tullydonnell o'callaghan

Tullydonnell O'Callaghan (586 statute acres 2 roods and 26 perches) lies about five miles due east of Crossmaglen straddling the A29 from Newtownhamilton to Dundalk about a mile and a half south of Ford's Cross. In the Tithe Applotment Books the area of the townland (then known as Tullydonnell Nixon) was recorded as 359 acres 3 roods and 3 perches (Plantation Irish measure). It is bounded on the north by Legmoylin, on the east by Carrive, on the south by Tullydonnell (Gage) and on the west by Glassdrumman.

Name of Townland

Tullach Dónail, "Daniel's hill of O'Donnell's hill" ⁽¹⁾.

There are five townlands called 'Tullydonnell' in Ireland. They are in Counties Armagh (2), Louth (1) and Donegall (Tullydonnell Upper and Tullydonnell Lower).

There are two Tullydonnell townlands in Co. Armagh - Tullydonnell Gage and Tullydonnell O'Callaghan. John Donaldson, in his 'Account of the Barony of Upper Fews" (1838), says -

"There are three townlands of the name of Tullydonnell which take their name from their former proprietors - to wit, Tullydonnell Nixon, Tullydonnell Gage and Tullydonnell Tichburn or Ballinaclosh." (Note 16 p.103)

The Creggan 1766 Census is of a single townland. If we assume that subsequently the townland was split between the different owners, then Tullydonnell (Nixon) and Tullydonnell (O'Callaghan) are the same. Tullydonnell Gage remains as before and Tullydonnell Tichburn is Ballynaclosha. The 1664 and 1766 details have been incorporated in both the Tullydonnell (Gage) and Tullydonnell (O'Callaghan) pages.

Ordnanace Survey Name Books: Creggan Parish ⁽²⁾

TULLYDONNELL NIXON [Tullydonnell O'Callaghan] (OSNB ii 47): Two good bye roads Intersect each other In the centre of this td. The dwellings scattered thro' this td. are very numerous, small and despicable. It Is held In small farms, principally under tillage. Of a light soil growing indifferent crops.
It contains 586..2..26 of which 1..1..20 Is uncultivated and Bog, & 2..2..32 water.

Griffiths Valuation (1854) records that the whole of the townland was owned by Mary Anne O'Callaghan.

Census of Ireland 1901

In Census the 48 households enumerated contained 183 people occupying 109 rooms - an average of 3.8 persons per household and 1.7 persons per room. Forty of the households occupied houses with two rooms, two with three rooms, two with four rooms and one with five rooms. There were three one-room cabins.

Native Irish Speakers

Of the 48 households enumerated in 1901, 22 contained at least one native Irish speaker - a total of 37 in all. Since theirs was the last generation to have been born into a predominently Irish speaking environment, their names are recorded here. All were born in Co. Armagh, with the exception of Ellen Garvey born in Co. Galway.

Population Decline

The following table sets out the number of houses and population enumerated in the townland in each of the 11 Censuses held between 1841 and 1951.

In the period of 110 years, the number of households more than halved (55%) and the population dropped by 65%. The largest drop (53%) was in the 60 years to 1901reflecting the continuing effects of the Great Famine, emigration and lack of rural employment opportunities. In the 50 years to 1951 the decline was more modest.

Names of House and Land Holders

All the Valuations since Griffiths identified those with houses in the townland and those who while living elsewhere leased or owned land there. The Census of Ireland enumerated only households in the townland. The following table uses this approach.

Although the data is not strictly comparable since the information was gathered for different purposes and used varying criteria, the details provide a comparison of the names of house and land holders who were listed in the Townland at the different periods. While we can not discern the direct lines of descent it is clear that many are from the same families.