Cloncurkney

Geography

Cloncurkney is bounded on the north by Mullaghmore, Templeport and Kildoagh townlands, on the west by Gowlagh South townland, on the south by Gortaclogher townland and on the east by Corboy Glebe townland. Its chief geographical features are Bellaboy Lough, a stream, a wood and a spring well.

Cloncurkney is traversed by minor roads and rural lanes.

The townland covers 151 statute acres.

History

Up until the 19th century Cloncurkney also included the modern townland of Mullaghmore, Templeport as a subdivision.

The 1609 Baronial Map depicts the townland as Clonquirkin.

The 1665 Down Survey map depicts it as Clonquirke.

William Petty's 1685 map depicts it as Clonquirk.

In the Plantation of Ulster by grant dated 27 February 1610, King James VI and I granted one poll of Clonkurke to Donell Mc Owen O'Reyly, gentleman.

The O'Reilly lands in Cloncurkney were confiscated in the Cromwellian Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 and were distributed as follows:

In the Hearth Money Rolls of 1662 there were three people paying the Hearth Tax in Clankuirke- Patricke O Loghan, Shane O Loghan and Donogh McManus

A grant dated 7 July 1669 from King Charles II of England to John Skeffington, the 2nd Viscount Massereene included, inter alia, lands of Clounequirke containing 23 acres 1 rood and 36 perches profitable land and 15 acres of unprofitable land.

The Tithe Applotment Books for 1827 list four tithepayers in the townland.

Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists twenty eight landholders in the townland.

In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are seven families listed in the townland, and in the 1911 census of Ireland, there are eight families listed in the townland.

Antiquities

The only structures of historical interest in the townland are footbridges over the stream.