Full title: Commemoration of Centenary of Death of Neil “Plunkett” Boyle 15 May 1923 – 15 May 2023 Knocknadruce, Valleymount, Co. Wicklow
Creator / Author: Pádraig O’Baoighill (translation by Maureen Phibbs)
Item Type / Page count: Booklet / 46p
When Published: 2023
Publisher / Place of Publication: Not Stated / Co. Wicklow?
About: Neil ‘Plunkett’ Boyle was born in County Donegal in 1898 and he reputedly became the last man to be killed in the Irish Civil War when he was shot at Knocknadruce, Valleymount in West Wicklow on 15th May, 1923. This booklet was published to commemorate the centenary of his death. Most of the content of this booklet is taken from the book ‘Óglach na Rosann’ by Pádraig O’Baoighill (1994). The original Irish text has been translated by Maureen Phibbs.
ID number(s): None
Chapters: [Foreword: Neil “Plunkett” Boyle in West Wicklow 1922-1923] — Dedication — Plunkett of the Hills (ballad) — 1916-1923 — Neil Boyle — Comdt. Neil “Plunkett” Boyle (ballad) / Dominic O’Kelly — Neil Boyle in West Wicklow — Dunlavin — Hempstown (Tinode) — Blessington — Valleymount — Commandant Tom Heavey’s Memories of Neil Boyle — The Killing of John Moore at Mooney’s Pub in Manor Kilbride — Kylebeg — Manor Kilbride — Lacken — Ballyknockan — Knocknadruce — Funeral of Neil “Plunkett” Boyle — Members of Plunkett’s Column — Timeline of Events in Irish History 1914-1949 — “Plunkett” O’Boyle (ballad) / Annie Timoney — Acknowledgements.
Full title: Left at the Lamb: a flavour of the history and heritage of the Blessington area
Creator / Author: Aidan Cruise, David Harrington and Seamus Balfe. Editor: Professor Tom Barragry
Item Type / Page count: Book / 280p
When Published: 2022 – 2023
Publisher / Place of Publication: [Lakeside Heritage Group / Blessington, Co. Wicklow]
About: The subtitle of this publication calls it “a flavour of the history and heritage of the Blessington area”. In truth, it is more of a feast than just a flavour. In just under 300 pages, readers are given an overview of the history and archaeology of Blessington and its wider hinterland and can embark on an imaginary road trip where the heritage of all places between Saggart and Hollywood is described in more detail. The extensive use of photographs and illustrations make every location come alive and help to highlight the human element of local history.
ID number(s): None
Contents: Introduction — A Brief Historical Profile of the Blessington and Lakeside Area
[Archaeology and History] The Ice and Stone Age – Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic – Cairns – The Bronze Age – Piper Stones – Standing Stones – The Iron Age – Hillforts – Early Medieval – Raths and Ringforts – The Age of Christianity – Ogham Stones – The Vikings – The Normans and the Birth of Blessington – The Lordship of Ireland – Early Modern Wicklow – Wicklow, the Last County – Nine Years War — Rebellion, Defeat, Confiscation, Plantation — Archbishop Boyle, The Downshires and Blessington Estate – The Manor House and the Estate of Blessington – Wicklow and the 1798 Rebellion – Edward Heppenstall “The Walking Gallows” – The Wicklow Military Road – Captain Michael Dwyer – The 1800’s.
Blessington by Trap or Tram – The Scrap Iron Express – The Blessington to Poulaphouca Tram Co – Incidents and Accidents – The Blessington Tram [ballad] / Peter C. Grattan (Roving Bard) –The Blessington Lakes – The Crockery Way [ballad] / Martin Shaughnessy – Wildlife in the Area – The Blessington Game and Wildfowl Conservation Association
[A Trip to the Lake] Tallaght to Brittas – Sagart-Teach Sacra – Crooksling-Cnoc Slinne — Brittas-An Briotás — Kilteel-Cill Chéile – The Lamb – Rathmore-An Ráth Mhór – Hempstown – Golden Hill – Kilbride Lodge, Glen Heste Hotel and the Airfield – Lime Kilns – Quarries at Golden Hill, Three Castles, Oldcourt and the Dowrey – Manor Kilbride – St. Brigid’s – Hedge Schools in the Area – The Hollywood Grave-slabs – Mooney’s Pub – Cloghleagh – The Church of St. John the Baptist – Kilbride Army Camp – Seefin – Kippure – Boglands – Ballylow — The Coronation Planatation — Ballysmuttan – Ballysmuttan Bridge [poem] – Oldcourt – Ballyward – Three Castles – Interview with the late Paddy Phibbs – Crosscoolharbour & Crosschapel – The Church of Our Mother of Mercy – The Sandpits – The Fair Day – Gobbit’s Picture House (The Cottage Cinema) / Neville Gyves – Blessington Bridge – Knockieran (Cnoc Iarainn-the hill of iron) & Dwyer’s Brook – Carrig and Rathnabo (Rath na Bo-enclosure of the cows) — Lacken — Lacken Schoolhouse – St. Boden’s Well – St. Boden’s Well [poem] / Martin Keogh – The Cillín – Templeboden (Teampall Buadáin) – Kylebeg/Kilbeg (Coill Beg-small wood) – Mullaghcleevaun Mountain (Clefed Hill) – Blackhill (Cnoc Dubh) – Ballyknockan Granite – Ballyknockan (Bhuaile an Chnocáin) – Ballyknockan, my home on the hill [poem] / Peter Keogh – Valleymount (An Chrois) – Humphreystown – Baltyboys-Bhuaile Buí – Dame Ninette de Valois – Quakers – Tulfarris (“Tulach Ferghuis”-Fergus’ Hill) – Baltyboys schoolhouse – Hollywood – Poulaphouca — Song of Poulaphouca [ballad] –Dance halls — Russborough House – Interview with the late Frances O’Donoghue – Russellstown House – Killmalum-Cill Moloma – The Dispensary – Burgage – The Burgage Road [poem] – Burgage Castle.
Blessington – Garda station – New school – Boys’ schoolhouse – Downshire Hotel – Downshire Agent’s House — St. Mary’s Churchyard and St. Mary’s Church of Ireland – Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament – Downshire Monument – The Four Stone Tree – Court House / Market House built 1820s – St. Joseph’s Hall and the Band Hall – Some of the locals [Photo Gallery].
Sport – GAA – Soccer – Acknowledgements.
Extra #1: Includes well over five hundred black and white photographs or other illustrations.
Creator / Author: Barry Kinane. Words and music by Barry Kinane except music for ‘Ballyknockan Band Reel’ by Paul Kelly and music for Track 10 by Kinane / Kelly.
Item Type / Count: Music CD / 10 tracks
When Published: 2017
Publisher / Place of Publication: Barry Kinane / [Ballyknockan, Co. Wicklow?]
About: This is an album of Ballyknockan songs writen and performed by Ballyknockan native, Barry (Bat) Kinane. The songs incorporate historical facts and stories from the surrounding neighbourhood and present aspects of local and social history in an accessible and enjoyable format.
ID number(s): None
Contents [Track listing]: Where the Brook Waters Flow — Cock a Hoof – Mary – The Ballyknockan Band / Ballyknockan Band Reel — Ballinahown – Mrs O’s Delight / Mrs O’s Delight Reel – Madonna and the Lion – A Stonecutters Journey – Biddy Mulvey & the Landgrabber — The Hills above the Valley.
Full title: Two Ringforts Submerged by the Poulaphuca Reservoir
Creator / Author: R. A. S. Macalister
Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 5pp
Journal Information: Journal of The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Seventh Series, Volume 13 Number 4 pp. 145-149
When Published: December 1943
Publisher / Place of Publication: R.S.A.I / Merrion Square, Dublin
About: This is a short report on two ringforts before they were due to be submerged by the creation of the Poulaphouca Reservoir. One was in Balyknockan and the other in the townland of Burgage More. The author, a professor of Archaeology in UCD, concluded that no serious loss would be incurred by them being underwater.
Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.
Extra #4: Read this article online via JSTOR. [Personal registration / conditions apply]. Alternatively, your local public library may provide free online access to this article.
Full title: The Upper King’s River Valley – A Short History
Creator / Author: Séamas Ó Maitiú
Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 16p
Journal Information: Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society, Vol. XX (Part 2), pp. 173-188
When Published: 2011
Publisher / Place of Publication: County Kildare Archaeological Society / Co. Kildare
About: Although the subtitle of this article claims this is a short history, it is nevertheless a substantial piece running to sixteen pages. The area studied runs from the headwaters of the King’s River at Lake Nahanagan to the point where it enters the Poulaphouca Reservoir at Lockstown Lower. The author focuses on seventeen townlands that are contiguous to the river and explains placename origins, history, topography, and agricultural and industrial activity. The townlands covered include: Ballinagee, Banogue, Coonmore, Garryknock, Granabeg, Granamore, Harristown, Knockalt, Knocknadruse, Johnstown, Lockstown, Lugglas Lower, Oakwood and Walterstown.
Creator / Author: Andy Farrington [with contributions from Katie Byrne, John McEvoy, Jim Behan and Michael Freeman]
Item Type / Page count: Book / 68p
When Published: ca2016
Publisher / Place of Publication: [The Author] / Ballyknockan, Co. Wicklow
About: More than half of this nice little book is taken up with Andy Farrington’s account of a life spent as a stonecutter in Ballyknockan. The remainder of the book includes contributions from neighbours on the same topic and also looks at other aspects of Ballyknockan history.
ID number(s): None
Contents: Introduction – Growing up in Ballyknockan – My life as a stonecutter – The contributions of the quarry men to the Church — The Ballyknockan Brass & Reed Band — The next generation / John McEvoy — Giant granite stone 1890 — Neddy Cullen – Working in Osborne and Brady quarry / Jim Behan – Michael Freeman’s account of his life as a stonecutter / Michael Freeman — Turf cutting — Conclusion.
Publisher / Place of Publication: Alexander Thom and Sons for Her Majesty’s Stationary Office / 87 Abbey Street, Dublin.
Parent Publication [book]: County of Wicklow: valuation of the several tenements comprising that portion of the Union of Naas situate in the county above named / Richard Griffith, General Valuation Office / 27pp
About: The property tax system of 1850’s Ireland, otherwise known as Griffiths Valuation. It was the first major attempt at valuing property. This section lists householders in that part of the Parish of Boystown which is covered by the Poor Law Union of Naas. The remainder of the Parish of Boystown was within the area covered by the Poor Law Union of Baltinglass.
Publisher / Place of Publication: St. Joseph Parish, / Valleymount, Co. Wicklow
About: In March, 1940, the valley of the River Liffey began to be flooded as a result of the construction of the Poulaphuca Dam. This book marks the 75th anniversary of the event by collecting together the living memories of some of the people who lived through the traumatic transition from land to lake. All proceeds from the sale of this book go towards the St. Joseph’s Church, Valleymount Renovation Fund.
ID number(s): None
Contents: 75th anniversary of the flooding of the valley — The flooding / Billy Craul — The building of the dam at Poulaphuca / Davy Doyle (aged 94 years, Harristown,Hollywood) – Flooding of the lake 1940 remembered / Dick and Annie Byrne (now living at Burgage, Blessington) – I remember the valley before the water came / Earnest Zeller (Lacken) – I remember the flooding of the valley / Pat Cullen (The Rock of Carrigacurra) — John Joe Cullen’s memories / John Joe Cullen – Looking back on the flooding / Kathleen Phibbs – Mary Ann Flanagan aged 94 years old – My story of the flooding of the lake / Maisie Miley (Baltyboys) – Memories of the flooding of the lake / Michael Freeman (Ballyknockan) – Flooding of the valley / Ned Fitzsimons – My story / Teresa Byrne (Humphreystown) – Remembering the flooding of the lake / Tom Tyrell (92 year old, Blessington) – Song of Ballinahown (as sung by Ted Balfe, Kylebeg) – [Advertisers’ Section].
Extra #1: Includes around fifty black and white photographs of people and places.
Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.
Publisher / Place of Publication: The History Press / 50 City Quay, Dublin 2
About: The author of this selection of tales is a professional storyteller. Here he presents stories of myth, magic, the supernatural and the all too natural from every corner of our county. West Wicklow is well represented with more than half of the content associated with locations on this side of the county. Most of these stories spring from the oral tradition that prevailed before the arrival of electricity.
ID number(s): 9781845887858
Contents: Acknowledgements – Introduction – An Army of Stones – A Hand in the Night – The Resurrection of Sean – The Travels of Davy – Not Gone and Not Forgotten – A Shower of Stones – Moving About – Wise Man Paddy Stevens – Warring Spirits – Taken by the Fairies – A Fleeting Bird – The Long walk to Crois Úna – Milk Profit – A Cure for Baldness – Now You See It, Now You Don’t – Shriven Souls – Wicklow Foxes – Of Water and Stone – Féar Gortach – Derrybawn Cow – Bedding St. Kevin – Dargle Lovers – The Devil is in the Glen – Bray Smugglers – Gold-Mine Mountain – Priest Hunters – Hempenstall Military Road – Wicklow Avalanche – Glencree – Surviving the Snow Storm – Tall Tales.
When Viewed: Contents described are those showing when viewed in June 2014.
Publisher / Place of Publication: National Archives of Ireland / Bishop Street, Dublin 8.
About: Tithe Applotment Books were compiled between 1823 and 1837 in an attempt to determine how much the holders of agricultural land over 1 acre should pay in taxes or tithes to the established Church of Ireland. These books list the name of the head of each relevant household outside of urban areas. A Tithe Applotment book was compiled for each Church of Ireland parish. Some of the transcribed names of people and places are not 100% accurate, but the original entries may be viewed for clarification.
Hat-Tip: To the Genealogical Society of Utah and The National Archives of Ireland who have arranged for the digitisation of these records and their free accessibility online.
West Wicklow Bookshelf 