Meall Uí Chorráin

Meall Uí Chorráin or Maulicarrane is a townland of 47 hectares or 115 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 68 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.

Meall Uí Chorráin is bordered by Baile na Tóna (Ballinatona) to the east, An Ráithín (Raheen) to the north and An Rinn (Reen) to the west.

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

Meall Uí Chorráin can be interpreted as Curran’s or Creane's hill. This is one interpretation given by Bruno O'Donoghue but he also lists another possibility as Meall A Chorrain which can be interpreted as the hook-shaped hillock, pointed hill or the mound of the semi-circular coastline.

History

Famine: The book, The Famine Story" lists the men from each 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. Pat Wholey was the only name mentioned for this townland

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 and a guide on how to interpret these can be seen here. These show that 3 of the 4 occupied houses in the townland at this time were Class 3. This means that they were thatched houses with stone walls with mud or puddle mortar. All three were described as old (more than 25 years) and out of repair. The other house was Class 1B- which means that it was a slated dwelling house built with stone or brick and lime mortar. Its condition was described as medium (not new), deteriorated by age and not in perfect repair. All of the class 3 houses in the townland are between 5 foot 6 inches (!) and 6 foot tall which indicates that they were single storey at this time. The class 1 house was 9 feet tall.

By the 1901 census, there are still 4 occupied houses and all have walls of stone, brick or concrete with roofs of slate, iron or tiles. Three of the houses have two, three or four rooms with one having two windows in front (which indicate that it is probably still single storey at this time) while the other two have three windows in front. The remaining house in the townland has five or six rooms with eight windows in front.

When we advance to the 1911 census there is a slight increase to 5 occupied houses and, not surprisingly, all have walls of stone, brick or concrete with roofs of slate, iron or tiles. Two houses now have two, three or four rooms with one having three windows in front while the other has four. The remaining three houses in the townland have five or six rooms with two having seven windows in front while the other has eight.

Places of Interest

Harbour: Blind Harbour is in this townland

Lios: It is said that there was a ringfort (lios) in this townland. It is no longer to be seen. A ringfort is a circular fortified settlement that were mainly built during the Bronze age up to about the year 1000

Bothár Cuaisín: This was a shortcut taken between Ballinatona, Raheen and Reen. This was also used by Castletownshend people when they were going to funerals in Myross Graveyard. and also Myross residents when travelling to the shop in Reen.

Tráig Mór: This is a gravel beach in this townland and can be interpreted as the big strand/beach.

An Cuaisín: There is a sandy beach in this townland and can be interpreted as the little cove. An alternate name might be the Poll Mór (big hole) although there is a cave here and that might be the source of this name.

Trá Transil: There is another beach in this townland known as Trá Transil. The interpretation of this is unknown (Trá is a beach)

The ringfort listed above is mapped on the Historic Environment Viewer.

Interesting Placenames

No field names have been captured in this townland

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

Myross Poem: According to Lankford an old poem about Myross refers to the following:

Baile na Tóna agus paróiste Mhiodhruis

Meall Uí Chorráin agus dá Rinn theas

An t-Oileán Árd agus an t-Oileán Íseal

Oileán Molua agus Oileán Brighde

(Ballinatona and the parish of Myross, Maulicarrane and the two South Reens, High Island and Low Island, Horse Island and Rabbit Island)

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1829 list the following family names: Walsh, McCarthy, Sweeny, Sweeny, Hegarty, Donovan, Donovan, McCarthy, Burchill, Wholey, Dennis, Donovan, Donovan

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Mahony, Donovan, McCarthy,

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: Burns (with Keohane and Mahony (both servants)), Keohane, Minihane

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: Dineen (with Brien (servant)), Burns (with Donoghue (mother-in-law) and Donovan (nephew-in-law)), Keohane, Mahony (with Crowley (daughter and son-in-law)), Minihane

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
1829	Tithe Applotment	13	75 (est)		1829
1841	Census of Ireland	13 (Incl 1 unoccupied)	69
1851	Census of Ireland	4	24
1853	Griffith's Valuation	4 (Incl.1 unoccupied)	20 (est)		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	5	28
1871	Census of Ireland	5	29
1881	Census of Ireland	4	28
1891	Census of Ireland	5 (Incl 1 unoccupied)	32
1901	Census of Ireland	4	20		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	5	22		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 Daniell Oge O'Donovan. This townland was called Maulecarren at that time.

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Sir William Brixon Beecher of Ballygiblin, Cecilstown and his agent was Rev. Nicholas Brixon Beecher of Ballygiblin, Cecilstown. It was let to tenants at will at lump rents with the tithes paid by the tenants.

In 1841, the soil was described as light and rocky, producing wheat, oats and potatoes. Fuel was described as scarce and the prevailing names were McCarthy and Donovan.