Twenty-Four Grand Days Out

© The Publisher

Full title: Hill Walkers Wicklow

Creator / Author: David Herman

Item Type / Page count: Book / 72p

When Published: March 1989

Publisher / Place of Publication: Shanksmare Publications / Not stated

About: This book details 24 one-day walking routes covering all parts of the Wicklow Mountains. First published in 1989, it has proved to be very popular with walkers and it has run through many editions. The number of routes in later editions has increased up to 30.

ID number(s): 0951454706 / 0953143317 / 0951454757

Contents: Introduction – The Routes: (1) The Tallaght Hills and Seefingan – (2) Circuit of Glencree – (3) The Dublin Hills – (4) Calary and Djouce to Enniskerry – (5) The North-East Fringe – (6) Glencree to Djouce – (7) Kippure and the Upper Liffey Valley – (8) Circuit of Glenbride – (9) Sally Gap to Mullaghcleevaun East Top – (10) Lugnagun, Black Hill and Mullaghacleevaun – (11) Lough Tay, Lough Dan and Scarr – (12) The Barnacullian Ridge and Tonelagee – (13) Circuit of Glenmacnass – (14) The Fair Mountain and Lough Firrib – (15) South of the King’s River – (16) Circuit of Glendalough – (17) Church Mountain and the Glen of Imaal – (18) Lugnaquilla from Glenmalure – (19) Carrawaystick and  Croaghan Moira – (20) Circuit of Glen Ow – (21) Keadeen and Slievemann – (22) The Upper Glen of Imaal – (23) Rathdrum to Glendalough – (24) Croaghan Kinsella – Eight Days in the Mountains – Bibliography – Useful addresses.

WW Connection #1: Many of the routes described in the book are located in West Wicklow.

Extra #1: Includes sketch maps of every route.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Households in Blessington Parish in middle of 19th century

Full title: Parish of Blessington

Creator / Author: Richard Griffith

Item Type / Page count: Book Chapter / eDoc / 11p

When Published: 1853

Publisher / Place of Publication: Alexander Thom and Sons for Her Majesty’s Stationary Office / 87 & 88 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 the Parish of Blessington in West Wicklow, part of the area covered by the Poor Law Union of Naas in Co. Kildare.

ID number(s): None

Contents: Ballydonnell North — Ballydonnell South – Ballylow – Ballynabrocky — Ballynascullogue Lower — Ballynascullogue Upper – Ballynatona — Ballysmuttan Lower — Ballysmuttan Upper — Ballyward – Blackrock – Blessington — Town of Blessington (Main Street) — Town of Blessington (Kilbride Road) — Blessington Demesne – Butterhill – Crosscoolharbour – Deerpark – Dillonsdown – Edmondstown – Haylands – Hempstown – Holyvalley — Knockieran Lower — Knockieran Upper — Lugnagun Great — Lugnagun Little – Newpaddocks – Oldcourt – Oldpaddocks – Rathnabo – Santryhill – Threecastles.

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

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

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

Banks Our Ancestors Built

© JSTOR

Full title: Some Cursus Monuments in South Leinster

Creator / Author: Chris Corlett

Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 6p

Journal Information: Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 20-25

When Published: Summer 2014

Publisher / Place of Publication: Wordwell Ltd. / Unit 9, 78 Furze Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

About: A cursus is a prehistoric construction consisting of two banks parallel to each other. They can extend for some considerable distances. Their function is not clear, although they appear to be associated with other nearby prehistoric features. This article looks at four cursuses in the South Leinster area, two of which are in West Wicklow, one which is just over the border in East Kildare and one in South Carlow.

ID number(s): 0790-892X

Extra #1: includes several colour photographs.

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.

Extra #4: Visit the author’s website & blog

Extra #5: Link to the author’s page on Academia.edu

Tithes Payable by Blessington Folk from 1833

Full title: Townlands in Blessington (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 February 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: Ballydonnell – Ballylow – Ballynabrocky – Ballynatona – Ballynasculloge – Ballyward – Blackrock – Blessington — Blessington Demesne – Burgage – Burgage More – Burgage Moyle – Burgage Moyle Glashina – Burgage Moyle Russellstown – Butterhill – Crosscoolharbour – Deerpark – Dillonsdown – Edmondstown – Glashina — Haylands – Hempstown – Holyvalley – Lower Ballynasculloge — Lower Ballysmuttan — Lower Knockieran – Lugnagun — Merry Land – Oldcourt – Paddocks – Russborough – Russellstown – Santryhill — Threecastles and Goldenhill – Threecastles — Upper Ballynasculloge — Upper Ballysmuttan — Upper Knockieran.

Extra #1: Browse the Tithe Applotment Book(s) for Blessington 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 Book of Blessington

© The Publisher

Full title: The Blessington Estate, 1667-1908

Creator / Author: Kathy Trant

Item Type / Page count: Book / 239p

When Published: 2004

Publisher / Place of Publication: Anvil Books / 45 Palmerston Road, Dublin 6.

About: The definitive history of the Blessington area from the mid-17th century to the beginning of the twentieth. It combines the story of the Boyle and Hill families of nobility with the eternal tension of the landlord and tenant relationship.  The author has researched the subject extensively and the highest levels of scholarship are evident. However, the book is very accessible and a recommended read for local historians.

ID number(s): 1901737519 / 9781901737516

Chapters: Foreword — The Struggle for Land — The Boyle Dynasty — The Downshire Connection — The Rebellion of 1798 — Bad Debts and Good Neighbours — Land Tenure and Agents — The Tenants — Rents and Arrears — The Landlord’s Role — The Famine Years — The Social Round — The Final Chapter — Epilogue — Appendix: List of tenants on the Blessington Estate, 1850 — Acknowledgements — Abbreviations — Notes and Sources — Notes on Illustrations — Bibliography.

Extra #1: includes 98 illustrations and images.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication

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

Extra #4: Read a review of this book online via JSTOR. [Personal registration / conditions apply]. Alternatively, your local public library may provide free online access to this review.

Extra #5: For information, a review of this book was also published in the Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society, Volume 19 (3), 2004-5 pp568-570.

Census of Blessington

Full title: Townlands / Streets in Blessington (Wicklow)

Creator / Author: National Archives of Ireland

Item Type: Website / Publicly Accessible

Homepage  URL: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

When Viewed: Contents correct as of December 2012.

Publisher / Place of Publication: National Archives of Ireland / Bishop Street, Dublin 8.

About: The Census returns for the Blessington District Electoral Division arranged alphabetically by townland. The 1901 census was taken on 31st March 1901. The 1911 census was taken on 2nd April 1911.

Contents: Ballydonnell — Ballylow — Ballynabrocky — Ballynasculloge — Ballynatona — Ballysmutton / Ballysmuttan — Ballyward — Blackrock — Blessington — Blessington Demesne — Blessington Town — Butterhill — Crosscoolharbour — Deerpark — Dillonsdown — Edmondstown — Haylands — Hempstown — Knockieran — Lugnagun — Oldcourt — Oldpaddocks — Rathnabo — Santryhill — Threecastles.

Extra #1: Browse the 1901 Census for Blessington DED

Extra #2: Browse the 1911 Census for Blessingon DED

A Massive County History

© The Publisher

Full title: Wicklow: history & society – interdisciplinary essays on the history of an Irish county

Creator / Author: Ken Hannigan and William Nolan (editors) & contributors.

Item Type / Page count: Book / 1005p

When Published: 1994

Publisher / Place of Publication: Geography Publications / 24 Kennington Rd., Templeogue, Dublin 6W.

About: The major history of the County of Wicklow, this is the seventh volume in the Irish County History Series which eventually aims to cover all 32 counties. It brings together 25 essays written by experts in their field and covers aspects of Wicklow history and society from prehistorical to modern times.

ID number(s): 0906602300 / 9780906602300

Contents: Wicklow’s prehistoric landscape / Geraldine Stout — Kings, saints and sagas / Alfred P. Smyth — Evidence of Scandinavian settlement in Wicklow / Colmán Etchingham — The unity of Cóemgen and Ciarán: a covenant between Glendalough and Clonmacnois in the tenth to eleventh centuries / A. S. MacShamhráin — Medieval Wicklow -‘A land of war’ / J. F. Lydon — Anglo-Norman settlement in Uí Briúin Chualann, 1169-1350 / Linzi Simpson — Three settlements of Gaelic Wicklow: Rathgall, Ballinacor and Glendalough / Harry Long — Settlers’ utilisation of the natural resources / Rolf Loeber — The Byrnes of Ballymanus / Conor O’Brien — The rebellion of 1798 in County Wicklow / Ruan O’Donnell — Masters of the mountains: the insurgent careers of Joeseph Holt and Michael Dwyer, County Wicklow, 1798-1803 / Thomas Bartlett — Politics and rebellion: Wicklow in the 1790s / L. M. Cullen — The Poor Law in County Wicklow / Eva O’ Cathaoir — Vernacular rural dwellings of the Wicklow Mountains / F. H. A. Aalen — The holy wells of County Wicklow: traditions and legends / Geraldine Lynch — Land and landscape in County Wicklow / William Nolan — Synge and Wicklow / Nicholas Grene — A survey: some Wicklow maps 1500-1888 / Patrick Power — The mining community at Avoca 1780-1880 / Des Cowman — Wicklow before and after the famine / Ken Hannigan — The evolution of forestry in County Wicklow from prehistory to the present / Mary Kelly Quinn — From Grand Jury to County Council: an overview of local administration in Wicklow, 1605-1898 / Brian Donnelly — Parnell and his neighbours / R. F. Foster — A rightful place in the sun: the struggle of the farm and rural labourers in County Wicklow / Ross M. Connolly — ‘The water was the sheriff’: the land beneath the Poulaphuca reservoir / Fiachra Mac Gabhann — A select bibliography of printed books on County Wicklow / Joan Kavanagh.

WW Connection #1: Contains several essays relevant to West Wicklow history and archaeology.

Extra #1: Contains many illustrations, photographs and maps.

Extra #2: Contains a fold-out reproduction of Jacob Nevill’s 1760 map of the county.

Extra #3: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #5: Link to the Publisher’s website:  http://www.geographypublications.com/