Thomas Moland's Maps, (1703)

[Sduddy]

Thomas Moland's maps of the estate of the Earl of Thomond (on microfilm, Petworth Collection, Clare Library Local Studies Centre) includes one of "Moyhery Farm", which is strikingly good. The outline is very close to the outline of nine present-day townlands which lie in the south-east lobe of Kilkeedy parish: Derrylumane, Cregaunycahill, Coolbane, Knocktermon, Shanballysallagh, Monreagh, Castlequarter, Addergoole and Dromeen (Dromeen is now in the parish of Ruan, but was once in Kilkeedy).

Even more remarkable is that the total acreage given in the reference for the map is 1083 acres, - Irish acres, presumably. This corresponds quite closely to the 1,934 English acres, the total - going on Griffith's figures - for these present-day townlands. Calculations based on the formula: 1 Irish acre = 7840 sq. yds., 1 English acre = 4480 sq. yds, show a difference of only 39 English acres (22 Irish acres) between Moland and Griffith. Taking into consideration that Griffith's includes water, the difference may be even less. It looks like the methods for calculating area did not change much in the intervening 150 years.

Writing on Thomas Moland's maps in The Other Clare Vol.XI, Brian O'Dalaigh hopes that there will be further research. Have there been any other articles?

Sheila

[mcreed]

1850s map of Kilkeedy Parish showing townlands
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... nlands.htm