Know your Townland - Ballynakill,

We are back this week with our popular series on the Townlands of Gaultier. Sorry for our absence over the last weeks and it might be a hit and miss over the summer months also.

Ballynakill Church - commonly called the Brass Cock and a very interesting graveyard

This week our townland is Ballynakill, Canon Power tells us in his book that Baile na Cille means (“Homestead of the Church”) but who ever put up the attached sign had a different idea. Maybe Canon Power was wrong and maybe he is right. Please let us know what you think? The translation of the sign “Baile Mhic Coiligh” to the best of my knowledge is “Home of the son of Coiligh”.  I might be totally wrong but would love to hear what you think.

                   Ballynakill has an area of:
• 1,517,107 m² / 151.71 hectares / 1.5171 km²
• 0.59 square miles
• 374.89 acres / 374 acres, 3 roods, 21 perches
                  Ballynakill borders the following other townlands:
• Cove (Gaultier) to the west
• Farranshoneen (Gaultier) to the west
• Grange Upper (Gaultier) to the west
• Grantstown (Gaultier) to the south
• Knockboy (Gaultier) to the east

In the 1901 census there were 114 inhabitants in Ballynakill. Robert Dobbyn who was aged 76 was a Land Agent. William G Davis Goff, aged 62 and his son Herbert Davis Goff, aged 29 were both Brewers. Lubelle Morris, aged 51 was a widow and gave her occupation as “Interest of Money”.In the 1911 census we find Lubelle or Subelle as her name is recored and her son Richard aged 35 are living in what is now the Haven Hotel in Dunmore East. William Power aged 30 and his brother John aged 34 in the 1901 census had as their occupation “Nursery and Farming”. In the 1911 census Mary Power aged 35 has as her occupation “Forest Seedswoman”. Were these Powers the Powers of “Power’s Seeds”?    Henry Oliver Broomhead aged 44 and his wife Catherine Mary aged 37 had six children , three boys and three girls.
   
In 1911 there were 189 inhabitants in Ballynakill and 29 or 15% could not read or write.

A transcript of the legible graves in the above churchyard via Steve Rogers

Michael Farrell is currently society chairman
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