Glengowla East

 

Townland of Glengowla East highlighted in yellow

Anglicized from Irish: Gleann Gabhla Thoir

Translates to: “Glen of the fork (east)”

Etymology:

Glengowla name is a physical description of the townland as it lies in a wide glen between the hills of Letterfore to the north and those of Deradda to the south. Because of this the townland naturally is the meeting place of various streams and rivers running off the higher ground. Two of these rivers converge at Glengowla going on to form the Owenriff/Fough river which flows past Oughterard and on into the Corrib. Therefore, Glengowla was named the glen of the fork because the river forked into its two seperate original sources at this point.

Size: 366 acres, 2 rods, 0 perchs

Siting:

In the eastern extremity of Kilcummin parish. Bounded on the north by Lettercraff, on the west by Glengowla West, on the east by Claremount and on the south by Derradda and Rusheeny.

Description:

Contains 366 and a quarter acres of land, 60 acres of which are under tillage and pasture. The remainder of this townland is mountain pasture including 6 and a quarter acres of water. The Clifden to Oughterard road passes through it. There is an ancient fort on its western boundary.

Placenames within townland:

Ringfort – On the south end of a ridge. Poorly preserved subcicular cashel (diameter c. 30-35m) defined by a collapsed drystone wall overlain from east to west by a modern field wall. A gap at north-west appears modern.

Mine (lead/silver) – Historic 19th century silver and lead mine. It is also noted for its rare and beautiful octahedral crystals of fluorite and quartz. Abandoned in 1865.

Corranteeaun (hill) – Translates to ’round hill of the fairy mount/palace’. A hill overlooking the lake called Lough Ateeaun.

Lough Ateenaun (lake) – Translates to ‘lake of the fairy mount/palace’.

Glengowla Bridge – An old bridge to the north of the townland on the border to Glengowla West.

Previous proprietor/landlord:

Earl of Clanrickard (1641)

Earl of Clanrickard (1670)

Captain O’Flaherty of Lemonfield (c. 1850)

Land Value (1857): £ 34 s.10 d. 0

Buildings Value (1857): £ 1 s.10 d. 0

Surnames attached to the townland (1857-1911):

O’Flahertie, Loveday, Brennan, Tum, Clancy, Geoghegan, McDonagh, Conneely