KNOW YOUR TOWNLAND - Ballytruckle

Our Townland today is Ballytruckle

Ballytruckle has an area of:

1.1166 km²

0.43 square miles

275 acres

Borders

Ballytruckle borders the following other townlands:

Ballycourdra to the north

Grange Lower to the east

Kilbarry to the west

Kilcohan to the south

Kingsmeadow to the west

Manor to the north

Priorsknock to the north

Williamstown to the east

 

Ballytruckle is the 52nd largest townland in the Barony of Gaultier.

In the 1901 census there were 266 inhabitants

Anthony Foy, aged 37 was an Act Sergeant in the RIC and was a member of a household of 3 people.

Stephen Lynch, aged 40 was a general labourer. He was a member of a household of 6 people, which included 3 of his children who were born outside Ireland. One child aged 11 was born in India and also 2 children were born in America, aged 8 and 5.

Johanna Coffey, aged 59 was a dealer in milk and was a member of a household of 3 people.

In the 1911 census there were 541 inhabitants and the reason for the difference to the 1901 census is that the Ursuline Convent and School were not recorded in 1901.

William Richardson aged 38, a retired Bacon Merchant lived with his wife Laura Emily aged 33 and their son Lionel aged 10 in Prospect House. Both William and Laura Emily were born in Antrim while Lionel was born in Waterford. Cian Manning,  author of the book “Waterford City - A History” tells us that Lionel was born on the 4th December, 1890 in Westcliffe, Tramore.  Prospect House contrary to popular belief is not in the townland of Kilcohan but in the townland of Ballytruckle. Likewise Kilcohan Greyhound Stadium is in Ballytruckle townland and not in Kilcohan townland. The housing estate, Kilcohan is situated mainly in the townland of Ballytruckle.

Imelda Sullivan was aged 21 and was a sewing maid in the convent and she had been born in Australia.

Matthew Butler in his the “History of Gaultier” (1913)  tells us that the Danish invaders of Ireland were called various different names such as – Danes, Northmen or Ostmen but none of their leaders had  such a reputation for courage, ability and ferocity as Thorgil, or as he is also called Turgesius. From 830 to 845 he ravaged nearly all Ireland, but in the latter year he was defeated and put to death by Malachy, King of Meath. His name and fame were celebrated in various ways by his countrymen in Ireland, and so when the Danes were expelled from Waterford City by the Normans in 1171 they founded a village on the outskirts of the city and named it after Thorgil – Thorgil’s town. Later on these Danes became more Irish than English and adopting the Irish system of monenclature, called their village Ballythorgil, Ballythorkil. With the lapse of years the name became Ballythorkill or Ballyturkill and later on Ballytruckle as we know it today.

Michael Farrell