Fearann Deilgín

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Fearann Deilgín or Farrandeligeen is a townland of 41 hectares or 102 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 24 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.

Fearann Deilgín is bordered by the townlands of Gleann Bearcháin (Castlehaven) and Fearann Dáith (Farrandau) to the east, An Gort Breac (Gortbrack) to the west and Eidhneán (Inane) 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

Fearann Deilgín was interpreted by Bruno O'Donogue as the land of the little thorny brake/bush. JM Burke noted in his 1913 article in the Southern Star that this townland "abounds in thorns". In his article in Volume 7 of the Skibbereen and District Historical Society Journal, Eugene Daly also interprets it as the land of the little thorny brake.

Many attempts were made by English settlers to anglicise Fearann Deilgín including xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. While the Ordinance Survey standardised these attempts c. 1841 with Farrandeligeen. Today, the Placenames Database of Ireland lists the original Fearann Deilgín and the anglicised Farrandeligeen as the statutory spellings. Either version can be used as a postal address or for legal and other documents.

History

Glebe:

Castlehaven Strand, Gleann Bearcháin: Castlehaven Strand straddles two townlands, Farrandeligeen and Castlehaven. See the Castlehaven townland for some historical information

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 and a guide on how to interpret these can be seen here. These show that 2 of the 6 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) and in repair while the other is old and out of repair. There are also four class 1 houses in the townland at this time which means that they were slated and built with stone or brick and lime mortar - all are described as new or nearly new with an ordinary finish. The class 3 houses are between 6 foot 6 inches and 7 foot tall which indicates that they are probably single storey at this time while the class 1 houses are between 16 and 21 foot tall.

By the 1901 census there were only three occupied houses and all had walls of stone, brick or concrete with roofs of slate, iron or tiles. Two houses had two, three or four rooms with two windows in front (which indicates that they were probably still single storey) while the other house had ten, eleven or twelve rooms with seven windows in front.

When we advance to the 1911 census there are now four occupied houses in this townland and all four have walls of stone, brick or concrete with roofs of slate, iron or tiles. Two houses had two, three or four rooms with one having two windows in front while the other one has three windows (which indicates that they were probably still single storey) while another house had thirteen or more rooms with ten windows in front.. The final house had five or six rooms with four windows in front.

Places of Interest

Castlehaven Rectory: The site of the old Church of Ireland church was in this townland until the present church in Castletownshend was erected in 1827

Castlehaven Lodge: This is beside the rectory and between the years of 1971 and 1976 was the residence of Alexander Sokolov for some years. He was born to an English mother and a Russian father and became a renowned sculptor

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

Hut Site: The Historic Environment Viewer mentions In pasture at base of rock outcrop. Roughly oval area (4.65m E-W; 3.6m N-S) defined by ring of eleven upright sandstone slabs set on end (average H 0.32m). Arc of three stones (average H 0.26m) set 0.72m outside inner ring at NE. On E side, three low stones set radially (one to N, two parallel to S) may revet entrance passage. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Location of hut-site

Cup-marked stone: There is an example of a cup-marked stone in this townland. It has been the topic of an article in the Roaringwater Journal by Finola Finlay which can be seen at https://roaringwaterjournal.com/tag/farrandeligeen/

Cup-marked stone (phone included for dimension)

Mass Rock: There is a Mass Rock in this townland. This is slightly upsteam from Tobar Bearcháin and is known as Carraig an Aifrinn which can be interpreted as the mass rock. . Mass was said here in penal times when it was banned elsewhere.

The lios, the hut-site and the cup-marked stone listed above are shown in the Historic Environment Viewer.

Interesting Placenames

A place-name of interest is Carraig an Aifrinn as mentioned above. This can literally be interpreted as mass rock.

The Coast Road/Western Road runs through this townland.

No field names have been captured yet for this townland. Can you help? If you know any 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

None

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1825 list the following family names: Connolly, Cumber (?), Coughlan, Boyle Townsend

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Hegarty, Rev. Charles Bushe. In addition, the following families had land only: Brickley, Leary

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: Becher (with Eakins (?), Murphy and Attridge (all servants)), Daly, MacDonald

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: MacDonald (with West (mother-in-law)), Regan, Daly, Becher (with Reynolds and Connell (both servants))

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	4	24 (est)		1825
1841	Census of Ireland	5	35
1851	Census of Ireland	1	2
1853	Griffith's Valuation	2	12 (est)		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	1	6
1871	Census of Ireland	2	19
1881	Census of Ireland	2	10
1891	Census of Ireland	3	15
1901	Census of Ireland	3	13		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	4	19		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. At this time the proprietor (titulado) of this townland was Widdow Sullivan. This townland was know as Farrendeligin in part of Sleughteige at that time .

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Lord Audley of London. It was let by lease to Lord Riversdale who let it to Daniel Callaghan of Cork and from then again by lease to Messrs Shaw of London. They let it to John Galway of Skibbereen and he sub-let it to tenants without a lease.

In 1841 the soil was described as three quarters coarse pasture with one quarter arable, producing poor crops of oats and potatoes.

Images

Carraig an Aifrinn

Local Businesses and Services

Name

Atlantic House B&B

Description

Atlantic House offers quality bed and breakfast accommodation in a beautiful and tranquil setting overlooking the mouth of Castletownshend harbour, with the Atlantic Ocean beyond

Contact

Tel: +353 (0)28 36440

Email: [email protected]

Web: Atlantic House