Derryeighter

Townlands of Oughterard

By Paul Gibbons

Derryeighter

Anglicized from Irish: Doire Íochtair

Translates to: “Lower oak wood”

Etymology:

Ireland was once covered with forests and the tree which most commonly dominated these forests was the oak. However, from the neolithic period right up to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Ireland was becoming an open, grassy almost treeless landscape as a result of clearances for agricultural land and the harvesting of timber for fuel. In areas with heavy rainfall which are devoid of trees to absorb the water, the soil becomes vulnerable to leaching (the washing away of nutrients). This causes the soil to become more acidic and the leached minerals are deposited in a ‘hard pan’ at a lower depth further impeding drainage and causing the land to become waterlogged hence transformed into blanket bog. This explains why no oak woodland still exists in the area and also why the current land quality would be no longer suitable for their growth. The term ‘lower oak wood’ was most likely attached to this townland because of its location in relation to Derradda or ‘long oak wood’. Derradda to the east of Derryeighter stretches slightly further up the mountains which lay to the south of both townlands this would give the appearance that the would woods in Derryeighter were lower than those near by. Also Derryeighter’s woodland may have sinply been limited to the lowest regions of the townland.

Size: 877 acres, 2 rods, 19 perchs

Siting:

In the northern extremity of Kilcummin parish. Bounded on the north by Derryglin, on the west by Leam East, on the east by Lettercraff and Derradda and on the south by Cloghermore and Derradda.

Description:

A mountainous and wet land, very stony. Contains 847 and a quarter acres of land about 20 acres of which are under tillage and 30 acres of water, the remainder is mountain pasture.

Placenames within townland:

Knockwaumnamoe (hill) – Translates to ‘hill of the pass of the cows’. A high hill with a triangulation station on it and a level little spot between hills.

Loughagraffard (lake) – Translates to ‘lake of the grubbed height’. A large lough containing 67 and a quarter acres. There is one island in it which belongs to the townland of Derreighter.

Stepping stones (arch. remains) – Found to the north-east of the townland. Stones placed in the bed of a stream or on wet ground to enable crossing on foot. These may date to any period from prehistory onwards.

Previous proprietor/landlord:

Murragh O’Flaherty (1641)

Francis Matthews (1670)

Nolan of Ballinderry (c. 1850)

Land Value (1857): £ 7 s.10 d. 0

Buildings Value (1857): £ 0 s.10 d. 0

Surnames attached to the townland (1857-1911):

Joyce, McDonagh

 

This page was added on 25/04/2014.

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