Durrus

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Durrus

Location

WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates:
41.904354° N 8.956947° W

Irish Grid Reference
V943420

Statistics

Population (2002)

859

For the cheese see Durrus Cheese.

Durrus is an Irish Village located in West Cork, six miles from Bantry. It was formerly known as both Four Mile Water (mid-19th century, after the nearby river) and Carrigboy (Irish for Yellow Rock).

Today there appears to be some dispute about proper form of the village's name in Gaelic (most place names in Ireland are anglicised forms of an Irish name) - with both Dubh Ros (meaning black or dark headland) and Dúrras in use on local road signs.

The village is the location of Cool na Long castle, built by the McCarthy (Muclagh) family, and which is now in a ruined state, despite efforts to have it taken into state charge by the late antiquarian Paddy O'Keeffe. The history of the area as covered in Durrus and District History The article traces the historical development of the Durrus and District. There are references to the changing pattern of land ownership, and to the importance in former times of marine resources and mineral workings. Commentaries by travellers in the general area are quoted to give a flavour of what conditions were like in the period. There is a significant amount of micro-detail for those with a particular interest, covering, agricultural development, communications, religious practices, schools and aspects of the 1901 Census.

Durrus is located at the head of the Sheep's Head and Mizen Head Peninsulas. The present village was laid out by the Bandon estate when the lease of the Rev. Alleyn's Evanson's interest expired in 1854 . Around this time a manor court for debt recovery was held once a month, with petty sessions once a fortnight. The former courthouse is still standing.

A number of gardens open to the public have been established in the area, including 'Cois Abhann' and 'Kilvarock'.

In recent years the village has seen a sizable development of property for use by tourists, and its pubs - particularly "The Long Boat" - are popular stopover points.

1 Selected Townlands
2 Archaeology
3 References
4 Natives of Durrus Village
5 External links

[edit] Selected Townlands

Ahagouna Ath Gamhna, 'Ford of the calves', in Clashadoo townland
Ardogeena (152 acres) Ard na Gaoine, 'height of the flint stones'. On the east side is Lisdromaloghera (Lios Drom Luachra) fort of the rushy ridge.
Ballycomane (1349 acres) Baile an Chumain 'town of the little valley'. Part of it is Ballinwillin (Baile an Mhuilinn) place of the mill. Boulder burial, ringfort and standing stone pair.
Boolteenagh (148 acres) Buailtenach, 'summer pasture'. The high land at the south is called Knockboolteenagh (cnoc buailtineach) hill of the little boolies. Site of a possible souterrain, at the north side is a ringfort.
Brahalish (784 acres) Breach Lios, 'spotted forts' or Braichlis (place of malt or fermented grain). On the west side is Brahalish Fort and the east Cummer Fort. In 1659 census written Bracklisse. Burial ground children, mill stone ringforts. Location of Brahalish Hoard of gold ornaments currently in the British Museum.
Carrigboy (116 acres) Carraig Buidhe, 'yellow rock'. Location of Durrus village. The high road from here is built over land known as Carrig Cannon.
Curraghavaddra (195 acres) Currach an Mhadra, 'the bog of the dog'. On the west side is a ringfort.
Clonee (409 acres) Cluain Fhia, 'meadow of the deer' or Aodh's meadow. In the cente is Clonee ringfort.
Clashadoo (749 acres) Clasa Dubha, 'dark hollows'. Burial ground last burial 1930s. To the north on high boggy ground is Coolnaheorna or Coornaheorna leading to the 'Cumar', and beyond to Loch na Fola (lake of the blood), the stream (Moire or in Irish Maighre)on the western end has a deep hole formerly known as Poul Nora Poll Nora (nora's hole).
Coolcoulaghta (1148 acres) Cul Cabhlachta, 'remote place of the ruins' or 'cul cuallachta', nook of the tribe or assemblage. Location of boulder burial, burial ground at Kileen Coolcoulaghta Church contains 1847 famine victims, cairn, costal promontory fort, fulachta fiadh, ringfort, standing stone, an standing stone pair.
Coomkeen (915 acres) Cum Caoin, 'gentle valley'. Possible massrock on the lands of Timmy Whelehan decessed, on the south side is Screathan na Muice (stoney slope of the pig), to the north is Crock a wadra.
Crottees (490 acres) Cruiteanna, 'humpy ridges'
Dromreagh (842 acres) Drom Riabhach, 'striped/grey ridge', on the north side is Coill Breach (wolf wood). Possible souterrain, standing stone.
Dromataniheen (97 acres) Drom a'tSeannaichin (ridge of the little fox). Ringfort on the south side.
Dromreague (92 acres) Drom Reidh, 'even ridge'
Dunmanus Dun Manus, 'fort of Manus'
Durrus Dubh Ros, 'dark wooded promontory'
Gearhameen (646 acres) Gaortha min, 'small wodded glen' On the east side is Coolnalong Castle seat of the McCarthy Muclaghs later the property of Lord Bandon.
Gurteen (127 acres) Goirtin 'small field'
Kealties (614 acres) Caolta, 'narrow strip of land/or marshes marshy streams'. On the south side is Ros na Bruighne (headland of strife), written Glinkelty (Gleann Caolta) on 17th century map of Petty. Standing stone and possible ringforts.
Kiloveenoge Cill Ui Mhionoig', 'Minogue's church,or Cill Oighe Mhineog church of the virgin Mineog. Child burial ground, on the east side is a former Protestant Church built 1860 or the west side is the site of an old church and burial grounds..
Lissareemig (78 acres) Lios a'Riamaigh (fort of victory). Ringfort in centre.
Mannions Island Large and Small
Moulivarde Meall an Bhaird, 'the bard's knoll'
Mullagh (173 acres) Mullagh, 'summit'. Possible souterrain on the west side is Lissavully Fort (lios a'Mhullaigh) fort of the summit.
Murreagh (199 acres) Muirioch, 'seaside marsh'. Location of disused grain store also used as a refuge for children in 1847. Disused slate quarry south end also standing stone.
Parkana Pairceanna, 'fields'
Rooska West 298 acres) East (295 acres) Riasca, 'marshes'. Disused lead mines on western side ringforts in West and East.
Rossmore (310 acres) Ros Mor 'large copse or large promontory'. Location of Rossmore Castle in ruins former O'Mahony tower house and location of former slate quarry
Rusheenasiska (84 acres) Ruisin an Uisce, 'little copse of the water'
Teadagh ( 107 acres) Taodach, 'rugged land' or Teideach 'flat topped hill'
Tullig Tullach, 'mound'

land' or Teideach 'flat topped hill'

[edit] Archaeology

Boulder Burial: Ballycomane
Burial Ground: Brahalish, Clashadoo, Coolcoulaghta, Dunbeacon, Kilvenogue,
Cairn: Coolcoulaghta, Moulinward
Castle: Dunbeacon
Church: Moulinward (In repair 1639 ruins 1699)
Fulacht fiadh ("burnt mound"): Dunbeacon, Celtic Iron Age 600 B.C.-400 A.D.
Graveyard: Moulinward
Holy Well: Dunbeacon
Mill Stone: Brahalish
Promontory Fort: Coolcoulaghta (Celtic Iron Age 600 B.C.-400 A.D.)
Ring forts: Ballycomane, Brahalish, Clonee, Drumtahaneen, Dunbeacon, Gortyalassa, Kealties, Rushineska, Celtic Iron Age 600 B.C.-400 A.D.
Shell Midden: Dunbeacon
Standing stones (Gallauns): Ballycomane, Coolcoulaghta (Stone Pair bronze age 2200B.C.-600B.C.), Kealties, Parkana
Stone row: Moulinward, Bronze age 2200B.C.-600B.C.
Stone circle: Dunbeacon, (Bronze age 2200B.C.-600B.C.), [1], [2]
Tower House: Rossmore (medieval post 1200A.D.), (O'Mahony|McCarthy?)

[edit] References

Lewis Cork, introduced by Tim Cadogan, The Collins Press (Original 1837), 1998 ISDN 1-898256-57-8.
The Cole Family of West Carbery (ref: Coles Blaires Cove), Rev. Richard Lee Cole, M.A. B.D. Published privately Belfast 1943 and on Cole family genealogy site internet.
Francis Humphries: History Of St. James Church and Parish, Forum Publications 1992 ISBN 0-9510018-5-X
BHAS Journal vol 2 p.106-119, townlands Donal Fitzgerald ISSN 0791-6612
Archaeological Inventory of County Cork, Vol 1 West Cork, Office of Public Works, 1992 ISBN 0-7076-0175-4

[edit] Natives of Durrus Village

Birthplace of Sean Hurley, Sinologist , died 1961 and first Irish person to hold a Chinese passport.
Members of the Attridge, Baker, Dukelow , Gays, Gosnell, Shannon, Skuse, Swanton and Whitley families who hailed from Durrus settled in Rochester, New York, in the early 1840s and were influential in Republican politics and city administration. They were known as the '99 Cousins'.
Birthplace of the parents (who emigrated to Australia) of Fr. Richard O'Daly (O Dalaigh), founder of Colaiste na Mumhan, Ballingeary, Professor of Irish St. Finbarr's Seminary Cork, Chair of Russian University College Cork,[3]
Birthplace, on Northside of poet Charles Dennis, 1873-1961, see his poem on new road to Coomkeen
Birthlace of Fr. Daniel McCarthy (he was one of the McCarthy Muclaghs), P.P. Durrus 1790, apostaised and married his ward Ms. Blair of Blairs Cove. One of their decendants was Welbore McCarthy (1841-1925), Church of England Minister, Archdeacon Calcutta 1892, Bishop of Grantham 1905