An Leathardán Mór

An Leathardán Mór or Lahardane More is a townland of 94 hectares or 232 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 75 individual fields were mapped in this townland.

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

An Leathardán Mór is bordered by An Bán Íseal (Bawnishall), Blúid Thiar (Bluid West) and An Leathardán Beag (Laherdane Beg) to the east, Barraí Rua (Barryroe) to the south, Gleann an Gheimhil (Glannageel) and An Driseán Beag (Drishanebeg) to the west and Coill an Doire (Killaderry) 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 Leathardán Mór can be interpreted as Leath Ardán Mór - half a hillock, sloping on one side. Mór means big/large. This is the interpretation given by both J.M. Burke in his article in the Southern Star in 1913 and by Bruno O'Donoghue.

It's name has not changed much over the years - it was listed as Langerdane or Langerdeane in the Down Survey of 1655 and Lahardane More has appeared since the early part of the 19th century. According to logainm.ie, there are about a dozen more around the country with a similar spelling (one is near Bantry and another close to Rathcooney).

History

Settlement: There seems to be evidence of an ancient settlement in this townland as Lankford lists a lios, a hut site and a fulacht fia between the road and the slopes of Cnoc na Gabhar. The lios is still visible.

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 3 of the 5 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. One is described as being old (more than 25 years) but in good repair while the other two are also old but out of repair. The other two houses in Laherdane More at this time were class 1 which means that they were slated and built with stone or brick and lime mortar - both are described as being medium, slightly decayed, but in good repair. All houses in the townland at this time are between 5 foot (!) and 7 foot 6 inches tall which indicates that they are single storey at this time.

By the 1901 census, all four occupied houses have walls of stone, brick or concrete and roofs of slate, iron or tiles. All four have two, three or four rooms. Two houses have just two windows in front which indicate that they are probably still single storey at this time. The other houses have three and four windows respectively.

When we advance to the 1911 census there are now 5 occupied houses in this townland. Not surprisingly, all have have walls of stone, brick or concrete and roofs of slate, iron or tiles. Three houses have two, three or four rooms while the other two have either 5 or 6 rooms. One house have just two windows in front.. Three houses have four windows at the front while the other has five windows.

Places of Interest

Fulacht Fiadh: There was a fulacht fiadh in this townland. These were cooking pits and were typically constructed during the late Bronze Age (c. 1500 – c 500 BC).

Lios: There is a lios (ring-fort) in this townland

Cnoc na nGabhar: This can be interpreted as the hill of the goats and it is said that wild goats lived here in the past. The highest point in Castlehaven or Myross parish is on this hill (156m).

The Historic Environment Viewer mentions the fulacht fia mentioned above. It also notes an enclosure (possibly the ringfort) and a hut-site.

Interesting Placenames

.We have also mapped the following field names in this townland: Goirtín Rua (small red field), Páircín na Carraige (small field with a rock), Páircín Raonna (translation unknown), Páircín na mBó (small field of cows), Páircín na Claise (the small fertile field between rocky outcrops), Páirc Mhór (big field)

The road through this townland is known as Regan's Boreen (after a local family).

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

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Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1825 list the following family names: Attridge, Hegarty, Hegarty, Burke, Hegarty, Connolly

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Hegarty, Donovan, Sullivan, Hegarty, Atridge, Regan

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: Hegarty, Cronin, Hegarty, Regan

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: Mulcahy, Cronin, Hegarty, Hegarty, Regan

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	6	36 (est)		1825
1841	Census of Ireland	13	72
1851	Census of Ireland	7	44
1853	Griffith's Valuation	6	36 (est)		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	4	33
1871	Census of Ireland	4	28
1881	Census of Ireland	4	31
1891	Census of Ireland	5 (Incl. 1 unoccupied)	32
1901	Census of Ireland	5 (Incl. 1 unoccupied)	31		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	5	28		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 Donogh McTeige. This townland was called Langerdeane part of Glanteige at that time.

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Morgan O'Donovan of Douglas, Cork and his agent was Mortough Hanrahan of Cloughbane, Caheragh. It was all held under lease by Michael Attridge of Oldcourt and sub-let to tenants without a lease.

In 1841, the soil was described as a mixture of coarse and arable, producing middling cops of wheat, oats, barley and potatoes.