townland survey of county louth (continued)

County Louth Archaeological and History Society

Townland Survey of County Louth (Continued)Author(s): Ann FlynnSource: Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, Vol. 21, No. 3(1987), pp. 311-321Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27729639 .

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Townland Survey of

County Louth [Continued from Vol. XX, 1, (1981), p. 30]

CHARLESTOWN

By Ann Flynn

Charlestown townland, situated one and a half miles north-west of Ardee, is in the parish of Charlestown and may be found on sheet 14 of the 6 inch O.S. map of County Louth. Its four hundred and seventy-four acres, two roods and twenty-eight perches are surrounded by the townlands of Arthurstown Little, Mullamore and Knocklore to the north, Cookstown to the

west, Rahanna and Mullacloe to the south and Pepperstown and Lisrenny to the east. The

highest point in the townland is Mulladrilan, which is 171 feet above sea-level. The townland is divided by two roads, one running north from Rahanna Cross to Tallanstown, the second

running west from Pepperstown Cross to Cookstown Cross. These roads intersect at

Charlestown Cross, which must once have been the focal point of the townland, as the church and school were sited just to the east of the cross. Here also stood the old forge, no longer in

use, and previously, according to local folklore, a hedge school. DERIVATION OF NAME: Charlestown was known in Irish as Baile an tSiarlaigh.1 The

original name was Sherleston or Sereleston or Sherelestown,2 so called from a family named Serle or Shirley, who were associated with the area for many centuries.3

There is no evidence of DUNS, RATHS, SOUTERRAINS, MEGALITHS or

KILLEENS in the townland.

CHURCHES, CHURCH RUINS: The ruins of an old church still stand to the north-east of Charlestown Cross, opposite the present Church of Ireland. This church was built on the site of a chapel, which was dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, patron saint of the

parish.4 There is no date for the foundation of this church but there is a record of the church and chancel being ruinous in 1622. The church was originally one of the eight chapels appropriated to the priory of Saint John the Baptist, Ardee. It was granted with the rest of that

priory's property to Charles, Viscount Moore on 20 September 1639. In 1692, Brabazon

Moore, impropriator, refused to repair the chancel which was 'down ever since ye rebellion. The body was covered with slates, no bell. Thomas Stephens and James Akin, churchwardens; James Matthews, Popish priest, here seven years, no meeting house or Mass house'. In 1731 a

vicar was resident, but had no parsonage house.5 The church seems to have been in use up to

1828 when a new church was erected, though the building was condemned in 1822.6 The vestry books of the parish show that the church was still being repaired in 1827. The site of the new

church was agreed upon by March 1825 and instructions were given to the architect "of this

Province", as appointed by His Grace, the Lord Primate, to prepare a plan and estimate of a

1. "Louth Ordnance Survey Letters", C.L.A.J., V, 3, (1923), 201. 2. Rev. Guy L'Estrange, Notes and Jottings concerning the parish of Charlestown Union (Charlestown, 1912), 13. 3. Art ? Maolfabhail, Priomh Oifigeach Logainmneacha, Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park, Dublin. 4. "Louth Ordnance Survey Letters", loc. cit., 201-2. 5. Rev. J. B. Leslie, Armagh Clergy and Parishes (Dundalk, 1911), 176. 6. L'Estrange, op. cit., 14.

311



312 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal

church for the union of Charlestown. At that same meeting on 16 March 1825 it was resolved that a sum of fifteen hundreds pounds "be laid on this Union-at-large to repay the loan granted by the Board of First Fruits pursuant to the Act of Parliament made for that purpose". It was

also resolved to ask the clergyman, Rev Richard Olpherts, to apply to His Grace, the Lord

Primate, "to procure an Act of Council to enable the parishioners to change the site of the

parish church of the Union to the site now granted on the opposite side of the high road from that on which the present church stands". This site consisted of one rood and twenty-six perches and was granted to the church authorities by Lady Louth of Louth Hall. The architect was Mr William Farrell. Tenders were opened on 16 March 1826 and the contract was given to

Messrs Peter and Thomas Read, Charlestown.

The church was consecrated on 23 April 1828. It was built at a cost of ?1314 15s. 8d. A bell tower and spire were later added at a cost of ?219 Is. 6d. The surrounding walls, railings, cut-stone piers and iron gates were added at a further cost of ?150. Architect's fees and sundry items brought the total to ?1753 17s. 6d.7 The church was financed by a loan from the Board

of First Fruits and is a typical Board of First Fruits church, being barn style. It is a well-sited,

simple yet charming building. In the east wall of the church is a beautiful stained glass window inserted in 1914 to the

memory of Thomas William Filgate. Three panels depict Saints Peter and Paul and John the

Baptist. Above these are two angelic figures and other intricate decorations, the whole going into a Gothic point at the top. The inscription on the window reads "In memory of Thomas

William Filgate, died 26 February 1868." Church furnishings include a handsome brass eagle lectern, a carved oak pulpit and a prayer desk. The lectern bears the inscription "Dedicated to

Charlestown church/ in loving memory of William Filgate of Lissrenny/ who died 23 November

1875, aged 94 years,/ and of Sophia Juliana Penelope, his wife/ (eldest dau. of Jerome Count

de Salis), who died 5 July 1886, aged 78 years/ by their children."

The pulpit bears the following inscription: "To the glory of God,/ in memory of7 Sophia Juliana Penelope Filgate,/ relict of William Filgate of Lissrenny/ who died 5 July 1886./ erected

by her brother, William Fane de Salis, 1894." On the prayer desk: "To the glory of God/ in

memory of Thomas Lee-Norman of Corbollis/ who died 6 November 1875./ Erected by L. A.

Lee-Norman 1894." There are several memorial plaques on the walls erected to the memory of members of the most prestigious families in the parish. There is an alms dish dated 1770.

The inscription reads "The gift of Mrs. Ogle to the church of Charlestown, April 1770." There

is also a paten and chalice of this same set. A more modern collection plate bears the

inscription "The Gift of William and Sophia Filgate of Lisrenny, for the use of Charlestown

Church." On the reverse is inscribed: "An humble thank-offering for mercies innumerable

1851-1858." There is also a flagon for holding wine.

HOLY WELLS, PATRON SAINTS: Tobar Mhicil, St Michael's well, situated at the

south-east corner of the old churchyard, is called after the patron saint of the parish, St

Michael the Archangel. This well was said to have had a cure for stomach ailments. The ill

person or a friend would sit at the well with a lighted candle in one hand and a wooden noggin or drinking vessel in the other, praying and sipping the water for one hour. Mr Paddy Clarke,

Edmondstown, said that his mother was told by a local woman in the 1920s that the well fell

into disuse because it was used for a criminal purpose. OLD HOUSES, EXAMPLES OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE: SCHOOLHOUSE. Charlestown had a primary school before the National School system

was established in 1831. In the vestry books there is a reference to a schoolmaster, James

1. Vestry books, Charlestown parish, 1824-75.



Townland Survey of County Louth : Charlestown 313

Cunningham, in 1767. Harold O'Sullivan refers to a report of 1825 listing information in

regard to schools in the parish of Tallanstown.8 According to this report there was a church

school in Charlestown catering for six Protestant and thirty-four Roman Catholic children.

This church school was still in operation in 1834 under a teacher, John Hanna. The attendance

had dropped to thirty-one and was diminishing. A survey of 1834 mentions a hedge school at

Charlestown conducted by Mr P. Mackin. There is a local tradition of a hedge school, south-west of the cross. Both Vincent Daly and Joe Kearney relate that their fathers attended

this school which was conducted by a Mr Shanley. The vestry books mention that a vestry

meeting was held in "the school house" on 16 June 1841. In 1868 there was need to "repair and

renew fence around the school house premises and also repair roof and chimney of school

house". It appears that the church school at Charlestown ceased to operate for some years as

the vestry books record a resolution being passed in January 1885 that "having a building suitable for a school house attached to Charlestown Parish we consider it desirable that steps be at once taken to open a weekly school". In February 1885, an estimate by Thomas Clarke

of Dundalk for repairs to the school amounting to ?24, including ?4 for new forms and desks

was accepted. ?10 of this was paid out of parish funds. A Miss Kerr was appointed schoolmistress on 1 April 1885 at a salary of ?20 per annum, to be raised on 1 July to ?30, with

an additional ?5 "for playing the harmonium and singing in Church". In 1894, a Miss Ward is

recorded as holding the position, and in 1901 "to prevent overcrowding", Rev Arthur Haines

applied for leave to use the parochial hall as a schoolroom for senior boys. On 1 July 1903

Charlestown school was taken into connection by the Board of Education, the patron being "The Rector of the parish for the time being". Miss Lucinda Devlin was appointed principal in

May 1903. At this time there were thirty-one pupils on roll and an average attendance of

twenty.

The school consisted of five rooms, was slated and built of stone and mortar and had

suitable privies. The school room was on the ground floor, the upstairs being used as a

teacher's residence. It was taken under the National Board of Education "as an entirely

exceptional case". Aid was granted in salary and books although average attendance was

under twenty-five pupils.9 The reason for this was that the nearest school under Protestant

management was eight miles away in Kilsaran. Stormanstown school was not considered

suitable as it was totally Roman Catholic, while pupils at Charlestown were Protestant. Rule

91a from the Commissioners' Rules and Regulations stated that "In certain cases, namely where the means of religious instruction are not attainable by children of a particular denomination in any National school within reasonable distance from their home, the

commissioners are prepared to make modified grants to schools in which the average attendance of pupils is less than twenty-five . . .".The register of Charlestown National School

shows that many local Roman Catholic children were educated at Charlestown National

School up to the time it closed in 1938. There is a note in the register indicating that the

manager was informed on 29 November 1938 by the Dept. of Education that there were only four pupils on roll and only two in attendance. In those circumstances the Department was not

prepared to continue paying a salary to the teacher and it was decided to withdraw grants on 28

February 1939 or from the date on which the school ceased to be operative, whichever was the

earlier.10

8. H. O'Sullivan, "The Emergence of the National System of Education in North County Louth", CL.A.HJ.,

XVIII, 1, (1973), 35-6.

9. Public Record Office, Four Courts, Dublin.

10. D. ? Braon?in, R?na?, Dept of Education, Marlboro Street, Dublin.




THE CEMETERY GATEWAY. In 1918 an imposing gateway to the new cemetery was

erected at the behest of Mrs Filgate of Lisrenny. The inscription on the left of the gate reads

"This plot of ground was granted to the parish of the Union of Charlestown as a burial place for parishioners by Townley Fane Filgate who for many years was treasurer of the parish. Born

January 26th 1846. Died September 2nd 1913." Another inscription over the gate reads "This

gateway has been erected in loving memory of William de Salis Filgate of Lisrenny, who held

office as Vicar's Warden of Charlestown church for a period of nearly fifty years. He was

Chairman of the Ardee Board of Guardians for more than thirty years, master of the Louth

hounds from 1860 to 1916 and held many other responsible positions in the county. He was a

true friend to all and was universally respected and beloved by rich and poor alike. Born

December 2nd 1834, died June 14th 1916." On the right hand side of the gate is the following: "Also in affectionate remembrance of Harriet Penelope Eleanor, their sister and widow of

Thomas William Filgate of Tullykeel who all her life was a constant worshipper in Charlestown

church and a generous supporter of every charitable object in the surrounding district. Born

17th December 1832. Died 20th July 1917."

THE SEXTON'S HOUSE. On the opposite side of the road from the church stands a

beautiful stone cottage, erected in 1897. A vote of thanks is recorded in the vestry books to Mr

Malcolm B. Murray, Rahanna for a generous gift of the sexton's house and church stabling to

the parish. An inscription on the gable end of the cottage, over the stables reads "1897 Erected

and presented to the people of Charlestown by Malcolm Brown Murray of Rahanna as a

residence for the sexton and stabling for the horses of the parishioners". In 1917 the sexton received a salary of fifteen pounds per annum in cash, two tons of coal

and a free house and garden. This cottage is still occupied by the sexton.

In 1901 there were 24 dwellings in Charlestown townland, with a population of 95. Of

these dwellings 18 were thatched and 6 had slated or iron roofs.11 The last thatched house in

Charlestown was McCanns, a long low house which was destroyed by fire in the early 1980s.

OLD TRADES AND ARTICLES USED IN THEM: There was a blacksmith's forge at

Charlestown Cross, the ruins of which can still be seen at the north-west side of the cross. In

the census of 1901 a blacksmith named James O'Hara was recorded as living in Charlestown.

He was also the local matchmaker. The blacksmith's trade was carried on by a man named

Patrick McGawley and later still by Mick Crawley and Patsy Gibney. The forge fell into disuse

in the 1950s.

In 1901 James Ball carried on the trade of bootmaking in the townland. He lived on Balls

Pass, which was a roadway joining the Springhill road to Roseybrook lane through McEntee's,

Halpenny's and Kearney's land.

Thatching was an important skill and before a house was thatched, the thatcher would

"draw the straw", that is, pull it into straight strands and leave it ready for insertion with the

thatching fork. A local thatcher called Paddy Carroll, nicknamed "The Heavy", thatched

Yore's old house. He used oaten straw. McCann's house was thatched by the Grimes brothers

from Mullacrew.

In 1901 there were two stone masons, John and Andrew Roe, a shopkeeper named

McGauley, a seamstress May O'Hara and two auxiliary postmen named Nelson. The rest of

the inhabitants were farmers, farm labourers and servants. The Kearney family were known as

"higglers". This was the name given a person who purchased eggs from local farmers in

exchange for other goods. The eggs were exported to England via Dundalk port.

11. Census of population, 1901, Public Record Office, Dublin.




Vincent Daly's grandfather drew goods from Drogheda port to McGees of Ardee by horse and cart. Usually this was crockery and barrels of herrings. He would also take eggs to

the boat.

OLD CUSTOMS: It was the custom in the area that marriages took place at 8 a.m. Mass on a Wednesday morning. There would be a barn dance held at the bride's home that night. The barn dance usually continued right through the night and lasted until after breakfast time

the following morning. Vincent Daly said "There were few cars then and no such thing as a honeymoon". In fact

people often had to get the loan of a pair of "Sunday boots" to get married.

Another custom prevalent in the area was "mumming", which took place nightly from

early December up to Christmas. Those participating would dress up in ladies' clothes and

blacken their faces or wear home-made masks. They would go from house to house on foot

and often they would travel several miles. There was a special rhyme recited by the mummers

at each house to introduce the entertainment.

The first man to enter the house would say:

Room, room, gallant boys, give us room to rhyme And I'll show you some activity coming on to Christmastime. I've acted young and I've acted brave, I was "trated" like a slave, If you don't give in to what I say,

Call in Oliver Cromwell, he'll soon clear the way.

Enter Oliver Cromwell

Yes, yes, here comes Oliver Cromwell

With me large and copper nose, I made the Dutchmen tremble and I made the Spaniards quake,

And I bet the jolly cowboy coming from the wake. If you don't give in to what I say I'll call in Diddley Dought, with the tail of his shirt sticking out.

Enter Diddley Dought

He was in Hell and they put him out

For eating a pot of stirabout. If you don't give in to what I say

Call in King Billy, and he'll soon clear the way.

Enter King Billy

Here's King Billy, and under my arm I carry a box . . .

"King Billy" then produced a melodeon and the dancing and singing commenced. The householder would reward them with some money which was later

spent on refreshments for the troupe. Older mumming troupes used the money collected to organise a "Mummers' Dance" around Christmastime.

On St Stephen's Day local children went hunting the "wran". They dressed up in old clothes to disguise themselves and went during the day to houses in the area. They sang:

The wran, the wran, the king of all birds, St Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,




Though she is little her family is great, Rise up Mrs and give us a trate.

Trate the wran says every man,

On with the kettle and on with the pan Give us some money to bury the wran

And we'll bury her at your door.

The group then played music, sang and danced and were rewarded with pudding or a few

coppers.

It was customary in this area to hire labour at hiring fairs. The hiring fairs were held in

Dundalk on the Monday nearest 9 November and 17 May. Joe Kearney said the last person hired on his farm was in 1955 ? a Mr Paddy Veldon. He was given ?60 for the half-year.

Most farmers hired two servants and one extra for the harvest. These migratory workers

were known as "servant boys" and would be used as ploughmen or yardmen, the former being considered to be of a slightly higher social order and therefore would be given an Qgg for

breakfast.

When a worker was hired at the fair he was immediately given a small amount of money, known as "earnest", to secure his services. This was usually about two shillings. The worker

would be given a small amount of money each week and would be paid the balance on

completion of his half-year. This custom ended in the 1950s when it became common for men

to emigrate to England where they were paid higher wages. When a death took place, the body was waked in the house for two nights and then taken

straight to the graveyard. At the wake it was common for songs to be sung and always clay pipes and snuff were

provided. "Ben Nevis Cutty" was imprinted on the clay pipes. If a child died, it would usually be buried at night and there would not be a wake. Vincent

Daly couldn't tell me why this was so, but he said that a child aged six months died in his family and it was buried at about 10 p.m.

Another custom in the area was the "threshing dance". A dance would be held in a barn on the night on which the last sheaf had been threshed. It was called "Harvest Home". The

actual threshing was an important social event. Mr Dick Yore remembered the steam

threshing mill owned by Willie Rowntree of Kingscourt coming to this area in the 1930s and

1940s. Up to twelve neighbours would come to help on threshing day. This was called "swop

help". A half barrel of porter was provided for the workers.

Previous to this, threshing was done by a barn mill driven by horses. Cog wheels driven

into the ground were attached to a shaft and the horse would walk around in a circle which was

dug outside the barn. Dick Yore also remembers a winnowing mill which was used to separate the corn from the chaff.

PERSONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

HENRY BEQUEST. While researching this survey I was told by several people in the

townland of a large sum of money which was said to have been bequeathed by the daughter of

John Shekleton of Pepperstown to the parishes of Charlestown and Tallanstown. A site in the

townland, close to Pat Kearney's property, known as "Cunningham's meadow" was pointed out to me as the proposed site for a home for unmarried mothers. Local people believed this

home was to be constructed with the money bequeathed, but that local opposition to such an

institution had prevented this.

This bequest was part of the will of Mrs Wilhelmina Henry, daughter of John Shekleton,




Pepperstown and wife of Thomas Henry, Castleblayney, solicitor. Mrs Henry was residing at

No. 8, Upper North Cumberland St., Dublin when she made this will on 3 July 1847. She died

the same day. Of a total estate of ?25,000 a sum of ?2,000 was bequeathed to the parishes of

Charlestown and Tallanstown. The will stated "I bequeath the sum of five hundred pounds to

the seduced females of all religious persuasions of the parish of Charlestown, Co Louth, five

hundred pounds to the widows of that parish (Charlestown) for charitable purposes. I

bequeath five hundred pounds sterling to the old and infirm men of that parish of all religious

persuasions. I bequeath five hundred pounds to the Revd John Gregg for charitable purposes and to be distributed by him".

Mrs Henry's will was the subject of some legal dispute, as letters of administration were

not granted until 1853. A memo states that a sum of ?1,000 was invested by the order of the

Court of Chancery of the 22 May 1868. The investment was in "two sums of six hundred and

seventy five pounds, three per cent government stock, in the names of the then Archbishop of

Armagh, the Rector of Charlestown and the Parish Priest of Tallanstown and their successors, in trust, to apply the interest thereof equally in relieving the Protestant and Catholic poor

widows of said Parish".12 A dividend was paid twice yearly on this investment up to 1957, after

which time it appears to have ceased.

PEADAR KEARNEY, author of our National Anthem and other songs has paternal roots in Charlestown. His grandfather, Mr Peter Kearney was born in Roseybrook, where the

Kearney family resides and farms to this day. Mr Joe Kearney told me that his uncle Peter

Kearney though not a poet was certainly a rhymester of some ability. He composed verse to

record local happenings. Joe Kearney can recall Mrs Kathleen Behan, a sister of Peadar

Kearney and mother of Brendan Behan, visiting Roseybrook when Joe was young. THE FILGATE FAMILY have had close associations with Charlestown for more than

300 years. William Filgate, said to have been a Cromwellian officer, settled at Lisrenny on a

grant from Cromwell in 1649 or thereabouts. He married Anne Storey of Lancashire and had

two sons, William and Alexander. The family is supposed to be derived from one settled at

Shrewsbury.13 The existing records of Charlestown church show that a Filgate held office as

churchwarden continuously from 1824 to modern times. On numerous occasions we find votes

of thanks being passed to members of this family for their great interest in parish affairs. For

instance the repairs to the schoolhouse in 1885 were funded by Mr Townley Filgate. The pulpit was erected in 1894, funded by William Fane de Salis Filgate in memory of his late sister.

Again in 1910 there is an entry thus "the vestry has heard with sincere pleasure and gratitude of Mr T. F. Filgate's kind intention to present portion of his new farm adjoining the church for a cemetery and also gardens for the school mistress and sexton". In 1918 there is an entry

thanking Mrs Filgate for her services as treasurer during her husband's absence at war. In 1919 a fete held by Mrs Filgate at Lisrenny realised ?201 35 9Vid for church funds.

OLD ROADS AND PATHWAYS: In my research I have encountered three old roads or

pathways no longer in use.

The first one is a continuation of Roseybrook lane, going west from Daly's house, down

along the northern end of two fields, one called the "Blaych". Here it turned north-west along the east end of the field called the "Roogies". Part of the pathway here was known as "Balls

Pass". It turned at the top of this field and ran due west again, past "Mag the Roogs" house

12. Wills and testaments, Public Record Office, Dublin.

13. Sir Bernard Burke, History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland (London, 1898), ii, 140-1.




and out to the Springhill road at McEntees. A local character of great eloquence, Tarry McGee, also lived on this road.

The second path was merely a footpath and was co-existent with the one already mentioned until it came to the end of the "Blaych". Here the footpath continued west into the

bog and went left, south, up along the Bog field and Dan's field. At the top or south end of

Dan's field it turned west again and at the end of that field turned south and continued until it came to the stream. It forded the stream and continued across the next field to a stile on the

eastern end of Charlestown old churchyard where "Tobar Mhicil" (St Michael's well) is sited.

Joe Kearney says this was a public path used as a "mass pass" to the old church at

Charlestown. It was used by the children who attended Stormanstown N.S. from this area as it was a short-cut.

The third roadway was south of Charlestown crossroads going towards Rahanna. This

road branched off to the left where the ruins of Rooney's house stand at present. About 250

metres of this road is still in existence and is used as a means of access to farmland. It was

difficult to determine in which direction it continued, but in September of 1986, Mr Joe

Kearney and the writer searched for the road, approaching from the Carrickmacross road end.

Part of the old road is still quite visible from this end as it was the right-of-way to a house ?

Carrolls ? within living memory. The road which is about two and a half metres wide

continues north past Carroll's house and disappears at a point about 250 metres north of the

house. Joe and I followed the line of the hedge and on close examination of the hedge and the

ground on either side of it, we concluded that the hedge was the western boundary of the road

and that the road continued north-north-east to the end of that field and then turned sharply west towards Rahanna House. Along this straight stretch was a plantation of trees. The road

finally turned north again along McGee's property and joined up with the portion still in

existence. It appears that this road was the main thoroughfare between Ardee and the

Reaghstown area up to 1847 when the present Ardee to Carrickmacross road was constructed.

FIELD NAMES: 1 Yard field. 2 Hill field (1 & 2 are now one field). 3 The Pass field ? so

called because a farm pass runs along its southern edge. 4 Jennett's field ? Jennett is a family name no longer in the townland. 5 The Rockin. A rocky piece of land. 6 Field in front of

Jennetts (3, 4, 5 & 6 are now one field). 7 Back of Tarry's ? refers to Tarry McGee who lived

nearby. 8 Roogie's Hill ? refers to a lady "Mag the Roog" or "Mag Rua" who was reputed to

have had the power to prevent cream from turning to butter. 9 Tarry's Rockin. 10 & 11 The

Rockin. 12 Buckskin's meadow ? once owned by a person called Buckskin Mullen. 13 The

Crawk. Explained by Mr Art O Maolfabhail, Place Names Office, Ordnance Survey as a

corruption of cnoc (hill). This is a hill field. 14 Carrie's field ? A family name, no longer in the

townland. 15 The Long field. 16 Mulladrilan. Explained by Mr Art O Maolfabhail as Mullach

Drislinny meaning a high place of briars. This, however, refers to a townland in the civil parish of Ardee, Mulladrillan. Mulladrilan, the highest point in Charlestown townland at 171 feet

above sea level is given by Maj. Gen. Stubbs in L.A.J., II, 3, (1910), 298 as Mullach Dhrealin

(wren's hill). This hill affords a very expansive view of the surrounding area. 17 Lower

Mulladrilan. 18 Munnawinna. Mr O Maolfabhail suggests the Munna is probably Moin (bog or

meadow). He had no suggestion regarding "winna". A well which is the source of Roseybrook stream is in this field. The south-eastern part of this field is very marshy. 19 Ann's field. The

present owner does not know who Ann was. 20 Lennon's field. 21 Dan's field. Nos 20 & 21

were owned by a Dan Lennon. 22 The Bog. Evidence of flax growing was discovered while this

field was being drained. 23 The Blaych. Perhaps the bleach field, where flax may have been

put to dry. In the Topographical Dictionary of Ireland the entry under Charlestown Parish

mentions that "a few individuals are employed weaving linen". In the register of baptisms for




Map of Charlestown townland. Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey by permission of the Minister for Finance.




Charlestown church we find the name John Hughes, Charlestown, who was baptised on 13

February 1825. The occupation of his father is given as weaver. In fact there were several

instances in the years 1825 to 1833 of people from the surrounding townlands whose

occupations are given as weaver. The Blaych field slopes gently to The Bog field. 24 Upper Blaych. 25 Daly's field. A family name still in the townland. 26 The Haggard field. 27 The

High field. 28 Taaffe's field. 29 Church meadow. 30 The Cow field. 31 McCann's haggard field. 32 Gartland's. 33 The Black meadow. This field has black boggy soil. 34 Biddy Rooney's field. 35 Pond field. 36 The minister's field. May have been attached to Charlestown rectory. 37 Field at Cross. 38 Mullanassy. 39 Yore's field. A family name. Roseybrook. The name

Roseybrook is a relatively recent name. It refers to the stream which runs from Munnawinna east towards the Glyde River and the immediate area. A number of late nineteenth-century cottages stands alongside the stream. These were built by Lord Louth of Louth Hall as tenants'

cottages. This area was once called Crawkeeidacha. The O.S. Place Names Office explain Crawk as cnoc (hill), but made no suggestion as to the origin of the latter part of the name.

Perhaps it may refer to "cloth" since the Blaych field and the Bog are part of this area. The

townland boundary runs along Roseybrook lane though it can be seen from an older map that

the townland once included field 40 on the map, known as the School field. It was so called

because it was the playground for children who attended a school on the Filgate estate.

GENERAL NOTES: On undertaking this survey I was very kindly given free access to

the available records of Charlestown church by the rector, Rev F. K. Jennings, Ardee. While not dating back any farther than 1825, the vestry minute books are very interesting documents

and reflect to some degree the social and political life of Charlestown in the nineteenth

century.

From 1832 up to 1849 there is ample evidence of the poverty in the area. In 1831 a sum of

?2 was allocated for "coffins for the poor". The following year, the sum allocated for the same

purpose was ?5. It was in 1832 that a relief act for poor infants, the 11th and 12th of George III, was passed and we find Alexander Blackwell being appointed as overseer with Laurence

Talion to see to the Act.

During these years there are several instances of money being paid to individuals for the "maintenance of foundling". The sum was usually ?4.

In 1849, at a vestry meeting, overseers were appointed "to carry into effect the 11th and 12th of Her present Majesty, Victoria, for the more speedy removal of the certain nuisances and the prevention of contagious and epidemic diseases".

In the parochial account books for January 1847 and April 1848 the sum of ?78 10s. 9d.

poor money was distributed. Normally the annual expenditure of poor money would be ?8. On 30 January 1847 twenty-nine poor persons received weekly relief. By December of that year only six persons were in receipt. By 1866 conditions had improved. There was a sum of ?72 13s. 2d. poor money and a cholera fund of ?40 16s. 3d. Since provision would be made under the Poor Law for any requirements arising on the cholera fund, and since there was only one

poor person depending on poor money, it was decided to invest the money and use the interest to purchase a harmonium.

Political life of the time did not go unnoticed and in 1883 we read a resolution "that the

Vestry of Charlestown ventures to protest most emphatically against the proposed change in the British Law, whereby confessed atheists will be permitted to take part in making laws for the Nation". Again in 1893, "We, the Select Vestry of Charlestown Union . . . consider it a

duty ... to protest without delay against the measure which has just been introduced into the House of Commons under the title "The Government of Ireland Bill".




In this age of ultra-modern conveniences we tend to forget how very basic life was for our

grandparents and great-grandparents. In 1906 we find lamps being donated to Charlestown Church by Mr and Mrs Murray "so that evening services could be conducted". In 1915, a sum of ?3 185. Sd. was paid for painting the schoolhouse and ?69 11s. 6d. for painting the church. In 1917 the spire was repaired at a cost of ?93. His Grace, the Lord Primate, promised to pay half of this from the Beresford Fund.

A marked decline in the financial fortunes of the church is evident from about 1920 on. Entertainments were organised occasionally to raise funds for the church, and in 1938 there was a proposal to sell some of the lands of Charlestown Glebe to relieve the incumbent of some land charges.

In 1948 the school house and gardens were rented for ?1 10s. Od. per month. In 1955 electrification of the rectory is recorded and presumably the church was electrified at this time.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am very grateful to the following from whom I received generous assistance while

carrying out this survey: Paddy Clarke, Edmondstown; Larry Conlon, Ardee; Vincent Daly, Louth Hall; Brendan Flynn, Pepperstown; Jim Garry, Drogheda; Revd F. K. Jennings, Ardee; Joe Kearney, Mullacloe; James Kelly, Pepperstown; John Melia, Charlestown; Mrs N.

Murphy, Charlestown; Noel Ross, Dundalk; Mrs Breeda Tuite, Tullyallen; Miss Maureen

Wilson, Dundalk; Dick Yore, Charlestown; staff of Louth County Library, Dundalk and staff of Public Record Office, Dublin.



townland survey of county louth (continued)

Documents