Castlecreevy / Caisleán na Craobhaí

Castlecreevy / Caisleán na Craobhaí

Compiled by Irene McGoldrick

Overview

Irish name: Caisleán na Craobhaí

English name: Castlecreevy

Meaning: non-validated name listed in logainm.ie but it is generally accepted that this townland gets its name from Craoibhín a’ Búrca – Creeven Burke, subject of much of the folklore associated with this townland.

Area: 405 acres, 0 roods and 5 perches

Field Names: None at this time

Other Landmarks: Castlecreevy Castle. This castle is believed to have been used as a handball alley in the more recent past.

Information from O’Donovan’s Field Name Books

Other names: Caisleán na Craobhaighe, Castlecreevy, Castlecrevian (B. S. Sketch Map), Castlecreevy (Crampton, Esq., Cahermorris), Castlecreevan (High Constable, 1838), Castlenacrivee (Inq. Temp. Iac. I.), Castlenacrivy (Inq. Temp. Iac. I.), Castle Creevan (Local), Caislán na Creven (Local), Castle Creevy (Rector of Annaghdown).

Description: Captain Butler of Winterfield, Proprietor. All under tillage except a portion of flooded bog on West side of townland. Contains an old Castle said to have been built by a Lady called “Creeveen a [unable to read.]” hence the name Creeveen or Creevan.

Situation: It is situated near [unable to read] Currandulla Chapel. Bounded North by Currandulla. East by Carrowbeg and Thonagurraun. West by Mace and South by Castlequarters.

Population Statistics

1841: 56 houses, 284 people (136 male, 148 female)

1851: 30 houses, 203 people (101 male, 102 female)

1861: 45 houses (incl. 2 unoccupied), 232 people (116 male, 116 female)

1871: 40 houses, 204 people (100 male, 104 female)

1881: 36 houses, 177 people (88 male, 89 female)

1891: 32 houses, 135 people (67 male, 68 female)

1901: 27 houses (incl. 1 uninhabited), 130 people (69 male, 61 female)

1911: 26 houses, 106 people (51 male, 55 female)

2011: 57 houses (4 vacant), 181 people (94 male, 87 female)

1821 Tithe Applotment Books

The Tithe Applotment Books record Wm & Pat Silk and Edm Scahill & partners as tenants of 192 acres of land held by J Butler Esq.

1840 Griffith’s House Books

The following are listed as occupiers on the Griffiths House books: Johanna Silk, William Grealy, Mathew Cummins (Licensed house and offices, previous occupier obscured), George Cummins, Thomas Skahill (house and office, licensed), Edmond Skahill, Malachy Hargadon, Patrick Silk (John), Patrick Casey, Patrick Connor, William Silk (Bawn), James Burke, Dermot Fahey, Michael Flood, John Fahey, Malachy Commons, John Burke, Thomas Cahill, John Cahill, John Wynn, Owen Duddy Scahill, John Silk (William), Martin Skahill (Bawn), John Skahill, Patrick Skahill, Owen Greaney Skahill, Francis Casey, Michael Burke, Mark Davin, Thomas Lynch, Mary Mills, James Morris, Patrick Raftery, William Murray, William Commons, William Hession.

1855 Griffith’s Valuation

Griffith’s Valuations show that much of Castlecreevy was held under the Rundale system. Johanna Silk, William Grealy and Matthew Cummins each occupied a house, office and land held from John Butler. George Cummins held a house, office and yard from Mark Lynch. The following tenants occupied houses, offices and often land held from John Butler under the Rundale system: Thomas Skahill, Edward Skahill, Malachy Haigadon (sic), Patrick Silk (John), Patrick Casey, Patrick Connor, William Silk (Bawn), James Burke, Dermott Fahy, Michael Flood, John Fahy, Malachy Commons, John Burke, Thomas Cahill, John Cahill, John Wynn, Owen Duddy (Skahill), John Silk (William), Martin Skahill, Patrick Skahill, John Skahill, Patrick Skahill, Owen Greany (Skahill), Francis Casey, Michael Burke and Mark Davin. The following held portions of land: Owen Grealy, Dermot Fahy, Thomas Lynch, Michael Connor and Patrick Hynes. Mary Mills, James Morris, Patrick Raftery and William Murray each occupied a house and garden.

1871-1901 Deaths

Date	Townland	Name	Sex	Condition	Age	Occupation	Cause	Medical Attendant	Certified	Registered by	Link
07/02/1871	Castlecreeven	Mary Silk	F	Widow	73 years	Peasant	Bronchitis, a long time	N	N	Thos Silk, PAD	Link
22/02/1871	Castlecreeven	Patrick Scahill	M	Married	60 years	Peasant	Cancer of leg, one year		Y	Edward Scahill, PAD	Link
18/11/1871	Castlecreeven	Malachy Commins	M	Married	70 years	Landholder	General rheumatism and debility, a long time	N	N	Martin Hughes, PAD	Link
27/01/1872	Castlecreeven	Thomas Cahill	M	Married	54 years	Labourer	Bronchitis, one week	N	N	John Cahill, PAD	Link
08/09/1872	Castlecreeven	Mary Silk	F	Married	48 years	Peasant	Pains in the bowels, one week	N	N	Thomas Silk, occupier	Link
21/12/1872	Castlecreeven	Mary Hughes	F	Widow	37 years	Labourer	Consumption, 18 months		Y	Martin Hughes, occupier	Link
21/04/1873	Castlecreeven	Patrick Skahill	M	Bachelor	30 years	Labourer	Psoas abcess, a long time	N	N	Mary Skahill, PAD	Link
18/04/1874	Castlecreeven	Mary Winn	F	Spinster	1 day	Child of a labourer	Weakness since birth, one day	N	N	Patrick Winn, occupier	Link
01/04/1874	Castlecreeven	Daniel Caulfield	M	Married	41 years	Peasant	Heart disease, suddenly	N	N	Mary Caulfield, occupier	Link
14/01/1875	Castlecreeven	John McDermott	M	Bachelor	11 years	Labourer’s child	Melan, 3 weeks	N	N	Margaret McDermott, PAD	Link
04/02/1876	Castlecreeven	Owen Scahill	M	Married	80 years	Peasant	Old age & debility, a long time	N	N	Honor Scahill, occupier	Link
13/01/1877	Castlecreeven	John Donohue	M	Bachelor	2 weeks	Shoemaker’s child	Convulsions, 9 days	N	N	Patrick Donohue	Link
03/05/1877	Castlecreeven	Bridget Burke	F	Married	65 years	Labourer	Liver disease, 2 years	N	N	Mary Burke, PAD	Link
02/07/1877	Castlecreeven	John Wynne	M	Widower	72 years	Labourer	Gravel, 1 year	N	N	Winifred Wynne, PAD	Link
27/01/1878	Castlecreeven	Margaret Scahill	F	Widow	77 years	Beggar	Diarrhoea, 3 weeks	N	N	Patrick Donohue, PAD	Link
07/09/1878	Castlecreeven	Maria Scahill	F	Married	65 years	Peasant	Disease of the knee joint, nine months		Y	Edmund Scahill, occupier	Link
13/05/1879	Castlecreeven	Bridget Hughes	F	Widow	73 years	Beggar	Suffocative cararrh, a long time	N	N	Julia Hughes, PAD	Link
01/07/1879	Castlecreeven	Cisely Scahill	F	Widow	80 years	Peasant	Suffociative catarrh, 2 years	N	N	Anne Scahill, PAD	Link
05/12/1879	Castlecreeven	William Murray	M	Married	83 years	Labourer	Old age & debility, a long time	N	N	Morgan Murray, PAD	Link
17/12/1879	Castlecreevin	Julia Murray	F	Widow	74 years	Peasant	Rheumation and weakness, 12 months	N	N	Thomas Scahill, PAD	Link
20/01/1880	Castlecreeven	Martin Daly	M	Bachelor	3 months	Peasant’s child	Pains in bowels and fits, one month	N	N	Mary Greaney, PAD	Link
20/06/1881	Castlecreevin	Bridget Cahill	F	Spinster	15 years	Peasant	Fever, 5 weeks	N	N	John Cahill, father and occupier	Link
17/09/1881	Castlecreevin	Patrick Caulfield	M	Bachelor	21 years	Labourer	Fever, a few days	N	N	John Caufield	Link
09/11/1881	Castlecreevin	Patrick Cahill	M	Bachelor	20 years	Labourer	Relapsing fever, 3 months		Y	John Cahill, occupier	Link
12/12/1881	Castlecreevin	Patrick Cahill	M	Bachelor	18 years	Peasant	Fever, 5 weeks	N	N	John Cahill, occupier	Link
03/07/1882	Castlecreevin	John Scahill	M	Married	65 years	Labourer	Pleurisy, 7 days	N	N	Patrick Scahill, son, PAD	Link
15/08/1882	Castlecreevin	Mary Scahill	F	Spinster	23 years	Labourer	Consumption, 12 months	N	N	Mary Lydon, PAD	Link
29/08/1882	Castlecreevin	Nancy Hardiman	F	Married	87 years	Peasant	Old age and debility, 2 years	N	N	Michael Hardiman, son, PAD	Link
24/04/1883	Castlecreevin	Thomas Hession	M	Widower	72 years	Peasant	Weakness and old age, 6 months	N	N	Owen Scahill, son-in-law and occupier	Link
26/04/1883	Castlecrevin	Kate Greaney	F	Widow	69 years	Pauper	Bronchitis and gravel, one year	N	N	Mary Greaney, daughter, PAD	Link
09/02/1884	Castlecreevin	Mary Scahill	F	Widow	65 years	Labourer	Cerebral haemorrhage and paralysis, 4 days	N	N	Patrick Scahill, son and occupier	Link
13/11/1884	Castlecrevin	Peter McDermot	M	Married	65 years	Labourer	Cold and spasm of the heart, a fortnight	N	N	Thomas McDermot, son, PAD	Link
08/01/1885	Castlecrevin	James Burke	M	Widower	70 years	Peasant	Chronic bronchitis, 2 years	N	N	Michael Daly, occupier	Link
25/01/1885	Castlecreevin	William Fahy	M	Bachelor	79 years	Peasant	Suffocative cough, 6 days	N	N	Bartly Fahy, nephew and occupier	Link
29/05/1885	Castlecrevin	Mary Forde	F	Widow	55 years	Peasant	Hemiplegia, 18 months	N	N	Sarah Forde, daughter, PAD	Link
03/06/1885	Castlecreevin	Winifred Caulfield	F	Widow	90 years	Peasant	Old age, some time	N	N	Patrick Scahill, occupier, PAD	Link
18/08/1885	Castlecrevin	Mary Scahill	F	Spinster	65 years	Peasant	Bronchitis, two weeks	N	N	Bridget Scahill, sister-in-law, PAD	Link
29/01/1886	Castlecrevin	Edward Scahill	M	Married	44 years	Peasant	Contusion of cervical vertebra, 2 days		Y	Mark Lynch, PAD	Link
02/02/1886	Castlecrevin	Mary Scahill	F	Married	35 years	Phthisis, 18 months			Y	Owen Scahill, husband and occupier	Link
25/02/1886	Castlecreevin	Cisely McDermot	F	Spinster	60 years	Servant	Emphysema pulmonum, long time, anasarca, one month		Y	Mary McDermot, sister-in-law and occupier	Link
11/11/1886	Castlecreevin	Martin Scahill	M	Widower	85 years	Peasant	Pain in the chest, 4 days	N	N	Thomas Scahill, son, PAD	Link
03/08/1887	Castlecreevin	Michael Scahill	M	Bachelor	8 years	Peasant’s child	Debility and decline, 5 years	N	N	Owen Scahill, father and occupier	Link
16/04/1888	Castlecreevin	Michael Daly	M	Married	44 years	Lab	Vomiting from the stomach, half hour	N	N	Mary Daly, widow of deceased, Castlecreevin	Link
15/11/1889	Castlecreevin	Francis Casey	M	Married	69 years	Labourer	Weakness and sore foot, 2 years	N	N	Bridget Casey, widow of deceased, PAD	Link
03/01/1890	Castlecreevin	Patrick Silk	M	Bachelor	42 years	A poor cripple and idiot	Bronchitis, one week	N	N	Bridget Scahill, PAD	Link
13/04/1890	Castlecrevin	Kate Silke	F	Married	81 years	Peasant	Smothering and cough, 3 years	N	N	William Silke, widower of deceased, PAD	Link
05/05/1890	Castlecreevin	Kate Scahill	F	Married	64 years	Farmer’s wife	Uterine polypus, 1 year, difficult micturition, 5 weeks		Y	Thomas Scahill, widower of deceased and occupier	Link
19/05/1890	Castlecreevin	Patrick Scahill (Kerigan)	M	Widower	82 years	Peasant	Cancer of the hand, 8 months	N	N	Margaret Scahill, daughter, PAD	Link
31/08/1890	Castlecrevin	John Silk	M	Married	60 years	Small farmer	Liver disease and vomiting, 3 weeks	N	N	Ellen McDonagh, PAD	Link
22/01/1892	Castlecreevin	Julia Boyle	F	Widow	75 years	Poor housekeeper	Shortness of breath, 12 months, pain in the stomach, 5 days	N	N	Michael Burke, occupier	Link
08/02/1893	Castlecreevin	Patrick Casey	M	Widower	82 years	Labourer	Severe cough and smothering, 6 weeks	N	N	Francis Casey, son and occupier	Link
02/06/1893	Castlecreevin	Patrick Scahill	M	Bachelor	28 years	Farmer’s son	Smothering about heart, 3 days	N	N	Thomas Scahil, father and occupier	Link
16/09/1893	Castlecreevin	Mary Scahill	F	Spinster	16 years	Peasant	Pains in the stomach and bowels, few days	N	N	Margaret Scahill, mother, PAD	Link
16/01/1894	Castlecrevin	William Silk	M	Widower	92 years	Peasant	Weakness from old age, 2 weeks	N	N	John Silk, son-in-law and occupier, PAD	Link
24/01/1894	Castlecreeven	Mary Daly	F	Widow	53 years	Pauper	Severe cough and smothering, cold, 3 months	N	N	Mary Daly, daughter, PAD	Link
05/07/1895	Castlecrevin	Margaret Scahill	F	Spinster	30 years	Daughter of householder	Blood spitting and cough, 4 days	N	N	Pat Scahill, nephew, PAD	Link
15/12/1895	Castlecrevin	Patrick Wynne	M	Bachelor	2 days	Son fo householder	Complaining of griping pains, 1 day	N	N	John Wynne, father, PAD	Link
24/12/1896	Castlecrevin	John Cahill	M	Widower	84 years	Householder	Old age and general debility	N	N	Michael Cahill, son, PAD	Link
15/05/1897	Castlecrevin	Patrick Silke	M	Bachelor	5 months	Son of landholder	Whooping cough	N	N	John Silke, father, PAD	Link
05/09/1897	Castlecrevin	William Silk	M	Married	80 years	Householder	Weakness, 5 weeks	N	N	John Silk, son, PAD	Link
14/12/1897	Castlecrevin	William Casey	M	Bachelor	45 years	Son of landholder	English cholera, 2 days	N	N	Bridget Casey, sister, PAD	Link
26/07/1898	Castlecrevin	Sarah Scahill	F	Married	45 years	Wife of landholder	Consumption, 2 years	N	N	Edward Scahill, widow of deceased	Link
24/11/1891	Castlecrevin	Thomas Scahill	M	Widower	80 years	Publican and landholder	Cancer on left arm, 2 years		Y	Thomas Scahill, son of deceased	Link
01/07/1899	Castlecrevin	Anne Scahill	F	Widow	80 years	Widow of landholder	Cough, 6 months	N	N	Edmond Scahill, son, PAD	Link
21/02/1900	Castlecrevin	Bridget Casey	F	Widow	84 years	Widow of landholder	Old age and debility	N	N	Bridget Casey, daughter	Link
05/02/1901	Castlecrevin	Bridget Wynne	F	Spinster	1 year	Daughter of farmer	Convulsions, 1 week	N	N	Honor Wynne, mother	Link
1/5/1901	Castlecrevin	Winifred Wynne	F	Married	70 years	Wife of farmer	Old age and debility	N	N	John Wynne, son, PAD	Link

1901 Census

The 1901 Census of Ireland records the following 27 households in Castlecreevy.

1. Thomas Tom Scahill (publican and farmer, unmarried) lived with his brother Frank, sisters Julia and Kate, nephews Thomas & Martin Moran and nieces Mary and Katie.
2. Patrick Donohue (shoemaker and farmer) lived with his wife Bridget, sister Catherine and daughter Mary.
3. Frank Casey lived with his sister Bridget.
4. Bridget Fahy (widow) lived with her sons Bartly and Patrick.
5. Owen Scahill (widower) lived with his daughter Margaret and sons Thomas, Patrick, John and Owen.
6. Luke Fahey lived with his wife Mary, daughter Celia and son Mike.
7. William Hughes lived with his wife Mary, sons William, Patrick, Martin and Michael and daughter Mary.
8. Michael Burke lived with his wife Bridget and son John.
9. Honor John Cahill (widow) lived with sons John & Matthew and daughter Honor.
10. Honor Cahill (widow) lived with sons Thomas, William & Michael.
11. Mathew John Cahill (widower) lived with son John and daughter Bridget.
12. John W Silke lived with wife Margaret, daughters Mary, Norah & Bridget and sons William, Martin, Thomas & Michael.
13.  Mary Caulfield (widow) lived with son John Caulfield, daughter in law Julia, granddaughters Julia, Mary, Celia & Norah and grandsons Thomas & Daniel.
14. Patrick Wynne lived with wife Winifred, son John, daughter in law Honor, granddaughters Bridget, Mary & Honor and grandson Patrick.
15. Bridget Scahill (cottier, widow) lived by herself.
16. Thomas Martin Scahill lived with wife Honor.
17. Edward Scahill (widower) lived with daughters Mary & Bridget and sons Patrick & Thomas.
18. John Kirwan Scahill lived with wife Margaret, sons John, Thomas & Edward and daughters Bridget, Margaret, Julia and Mary.
19. John Greany Scahill lived with wife Bridget, sons Owen & Patrick and daughters Mary, Julia & Winnie.
20. Bridget Casey (widow) lived with son Peter and daughter Honor.
21. Julia Davin (widow) lived with son Patrick and daughter Mary who was listed as deaf.
22. Ellen Silke (widow) lived with sons Patrick & Thomas and daughter Mary.
23. Patrick Wynne lived with wife Honor, sons William, James, Thomas & John and daughter Mary.
24. John Silke (blacksmith) lived with wife Bridget, sons Mathew & John and daughters Mary & Norah.
25. Patrick Scully (shoemaker) lived with wife Julia and son Martin – also a shoemaker.
26. Michael Fahey lived with wife Julia and son John.
27. Michael Hardiman lived with wife Maria.

Thomas (Tom) Scahill lived in a public house with between seven and nine bedrooms, five windows to the front in a house deemed of the second class. Nine further houses were deemed of the second class with thatched roofs, between two and three windows in the front and between two and four rooms. 17 houses were deemed of the third class with thatched roofs, between two and four rooms, most houses with two windows to the front, two houses with one window to the front, and one house with no windows to the front. A second public house is listed as uninhabited, held by landholder Thomas Forde.

The outhouses and building return for Castlecreevy is incomplete with only one page digitised. This lists the first 15 households with six stables, seven cow houses, one calf house, 12 piggeries, six fowl houses, six barns, and seven cart houses.

1911 Census

1. John Scahill lived with his wife Bridget, sons Owen, Pat & Martin and daughters Julia, Winnie and Katie.
2. Francis Casey lived with his sister Bridget.
3. Bartholmew Fahy lived with his brother Patrick.
4. Michael Hardiman lived with his wife Maria.
5. William Hughes lived with his wife Mary, daughters Mary, Maria & Julia and sons Martin, Michal and Thomas.
6. John Caulfield lived with his wife Mary, sons Thomas, Dan & Pat and daughters Celia and Nora.
7. Thomas Scahill (shopkeeper and farmer) lived with his wife Winifred, daughters Kate, Briget & Sabina, niece Kate Grealy and visitor Margaret Hennelly.
8. John Wynne lived with his wife Honor, daughters Bridget, Mary and Norah, son Pat and boarder Bridget Scahill (widow).
9. Ellen Silke (widow) lived with son Patrick and daughter Mary.
10. Peter Casey lived with sister Honor.
11. Patrick Davin lived with wife Honor and sister Mary listed as deaf and dumb.
12. John Cahil lived with wife Bridget.
13. Nora Cahil (widow) lived with son William.
14. Honor Cahil (widow) lived with son John.
15. Michael Burke (widower) lived with son John, daughter in law Nora, grandsons Michael & Patrick and granddaughter Mary.
16. Thomas Scahill lived with wife Nora.
17. Julia Fahy (widow) lived with son John.
18. Mary Brady (grocer and publican) lived with servant Mary Hughes.
19. John Silke lived with wife Margret, sons Martin, Michael & John and daughter Bridget.
20. Thomas Seahill (Scahill) lived with sisters Julia and Mary.
21. Patrick Donoghue lived with wife Bridget.
22. John Silke (blacksmith) lived with wife Bridget, sons Matthew & John (both blacksmiths) and daughters Mary & Norah.
23. Owen Scahill (widower) lived with son Francis, daughter in law Mague (Maggie), granddaughters Mary, Kate, Bridget & Margret and grandson Patrick.
24. Patrick Wynne lived with wife Mary and sons James, Thomas & John.
25. Martin Scully lived by himself.
26. Luke Fahy (widower) lived with son Michael, daughter in law Bridget, granddaughters Mary & Julia and grandson John.

In this census return, Mary Brady is the only occupier listed as occupying a shop though Thomas Scahill is listed as a shopkeeper on the return. Seventeen houses are listed of the second class with thatched roofs, between two and three windows at the front, and two to four rooms, the exception being Thomas Scahill’s house which had five or six rooms. Nine houses are listed as of the third class with thatched roofs, two to four rooms and two windows at the front.

There are 19 stables listed, 22 cow houses, four calf houses, 19 piggeries, one fowl house, 14 barns, eight turf houses, one forge and 13 cart houses.

Folklore associated with Castlecreevy

Craoibhín a Búrca is a central figure in Annaghdown Parish folklore. The story of her ill-fated husband Seoirse De Barra is associated with Loughgeorge in our neighbouring parish of Claregalway with the Irish name ‘Leacht Seoirse’ being more fitting  – the monument of George.

The Doegen Records Web Project contains a recording of the story Seoirse do Barra agus Craoibhín a Búrc, from Mícheál Ó Concheanainn of Rinn na hAirne, given below and at this link.

Two examples of this story from the Dúchas Schools Folklore Collection can be found here and here.  There are also a number of other versions in both Irish and English.

Another story in the Schools’ Collection, The Tower of Gold, relates the possibility of gold under the Castle at Castlecreevy, as told by William Cahill of Castlecreevy and Athenry.