Cancelled Book Creggaunnahilla 1855-1970

Creggaunnahilla

Creggaunnahilla is a townland in the parish of Clareabbey. Creggaunnahilla is 25.5 hectares or 65.5 acres.  Creggaunnahilla is located adjacent to the townlands of Clare Commons and Clarehill which contain the village of Clarecastle and Ballaghafadda East and West and Lissane East.[1]

At the time of the Griffith Valuation and in the data shown in the revision/cancelled books series 1855-1934, property in Creggaunnahilla was agricultural land

The two immediate lessors of the land in 1855 were Lord Inchiquin and William Spaight. Spaight’s land (lots 1 & 2) passed to Marcus Patterson in 1879.  There were no more changes recorded to immediate lessors 1855-1970 although it is highly likely that some or all the land was held in fee under the Land Purchase Act from approximately 1918.

The four lots recorded in the townland appear to have been held by three families. Lot 1 was held by the Roughan family and records civil records record the deaths of each occupier in the family.

The Bourke /Burke family held two lots in the townland and again family members’ names are struck out and new occupier names added.  Michael Bourke (1805-1880) was the occupier in 1855 and after his death his wife Margaret become the occupier and this was recorded by the Valuation Office in 1881.[2] Margaret Burke died Feb 1904 and her death was notified by her son Frederick who became the occupier.[3] The Bourke/Burke family also held land in Clarehill and lived in the village through the period 1855-1934. The land held by the Burke/Bourke family is still known locally as Burke’s Cragg and was later the site of Primrose Gardens.

The case studies of the Bourke/Burke and Roughan families illustrate how following the changes to occupiers recorded in the revision/cancelled books and the use of publically available civil records can assist with genealogy and local history.

Lot 4 was split into two equal shares early in the cancelled book period 1855-1970.

Much of Creggaunnahilla is now occupied by homes.

[1] https://www.townlands.ie/clare/islands/clareabbey/clareabbey/creggaunnahilla/

[2] (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/) (15 July 2020).

[3] (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/) (15 July 20202).

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