Billymore (Carrowntobar)

Townlands of Oughterard

By Paul Gibbons

Townland of Billymore highlighted in yellow

Anglicized from Irish: An Bile Mór

Translates to: “The great sacred tree”

Etymology:

This townland’s name hints at a very ancient past. The ancient Irish didn’t build temples to their Gods like other cultures but instead treated nature as a temple. Trees were the oldest living things and were treated as sources of great wisdom. Fairy Thorns and Rag Trees were considered to be frequently visited by beings of the Otherworld. Mass Bushes served as locations for sermons and Monument Trees as the location for weddings, royal inaugurations, seasonal festivities and other social events.As sacred trees were often planted near or connected with holy wells it is interesting that Billymore is also known as Carrowntobar ( Ceathrú an Tobair – ‘Quarter of the well’). The presence of both a sacred tree and a holy well (most likely St. Cummins well now located in Lemonfield) in such close proximity could indicate that the area was of great significance to the ancient inhabitants of the region, serving various religious and ritualistic needs.

Size: 303 acres , 3 rods , 6 perchs

Siting:

Situated in the northern extremity of Kilcummin parish. Bounded on the north by Ardvarna and Lemonfield, on the east by Glebe and Rushveala, on the west by Cregg, and on the south by Magheramore and Cloosh (Clooshgereen).

Description:

Containing 303¾ acres about of which 140 acres are under tillage and pasture, the remainder is bog and rough pasture. Billymore village is situated in the northern extremity of the townland also there is an old fort close to its southern boundary.

Placenames within townland:

St. Cummin’s Well - Also known as Kilcummin well. A holy well most likely once located to the north-east of the townland, now officially in the townland of Lemonfield.

Ringfort – On a rise in rough scrubland to the south of the townland. Marked on the 1st edition of the OSI 6 inch map as a circular enclosure (diameter c. 25m). No visible surface trace remains.

Previous proprietor/landlord:

Captain O’Flaherty of Lemonfield (c. 1850)

Land Value (1857): £ 63 s. 7 d. 0

Buildings Value (1857): £ 0 s. 0 d. 0

Surnames attached to the townland (1857-1911):

Rutledge, Walsh, Mullen, Darcy, Heffernan, Kelly, Cottingham, Gavin, Lydon, Hill, Scully, Naughton, Mannion, Shelly, Hogge, McDonagh, Donnellan, Keneavy, Stewart

This page was added on 13/03/2013.

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