Twelfth Collection of Articles on West Wicklow History

© Individual Contributors

Full title: Journal of the West Wicklow Historical Society: Number 12, 2023-24

Creator / Author: West Wicklow Historical Society & contributors, joint editors Chris Lawlor, Declan Keenan

Item Type / Page count: Journal (Complete issue) / 200p

When Published: 2023

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

About: This twelveth publication of this biennial journal was launched in the Coimín Centre, Blessington on 9/11/2023. It includes perhaps the most diverse set of topics yet to appear in this journal. Full contents are listed below. The most extensive article in this issue runs to 24 pages. In it, Peter W. Halligan provides an enlightening account of the castles at Oldcourt and Three Castles. 

ID number(s): 0790-1739

Contents: Foreword from the Chairman / Paul Gorry — Donal McDonnell (1945-2022) — Secretary’s Synopsis / Cora Crampton — Noel Lyons (1942-2022) — Editor’s Preface / Chris Lawlor — Mapping the devolved Gaelic territories and districts of the O’Tooles / Declan Keenan — Migrant railway workers and local communities: a case study of Harristown station on the Sallins-Tullow branch line 1883-1951 / John O’Brien — Some observations on the Great famine in County Wicklow, c.1845-1850 / Gerald Cullen — Gentry, Brides and Lions / Maura Murphy Gibson — The man who wore a blue shirt in 1933: the Bass War in West Wicklow and Kildare / Declan O’Connor — A little bit of Bulgaria in Ireland: Pierce O’Mahony (1850-1930): politician and philanthropist / Brian McCabe — Dame Ninette de Valois (Edris Stannus) / Paul Tyrell — A 1792 Rental of the Lordship of Belan, Co. Kildare / Richard B. Lennon —Language Matters Revisited / Ita Roddy — Death from a Flat-Nosed Bullet in Blessington / James Scannell — A farming community: Hollywood in the early twentieth century / John Glennon — Sadhbh O’Byrne – glimpses of a Gaelic woman of sixteenth-century Ireland / Cora Crampton — The Manor of Blessington, created by Michael Boyle / Jim Corley — Revisiting the 1798 Dunlavin massacre for its 225th anniversary / Chris Lawlor — Balfe the Robber / Brendan Corrigan — A sociological interpretation of the Hillfort Capital – exploring Hughstown and Tinoran hillforts (part 1 of 3) / Mairéad Kelly — Charles Maule Drury (1848-1939) – collector of folklore / Paul Gorry — The castles of Oldcourt and Three Castles / Peter W. Halligan — ‘I say it as I think it’ : The life and controversial times of Rev. T. C. O’Connor, Rector of Donoughmore and Donard / Rosemary Raughter — Query / Peter W. Halligan.

Extra #1: Illustrated throughout with black & white photographs and maps.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Extra #4: Visit the West Wicklow Historical Society website

Casting the Net Wide on Blessington Lakeside

© The Publishers

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.

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

Grave Slabs From Hollywood and Further Afield

© JRSAI

Full title: The Hollywood Slabs: Some Late Medieval Grave Slabs from West Wicklow and Neighbouring Counties

Creator / Author: Christiaan Corlett

Item Type / Page count: Journal Article / 25p

Journal Information: Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Vol. 133, pp. 86-110

When Published: 2003

Publisher / Place of Publication: The Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland / 63 Merrion Square South, Dublin 2

About: The author first discovered this type of grave slab in Hollywood in West Wicklow. He coined the term ‘Hollywood Slabs’ to describe them, although there are now many more such slabs to be found outside of the Hollywood area. The slabs date from the medieval period and have distinctive characteristics. This article lists and describes all such slabs known to the author at the time of writing.

ID number(s): 0035-9106

Extra #1: includes five pages of black/white photographs and numerous illustrations.

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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.

Extra #5: Visit the author’s website & blog

Extra #6: 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.

Households in Rathsallagh Parish in middle of 19th century

Full title: Parish of Rathsallagh

Creator / Author: Richard Griffith

Item Type / Page count: Book Chapter / eDoc / 2p

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

ID number(s): None

Contents: Ballyhurtim — Ballylaffin — Coonanstown — Crossoge — Mullans — Oldcourt — Rathsallagh — Rathsallagh Demense — Rottenhill.

Extra #1: Read the entries for  Griffiths Valuation Rathsallagh 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

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

What Lies Beneath

© The Publisher

Full title: Beneath the Poulaphuca reservoir: the 1939 Poulaphuca survey of the lands flooded by the Liffey reservoir scheme

Creator / Author: Christiaan Corlett (editor)

Item Type / Page count: Book / 352p

When Published:  2008

Publisher / Place of Publication: Stationery Office, Dublin.

About: A handsome and comprehensive presentation of the results of a survey that took place in 1939 of the lands that were soon to be flooded forever to create the Poulaphuca Reservoir.  The editor brings to light for the first time the maps, photographs, folklore and recollections of an area now submerged.

ID number(s): 0755776062 / 9780755776061

Chapters: Preface — Introducion — Poulaphuca area — Origins of the Liffey Reservoir Scheme — The Poulaphuca Survey — Significance of the survey — Conclusion — Editor’s Note — The Survey: Areas A to G — Appendix1: Archaeological investigations — Appendix 2: Acquisitions by the National Museum of Ireland — Appendix 3: Burgage Graveyard — Appendix 4: Burgage Burial Register — Appendix 5: Sources of the material collected during the Poulaphuca Survey — Appendix 6: An account of the Irish Army engineers blowing up Blessington Bridge — Index.

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

Extra #2: Check Libraries Ireland for this publication.

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

Census of Rathsallagh

Full title: Townlands / Streets in Rathsallagh (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 April 2012.

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

About: The Census returns for the Rathsallagh 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:  Ballyburtin (1911 only) — Ballylaffin — Ballylea — Byrneshill — Coonanstown — Crossoge — Freynestown Lower — Freynestown Upper — Freynestownhill — Griffinstown Glen — Knockbaun — Moantown/Moanvawn — Mullans — Oldcourt — Rathsallagh — Rathsallagh Demesne — Rottenhill — Shepherdshill — Toolestown.

Extra #1: Browse the 1901 Census for Rathsallagh DED

Extra #2: Browse the 1911 Census for Rathsallagh DED