An Chúil Dorcha

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An Chúil Dorcha or Cooldurragha is a townland of 155 hectares or 384 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 236 individual fields were mapped in this townland.

It is in the Electoral Division of Myross, in Civil Parish of Myross and the Roman Catholic Parish of Castlehaven and Myross.

An Chúil Dorcha is bordered by Baile na Tóna (Ballinatona) and An Chathair Gheal (Cahergal) to the east, Bán Chlocháin (Bawnlahan) and Lios Torcáin (Listarkin) to the north and An Ráithín (Raheen) to the south.

OpenStreetmap contributors, with input from the Castlehaven & Myross History Society, have created a detailed townland map including all its minor placenames. Zoom in for further detail.

Etymology

An Chúil Dorcha can be interpreted as the dark corner, recess or nook. Cúilín the diminutive of Cúil is a popular fieldname right around the parish and is generally assigned to a small corner field. Bruno O'Donoghue gave the name as Cúl Dorcha (dark corner). Stuacín can be interpreted as a Little Height. At the time of the Down Survey (1656-1658), Stuacín was listed as a sub-townland of Cooldurragha.

John Crowley moved to this townland around 1849/1850 when he was expelled from Rea during the infamous evictions of that period. For more detail see the history section from the Bluid West townland

History

Chapel: Stuacín Chapel was built and thatched in 1723, slated in 1778 and was further renovated in 1812 by Father Matt Horgan who was born in Blarney. Bruno O'Donoghue described him as an antiquarian. It fell into disuse following the opening of the new church in Union Hall in 1831.

Dancing Schools: There were three dancing schools in Myross circa 1842. One of these was at Creamery Cross roads/Cros na Marbh in Cooldurragha. The dancing teacher was a Kerry man called Thady O'Sullivan who was married in Leap. He was accompanied by a piper, who had lost the use of his legs and thus traveled everywhere on a donkey. He was known as Cairtín the piper.

The following rhyme was associated with Thady which I often heard recited when I was young.

" Put the heel before the toe

And dance a jig for Thady O' "

Famine: The book, The Famine Story" lists the men from this townland that were working on the Myross Relief Scheme on 28th August 1846 during the Great Famine. These were public works that involved hard labour for a low wage for a workforce that were already weak and starving. The names were as follows: Daniel Connolly, Henry Casey, William Casey, Jer Collins, Michael Wholey, Richard Browne, Jeremiah Connell

Housing

As part of Griffiths Valuation in 1852, a survey of house quality was carried out to calculate what rates were due by each household. These were issued in the form of house books (Pg 1, Pg 2) and a guide on how to interpret these can be seen here. These show that thirteen of the fifteen occupied houses in the townland at that time were class 3. This means that they were thatched houses with stone walls with mud or puddle mortar. All thirteen of these were described as old (more than 25 years) with five being in repair and eight being out of repair. The remaining two houses were class 1 which meant that they were built with stone or brick and lime mortar. One of these was described as medium (not new) but in sound order and good repair while the other is decribed as old (more than 25 years) and out of repair. All of the class 3 houses in the townland at this time are between 5 foot 6 inches (!) and 8 foot tall which indicates that they are single storey at this time. The class 1 houses are 14 foot and 15 foot tall respectively.

By the 1901 census there are now just 13 occupied houses and all have walls of stone, brick or concrete. Nine have a roof of slate, iron or tiles while the other four are still thatched. Nine houses have two, three or four rooms with four having just two windows in front (which indicate that they are probably still single storey at this time) while two have three windows in front, two have six and the other has four windows in front.. The other four houses have five or six rooms with four, seven, seven and nine windows in front respectively.

When we advance to the 1911 census there are still 13 occupied houses and, not surprisingly, all still have walls of stone, brick or concrete. Eleven now have a roof of slate, iron or tiles while the other two are still thatched. Nine houses have two, three or four rooms with four still having just two windows in front (which indicate that they are probably still single storey at this time) while three have three windows in front, one has five and the other has six windows in front.. The other four houses still have five or six rooms with five, seven, seven and nine windows in front respectively.

Places of Interest

Lios: There were two ringforts (liosanna) in this townland. Ringforts are circular fortified settlements that were mainly built during the Bronze age up to about the year 1000.

Cill: There is a disused children’s burial ground in this townland. These were used for children who died before they were baptised (as they could not be buried in consecrated ground).

Church Ruins: The ruins of Stuacín Chapel are visible in the townland.

Ceim Hill: A walk or cycle up Ceim Hill is always a treat and the view south the top of the hill over Castlehaven Harbour is one of the finest vistas in the parish.

Highest Point in Myross: The highest point in Myross is located at Stuacín (Stookeen)

Creamery: There are ruins of an early creamery in the townland of Cooldurragha It is said that bones were found on this site when it was being built.

Lake: This in one of the townlands in which Lough Cluhir is located. According to Bruno O'Donoghue, this name comes from Loch Cluthair (sheltered lake).

Lackareagh: Bruno O'Donoghue mentions a wooded hill on the west side of the townland whose name was Leacha Riabhach which can be interpreted as the grey hillside.

Interesting Placenames

There is a green area known as Cros na Marbh which can be interpreted as the crossroads of the dead. According to Lankford unbaptised children were buried in this area between the roads

Other old field names in this townland have been captured as follows: Stuacín (Stuacín Fort is in this field), The Deer Park, Barr a Bale

If you want to see the actual locations of any of these, go to detailed townland map on Open Street Maps. If you know any other field names or place names in this townland (or if you need to correct any or give further background information), please contact us at [email protected]

Folklore

Stuacín Chapel: It was said that a bell would ring in the ruins of Stuacín Chapel when somebody died in the vicinity. It was also said that the water fonts from Stuacín were moved to the new church but they returned.

Lough Cluhir: There are a number of stories in relation to Lough Cluhir. It is said that it was created by St. Bridget after she was refused milk by a local chieftain. It was also said that there was an ollphéíst (monster) that lived in the lake

Magical Ship: It is said that a magical ship is seen on Lough Cluichir every seven years. It was also said that Íomhar O'Donnabháin (from Castle Ivor) rode a white horse around the lake on every full moon.

Enchanted Palace It is said that Ivor O'Donovan still lives in Lough Cluhir in an enchanted palace deep beneath the lake

Screwdo's Dog - school's folklore CH - to add **************

Separate page

Sean de Buala: Story about cow (Sean de Buala)

Cliona's Wave: Íomhar O'Donnabháin was a very good friend of Cliona who lived in Lios Cúl Bláth

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1829 list the following family name in Cuildorohy: Burke, Collins, Burke, Wholey, Casey, Wholey, Donovan, Burke , Coughlan (all East Cuildorohy), Harrington, Townsnd (Townsend?), Regan, Cornell (Connell?), Harrington, Collins, McCarthy, Cornell (Connell?), Hogarty (Hegarty?), Leary, Hogarty (Hegarty?), Hogarty (Hegarty?), Murphy (all West Cuildorothy:).

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names in Cooldurragha: Townsend (land only), Burchill, Harrington with Harrington, Crowley, Regan, Donovan, Collins, Collins, Connolly, Burke, Burke, Hourihan, Daly, Connell,

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names in Cooldurragha: Hegarty, O'Donovan (with Coakley (niece), Keohane and Coghlan (both servants)), Hegarty, Scully, Hennessy, Murphy (with Donovan (relative)), Connell, Connell, Regan, Hegarty, Crowley, Burke, Harrington.

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names in Cooldurragha: Donovan (with Coakley (nephew), Coughlan and Donegan (both servants)), Hennessy (with Harrington (servant)), Murphy (with Connell (nephew)), Regan, Crowley, Harrington, Connell, Connell (with Regan (daughter and grandson)), Hegarty, Hegarty, Hegarty, Burke, Burke.

Note: the term 'with' refers to a person or persons of a different family name staying in the house. This may have been an in-law or other relative, a guest, or a farm labourer/housekeeper or domestic servant.

Demographics and Landholding

		*Occupiers	Population	Change	Link to record
1829	Tithe Applotment	22	100 est.		1829
1841	Census of Ireland	41	218
1851	Census of Ireland	22 (Incl 2 unoccupied)	103
1853	Griffith's Valuation	13	65 est.		1953
1861	Census of Ireland	20	99
1871	Census of Ireland	21	116
1881	Census of Ireland	13	106
1891	Census of Ireland	16 ((incl 1 unoccupied)	91
1901	Census of Ireland	14 (inc 1 unoccupied)	70		1911
1911	Census of Ireland	14	55		1911

*Occupiers generally equate to households having a house and land but may also include households having houses but no land

Between 1656 and 1658 the Down Survey mapped all areas of the country to track ownership of land after much had been granted to followers of Cromwell after the war of the 1650's. The most prominent proprietor (titulado) of this townland at that time was Daniell Oge O'Donovan. This townland was called Coledrogh at that time. There was another townland called Sticken at that time which is now part of Cooldurragha and the most prominent proprietor here was Daniell O'Donovane.

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Colonel Townsend of Castletownshend and the agent was Charles Clarke of Skibbereen. It was let to tenants, some with leases and the rest at will at lump rents.

In 1841, the soil was described as light, producing wheat, oats and potatoes. Fuel was described as scarce and the prevailing names were Bourke, Collins and Coughlan