.Furlong; O'Donnell; Parish Church A.Roche; Mrs.McDonald; C.Waddy; R.C.Church J.Jackman; P.Parle; S.Prendergast; Rev. Loftus Brennan; J. Coghlan; J.Crean; T.Roche; Reps M.Foley CLOONERANE R.Ward; J.Reilly; Jim Whitty; Thomas Brennan, mentioned here, built the W.Crean;P.Byrne; Reps Bob house known as 'Clover Valley'. It is now Cluain Raithin M.Kavanagh; M. O Ward; Creanes; 158 occupied by the Parle Family and is (Meadow of the Connor; R.Byrne; O'Grady; probably the largest house in the parish. Part Little Rath) M.Cahill; T. Kellys; of the townland is incorporated in the village Brennan; J.Hornick; of Taghmon. W.Whitty; Parles; T. M.Morris;T.Bolger; O'Donnell;

COOLATEGGART Cuil an Sagairt N. Parle; W.Whitty; Matty Parle was a famous horse breeder and (The Priest's 67 J.Redmond; J.Parle; Parles; won many major prizes at horse shows, Corner) S.Howlin; Keatings; including the RDS, Dublin. Rich. Reville; John Rositer; D.Ryan; COOLAW D.Devereux; J.Bolger; In the seventeen hundreds a large linen Nolans; Cul Atha A.Deveruex; industry ﬂourished, employing 170. A small 121 J.Codd; (Back of the Ford) B.Murphy; cemetery of the Batt family who were LConnors; T.Stafford; landlords of the area, is also here. S.Clancy; B.Redmond; Dr. Denis O'Connor; Ml McEvoy; P.Flynn; T.Quirke; O'Connors; Cul Coll P.Howlin; T.Walsh; L.Morrissey; COOLCULL BIG (Hill - back of 93 R.Murphy; M.Whitty; The Hazels) W.Donnelly; P.Murphy; B.Roche; Moses Walshs; Monaghan; T Walsh; Walshs; COOLCULL MOYLERS 53 J.Wickham; N.Murphy; E.Kelly; M Kehoe T Walsh; Walshs; COOLCULL SHEAS 48 J.Wickham; N.Murphy; R Reville; J.Curtis; J.Donnelly; Cul Raithin Sullivans; J.Stafford; COOLRAHEEN (The Hill back of 134 J.Doran; M.Walsh; G.Parle; Little Ring Fort) O'Connors; H.Corish; P. & E. M.Banville; Roche; P.Whelan; COOLSTUFF J. Doyle; W. As already mentioned Coolsltuff was once a Cul Murphy; Rev. Geo. M.Dunne; separate Parish and there is a ruined church 62 (Hill-Back) Richards; Nevilles; and graveyard there.(see article by H. A.Ronayne Murphy in this journal) Cuiltin John Furlong; J & T.Simmons; COOLTEEN 46 (Little Corner) T Walsh; J Whelan T.Walsh; DEER PARK This was once part of the Tottenham estate E.Cummins; M & P and was divided up by the Land Commission. Roche; N.Sinnott; Cannot be 53 The Church of Ireland Rectory was sold J.F.Heatly; Lydia traced recently. Goff;

Ed. Brennan; J.Rigley; M.Redmond; M.Curran; W.Furlong; Kellys; J.Doyle; D.Doyle; DUNGEER Dun Gearr F.Doyle; 175 M.Leary; P.Lannon; There is a trace of a castle here. (Short Ford) P.Codd; M.Carty; P.Doyle; Denis T.Kennedy; Nolan; Reps. P.Brennan; Moses McDonald; Fardy; J.Cullen; Ed. & John Doyle; Mary, Cath. Walter DURRA BIG Doire Breen;Pat. Murphy; 56 David Killeen There is a site of a castle here. (Oak Grove) Stephen Roche; John Stanners; Luke Furlong James & Ml. Stafford; Lar. DURRA LITTLE 35 Ml.Stafford; White; John Roche; Mary Quey. FOREST E. Brennan; S. Hornicks; Forest gets its name from what was known as Prendergast; Staffords; The Great Forest of Taghmon, which M.Cullen; J.Carty; A.O'Gorman; stretched form Ballingly, near T.Porte;J.Ennis; S.Whitney; Wellingtonbridge, to Carrick, near Wexford. 92 J.Doyle; P.Carroll; N.Winters; town. There was also a Meeting House and T.White; Crane & graveyard of the Society of Friends here. G.Cullimore; Simmons; Much of the timber from Forest was used in J.Sides; G.Rynehart; the ship building industry in Bristol. P. Furlong; Ed. N.Winters; Murphy; J.Coll; J. D.Power; FURLONGSTOWN 113 Cottom; Mary Nevilles; Fitzpatrick; M.Dunne; Garrai an J. Richards; Draighin T.Brennan; W. Nevilles; Goffs; GARRADREEN 66 (The Garden of Breen; D.Doyle; J.O'Connor; The Blackthorn) M.Fenlon GROWTOWN LOWER Jacob Poole was born here in 1774 to a Quaker family. He spent many years studying Myles Leary; Mary the customs and the old Yolalanguage of the Poole; G.Coll; Grennans; Baronies of Forth and Bargy. He was M.Furlong; J.Ryan; Nevilles; 94 responsible for many good works. He died in T.Breen;W.Murphy; Crowleys; 1827 and is buried in the Quaker graveyard T. Lambert; O'Gormans; in Forest. 'Poole's Glossary' was produced in J.Breen; 1979 and edited by T.P.Dolan and Diarmaid O Muirithe T. Chandler; Sheppard Jeffers; Crowleys; Wm. Sparrow; Doyles; GROWTOWN UPPER 136 Thos.Brennan; Ed. Mooneys; Radwell; J.Murray; Vincent W.Whelan; Murphy; J.Furlong; W.Murphy; Bill M. Corish; B. Lane; Lane; HARPERSTOWN 151 W.Connors; Walter M.Stafford; Hore; Roches; John Furlong; John C.Donnelly; HARRISTOWN LITTLE 112 Doyle; Arthur J.Murphy; Martin; R.Whitney;

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Some of the Irish translations are taken from 'Origin and Meaning of Townland Names' by An tAthair Seamas de Val in 'Treasures of The Landscape' -Editor - Dr. Edward Culleton.

My sincere thanks is due to everyone who helped in any way in the carrying out of this survey. Mr. Bell, Rates Office, Wexford County Hall. Valuation Office, Ely Place, Dublin. Grffith Valuations.

SOURCES

1. Birth Records at Parochial House, Taghmon. John Mangan was born in Blastknock on 5/2/1872, the son of James Mangan and Mary Walsh. 2. This townland could also be translated as 'The area of the Irish'.