The
History of The HURLEYS of West Cork
This
is a summary of Irish history that indirectly or directly affected the Hurley
families of West Cork. A host of other detailed data not used here is in the
file “Hurley Bits”.
Before
1100
Background
History
The
south-west of Ireland was originally called Corca Laidhe and was the kingdom of
(who are now) the O’Driscolls, and their sub-clans until the arrival of the
tribes from the north.
The
Eóganachta were a Gaelic Irish dynasty, and were centred on Cashel (Co
Tipperary, Pr of Munster), and were the kings of Munster from at around 500 AD
to 978, after which it changed tribal hands several times until taken over by
the Dál gCais (Dalcassians) in 970, although battles continued for the
kingship.
The
Dál gCais were also a Gaelic Irish dynasty, Brian Bóru their best known king,
largely responsible for carving out their fortunes. The family built a
powerbase on the banks of the River Shannon and Brian's brother Mahon became
their first King of Munster in 970, taking the throne from the rival
Eóganachta.
After
centuries of this conflict between the Eoghanacht (whose chiefs became the
MacCarthys) and the Dal gCais (who became the O'Briens) over the rightful
occupancy of the Munster throne, Turlough O'Connor, King of Connacht, brokered
the Treaty of Glanmire in 1118, dividing the Kingdom into northern (Thomond),
to be ruled by the O'Briens, and southern (Desmond, which was the greater part,
covering some 4,500 square miles), ruled solely by the MacCarthys.
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| The Provinces and Counties of Ireland |
The
O’Hurleys were said to be part of that Eoganachta collection of clans under the
McCarthys, but there is no specific mention of them in this period.
c.1100
– c.1300
The
MacCarthys of Desmond
Muireadach
mac Carthaigh (????-1092) was King of Chaisil (Cashel?), and when he died his
sons Tadhg and Cormac adopted MacCarthaigh as an actual surname. Following the
treaty of Glanmire in 1118 (above), Tadhg became the first king of Desmond,
comprising parts of the modern counties of Cork and Kerry, and for the next 478
years the monarchy of Desmond was held, almost exclusively, by the MacCarthy
Mór ("the Great MacCarthy") branch of the this group of families.
MacCarthy
Family Sub-Groups
For
almost five centuries the MacCarthy dynasty dominated much of Munster. In
addition to the MacCarthy Mór (nominal head of all the MacCarthys, and who
dominated in south Kerry), there were three other related but distinct branches
-
MacCarthy
Reagh or Riabhach ("swarthy/grey"), based in the Barony of Carbery in
southwest Cork,
The
Duhallow (MacDonough) MacCarthys, who controlled northwest Co. Cork,
And
MacCarthy Muskerry on the Cork-Kerry border.
The
MacCarthy Reagh
This
ruling sub-sept of the MacCarthys is the one that the O’Hurleys are said to
have been attached to (and in time married into).
The
MacCarthy Reaghs descended from Donal Gott, who was a brother of Cormac Fionn,
King of Desmond (d. 1247-8). Donal Gott had briefly served as King (he was
slain in 1251) but the Principality of Carbery, and most of the subordinate
septs of MacCarthys within Carbery, stem from him.
The
MacCarthys Reagh seated themselves in southwest Co Cork, and in time their
descendants expanded their territories considerably and forged a small but
wealthy kingdom, distinct and independent from the larger Kingdom of Desmond,
and later from the Earldom of Desmond and from England, and lasting into the
early-mid 1600s. Their primary allies in the initially small territory were the
O'Donovans, and they ‘gained’ their West Cork lands from the original
residents, the O'Mahonys and the O'Driscolls.
Other
Families
Besides
the various MacCarthy septs in Desmond, there were many other prominent
families in the records (with much intermarriage among them) that are said to
have descended from a common ancient Eóganachta ancestor - O'Sullivans,
MacGillicuddys, O'Keefes, O'Kirbys, O'Moriartys, and O'Donoghues.
There
were also other important Eóganachta septs in the records who migrated to
Munster and Desmond at one time or another, including O'Donovans, O'Driscolls,
O'Mahonys, O'Callaghans, O'Dalys, O'Crowleys, O'Learys, and O'Collins.
The
O’Hurleys (as a ‘prominent’ or ‘important’ family group) aren’t recognised in
the clan heirachy in the records at this time.
The
Norman Invasion
In
1169 Norman mercenaries landed in Ireland at the request of Dermot MacMurragh,
the ousted King of Leinster, who had sought their help in regaining his
kingdom. Dermot and the Normans seized Leinster within weeks and launched raids
into neighbouring kingdoms, having the backing of King Henry II of England and
the Pope.
In
1170 there were two further Norman landings, led by Richard
"Strongbow" de Clare, and in 1171 Strongbow assumed control of
Leinster and seized the Norse-Irish city kingdoms of Dublin, Waterford, and
Wexford.
The
Irish High King Rory O'Connor led an inneffective counter-offensive, so King
Henry landed a large Anglo-Norman army to get control of both the mercenaries
(who handed over their recently conquered territory) AND the Irish. Many Irish
kings submitted to him, likely in the hope that he would curb further
expansion, but after Henry's departure in 1172, the Norman-Irish battles
continued.
In
1177 Henry declared his son John to be "Lord of Ireland" (that is,
the whole country) and authorized his Norman lords to conquer more land, and
the territory they held became the Lordship of Ireland and formed part of the
Angevin Empire. The largely successful nature of the invasion was due to the
Normans' military superiority (armour-clad knights etc), their program of
castle-building, the lack of a unified opposition from the Irish, and the
Catholic Church's support for Henry's intervention.
Henry
handed out huge estates to his Norman Barons, who built castles along the coast
from Kenmare to Cork, but the Irish heavyweights (holding the still wild and
heavliy-forested hinterland) only paid lip service to the new order, and when
the Anglo-Norman FitzGeralds became the Earls of Desmond, it was “...a claim
which they found easier to state than enforce, and though MacCarthy Mor and
MacCarthy Reagh admitted their claim, and agreed to pay tribute, it’s doubtful
if the Earls ever got much, if anything, from them.”
The
“peace” didn’t last long, as the Anglo-Normans were attacked in 1173 by
MacCarthy (“King of Cork”, presumably MacCarthy Mor), then in 1261 Finghin
MacCarthy heavily defeated them at Callan near Kilgarvan in Kerry, which
resulted in many of their Carbery castles being taken over.
Finghin
MacCarthy (also known as Fineen of Ringrone), was King of Desmond from 1251 to
his death in 1261, shortly after his famous victory over John FitzGerald, 1st
Baron Desmond at the Battle of Callann. He was the son of Donal Gott MacCarthy,
King of Desmond and founder of the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty.
It
was largely Finghin MacCarthy's victory against the Geraldines that preserved
Gaelic Desmond for the next three centuries.
A
“settlement” around 1280 formally allotted “Desmond south of the Lee” to the
Carbery MacCarthys.
c.1300
- c.1500
The Struggles For Power
The
MacCarthy Reagh dynasty became very successful during the 1300s to 1500s,
accumulating great wealth and possessing what was at times the most formidable,
although not the largest, army in the Desmond region.
But
like most of Ireland in these times, Carbery was beset by constant struggles
for power and territory, including the MacCarthy Reagh (and their attached
families, which would’ve surely included the O’Hurleys), who were in frequent
conflict with the MacCarthy Mor AND the MacCarthys of Duhallow (in 1306
Domhnall Gott MacCarthy imprisoned, in his own house at Ballymoney, then
beheaded, Domhnall og MacCarthy, who would have been eligble for the kingship
of Desmond). But ALL of these powerful Irish families were generally in
conflict with the Earl of Desmond Fitzgeralds and the Earl of Kildare
FitzMaurices.
In
the early 1400s the MacCarthys ousted the de Courceys from their castle at
Kilbrittain, which became their main seat, and in 1477 were involved in “...a
battle in the Barretts country, in and around the castle of Carrigrohane...”
(4kms west of Cork on the Lee) and “...war spread throughout Munster and all
the south was destroyed, Gall and Gael.”
But
– demonstrating the ebb and flow of power politics in these times - it was in
the latter part of this period that Catherine (1452-1506, dau of Thomas
FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond, and wife of MacCarthy Reagh) had the castles
at Benduff (parish of Ross) and Dunmanway built.
Some
“Old” O’Hurleys of Carbery
The
West Carbery Hurley name actually derives from the Irish “O Murthuile” and when
Anglicised should have been as “Murley”. But over some early confused (and
wrong) association with the Knocklong Ui Urthuile clan (which also became
Anglicised to Hurley) this incorrect spelling for the Carbery Hurleys was used
and it stuck.
At
some time before about 1300 various branches of the Carbery Hurleys (under
MacCarthy Reagh) must have taken up lands in Co Cork, as it’s accepted that the
surname O Murthuile existed in West Cork several hundred years before the
Ballinacarriga period in the late 1500s, but there’s little mention of them,
other than...
In
1260 a “Gilleranav Omurthyle accompanied Finghin MacCarthy of Carbery in a raid
on Norman lands”.
(Finghin
MacCarthy, son of Domhnall, started an all out war against the Normans in 1260,
taking out the coastal castles of Dunalong (Baltimore), Dunamark (Bantry),
Dun-na-nGall (off Baltimore), Barrett’s Glandore Castle, and 3-4 others. Many
prominent families such as the O’Donovans are cited as being involved, so it’s
interesting that at least one of the O’Hurleys gets a mention by the MacCarthys
as bring in their company. This was the lead up to The Battle Of Callann 1261,
but as important as Callann was, there is no record of the participants other
than a few “famous” amid the dead).
In
the early 1300s there’s a reference (in a genealogical poem of Cathan O'Duinnin
written in 1320 containing 126 stanzas) to “the nobles of the Ui Mhuirthile”,
said to be derived from one Murthuile Mor, described as “the pupil of Colman”,
but even this is uncertain, but this scant record at least suggests that they
were well up in the heirachy under the MacCarthy Reagh.
There’s
nothing else, other than the following West Cork “Murley” O’Hurleys in church
records, but these imply that (at least some) from this period were well
educated and well connected, which also implies there was already some landed
family wealth to support the education of probably lesser sons...
In
1391 a “John Omurchily” was a priest of Ross diocese, declared to be in
wrongful possession of the vicarage of Lislee (just south-east of Cork city).
In
1411-1413 one “Renaldus Omurchali” was a canon of Cork diocese. (A canon was a
non-priest official attached to a cathedral).
In
1421 “Donaldus Omurchile” apparently transferred to Killaloe diocese, nominated
his relative “Johannes Omurchile” (who died in 1464) as vicar of Fanlobbus
parish.
In
1464 a “Reginald Imurhyle” (who lectured in canon law at Oxford) was reinstated
as rector of Ballymoney. He was also referred to as “Raghnall O Muirhily”.
In
1469 and 1471 a “Reginald Imurhyle” (the above?) was canon of Ross (and
possibly also canon of York in 1470, but not sure how that fits).
In
1494 a “Reynaldus Ymirtaly” was perpetual vicar of Fanlobbus.
In
1510 a “Reynaldus Ymirtaly” junior (maybe implying ‘the younger’, but
presumably not the son of the priest above, maybe a nephew?) was a canon of
Cork.
In
1517–1519 “John O Murrilly” was bishop of Ross. (Also known as Seaan O'Murily,
formerly the abbot of Maure (Abbeymahon). Died on 9 January 1519. This John was
a nephew of the previous bishop Edmund de Courcy, who had resigned in John’s
favour). John is buried in Timolegue friary.
The
Implications?
The
interesting part above is the clear connection to Ballymoney and Fanlobbus
parishes right through the 1400s, suggesting a well-established O’Hurley
support base in that area from at least those times.
Tower
houses started being built by the Irish chiefs (who largely held all the wooded
hinterland) from about the early 1400s, in response to the Normans 20-odd
“castles” in their territories along the Co Cork coast. It’s thought at one
time or another the MacCarthys had 16, the O’Mahoneys 14, the O’Cowhigs
(O’Coffey) 7, and the O’Hurleys 5, but there’s no suggestion of Hurley tower
houses before the mid-1500s, so presumably before that they only had fortified
raths (like most lesser chiefs, and the countryside is littered with these
sites) to operate from while they consolidated their lands and influence.
But
“...with the reality of being dependent on the MacCarthys, many of the lesser
tribes found themselves in a precarious position... (and) anxious to hang onto
what land they had (many) surrendered their territory to the MacCarthy Reaghs
(like the O’Driscolls in 1585)... amongst them the O’Hurleys (and others) all
of whom had castles.”
c.1500
- 1640
The
West Cork O’Hurleys
Regularly
caught up in the big politics of the times, this period saw the consolidation
of those O’Hurley families who had become West Cork land-holders of
middleweight power and status, through battle alliances and marriage, and it’s
said that...
“The
O’Hurleys were powerful in West Cork, subject to the McCarthy Reagh, and had
(or were attached to) castles at Ballinacarriga and Ballinward (which they
built), and Derry, Mounteen, and Ballinroher (built by the McCarthys in 1631),
and also had (the townlands of) Templebryan, Clonakilty, Kilmeen, Liscubba,
Caherconway, Knockea, Letter, Knocks, Lisnabrinna, and Cloun-carrigeen,
virtually a strip of land from Ballinacarriga to Clonakilty.”
Ballinacarriga
and Ballinward tower houses (and Glan townland) are in Ballymoney parish, the
(“older”?) townlands of Ardcahane and Nedinagh that are associated with them
are in Fanlobbus, and the rest above are in Kilmeen and Kilgariff. Balleymoney
and Fanlobbus seem to be the early epicentre of Hurley power, but that
“...strip of land from Ballinacarriga to Clonakilty...” quote is misleading, as
the lands in that strip held by the O’Hurleys in 1641 (and they have no lands
elsewhere in Co Cork) are a scattering of only about 20 townlands, of a total
of 195 over the 6 “strip” parishes of Ballymoney, Kilgariff, Kilmeen,
Castleventry, Drinagh, and Fanlobbus.
But,
this apparently smallish proportion in no way diminishes the power and status
of the O’Hurleys at that time, as they had fortified tower houses on their
lands at a time when not many did, and had made strategic marriages with the de
Courcey, McCarthy, and Collins dynasties.
And
while there seems to be only two (maybe three) land-holding O’Hurley septs
through to the mid-1600s, there would also have been other related O’Hurley families
who simply kept attached to them, and were afforded some protection from the
near constant rebellion and fighting and misery in Co Cork. But, eventually
this period would see the final fall and disposession of just about all of the
Irish Catholic clans, chiefs or otherwise, including all of the Cork O’Hurleys.
The
lead up to this happened in three stages...
[1]
The First Desmond Rebellion of 1569
In
June 1569, the (by now) Anglo-Irish FitzGeralds of Desmond and their followers,
along with allied Irish clans, attacked the English colony at Kerrycurihy south
of Cork city, then Cork itself, and even the native lords who refused to join
the rebellion.
The
Desmond forces lost, and the English lords devastated the lands of FitzGerald's
allies in a scorched earth policy. (A half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh was
the most notorious for terror tactics, killing civilians at random and setting
up corridors of severed heads at the entrance to his camps).
All
of the local chiefs had submitted by the end of the rebellion, including Donal
MacCarthy Mór in November 1569. But in the aftermath of the uprising, Gaelic
customs such as Brehon Laws, Irish dress, bardic poetry and the maintaining of
"private armies" were outlawed and suppressed, and Irish landowners
continued to be threatened by the arrival of English colonists to settle on
land confiscated from the Irish. All of these factors meant that, when FitzGerald
returned from Europe to start a new rebellion, plenty of people in Munster were
willing to join him.
[2]
The Second Desmond Rebellion of 1579
This
was the more widespread and bloody of the two Desmond Rebellions launched by
the FitzGerald dynasty in Munster, against English rule in Ireland.
It
began in July 1579 when FitzGerald landed in Ireland with a force of Papal
troops, triggering an insurrection across the south among the Desmond dynasty,
their allies, and others who were dissatisfied with English government of the
country.
The
rebellion ended with the 1583 death of Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Desmond,
and the defeat of the rebels. After this point, the English authorities in
Dublin established real control over Ireland for the first time, bringing a
centralised form of justice to the entire island, and successfully disarmed the
various lordships, both Irish and Old English. (O'Neill, O'Donnell and their
allies subsequently fled Ireland for good in the “Flight of the Earls” in 1607.
which removed the last major obstacle to English government in Ireland).
After
three years of scorched earth warfare by the English, Munster was racked by
famine. In April 1582 it was estimated that 30,000 people had died of hunger in
the previous six months, and plague broke out in Cork city, where the country
people had fled to avoid the fighting.
But
starvation and plague continued long after the war had ended, and it is
estimated that by 1589 one-third of the province's population had died -
“In
those late wars in Munster; for notwithstanding that the same was a most rich
and plentiful country, full of corn and cattle, that you would have thought
they could have been able to stand long, yet ere one year and a half they were
brought to such wretchedness, as that any stony heart would have rued the same.
Out of every corner of the wood and glens they came creeping forth upon their
hands... they spoke like ghosts crying out of their graves... that in a short
space there were none almost left, and a most populous and plentiful country
suddenly left void of man or beast.”
[3]
The Unrest of 1641-1691
The
fifty years from 1641 to 1691 saw two catastrophic periods of war in Ireland -
1641–53, and 1689–91. These wars pitted Irish Catholics on one side and the
British forces and the Protestant “settlers” on the other.
As
punishment for the rebellion of 1641 (which included the arrival of Cromwell
and his Roundheads part way through), almost all lands owned by Irish Catholics
were confiscated and given to British settlers, Catholics were barred from the
Irish Parliament altogether, and forbidden to live in towns and from marrying
Protestants (although not all of these laws were strictly enforced).
Some
Irish Catholic chiefs managed to get back some lands and status after the 1641
rebellion, but very few, mainly only the Donovans in West Cork, but not the
Hurleys. But after the 1691 rebellions, the confiscations and Penal Laws were
fairly much fully enforced.
It
has been calculated that up to a third of Ireland's population died in these
wars, either in fighting, or in the accompanying famine and plague, which is
why the Cromwellian conquest left bitter memories in Irish popular culture.
1640
– c.1700
This
is the period of huge cultural and economic change, when the O’Hurleys (and most
other Irish Catholics) lost their lands and tower houses and became subservient
to the “planted” English landlords.
It
can only be assumed that the family heads and one or two sons actually living
in each townland at the time of confiscation would’ve stayed put and simply
(not necessarily happily!!) become tenant farmers, while those without prior
tenure would have had to scrabble for what they could, or join the British
army. There were few other options.
There
were only two (maybe three) landed West Cork O’Hurley family groups at the time
of confiscation, these grouped tightly together in East Carbery from just above
Dunmanway to about Clonakilty. Nowhere else.
In
the 1641 Down Survey of the Irish lands confiscated by the English Crown, only
two Hurley groups are shown in Co Cork...
The
“Ballinacarriga” O’Hurleys
 |
| Ballinacarriga castle, Ballymoney parish Co Cork |
This
undoubtably had been the most powerful family group of the two, and “...there
is a tradition that before Ballynacarriga castle was built (1585) there was a
residence where some remains are still at a place called Gloun, about a mile to
the south... (this must surely be the rath in Glan townland)... (and it’s)
evident from their possessions and marriages... they were wealthy and
powerful.”
It’s
said that from 1530 to 1740 there was “an unbroken line of eight Randal Oge
Hurleys in Ballinacarriga” (that is, each being the eldest son of the eldest
son, but this is in the townland, as the castle and lands were lost around
1650, probably by the third in line, the grandson of the castle’s builder).
The
townlands they finally lost in 1641 – Inchafune, Ednecurra, Cloonkirgeen,
Ardcahan, Kilcaskan, Buddrimeen, Ardea (all of these had been reinstated to
them after the 1601 rebellion).
The
“Ballinward” O’Hurleys
 |
| Ballinward castle, Kilmeen parish, Co Cork |
“The
Ballinward branch of the family has little recorded history...”, and the main
document held is the 1641 will of William McRandal O’Hurley of Ballinward,
ironically made just before the estates he was handing on to his descendants
was confiscated.
“In
the Ballinward branch of the Hurleys are the names William McRandal, William
Oge, David, David McWilliam, Morris McWilliam. They had a considerable tract of
land in the area”.
The
Ballinvard castle was said to have been built by the O’Hurleys in the “latter
part of the 1500s, possible as part of a Ballinacarriga-Templebryan defensive
chain.”
The
townlands they lost in 1641 – Letter, Caherlisky, Bunannmera, Liscubba,
Kilmeen, Gortnadihy, Milleenagun, Knockea, Lisnabrinny, Maulcarragh, and
Ballinward (all of these had all been reinstated to them after the 1601
rebellion).
The
“Inchidowney” O’Hurleys
This
may just be an extension of the Ballinward family, but in 1641 a David Hurley
lost the adjoined townlands of Youghals and Inchidowney in Kilgarrif parish,
down below Clonakilty, quite separate from the two above.
There
is also another reference to a David Hurley losing “pt. of Kilberry” in Co
Cork, but presumably this is Kilbarry north of Bandon half way to Crookstown,
and is well seperated from any of the others.
“Pender’s
Census” of 1654 and 1659
This
“census” was done for Cromwell’s Commonwealth government, probably as part of
the Down Survey, a return of the inhabitants of most of the country, arranged
in counties, baronies, parishes and townlands.
The
number of English, Irish and Scotch in each townland was noted, but these
designations are vague – “Irish” may refer to those who speak the language and
English may refer to only the newest settlers. (There are no Scotch settlers in
Munster and Connacht, where the Irish outnumbered the English by a ten to one
ratio).
It
also records the names of those with titles to land, referred to as
“Tituladoes”, who may have been a land-owner, “but not necessarily”(?). It also
recorded the principal Irish surnames in each Barony (with a number against it
that probably denotes households).
Of
the returns that still exist, in all of East Carbery there were 45 “Hurley”,
but none shown as “Tituladoes”. In West Carbery and all other Baronies there
are no Hurleys at all. This confirms that up to the mid-late 1600s at least, no
Hurleys had ever moved out of their East Carbery homeland. Which is fair
enough, because in the times when “might is right”, everywhere else was
potentially hostile.
c.1700
to 1845
Background
events – c.1700 to 1801
1696
Duty
on Irish linen to England removed to encourage the industry.
1697
Law
banning burials in Catholic graveyards.
1704
The
Catholic clergy had to be registered.
1708
Cork
repeals by-laws hindering city’s Catholic merchants.
1710
The
last wolf in Co Cork was killed near Kilcrea Abbey.
1711
The
Linen Board est to help promote the Irish industry.
1730
The
potato is Ireland’s staple diet for 3 months of the year.
1740
Famine
for two years from bad winters
1749
A
regular post was established between Cork and Skibbereen.
1761
The
Whiteboy disturbances starts in Ulster.
1770
Wooden
wheels introduced in West Cork, 40” diam, 6” thick.
1780
The
potato is the staple diet for most of rural Ireland.
1785
The
population of Ireland doubles to 4 million (since 1700).
1794
The
United Irishmen suppressed in Dublin, become a secret society.
1796
The
Irish Linen Board published a list of nearly 60,000 individuals in 1796.
Spinning wheels were awarded based on the number of acres planted. People who
planted one acre were awarded 4 spinning wheels and those growing 5 acres were
awarded a loom. (Also known as the Spinning Wheel list or the Flax Growers
Bounty). There are 1,071 listed in Co Cork, over most of West Cork, some as far
as Bantry, but these are the only Hurleys...
Fanlobbus
– 3 Hurleys, 3 wheels
Ballymoney
– 6 Hurleys, 11 wheels
Kilmeen
- 3 Hurleys, 3 wheels
Castleventry
– 2 Hurleys, 4 wheels
Drinagh
- 5 Hurleys, 8 wheels
Kilgarrif
- 1 Hurley, 1 wheel
The rest of Co Cork -
Ross
(between Clon & Skib) – 3 Hurleys
Ardfield
(on coast below Clon) – 2 Hurleys
Kilkerranmore
(just west of Clon) – 2 Hurleys
Desertserges
(between Bandon & D’way) – 1 Hurley
Dromdaleague (between D’way & Bantry) – 1 Hurley
Dromdaleague (between D’way & Bantry) – 1 Hurley
Clearly
there’s a big concentration in the “homeland”, but does this “Rest of Co Cork”
group suggest that the westward migration of Hurleys had been happening for
some time?
1798
United
Irishmen insurrection, Vinegar Hill, Wolfe Tone, Gen Humbert.
1801
The
Union of Great Britain and Ireland enacted, governed ex London.
The
Westward Migration
From
‘The Story of West Carbery’...
“It
would be difficult to trace... all the persons who flocked into West Carbery
between 1600 and 1800, but it would appear that, during that time, three of the
great tribes – the McCarthys, O’Driscolls, and O’Mahoneys – entirely
disappeared as landowners.” (And if they did, then surely the O’Hurleys even
more so).
“After
the close of the hectic 1600s, and the disposal of the lands... Carbery seems
to have passed into a subdued and comparatively peaceful condition... (due to)
most of the chiefs gone... and the very harsh Penal Laws. Accordingly only
scrappy... local items are now available...”
From
a clear concentration of the limited West Cork Hurley families in one small
East Carbery area c.1650, there must have been quite a population growth and
westward migration some time in the next 150 years, because the Co Cork data
from Irish Heritage’s Births, Marriages, & Deaths (from c.1810), the Tithes
(c.1825 pre-Famine), and Griffiths (c.1855 post-Famine) shows Hurleys scattered
everywhere over West Cork, many still in their old “homeland” but also across
to north of Bantry and west and southwest to all regions. But oddly, not a lot
into East Cork.
The
1820s “Tithe Applotment Survey” was a survey of all holders of agricultural land
(whether owner or tenant, Catholic or Protestant) for payments to support the
Protestant Church Of Ireland. A rough analysis of all Hurl(e)ys listed (one
entry for each holding so some farmers could be in two or three times) shows
for a total of 904, the strongest concentrations being in the Counties of Cork
531 (that’s 60%), then Limerick 78, Clare 50, Waterford 43, Tipperary 38 (that
is, the ancient homeland counties, at 25%).
Then,
within Co Cork’s 60%, most are in the earliest settled East Carbery parishes of
Fanlobbus (the biggest single one at 48), Kilmichael, Kilmacabea, Caheragh,
Drinagh, Ballymoney, and Inchigeelah, but the big western Cork parishes of
Kilmocomoge and Durrus are also significant.
But
the other records for the “native” Catholic Irish during this (pre-Famine)
period are sketchy at best, as they had little status, few rights, and a
persecuted religion, which is why it’s so hard for researchers to make positive
connections before the early-mid 1800s. But these snapshots at least suggest
something about the East Carbery Hurleys’ lives.
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This
is the point where a certain Timothy Hurley and his daughter Catherine enter
history, and together set off a line of descendants in South Australia.
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