Kiniska and Kiltroge townland minor placenames

The minor placenames of the townlands of Kiniska and Kiltroge, Claregalway, Co. Galway

O'Flaherty

The minor placenames of the townlands of Kiniska and Kiltrogue, Claregalway, Co. Galway

The townland of Kiniska covers an area of approximately 505 acres, northeast of the village of Claregalway. At the time of the Ordnance Survey in the 1830s, Kiniska was recorded in the Ordnance Survey Name Books as being ‘Cin Uisce’ – the head of the waters – most likely referring to the spring in the townland that is the source of the Kiniska River.  At the time of this survey Kiniska is recorded locally as ‘the property of Lord Clanmorris. 2/3ds. bog, the remainder under tillage and subject to Winter floods. It contains a large village of houses near its centre’.

Today, Kiniska is a densely populated village. At the time of the Ordnance Survey however, all the settlement in the townland were confined to a single cluster of 42 buildings to the south of the natural spring known as ‘Bunaniska’. This type of settlement cluster was known as a clochán, and they were common across all of Ireland, particularly before the Great Famine. A footpath once led from the clochán in Kiniska, crossing the Kiniska River by an old footbridge, then  southwest along the northern bank of the River Clare to the village of Clareglway via Claregalway Castle.

To the east of the parish of Claregalway, the townland of Kiltroge is split in two, with the majority belonging to the parish of Lackagh. A small portion measuring just 98 acres is isolated from, but belongs to the parish of Claregalway.

The work of the Ordnance Survey in the 1830s recorded just one minor placename (Bunaniska) in the townland of Kiniska. Our work in the townland during 2020 identified 17 minor placenames and places of interest known locally within the townland. Another four minor placenames were identified in the townland of Kiltrogue. These are marked on the map below, and included in tabulated format. These placenames were collected by Seamus O’Connell from M. Casserly, and from P. Farragher. The placenames collected refer to fields, wells, a cave, and other elements of the local landscape.This work is on-going. If you know of any other minor placenames in the parish of Claregalway that may be of interest, and you would like to contribute to our survey, please do get in touch.


Placename (Gaeilge)Placename (English)CollectorInformantDetails
BunaniskaSeamus O’ConnellM. CasserlySpring source of the Kiniska River which flows into the River Clare
CillínSeamus O’ConnellM. CasserlyChildren’s Burial Ground with trees growing in this spot
PollanrumpaSeamus O’ConnellM. CasserlyThis is called Pullanrumpa, a large hole here in the past, a well and later a pump
Deep HoleSeamus O’ConnellM. CasserlyA deep hole on Farragher’s land with no knowledge when it appeared
WoodSeamus O’ConnellM. CasserlyThere was a wood here in the past – cut down in the 1950s 
Trí LeabhaSeamus O’ConnellP. Farragher
Gort SuilerdSeamus O’ConnellP. Farragher
RíascaSeamus O’ConnellP. Farragher
RíascaSeamus O’ConnellP. Farragher
Tonn an CnoicSeamus O’ConnellP. Farragher
The MóineannSeamus O’ConnellP. Farragher
CaveSeamus O’ConnellM. CasserlyCave in Casserly’s garden
The AcreSeamus O’ConnellM. Casserly
Forde’s gardenSeamus O’ConnellM. Casserly
TroirínSeamus O’ConnellM. Casserly
FootpathSeamus O’ConnellM. CasserlyFootpath used for a shortcut to school and mass
FootbridgeSeamus O’ConnellP. FarragherA footbridge was located here in the past

 

Placename (Gaeilge)Placename (English)CollectorInformantPlacename Type
Kiltrogue ChurchBrendan NoonanMartin CollinsChurch
Old ShrineBrendan NoonanMartin CollinsEcclesiastical
Childrens Burial GroundBrendan NoonanMartin CollinsCBG
Mikeens HoleBrendan NoonanMartin CollinsFeature
This page was added on 12/01/2022.

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