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Papers: List of Papers 2002-06 |
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June Public Meeting |
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Jack Baker's paper entitled 'The Townland of Balcunnin', touched upon the different aspects composing its make up and the history of some of its owners & occupiers. Balcunnin is in the Barony of Balrothery & the civil parish of Lusk. From 1730 it formed part of the modern RC parish of Skerries & was once part of the manor of Rush that belonged to the Earl of Ormonde. The paper was a comprehensive survey of the geography, archaeology and principally the history of Balcunnin. Many interesting features were highlighted e.g There is a stream crossing the townland from west to east, unchanged from the position as shown on the 1st edition (1837-43) O.S. map. Its outlet at Holmpatrick is known as The Brook, having en route fed the millpond with its water, used for powering the water mill. The one archaeological feature in Balcunnin that is recorded by the National Monuments Section is the holy well known as Ladywell, venerated in living memory. The Lordship of Rush was given to Sir Theobald Fitzwalter Le Bottyler (d.1206). The Butlers continued to increase their land holdings over the next few centuries. Later the Blakeney family near Swords held Balcunnin for at least a century & a half. They were involved in the 1641 rebellion. George Blackney made a proclamation at the market place in Lusk, for men to assemble at Swords and Fingal was in the control of the combined rebel forces. In Balcunnin Mrs.Sarah Doughtie widow of the late Reverend Thomas Doughtie, vicar of Holmpatrick and Baldungan, was forcibly evicted and robbed by a gang of men. The government started to clear the rebels North of the city and defeated Netterville's forces at Swords. Some of the rebels had taken refuge in Baldungan Castle. Col. Crawford besieged it and spared none. George Blackney was indicted for high treason and expelled from the Irish Parliament. |
In 1613 an act was passed for repairing of highways. This act was further amended in 1727. It imposed a six-day annual obligation on the parishes. It remained in force for over one hundred and fifty year until 1765 A part of the old original road remains near the cricket club. Balcunnin was three hundred plantation acres in the Civil Survey of 1654-56, by estimation as compared to the present 577 statute acres. In 1666 Nicholas Coddington of Skerries obtained a lease of Balcunnin for 31 years. In 1730 the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin reorganised Lusk Parish into the parishes of Lusk, Rush, and Skerries. Balcunnin and Heathstown constituted part of the Skerries parish. Rocque's map of 1760 depicts an old windmill on the southeast side of the townland. This map also marks the road from Skerries to Lusk as the Hacketstown road turning right at Baldungan till it meets the present day road at Balcunnin. In 1798, 300 men assembled in Hynes field in Balcunnin with the intention of attacking the yoemanry in their barracks in Skerries and Balbriggan. The mail coach was seized near Ballough at 5am. The seizure of the mail coaches around Dublin was the signal to the rest of the country to implement a general uprising. The 1851 Census was the first printed account of all the townlands of Ireland. The censuses recorded between 1841 and 1911 show a sharp decline in the population of Balcunnin from 197 to 84. Balcunnin became part of the official Irish Racing Calendar. Meetings were held here annually from 1855, A grandstand was built, land improvements were made, drainage, and field divisions removed. A branch of Conradh Na Gaelige was founded in Balcunnin. It remained on the books for a short period from 1901-1907 . Its main purpose was the revitalisation of the Irish language, culture and sport. The audience was warm in its appreciation for Mr. Baker's thorough and painstaking research.
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