Rinn Dá Chosán

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Rinn Dá Chosán or Reendacussane is a townland of 40 hectares or 100 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 32 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.

Rinn Dá Chosán is bordered by Ard Gaotháin (Ardgehane) to the east, Barraí Rua (Barryroe) and An Bán Leathan (Bawnlahan) to the north and Geocán (Gokane) 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

Rinn Dá Chosán can be interpreted as the headland of two paths. However local pronunciation and physical appearance suggests that the correct name might be Rinn Dá Chuasán which translates to the headland of two coves. This is also the interpretation given by J.M.Burke in his Southern Star article in 1913 and also by Bruno O'Donoghue.However we should not rule out the possibility that it should be interpreted as the headland of two paths as the old 1841 map appears to show two paths connected to the clachán of houses which was there at the time - one leading to the road which was north of it at that time and the other towards the sea.

While the anglicised spelling of the townland has changed slightly since 1603, there does not appear to be any change in meaning (e.g. it was referenced as Rinedecassan in the Down Survey of 1655).

History

Cuas na Teorann: This is a cuas (cove) situated at the boundary between Ardgehane and Reendacussane. This can be interpreted as the cove of the boundary and was also reputed to be the ancient boundary between the O'Driscoll territories of Gleann Bearcháin and Collymore (the area south of the Ilen river and included Baltimore, Creagh, Cape Clear and Sherkin).

Creamery: Reendacussane was the location of a creamery and shop operated by the Hurley family in the early part of the 20th century.

Barney O Driscoll: Barney O Driscoll from Reendacussane was a person of many talents. In his younger days he was involved with slate quarrying locally but life changed when he was interned in Ballykinlar, County Down, for his political activities. It was here that he met some men from Portroe . They informed him that there was a really good slate quarry close to Killaloe. He duly purchased the quarry and, with the aid of generators, air compressed drilling equipment and diamond tipped saws for cutting, began a hugely successful business. Much of the slate was exported and places like the GPO in Dublin and even the Four Courts used this slate. He even employed some of the Union Hall people as workers. Like most slate quarries accidents ,employment conditions and the exhaustion of the slate veins meant closure was not far away. In 1956 a massive landslide signalled the end buthappily there was no loss of life. O Driscoll also found time to to found a Tubex and Barlite factory in Portroe as well as a chipboard factory in Scariff ,County Clare. J.B. O Driscoll died in 1961 and is buried in Lisboney Cemetery beside his wife Mary .

Famine: This was another townland that was heavily hit by the famine (or perhaps an eviction). The population dropped from 68 in 1841 (12 households) to just 13 people in two households a decade later. Indeed this townland only had one occupied house in the next few censuses between 1851 and 1901 (inclusive). Whilst we do not have names of the occupying family between 1861 and 1891 there is a good chance that it was the same household. throughout this period. Note how the household population increased from 7 to 13 between 1861 and 1871 but declined as far as 3 in 1891 (children perhaps grew up and moved away/emigrated). An Elizabeth Driscoll is the 50 year householder in the 1911 census meaning that she might have been present in the previous censuses from 1861 also. In 1911 she is widowed and living with her son and aunt as well as two other relations/servants.

Clachán: The Ordnance Survey 1841 original map shows evidence that all of these houses were in one clachán. I As the current coastal road did not exist in 1841, access to the clachán was from Ard a' Bhothair to the north.

New Road: The present road on the Wild Atlantic Way was moved inland at some stage around 1980 (due to coastal erosion) but the remnants of the old road and an old 'no dumping' sign can still be seen about ten metres away on the seaward sign of the coastal road

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 one of the two houses in the townland at that time was class 3. This means that it was a thatched houses with stone walls with mud or puddle mortar. It was described as being old, delapidated and scarcely habitable. The other house is class 1 which means that it was slated and built with stone or brick and lime mortar - it was described as being medium, slightly decayed, but in good repair. All houses in the townland at this time are between 6 foot 3 inches and 7 foot tall which indicates that they are single storey at this time.

By the 1901 census, there is just one occupied house and it has walls of stone, brick or concrete and a roof of slate, iron or tiles. It has seven, eight or nine rooms with six windows in front which indicates that it was probably two storey at this time.

When we advance to the 1911 census there is still just one occupied house and, not surprisingly, it has walls of stone, brick or concrete and a roof of slate, iron or tiles. It now has five or six rooms with six windows in front.

Places of Interest

Cuas na Teorann: This is a cuas (cove) situated at the boundary between Ardgehane and Reendacussane. See above for more detail

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

Interesting Placenames

Besides the places named above we have mapped the follow field-names in this townland: Páirc Nua (new field), Mónan (meaning unknown - possibly linked to móin (turf) - description in Lankford is listed as "field stream"), North East Field, North West Field and Sheep Field

The coast road runs through this townland.

If you want to see the actual location 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

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Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1825 list the following family names: Carthy, Carthy, Carthy, Dwyer, Shehane (?)

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Driscoll. In addition, the following families leased land only: Somerville

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: O'Driscoll

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: O'Driscoll (with Brickley (relative), O'Neill (aunt) and Daly (servant))

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	5	55 (est)		1825
1841	Census of Ireland	12	68
1851	Census of Ireland	2	13
1853	Griffith's Valuation	2 (Incl. 1 unoccupied)	6 (est)		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	1	7
1871	Census of Ireland	1	13
1881	Census of Ireland	1	8
1891	Census of Ireland	1	3
1901	Census of Ireland	1	5		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	2 (Incl. 1 unoccupied)	5		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 Donagh McGimire (??). This townland was called Rinedecussan at that time.

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Thomas Somerville of Drishane, Castletownshend and it was all held by tenants without a lease.

In 1841,the soil was described as 2/3 coarse and poor and 1/3 middling, producing light crops of wheat, oats and potatoes.