Curraveha (Birchall)

Townlands of Oughterard

By Paul Gibbons

Townland of Curraveha highlighted in yellow

Anglicized from Irish: Corr na Bheithe

Translates to: “Rounded/Pointed Hill of the Birch Trees”

Etymology:
Located between Ardnasillagh and Knockbaun, Curraveha can almost be seen as a meeting of these two townland names highlighting the main trait of each. Ardnasillagh (the height of the sally trees) is described as being filled with bushes and sally trees by O’Donovan when surveying the area and it is safe to assume a large number of trees and shrubs covered the area. Knockbaun (white hill) is the location of a hill which dominates the surrounding area. Hence, Curraveha blends both townlands referring to the birch trees which cover the higher slopes of Knockbaun hill. The name Birchall may have been adopted later when Nimble Dick Martin built a fortified manor house in the area in the late 17th century and chose to apply a relevant name to his new home. The name of such a significant house could then have lead people to associate the townland with it.

Size:116 acres, 2 rods, 8 perchs

Siting:
In the eastern extremity of Kilcummin parish. Bounded on the north and west by Ardnasillagh, on the east by Lough Corrib and Knockbaun, and on the south by Killannin Parish (Porridgetown).

Description:
Contains 116 and a half acres, about 80 acres are under tillage and pasture, the remainder is bog and an old road leading to a village constitutes part of the northern boundary of this townland.

Placenames within townland:
Inishflynn (island) – Contains 2 and a half acres of rough pasture with a little brushwood. It is situated east of the Eagle Islands and north of Freehan’s Island. There are two rocks about two chains to the north of the island.
Dovecote – A circular house where doves/pigeons were kept. They have internal niches for roosting and breeding, a door at ground level for human access and an opening in the roof or gable for pigeon access. They date from the medieval period and continued in use until c. 1900.

Previous proprietor/landlord:
Robert Martin of Ross (c. 1850)

Land Value (1857):£36 s.10 d.0

Building Value (1857):£4 s.10 d.0

Surnames attached to the townland (1857-1911):
Carr, Halloran, Curley, Cottingham, Walsh, Geoghegan, Murray, O’Brien, Barrett

This page was added on 02/04/2014.

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