Westf^opp — Forests of the Counties of the Lower Shannon Valley, 295 



noted, " una ayeria accipetrum sup bosc' de Killeyney, vocat Goshawks," 

 Evidently such aeries were rare and vahiableeven in 1586. 



Eathkeale and Newcastle. — We continue our notes on the upper reach 

 of the Deel Valley before turning to the mountains of Luachra. In Eathkeale 

 parish lay a large forest with the proportionate name of Kyllbally- 

 mynteryroerke (Ballywinteryworkwood at present), or Beallalyvolloke. 

 There were others at Droomen or Ballywillen and Droomearde; but the 

 woods and underwoods near Eathkeale had been entirely destroyed (66-70). 

 Clonelty parish had woods at Ballino and Ballywolhan ; while there were 

 others at Garranglossok and Cappagh-Edmond, near Eathkeale (237-242). 



In Farrensesseragh, at Ballyegny, and back to Eathkeale were ten woods ; 

 but some consisted of a number of detached groves. The Toghe of Meaghan. 

 in Eathronan parish, had four woods, with a thicket in Dedanes. An iron- 

 stone mine is mentioned, works at which, of course, rapidly cleared away the 

 timber in the neighbourhood. Nearly every townland had thickets ; and 

 Matrasscourt Manor(210), Ballygonan, and Ballylondyrrigg had woods (164), 

 A forest lay at Crosbullog near Ardagh. 



(25) Newcastle Manor and Gortcoyth (the ancient Corcaoiche) had much 

 timber ; three woods at Kilrean, four at Ballyduff, five and two mines in 

 Eathkaell, eight and a mine at Slieve Glantan — for we are now on the slopes 

 of the hills in whose forests one of the most romantic episodes of the Desmonds' 

 history occurred. Thomas, Earl of Desmond, got benighted when hunting in 

 the hills to " the west of Newcastle," and, sheltering in the hut of a vassal, 

 saw, loved, and married a peasant bride, which cost him his earldom, and sent 

 him to die, after two years' exile, to Eouen in 1418. 



Slieve Luachra. — The glens of Glanskeigh, Glanmaggan, Glannacapparda, 

 and another glen in these hills, were deep in forests ; and four woods lay in 

 Glenquin, or Glannowhinn, itself (122-132). •' In Glannowhynn, in Sleloghre, 

 lay Knocknageeragh, alias the Sheepe's Hill woode," and six others in 

 Glanskeigh (177). The forests were endless here in 1586. There were four 

 along the face of the hills ; three near Gortocullen ; thickets, and two mines 

 of ironstone in Grannaghe, and others, with similar mines, at Ballynenagh. 

 There were thick woods at Glan Astaregh (Glenastaar), Lynebrannagh, 

 Corraclae, Ballypierce, or Ballyferris, called the Pierces' Wood ; and thickets 

 and ironstone mines in many other places. But we find the beginnings of 

 clearing wherever a village or mine is named (112). 



Newcastle, or Castleno, itself had divers woods and underwoods. One 

 formed the castle park, and was named En Parrick ; while five gardens 

 had timber, and Cullenagh, an ancient holly-wood, adjoined the castle 

 grounds. 



[44*] 



