Lettercraffroe

Townlands of Oughterard

By Paul Gibbons

Townland of Lettercraffroe highlighted in yellow

Anglicized from Irish: Leitir Creamha Rua

Translates to: “Red hillside of the wild garlic”

Etymology:

This placename most likely dates from a time when the area was still covered in native woodland. This is because wild garlic aka Allium Vineale is commonly found in the shady, damp conditions that a trees canopy supplies. Although not necessarily rare wild garlic was and is nevertheless highly sought after given its flavour and medicinal benefits thus the name would have referred to an important aspect of the area. The term ‘leitir’ which translates to hillside refers to the fact that Lettercraffroe contains a high hill which slopes westward down to the shores of Lough Lettercraffroe. The word ‘rua’ meaning red could possibly be a description of a heathy area of bogland which may have been present on the higher slopes of the hill.

Size: 1154 acres, 0 rods, 1 perchs

Siting:

In the eastern extremity of Kilcummin parish. Bounded on the north-east by Derradda, on the south-east by the parish of Killannin (Seecon), on the west by Shannadullaghaun and Cloghermore, and on the south-west by Shannafeasteen.

Description:

Land very bad, heathy, rocky and swampy. Contains 1,017 acres, all mountain pasture, including 136 and three quarter acres of water. Lough Lettercraffroe with its islands several of which belong to this townland, forms part of its western boundary. There is nothing remarkable in this townland.

Placenames within townland:

Lough Acogga – Translates to ‘lake of the narrow part of the river’.

Lough Namordeen – Translates to ‘lake of the small high plain’.

Lough Nagilky – Translates to ‘lake of the broom (plant)’.

Lough Lettercraffroe – Translates to ‘lake of the hillside of the red garlic’.

Previous proprietor/landlord:

Patrick French (1641)

Sir Thomas Meredith (1670)

Thomas B. Martin of Ballinahinch Castle (c. 1850)

Land Value (1857): £ 5 s.0 d. 0

Buildings Value (1857): £ 0 s.0 d. 0

Surnames attached to the townland (1857-1911):