Ordnance Ground

 

Townland of Ordnance Ground highlighted in yellow

Anglicized from Irish: An Campa (Ordnance Ground)

Translates to: “The camp”

Etymology:

The English word Ordnance signifys a branch of government service dealing especially with military stores and materials. This is a reference to the military barracks which was built at the site in the 18th century. The Irish term ‘An Campa’ meaning the camp came about at the same time when the barracks was being built as the soldiers had to live in tents near to the grounds. That is also why the adjacent street became known as Camp Street. It is also my belief that this area may have been the original location of the name Oughterard given that it is a raised site which borders Eighterard townland and the fact that its official name is so recent in origin. 

Size: 6 acres, 2 rods, 15 perchs

Siting:

Situated in the northern extremity of Kilcummin parish. A quarter mile north of Oughterard. Bounded on the north and east by Eighterard, on the west by Caramanagh and on the south by Fough East and West.

Description:

Contains 6 and a half acres about 2 acres of which are under tillage, the remainder is rock. The Barracks is occupied by the Constabulary. There are two natural bridges at its south entrance and a natural causeway across the river on its north side. The centre of the Oughterard river forms the north-east and western boundary of the Ordnance Ground.

Placenames within townland:

Fough Castle – On a natural limstone bridge which spans the Owenriff/Fough river. It was in existence in 1574 when it was in posession of Murrogh ‘ne doo’ O’Flaherty. Known as Fough Castle or Nowghe, it appears to have been completely demolished in the 18th century when the nearby military barracks of Oughterard was built. No visible surface trace remains.

Barracks – A 14 bay building its exact construction date unknown. However, a letter exists in the British Archives from the Duke of Bedford (the then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland) from 6th May 1758, which requests “authority to grant the amount necessary to build a barracks at Oughterard”. No visible surface trace remains.

Previous proprietor/landlord:

Robert Martin (1641)

Donnogh Kelly (1670)

Arthur French St. George of Tyrone House (c. 1850)

Land Value (1857): £ 3 s.0 d. 0

Buildings Value (1857): £ 41 s.10 d. 0

Surnames attached to the townland (1857-1911):

Lewis, Sullivan, Thompson