Gleann an Gheimhil

Gleann an Gheimhil or Glannageel is a townland of 45 hectares or 111 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 52 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.

Gleann an Gheimhil is bordered by Ard an Ghiolla (Ardagilla) and An Driseán Beag (Drishanebeg) to the west, An Bán Leathan (Bawnlahan) to the south and Barraí Rua (Barryroe) and An Leathardán Mór (Laherdane More) 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

Gleann an Gheimhil can be interpreted as Gleann na gCaoil (glen of the marshes or marshy streams). This is the interpretation offered by Bruno O'Donoghue. There is a caol (narrow) stream in this townland that separates Castlehaven from Skibbereen. An alternate interpretation is that it derived from Gleann na nGaeidheal (glen of the Irish/Gaels). Another possibility is that the name comes from Gleann a' Ghaibhle (the glen of the fork/junction) as 'gaibhle' is listed in O Domhnaill's dictionary as a genitive (tuiseal ginideach) variation of 'gabhail'. Finally, it may be derived from Gleann na Geimhle or Gleann na nGeimhle (the glen of the shackle/fetter/chains) as 'geimheal' is listed in O Domhnaill's dictionary for these words.

History

Trag Knitwear: Some modern history is a good thing as well. When Ireland played in the World Cup of 1994, few could forget who put the ball in the Italian net. We must now wonder was Jack Charlton shouting GLEANNAGEEL to a largely unresponsive Eamonn Dunphy.The Adidas shirts worn by both team and supporters had a parish connection. The crest was embossed onto the shirts by Trag Knitware . This local company was the result of hard work and perseverance by a local family. The contract was opened to international traders but they didn’t succeed. Trag Knitwear produced 70,000 of these, no mean feat at a time that manual labour was needed. The founder produced two "fully knitted Aran sweaters" each week in the early 1960's and as time went by established a network of 79 local women to mass produce the sweaters (perhaps hand-knitting at night after the children went to bed) . Often the jumpers carried traces of tobacco smoke and other prominent odours as, in the seventies workplace, conditions weren’t as well policed as today. More importantly it was a chance for women and girls to have a few bob for themselves. The selling price of a sweater was £2 -10 shillings

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 all three 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 (as opposed to houses built with stone or brick and lime mortar). One is described as being old (more than 25 years) but in good repair, one is also old but out of repair while the third was medium, deteriorated by age and not in perfect repair. All houses in the townland at this time are between 5 foot 6 inches (!) and 7 foot tall which indicates that they are single storey at this time.

By the 1901 census, there are just two occupied houses and both have walls of stone, brick or concrete and roofs of slate, iron or tiles. Both have two, three or four rooms and both have 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 are still 2 occupied houses in this townland and both still have walls of stone, brick or concrete and roofs of slate, iron or tiles . While one still has two, three or four rooms, the other now has either 5 or 6 rooms. Both houses still have just two windows in front.

Places of Interest

Cillín: There was a children’s burial ground in this townland. It is high up on the hill and is still preserved and untouched, close to a lake. These ‘cillíní’ are dotted all around the parish. The burial of unbaptised infants was similar in most rural parishes. The site of these graveyards was always secluded and even liminal (on the boundary between two townlands). Perhaps there was no security of tenure for farmers and a place that wouldn’t be cultivated was chosen, so the innocent babies could lay undisturbed. Many, like the one in Bawnishal, were discovered when ploughing but the remains were promptly buried and the fields left untilled indefinitely. Perhaps what was more traumatic was the fact that the child was to remain nameless and the location a secret, kept from the grieving mother. The burial usually took place at night.

Cillín - Children's Graveyard

Old Road: On this same hill the owner pointed out the course of the old road to Baltimore (the footprint still exists). There were a group of 6 to 8 houses, now sadly gone forever. Stone and flagstones were quarried here for use in the building trade and to make basic bridges.

Mass Rock: A mass rock still stands in its original location and a cross, often illuminated at Christmas, proudly guards it.

Gallán: There is a gallán (standing stone) in this townland. Standing Stones may have been boundary markers during the Bronze/Iron Age. Alternatively, they may have been commemorative monuments or may have been used to mark burial places.

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).

Lios: Do we need to add****

The Historic Environment Viewer mentions a ringfort.

Interesting Placenames

Beside the place-names mentioned above, no field names have been captured yet for this townland. Can you help?

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

Crock of Gold: This story comes from the Schools Folklore Collection of Tragumna National School. Although the school is in the parish of Skibbereen, many of the children came from townlands in Castlehaven. Children from as far away as Bawnishal attended school here,no doubt using well trodden paths and short cuts. In the townland of "Gleann na Gill." in the parish of Castlehaven, Barony of West Carbery, there is still to be seen a gollán called Gollán an Óir. One story relates that a giant in olden times buried a crock of gold beneath this stone where it still lies buried. Another story relates that pirates were chased into Traquina Bay (presumably Tragumna) where they came ashore and buried two large boots filled with gold. It is said that one boot was found by a man named Sweeny, while the other boot with its treasure was never found. The common belief is that this boot is buried under "Gollán an Óir." on July 25th 1938. This was recorded by Miss Mary Hegarty who heard this account from an old man named Tadhg Hegarty of Laherdanemore - in the parish of Castlehaven. Barony of Carbery, Co Cork. "Gollán an Öir" is to be seen on a hill called "an Garbh Leaca" about 200 yards east of Tragumma School,

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment Books of 1825 list the following family names: Hagerty, Driscoll, Driscoll, Donovan

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Carey, Hegarty, Driscoll

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

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: Dwyer, Hegarty (with Sullivan (2 x sister-in-law))

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	25 est		1825
1841	Census of Ireland	8	41
1851	Census of Ireland	4	32
1853	Griffith's Valuation	3	25 est		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	2	19
1871	Census of Ireland	2	19
1881	Census of Ireland	2 (Incl. 1 unoccupied)	7
1891	Census of Ireland	1	5
1901	Census of Ireland	2	6		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	2	7		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 part of Glaunteige and Glantighill at that time.

At the time of the Tithe Applotment in 1825, the four occupiers (Tim Hagerty, Simon Driscoll, Widow Driscoll and Tim Donovan) appear to have been in a joint rental arrangement as all four held an equal share of the townland. The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Morgan O'Donovan of Douglas, Cork and his agent was Murty Hanrahan of Cloughbane, Caheragh. It was all held by tenants without a lease.

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