Doire Liath

This townland information is currently under construction and is unfinished. Any information that you have would be gratefully accepted at [email protected]

Doire Liath or Derryleigh is a townland of 107 hectares or 265 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 85 individual fields were mapped in this townland.

It is in the Electoral Division of Shreelane, in Civil Parish of Castlehaven and the Roman Catholic Parish of Kilmacabea.

Doire Liath is bordered by An Achaill (Aghills) and Sraoilleán (Shreelane) to the east, Cuileannach (Cullenagh) to the north, Smurán (Smorane) to the west and Leitir an tSinlis (Lettertinlish) to the south

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

Doire Liath was interpreted by Bruno O'Donoghue as the grey oak wood. Alternative interpretations are a grey place or grey horse. Eugene Daly in his article in Volume 6 of the Skibbereen and District Historical Society Journal also interprets it as a grey oak wood or grove and suggests that the grey probably refers to frost.

History

This townland was part of Castlehaven up to around 1854. At that time, the parish priest in Castlehaven died and the bishop took the opportunity to re-draw the Roman Catholic parish boundaries and moved the townlands of Adrigool, Cullenagh, Derryleigh and Smorane out of the parish. However we have decided to include them for historic purposes.

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 (Pg 1, Pg 2) and a guide on how to interpret these can be seen here. These show that seven of the twelve houses in the townland at this time are class 1 which means that they were slated and built with stone or brick and lime mortar - five are described as old (more than 25 years) with one being in repair while four are out of repair. The other class 1 house is medium (not new), but in sound order and good repair. The remaining five houses class 3 which means that they are thatched with stone walls with mud or puddle mortar and three are old (more than 25 years) and in repair while the other two are old but out of repair. The class 3 houses listed areas being between 5 foot (! ) and 8 foot high so were single storey at this time while the class 1 houses are between 6 foot and 10 foot 6 inches tall.

By the 1901 census, there is a reduction to 7 houses in this townland (plus a shop) and all had walls of stone, brick or concrete. Six have roofs of slate, iron or tiles while the other one is still thatched.. Six houses have two, three or four rooms with two having just two windows in front (which indicate that they are probably still single storey at this time) while the others have three, four, five and six windows respectively. The final house in the townland has five or six rooms with five windows in front.

When we advance to the 1911 census, there are still 7 houses in this townland and, not surprisingly all still had walls of stone, brick or concrete. However none are now thatched and all have roofs of slate, iron or tiles. Three houses now have two, three or four rooms with one having just one window in front (which indicate that it is probably still single storey at this time) while the other two have three windows in front. The remaining four houses have five or six rooms with five windows in front.

Places of Interest

Lios: There is a ringfort (lios) in this townland. A ringfort is a circular fortified settlement that were mainly built during the Bronze age up to about the year 1000.

Lake: There is a lake called Dubh Loch (black lake) in this townland

Bridge: ??***

The ringfort mentioned above is mapped on the Historic Environment Viewer

Interesting Placenames

Beside the name mentioned above the following field names have been captured and these are The Floating Island, Páirc a Leasa (field of the ringfort), The Portach Field, Páirc na hEorna, The Meantáin Drains, Páirc na Ceenlig, Páirc Olsúin, The Brake Field, Páirc a Tobar (the well field), the Meadow, the Eastern Meadow, Blacksmith's Field

There are crossroads in this townland called Derryleigh Cross (Derryleigh Bridge) and the N71 runs through it.

If you want to see the actual locations 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

The lake (Dubh Loch) noted above is mentioned in a famous local saying -

Da loch agus deug na h-Aichle

Agus dubh loch an t-Sraithleain

2 loughs & 10 of Aghills

and the black lough of Shreelane

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1825 list the following family names: Walsh, Long, Donovan, Brien, Harrington, O'Hara

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: Walsh, Driscoll, Gallagher, Walsh, Walsh, Donovan, Donovan, Walsh, Hegarty, Long. In addition, the following families had land only: Burke

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: Sullivan (with Buckley (mother-in-law)), Donovan, Walsh, Long (with Walsh (grandson) and 2 x Collins (both cousins)), Walsh (with Collins (cousin)), Walsh, Donovan (with Brien (servant)), Donovan

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: Sullivan, Walsh, Long (with 2 x Ross (both visitors)), Walsh, Donovan, Walsh, Donovan, Donovan

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	6	30 (est)		1825
1841	Census of Ireland	20	127
1851	Census of Ireland	10	73
1853	Griffith's Valuation	14 (Incl. 4 unoccupied)	60 (est)		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	16 (Incl. 4 unoccupied)	70
1871	Census of Ireland	11	70
1881	Census of Ireland	8	56
1891	Census of Ireland	10 (Incl. 1 unoccupied)	49
1901	Census of Ireland	8	35		1901
1911	Census of Ireland	8	38		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. At this time the proprietor (titulado) of this townland was Dominick Coppinger. The townland was known as Derryleagh at this time.

The proprietor of this townland in 1841 was Daniel Connors of Carrigaline.and his agent was Col. T. Bourke of Carrigaline. It was held under lease by Richard Swanton of Shreelane and sub-let to tenants without a lease.

In 841 the soil was described as a great part rough and poor, with the arable part producing middling crops of oats, wheat and potatoes