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) | Collector | Informant | Details |
Bunaniska | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | Spring source of the Kiniska River which flows into the River Clare | |
Cillín | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | Children’s Burial Ground with trees growing in this spot | |
Pollanrumpa | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | This is called Pullanrumpa, a large hole here in the past, a well and later a pump | |
Deep Hole | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | A deep hole on Farragher’s land with no knowledge when it appeared | |
Wood | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | There was a wood here in the past – cut down in the 1950s | |
Trí Leabha | Seamus O’Connell | P. Farragher | ||
Gort Suilerd | Seamus O’Connell | P. Farragher | ||
Ríasca | Seamus O’Connell | P. Farragher | ||
Ríasca | Seamus O’Connell | P. Farragher | ||
Tonn an Cnoic | Seamus O’Connell | P. Farragher | ||
The Móineann | Seamus O’Connell | P. Farragher | ||
Cave | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | Cave in Casserly’s garden | |
The Acre | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | ||
Forde’s garden | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | ||
Troirín | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | ||
Footpath | Seamus O’Connell | M. Casserly | Footpath used for a shortcut to school and mass | |
Footbridge | Seamus O’Connell | P. Farragher | A footbridge was located here in the past |
Placename (Gaeilge) | Placename (English) | Collector | Informant | Placename Type |
Kiltrogue Church | Brendan Noonan | Martin Collins | Church | |
Old Shrine | Brendan Noonan | Martin Collins | Ecclesiastical | |
Childrens Burial Ground | Brendan Noonan | Martin Collins | CBG | |
Mikeens Hole | Brendan Noonan | Martin Collins | Feature |
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