An Liag

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An Liag or The League is a townland of 0.8 hectares or 2 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, no individual fields were mapped in this townland. It.is our smallest townland that is not an offshore island.

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

An Liag is bordered by An Ráithín (Raheen) and An Rínn (Rinn) to the east. To the west it is separated from Baile an Chaisleáin (Castletownshend) by a narrow channel of water known as The River.

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 Liag can be interpreted as a stony place although it is usually translated as The League. This is the more plausible, although an interpretation on logainm.ie suggests that it might have been the leg.

History

Lessor: At the time of Griffith's Valuation the Leasee was one Thomas Attridge and the Lessor was Sir H. W. Beecher. It consisted of 3 acres- 2 roods-22 perches and the land was part gravel. According to the Agricultural Census of the early 1960's the area of the league was 2 acres-1 rood and 16 perches and the owners were the representatives of Philip Attridge.

Fish Curing: In 1913 the League was basically a commonage. Mrs. Kate McKennedy used part of it for fish curing in season but she had no building. O' Sullivans of Castletownbere had a fish curing station (fish palace) on the League sometime after World War 2.. Until the new pier was built in Keelbeg around 1994, up to eight 60 ft. trawlers were moored off here. The catch was off loaded at Reen Pier when tide permitted. Unfortunately for the fishermen and their families, when the tide was not in their favour, the catch had to be transferred onto yawls and manhandled up the League to the waiting lorries.

Grain: Boats carrying grain to Good's Mill traveled up to the Narrows, as far as the water level would allow, where they were met by lighters. The grain was transferred onto these smaller boats to reach its destination.

Ownership: The League may have been privately owned and it is known that cattle were grazed on it until the 1930s when we think that it was nationalised under the Foreshore Act 1933. Cork County Council is the agency currently responsible for it.

Cinema: In the 1940s and 50s locals would row across to the Carraigín (in Castletownshend) to go to the cinema. They had to take their chances crossing the Castle grounds without getting caught. There is an area known as Patrolman's Point on the Castle grounds.

Mass: People would also row across to go to Castlehaven mass. Again they would land at the Carraigín and take the old mass path up through the wood.

Channel: Given the right conditions, a strong southerly wind and a Spring tide, a channel is known to be carved through the middle of the League, which is big enough for fishing boats to sail through. It gets filled in again over time.

Bridge: The Southern Star reported in 1937 that there was a plan to build a 175m concrete bridge between Myross and Castletownshend. It was stated that this would be a great advantage to those transporting product across the barbour, to children from Myross going to school in Skibbereen and to the 12 families or so that attended Castlehaven church each Sunday. It would have also shortened the distance to Skibbereen market and railway by three miles for Myross fishermen.

Housing

There is no history of any housing in this townland

Places of Interest

Fish Palace: There was a building on the League used for salting fish. The building survived for a long time (perhaps 1950s) after it went out of use.

There are no sites listed in this townland listed in the Historic Environment Viewer.

Interesting Placenames

No field names have been captured in this townland

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

Folklore

Tsunami: It is said that this townland may have been formed by a tsunami in November 1755 and thus might be the youngest townland in the country.

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1829 list the following family names: None

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: None (Thomas Attridge listed as renting land here from Sir H.W. Becher at that time)

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: None

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: None

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	0	0		Not listed
1841	Census of Ireland	0	0
1851	Census of Ireland	0	0
1853	Griffith's Valuation	0	0		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	0	0
1871	Census of Ireland	0	0
1881	Census of Ireland	0	0
1891	Census of Ireland	0	0
1901	Census of Ireland	0	0		Not listed
1911	Census of Ireland	0	0		Not listed

*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. This townland did not exist at the time of the Down Survey (1656-1658)

No proprietor of this townland in 1841 was listed in Lankford.

No description of soil quality in 1841 was given

According to the Agricultural Census of 1963, it was owned at that time by the representatives of Philip Attridge.