All About Our Hilltop Ancestors

© The Publisher
(cover photo James O’Driscoll)

Full title: Hillforts, Warfare and Society in Bronze Age Ireland

Creator / Author: William O’Brien and James O’Driscoll

Item Type / Page count: Book and ebook / 522pp

When Published: 2017

Publisher / Place of Publication: Archaeo Press Publishing / Gordon House, 276 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7ED

About: This very substantial and highly-illustrated scholarly volume combines  traditional archaeological methods of survey and excavation with modern techniques of remote sensing and GIS (Geographical Informations Systems) landscape analysis to study hillforts in the wider context of warfare and conflict in Ireland during the Bronze Age. Three chapters of the book are specifically dedicated to a detailed landscape study of the Baltinglass Hillfort Complex, which sheds new light on nine individual sites in the area.

ID number(s): 9781784916558 / 9781784916565

Contents: List of Figures – Acknowledgements — Chapter 1: Introduction / William O’Brien — Chapter 2: Prehistoric Hillforts in Ireland and Europe / James O’Driscoll — Chapter 3: Clashanimud Hillfort, Co Cork / William O’Brien — Chapter 4: Other Bronze Age hillforts in Munster/South Leinster / William O’Brien — Chapter 5 [expanded contents]: The Baltinglass Hillfort Landscape of County Wicklow / James O’Driscoll — 5.1: Natural landscape — 5.2: History of research — 5.3: Spinans Hill — 5.4: Kilranlagh — 5.5: Tuckmill Hill — 5.6: Tinoran — 5.7: Hughstown — 5.8: The wider landscape — 5.9: Excavations and finds in the Baltinglass environs — 5.10: Conclusion — Chapter 6 [expanded contents]: The Baltinglass Hillfort Excavations / William O’Brien — 6.1: Spinans Hill 1, Co Wicklow — 6.2: Rathnagree, Co Wicklow — 6.3: Sruhaun, Co Wicklow — 6.4: Tinoran, Co Wicklow — 6.5: Hughstown, Co Kildare — Chapter 7: Chronology / William O’Brien — Chapter 8 [expanded contents]: Modelling the Baltinglass Hillfort Landscape / James O’Driscoll — 8.1: Landscape models for hillfort settlement: a review — 8.2: GIS models of the Baltinglass hillfort landscape –8.3: Modelling hillfort construction at Baltinglass — 8.4: Conclusion — Chapter 9: Hillforts and Warfare in Bronze Age Ireland / William O’Brien — Chapter 10: The Hillfort in Bronze Age Ireland / James O’Driscoll and William O’Brien — Catalogue of Prehistoric Hillforts in Ireland / James O’Driscoll – Bibliography.

Extra #1: Includes over 400 photographs, illustrations and maps.

Extra #2: The cover features a photograph of Brussellstown Ring.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Link to the Publisher’s website

Two Centuries of Teaching in Talbotstown

© The Publishers

Full title: At the Foot of Keadeen: History and Memories from Scoil Naomh Bríd, Talbotstown

Creator / Author: Board of Management and various contributors

Item Type / Page count: Book / 149p

When Published: 2014

Publisher / Place of Publication: Board of Management Scoil Naomh Bríd / Talbotstown, Co. Wicklow

About: The back cover blurb says it all “The history of Scoil Naomh Bríd Talbotstown…is traced from the school at Englishtown to the construction of the Boys and Girls school in Talbotstown in the 1840s, to the construction of the current school in 1962. Many memories of past pupils as well as photos down through the years also feature in this commemorative book”

ID number(s): None

Contents: Welcome / Muireann Gartland — Foreword / Brian Flood — History of the name of Talbotstown and Kilranelagh / Peter Keogh — The early days: hedge schools or pay schools — History of Englishtown National School — Other schools in the area — Knocklishen National School — Fortgranite School — National Education Act 1829 — Application for building of school — Talbotstown National Schools (The Old Schools) — Maps of Talbotstown 1838 and 1907 – Enrolments from 1840-1868 — Census of Kilranelagh / Kiltegan areas in 1861 — St. Brigid’s Church, Talbotstown — Sample page from Geography Book used at Talbotstown Schools in 1840s — Amalgamation of Talbotstown Boys and Girls Schools to a mixed school in 1908 — Memories / Sr. Eileen Doyle — Group photo from circa 1922 — Staff of amalgamated schools at Talbotstown — Samples of geometry work in a copy of a pupil from 1915 — Maurice Ó Conaill, Principal of Talbotstown National School 1925-1937 / Oisín Breathnach — School group photo late 1920s — School group photo from 1930s — Primary Schools Folklore Collection: (1) Holy wells in the area, St. Brigid — (2) Local marriage customs — (3) Forts, Talbotstown Fort — (4) Goodwin’s Grave in Talbotstown — (5) Caves — (6) Crois Úna — (7) The Battle of Kaideen — (8) The Skirmish at Kilranelagh — (9) Michael Dwyer’s surrender — (10) Local weather folklore — (11) Riddles — (12) Cures — The Primary Certificate 1929-1967 — “Bingen on the Rhine” / Caroline Norton — Memories from two sisters / Betty Keogh and Brigid Doyle — Memories of Talbotstown / Maeve O’Byrne — Main developments in Primary Education in Ireland — Sample inspection report from the 1920s — Role of Religion at Talbotstown N.S.— Down memory lane / Mary Hickson — [Photo Galleries] — Memories of a mitcher / Peter Keogh — Brian Graham, Principal of Talbotstown National School 1963-1975 — Part of history! / Terri Kenny — Group photo of pupils 1969 — Memories of Treasa O’Keeffe 1963-1998 — Memories of Con Cronin — [Photo Galleries] — Memories from Ben Lennon 1955-1964 – [Photo Galleries] — Talbotstown N.S. visits Áras an Uachtaráin — [Photo Gallery] — Henry Shefflin visits Talbotstown N.S. — Colm “Gooch” Cooper visits Talbotstown N.S. — All Ireland winners Junior Inventor of the Year 2014 — Pictures from visit to Dáil Éireann 2014 — “Dear Grace” creative writing competition — Memories of Bridget Farrell (née Keating) — “Reminiscing” [poem] / John Lennon 1957-1960; 1963-1966  — Current staff of Talbotstown N.S. 2015 — “Thank You”.

Extra #1: includes several pages of full colour & black/white photographs.

Grave Markers in 18th Century Wicklow

© Wicklow Co. Co.

Full title: Here lyeth: the 18^th-century headstones of Wicklow

Creator / Author: Christiaan Corlett. (edited and produced by Deirdre Burns)

Item Type / Page count: Book / 116p

When Published: November 2015

Publisher / Place of Publication: Wicklow County Council / County Buildings, Wicklow Town, County Wicklow.

About: Perhaps Halloween is an appropriate occasion on which to showcase this publication. Gravestones have obvious genealogical value but in this book the author highlights the artistic quality and the social and religious background to the creation of headstones in 18^th century Wicklow. Many of the examples shown are located in the southern and western half of the county. This book was published by the Heritage Office of Wicklow County Council as one of the outcomes of the County Wicklow Heritage Plan. It is lavishly illustrated with colour photographs in an A4 landscape format.

ID number(s):9780956912626

Chapters: Preface — Introduction — The Purple Slate Headstones — The Aughrim School of Granite — Denis Cullen of Monaseed – The Glendalough Mason — The Blue Slate Headstones — Stone Masons at the Turn of the 19^th Century — Notes — Further Reading — Indexes.

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #3: Link to the Author’s website: http://www.christiaancorlett.com/

Tithes Payable by Kilranelagh Folk from 1825

 

 

 

Full title: Townlands in Kilranelagh (Wicklow)

Creator / Author: Genealogical Society of Utah in partnership with The National Archives of Ireland

Item Type: Website / Publicly Accessible

Homepage URL: http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp

When Viewed: Contents described are those showing when viewed in September 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.

Contents: Ballinroan — Boleycarrigeen — Barraderry — Cloghnagaune — Colvinstown — Downings — Englishtown — Fortgranite — Keadeen — Killalish — Kilranelagh — Mr Green’s Estate — North Barraderry — South Barraderry — Talbotstown

Extra #1: Browse the Tithe Applotment Book(s) for Kilranelagh Parish

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

The Schools Around the County

© The Publisher

Full title: Education in Wicklow: from parish schools to national schools

Creator / Author: Michael Seery

Item Type / Page count: Book / 189p

When Published: 2014

Publisher / Place of Publication: Creathach Press / Wicklow [?]

About: A meticulously researched and well-presented work which traces the history of purpose-built schoolhouses in Wicklow up to around the middle of the nineteenth-century. Written by someone who has an obvious passion both for education and for local history, it is hard to believe that a book of this size could contain so much information.

ID number(s): 9780992823306

Chapters: [Introduction] Education in Ireland – Penal Laws – The lay of the land – Sources for this study – Overview of book.
[Education in Ireland before and under the Penal Laws] Royal schools – Charter schools – Other schools.
[Landlord educators and the Wicklow Education Society] The Kildare Place Society — The Wicklow Education Society – The Fitzwilliam Estate – Arklow  Barony – Talbotstown Barony – North-east Wicklow – Conclusion.
[The emergence of a National School system] The decline of the Kildare Place Society – National Schools in County Wicklow — Conclusions.
[Appendices] Extracts from the reports of the Kildare Place Society training records for Wicklow (1814-1825) — Extracts from the records of the Kildare Place Society:  gratuities awarded to teachers to 1824 — Extracts from the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for County Wicklow – Wicklow returns to the Second Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry (abridged) – Brief biographical details of those with an interest in Wicklow education – Schools marked on Ordnance Survey of Ireland Map (1838-1840), with web link to OSI map, Google Map, Google image (where school building is still in existence) and notes on the location of school – Bibliography – Endnotes.

Extra #1: Includes several black & white photographs, maps, plans and tables of data.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

STOP PRESS: The author’s website (viewed March 2015) stated: “Education in Wicklow is now sold out but is available for free on Google Books.” Click here for Google Books link.

Households in Kilranelagh Parish in middle of 19th century

Full title: Parish of Kilranelagh

Creator / Author: Richard Griffith

Item Type / Page count: Book Chapter / eDoc / 6p

When Published: 1854

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 Baltinglass situate in the county above named / Richard Griffith, General Valuation Office / 106pp

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 the Parish of Kilranelagh, part of the area covered by the Poor Law Union of Baltinglass in West Wicklow.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Ballinroan Lower — Ballinroan Upper — Barraderry East — Barraderry North — Barraderry West — Boleycarrigeen — Brockna — Cloughnagaune — Colvinstown Lower — Colvinstown Upper — Downings — Englishtown — Fortgranite — Keadeen — Killalish Lower — Killalish Upper — Kilranelagh — Newtown — Talbotstown Lower — Talbotstown Upper.

Extra #1: Read the entries for  Griffiths Valuation Kilranelagh Parish (pdf file).

Extra #2: Search Griffiths Valuation and link to contemporary maps at AskAboutIreland.ie

Extra #3: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #4: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide

Demolition Disallowed

© Wicklow County Council

Full title: Record of Protected Structures Wicklow….

Creator / Author: Wicklow County Council

Item Type / Page count: Books / ebooks / 77-79pp each

When Published: 2010-2022

Publisher / Place of Publication: Wicklow County Council / Wicklow.

Parent Publication [book]: Wicklow County Development Plans 2010-2028

About: These comprehensive listings and brief descriptions of more than 500 protected structures are published as part of each iteration of Wicklow County Development Plans covering the period 2010 to 2028.  The listings cover all types of structures including private houses, country houses, rectories, churches, commercial buildings, bridges, schools, pubs, hotels, street furniture etc.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Each entry is arranged under Ref. No. / OS Map Ref. / Building Address / Structure / Townland / Description. Each entry is accompanied by a colour photograph.

Extra #1: View / Download the full text of the 2022-2028 publication via Wicklow.ie website.

Extra #2: View / Download the full text of the 2016-2022 publication via Wicklow.ie website.

Extra #3: View / Download the full text of the 2010-2016 publication via Wicklow.ie website.

Update note: This page last updated April 2024

Taxing the Hearthland

© JRSAI

Full title: The Hearth Money Roll for County Wicklow

Creator / Author: Liam Price

Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 15pp

Journal Information: Journal of The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Seventh Series, Volume 1 Number 2 pp. 164-178

When Published: December 1931

Publisher / Place of Publication: R.S.A.I / Merrion Square, Dublin

About: Hearth Money or Chimney Money was a 17th-century tax based on the number of fireplaces in a person’s dwelling. The original returns for this levy were lost in the destruction of the Public Record Office. However some earlier transcriptions survive. This article mainly consists of a listing of the Hearth Money Roll for County Wicklow as transcribed by Mr. William Monck Mason in the 19th-century. The listing gives the names of all the parishes and townlands of which the County was then composed (except for some places missing from the original manuscript) together with the number of inhabited houses in each townland. Unfortunately, the only householder names recorded by Mr. Mason are those living in houses with more than one hearth. The author of this article has written the introduction to this listing and added footnotes as appropriate.

ID number(s): 0035-9106

Extra #1: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #2: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #3: Read this article online via JSTOR. [Personal registration / conditions apply]. Alternatively, your local public library may provide free online access to this article.

A Little Miscellany of Things and Times Past

© JCKAS

Full title: Archaeological Jottings from the Neighbourhood of Baltinglass

Creator / Author: Charles M. Drury

Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 7p

Journal Information: Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society, Vol. IV, No. 2, pp. 148-154

When Published: 1903

Publisher / Place of Publication: E. Ponsonby / 116 Grafton Street, Dublin.

About:   An article by this Grangecon author on various archaeological features known to him as well as historical snippets gleaned from conversations with locals. The area covered ranges widely from Glen of Imaal to the Carlow border. The amount of information on each topic is relatively sparse and probably deserves fuller treatment. The biggest section of the article is given over to the family of Rev. Benjamin Neale.

ID number(s): 0332-0782

Extra #1: includes some rough illustrations and the Neale Family coat-of-arms.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for this publication in libraries worldwide.

Extra #4: Browse the 1901 Census entry for the author of this article.

Extra #5: Browse the 1911 Census entry for the author of this article.

Extra #6: Visit the County Kildare Archaeology Society website.

Extra #7: Search and access the content of Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society free of charge, courtesy of the Co. Kildare Archaeological Society and Kildare Library Services.

Notes & Queries – Kilranelagh Poem

Full title: Kilranelagh (an ancient burial ground in Co. Wicklow) [poem]

Creator / Author: James J. Doyle (1869-1916)

Item Type / Page count: Poem / 9 verses

When Published: 1985 /6

Publisher / Place of Publication: West Wicklow Historical Society / Baltinglass (?), Co. Wicklow.

Parent Publication [journal]:  Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society: Number 2, 1985-1986 / 88pp

About: The metrics of the West Wicklow Bookshelf Blog have indicated several internet searches for the words ‘Kilranelagh poem’. In response, we have transcribed the text of this poem and made it available to read online. Hopefully this is the poem which is sought by the searcher(s).

ID number(s): 0790-1739

Extra #1: Read the poem here.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for the publication containing this poem.

Extra #3: Check OCLC WorldCat.org for the publication containing this poem in libraries worldwide.