Ardráth

View Edit

Ardráth or Ardra is a townland of 34 hectares or 84 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 77 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.

Ardáth is bordered by An Chathair Gheal (Cahergal) and Cuas Chróinín (Cooscroneen) to the west and Carraig Oilche (Carrigillihy) to the east.

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

Ardráth can be interpreted as the high fort. This is also the interpretation given by Bruno O'Donoghue.

History

Sub-Townland: Another name mentioned in the old grants is Kilnelaheragh which was a sub-townland.The original name is Cill na Láithreach which has a number of interpretations. It could mean the church of the ruin or alternatively the church of the old habitation. Some natives say it was located between Ardra, Cahergal and Cooscroneen. See location on openstreetmap.org. There is an old saying in Irish about there being two great turf bogs, one at Cill na Láithreach (church of the ruin/church of the old habitation) and the other at Deereenakealig (near Bantry).

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 Daly, Michael Buee, John Daly

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 all six occupied houses in the townland at that time were class 3C. This means that they were thatched houses with stone walls with mud or puddle mortar (as opposed to houses built with stone or brick and lime mortar) and that all are old (more than 25 years) and out of repair. All 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.

By the 1901 census, there are now 7 occupied houses and all have walls of stone, brick or concrete. One has a roof of slate, iron or tiles while the other six are still thatched. All seven have two, three or four rooms with just two windows in front which indicate that they are probably still single storey at this time.

When we advance to the 1911 census there is no change from 1901. There are still 7 occupied houses and all still have walls of stone, brick or concrete. One has a roof of slate, iron or tiles while the other six are still thatched. All seven still have two, three or four rooms with just two windows in front which indicate that they are probably still single storey at this time.

Places of Interest

Lios: There was a ringfort (lios) in this townland. Ringforts were circular fortified settlements that were mainly built during the Bronze age up to about the year 1000.

Holy Well: Tobar Bhríghide/Bhríde (St. Bridget’s Holy Well) is located in this townland. It was originally located on Rabbit Island but it was said that it floated in on a cloud to Ardra either after a drowning on the way to Rabbit Island or after it was desecrated. In the past, rounds would be completed there on the eve of St. Bridget’s Day and also on a Saturday or Sunday.

From Biddy's Well Field

Interesting Placenames

There is a road in this townland known as Céim an Staighre (steps of the stairs) - before the road was built (in the 1930's) you had to climb a very steep pathway to get to the top.

Other names of interest are Seomraí Faoi Thalamh (this can be be interpreted as underground rooms - they are souterrains) and a field called Páirc na Siofraí (field of the fairies). See the Folklore section for further information on these.

Other old field names in this townland have been captured as follows: Móinfhéar Dhomhnaill Deirnig (Donal ?'s meadow - maybe the last of the Donal's?) , Mointeán na Croise (wetland of the cross (roads)), Móinteán an Bhóthair (wetland of the road), An Páircín Seasúrach (possibly the little seasonal field), An Páircín Caol (the little narrow field), An Paircín Cam (little crooked field), Móinteán an Tobair (wetland of the well), An Preasal (meaning unknown), Gort na Claise (rocky field with grassy patches), Páirc an Tighe (the house field), An Pháirc Fhada (the long field), Mointeáin na Luachrach (wetland of the rushes), Páircín Mhuintir Choilleain (Collins family field), Móinteán Mhaurice (Maurice's wetland), Páircín na gCabhlach (small field of the ruin), An Gort Riabhach (striped field), Páircín Sheamuis Óig (small field of young Jim/Seamus), Páircín Thaidhg Dheis (Tadhg/Tim's field to the right), An Pháirc Láir (middle field), An Pháirc Thoir (eastern field), Furze Hill, Cloverín, (small clover - according to Lankford it got this name as a lot of clover grew here), The Big Field (according to Lankford this was originally four fields but now there is just one and it is known as the Big Field), Gairdíní Sheáin Mhuiris (John Maurice's gardens), An Garraidhe Dubh (can be interpreted as the black potato garden - according to Lankford it had black earth), An Mointeánín Dubh (small black wetland), An Peadicín (small paddock?), Páirce an Tighe (the house field), Gort na Bearnán (field of the gap?), An t-Úbhallórd (the orchard), Páirc an Mhaurice (Maurice's field), An Mhóinteanín (small wetland), Páirc an Tí (house field), An Pháirc Fhada (the long field), An Pháirc Mhór (the big field), Páirc na gCaorach (sheep field), An Cinfhead (meaning unknown), Páirc an Aitinn (furze field), Pairc an Lathraigh (boggy field), An Iothlainn (the haggard), Tobairin Pheig (Peg's little well), An Latharach (habitation/ruin - there was a church there), Goirtín na Coirce (small field of the oats), Druim na Cille Thuas (upper ridge of the children's graveyard), Druim na Cille Thíos (lower ridge of the children's graveyard), An Bán Mór (the big pasture field), Tobairín Billí (Billy's well), Biddy's Well Field, An Leaca Dóighte Thiar (western burnt slope), An Leaca Dóite Thoir (eastern burnt slope), An Cuilín (small back field), An Cnoc Mór (big hill), Trá an Oileáin Uachtarach (upper beach of the island), Trá an Oiléain Íochtarach (lower beach of the island) - these were named after the beach below these fields

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

Seomraí Faoi Thalamh: There were said to be undergound passages (souterrains) near McKennedy's house which were accessed via steps. These were known as Seomraí Faoi Thalamh. No candle would stay alight in the underground passage except for a blessed candle.

Páirc na Síofraí: The souterrains were also located close to a field called Páirc na Síofraí (field of the fairies). It was also said that a local would not go home from the pub without a rotten fish as the fairies did not like anything that was dirty.

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1829 list the following family names: Burke, Donovan, Hegarty, Donoghue, Collins, Howen (?), Nagle, Nagle, Howen, Matthews (boatbuilder)

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Connolly (land only), Burke with Hickey, Dunnigan (Donegan) (land with office only), Donohoe (land only), Sullivan, Cadigan, Coghlan, Hegarty

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: Hegarty, Hegarty (with 9 x Scully (all lodgers)), Hayes, Coghlan, Donoghue, Donegan, Burke.

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: Burke, Donegan (with McAteer (daughter)), McKennedy, Coughlan, Hegarty, Hegarty (with Scully (nephew-in-law, niece-in-law, 4 x grand-nephew and 2 x grand-niece)), Hayes.

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	11	55 est.		1829
1841	Census of Ireland	15	71
1851	Census of Ireland	6	34
1853	Griffith's Valuation	5	30 est.		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	8	46
1871	Census of Ireland	9	58
1881	Census of Ireland	9	55
1891	Census of Ireland	9	55
1901	Census of Ireland	7	40		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	7	43		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 proprietors (titulados) of this townland at that time were Hugh McKnogher (possibly McConnor) and Randulph McDaniell. This townland was spelt Ardragh at that time

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Richard Townsend of Castletownshend. It was let to a Mrs. Matthews who occupied part of it and sub-let the remainder to tenants 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 Donovan, Coughlan and Nagle.