Cnoc Droma

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Cnoc Droma or Knockdrum is a townland of 11 hectares/ 28 acres and in the early part of the 20th century, 7 individual fields have been mapped in this townland. It is the smallest townland in the parish of Castlehaven.

It is in the Electoral Division of Castlehaven North, in Civil Parish of Castlehaven and the Roman Catholic Parish of Castlehaven and Myross.

Cnoc Droma is bordered by An Driseán (Drishane) to the south, Baile an Chaisleáin (Castletownshend) to the east with Fearann Dáith (Farrandau) to the west. and Na Garráin (Gurranes) to the north.

OpenStreetmap contributors, with input from the Castlehaven & Myross History Society, have created a detailed townland map including all its minor placenames. Zoom in for further detail.

Etymology

Cnoc Droma was interpreted by both Bruno O'Donoghue and also JM Burke (in his Southern Star article in 1913) as the hill of the ridge.

History

We were unable to find any significant history on this townland. It is extremely small and there was nobody living here at the time of Griffiths Valuation or the census in 1901 and 1911. There are families listed in the Tithe Applotments but the townland was combined with Gurranes at that time. However there possibly were two houses in the north-east corner of the townland shown in the map below which was the O.S. first edition map of 1841. can also see from the two maps below that this part of the townland moved into Gurranes in the later map???????****. This may have been due to the reconfiguration of the road.

Housing

There is no record of any housing in this townland in either Griffiths Valuation of 1853 or in the 1901 or 1911 census

The Tithe Applotments of 1825 show five farmers with more than 1 acre in the townlands of Gurranes and Knockdrum but it is not clear if any of these lived in Knockdrum

Places of Interest

Knockdrum Fort: This is a circular hilltop ringfort that is 29m in diameter with 3m thick walls. Although it is named after Knockdrum, it is actually located in Farrandau townland. The site is owned by the Irish Government which declared it a national monument.

Cill: There is a disused children’s burial ground in this townland. These were used for children who died before they were baptised (as they could not be buried in consecrated ground).

No site in this townland is mapped on the Historic Environment Viewer.

Interesting Placenames

No field names or any other placenames have been recorded for this townland. If you are aware of any, please contact us at please contact us at [email protected].

The Coast Road/Western Road runs through this townland.

Folklore

Horseman: This is a story of Duchas.ie where a man going home from a wake alone on a moonlit night met a rider on horseback coming towards him. He saw the rider was a stranger, but had no fear, so he addressed him, "Where are you going so late, Sir?" The stranger replied "I am going to midnight mass on Cnoc Droma" (there is no record of a Church on this hill). There is another story of a headless horseman riding past Raheen Church butit is not known if it was the same horseman.

Families and Notable Residents

The Tithe Applotment books of 1825 (which list Knock Drum with Granes (Gurranes)) list the following family names: Rountree, Townsend, Donovan, Hurley and [illegible name]

Griffiths Valuation of 1853 lists the following family names: None. However the following families rented land only: Chambers, Hurley, Hadden (David Hadden, Medical Doctor)

The Census of Ireland of 1901 lists the following family names: None

The Census of Ireland of 1911 lists the following family names: None

Note: the term 'with' refers to a person or persons of a different family name staying in the house. This may have been an in-law or other relative, a guest, or a farm labourer/housekeeper or domestic servant.

Demographics and Landholding

		*Occupiers	Population	Change	Link to record
1825	Tithe Applotment	5**	30 (est)		1825
1841	Census of Ireland	0	0
1851	Census of Ireland	0	0
1853	Griffith's Valuation	0	0		1853
1861	Census of Ireland	0	0
1871	Census of Ireland	0	0
1881	Census of Ireland	0	0
1891	Census of Ireland	0	0
1901	Census of Ireland	0	0
1911	Census of Ireland	0	0

*Occupiers generally equate to households having a house and land but may also include households having houses but no land.

** The Tithe Applotment figure of 5 occupiers also includes occupiers of the neighbouring townland of Gurranes. It is not clear if anyone actually lived in Knockdrum.

Between 1656 and 1658 the Down Survey mapped all areas of the country to track ownership of land after much had been granted to followers of Cromwell after the war of the 1650's. At this time the proprietor (titulado) of this townland was Sleughteig McCargh. The townland was called Gorrennakeagh at this time.

This townland was owned during the 19th century by Rev. MFS Townsend.

No information of soil quality in 1841 is listed.

The townland is notable not only for being so small (just 29 acres) but also for apparently having had no inhabitants throughout much of the 19th century. While three occupiers were listed on Griffith's Valuation, it seems that none of the three were actually residents.