An Glaisín Álainn

An Glaisín Álainn or Glasheenaulin is a townland of 54 hectares or 134 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 39 individual fields were mapped in this townland.

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

An Glaisín Álainn is bordered by Baile Uí Chatháin (Ballycahane) to the south-west, Gleann Bearcháin (Castlehaven) to the east, An Gort Breac (Gortbrack) to the west and Eidhneán (Inane) to the north

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 Glaisín Álainn is interpreted as the beautiful stream. However it was often pronounced locally as Claisín Álainn and this is interpreted by Bruno O'Donoghue as the beautiful little vale while JM Burke translates it as the beautiful little hollow in his Southern Star article in 1913.

Glasheenaulin seems to have been mentioned for the first time in the Registry of Deeds in 1804 when it was listed as Glasheenalin. It was described as Clasheen in 1811. Both names are used interchangeably down the years

History

Booleying: This townland was said to be a booleying area for Scobaun people in summer-time. This meant that cattle would be sent to Glasheenaulin for summer grazing. The official term for this would be transhumance.

Dance Platform: There was a dance platform in this townland which was located at Jim Barrry's Cross. People would gather here on Sunday evenings from the 1930s onward to enjoy music and dancing. The music was usually provided by Pat Cahalane or Dan Collins (also known as Young Dan) - both from Lickowen.

Shop: There was also a small shop here where Jim Barry would sell cigarettes and lemonade etc. He would also go to Skibbereen during the week to sell fish from the back of his horse and cart

Housing

As part of Griffiths Valuation in 1853, a survey of house quality was carried out to calculate what rates were due by each household. These were issued in 1850 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 8 of the 10 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. Three are described as being old (more than 25 years) but in good repair while the other five are also old but out of repair. The other two houses in Glasheenaulin at this time are class 1 which means that they were slated and built with stone or brick and lime mortar - both were described as being medium (not new), slightly decayed, but in good repair. All eight class 3 houses in the townland at this time are between 4 foot 6 inches (!) and 7 foot tall which indicates that they are single storey at this time. The two class 1 houses are 17 foot and 17 foot 6 inches tall so they are possibly two storey.

By the 1901 census, there were only two occupied houses and both had walls of stone, brick or concrete with roofs of slate, iron or tiles. One has two, three or four rooms with just two windows in front which indicates that it was probably still single storey at this time. The other houses had five or six rooms and six windows in front.

When we advance to the 1911 census there is now only one occupied house in this townland. Not surprisingly it still has walls of stone, brick or concrete with a roof of slate, iron or tiles. However it now has seven, eight or nine rooms with eight windows in front.

Places of Interest

Jim Barry's Cross: Also known as Sandy Cove Cross Roads

Cill: There are two disused children’s burial grounds in this townland. These were used for children who died before they were baptised (as they could not be buried in consecrated ground). One appears on the 1841 map but there is no evidence of it in 1901. Both burial grounds are shown in the Historic Environment Viewer which states that the northernmost one was known locally as a children's burial ground and taht there was one possible grave marker to the east of it.

Location of cill

Interesting Placenames

Besides those mentioned above, a placename of interest is Poll a' Choire which is the cove that sits on the boundary between Glasheenaulin and Ballycahane. There are two local interpretations. One is that it is the pool of the cauldron/ amphitheatre, deep mountain hollow/whirlpool (given as Poll a' Choire) while the other is that it is the sheep's hole (Poll a' Chaora) as there was a local story of sheep being washed here.

The road that runs through this townland is known as Bóthar an Gleanna (the glen road)

We don't have any field names in this townland except for one called Glasheenaulin which has the same name as the townland itself. If you can help, please let us know at the email address below

The coastline at Glasheenaulin is known as Leagach which can be interpreted as slatey stones or flagstones.

The road running through the townland is known as Bóthar an Ghleanna (the glen road)

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 placenames in this townland (or if you need to correct any or give further background information), please contact us at [email protected]

Folklore

Magnesium: It was said that there were high levels of magnesium in the soil. Horses were thought to thrive on this and were sent here when they were sick (Horse Island is similar).

Jim Barry: There is a story in the Dooneen School's Collection about a famous basket-maker from Glasheenaulin called Jim Barry.

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1825 list the following family names: Attridge, Minihane, Harrington, Leary, Carroll (?), Attridge, Courtney

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Hill, Hayes, Leary, Atridge, Harrington

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: Donovan, Sullivan (with Twomey (servant))

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: Donovan

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
1825	Tithe Applotment	7	42 (est)		1825
1841	Census of Ireland	11	78
1851	Census of Ireland	7	51
1853	Griffith's Valuation	7 (Incl. 2 unoccupied)	45 (est)		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	5	30
1871	Census of Ireland	4	29
1881	Census of Ireland	4 ((incl. 1 unoccupied)	21
1891	Census of Ireland	4	19
1901	Census of Ireland	2	8		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	2 (Incl. 1 unoccupied)	6		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 Daniel O'Donovane and also O'Donovane. This townland was part of Gortbrack & Ballycahen at that time.

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Lord Audley of London and his agent was Nicholas Marshall of Cork. It was let by lease to Lord Riversdale and let by him to similar terms to Dl. Callaghan of Cork, sub-let by lease to John Attridge of Glasheenaulin and Phillip Attridge of Carrigfadda and then sub-let to tenants without a lease.

In 1841 the soil was described as about half coarse pasture and half arable, producing light crops of oats and potatoes.