TOURIN

COMMUNITY HALL NOTES

This week we stay in the area of ‘Walsh’s Boreen’ or the road to the ‘Cooples’ (when you leave Tourin Hall and turn right towards Cappoquin, you then take the first right turn off the main road). This road brings you down to ‘Coople’s Quay’.

COOPLES

Cooples Quay was the river quay that was used by the owners of Norrisland Castle (home to Valentinre Greatrakes). Local products such as timber, linen and cider were exported from this quay and other quays along the Blackwater up to the middle of the 20th century. It is located at a beautiful peaceful spot where you often see fishermen and other personnel relaxing and taking in the fabulous views. ‘Walsh’s Boreen’ is a relatively quiet road which is used by locals for walking. It is also a great spot to do a bit of kayaking from as is very accessible from mid-tide to high tide times.

A roadside lectern placed at the quay (erected by Cappoquin Heritage Group) shows a picture of a house and cattle drinking at the quay at high tide. The quay is linked with the house in the picture and the family who used to live there called the Crowley’s. The house is now a ruin and totally overgrown with ivy but the gable-end can still be identified today. Apparently, the family emigrated to the UK abandoning the building, some of the family were traced to New Zealand. If anyone has further information on the family or details on the quay I’d love to have it, please email me with the details and I’ll post an update.

There is a sign erected at the quay naming it Tourin Quay. Tourin Quay is a private quay that is located further down river and is utilised by Tourin Castle and House. The clue in relation to the location of Tourin Quay is perhaps in the name! Maybe, someone could see fit to assist in the correction of this error!

BOTHAR NA NAOMH

Also, a fact not widely known is that just a few short metres down river from Cooples Quay is the old ford which was used by many for crossing the river (at low tide) as ‘Cooples’ is one of the shallowest parts of the Blackwater. This is where St. Declan crossed the Blackwater (via the roadway historically knows as Bothar na Naomh) as he made his way from the Reiligin Deaglain in Drumroe to Ardmore.

Bothar na Naomh continues on the other side of the river Blackwater from ‘Cooples’ through Affane and Knockalara. Most of the Bothar na Naomh in these areas is untraceable but the route can be picked up again further on in Knocknaskeragh, Keereen and followed through Geoish and Clashmore culminating in Ardmore.

If you go west from ‘Cooples’ Bothar na Naomh travels toward Lismore and connects with the route to Cashel east of the ‘Round Hill’. Here, there was another old ford of the river Blackwater as this area was also a shallow traversable region of the river at low tide.

I still think we should have been included in the new and fabulously advertised St. Declan’s Way, but there you go….

Ah shur at least we have a genuine piece of St. Declan’s history on our doorstep!

The information above has been sourced from local knowledge and https://www. dib. ie/ biography/greatrakes-valentine Cappoquin Heritage Group’s “A Brief Guide to an Area’s Rich heritage” (compiled by Cappoquin Heritage Group in 2007).

HOW TO CONTACT US

Don’t forget if you have any news or you wish us to bring something to the attention of committee members you can drop us a line on tourincommunitycompanyltd@gmail.com

We will be delighted to hear from you. Don’t forget to pop over to the sporting pages where Colm Bennett (TourinPRO@gmail.com) will keep you up to date on all the local sporting events in Tourin.

TOURIN GAA USED CLOTHING COLLECTION

Don’t forget, if you are planning a wardrobe or hot-press clean out in the coming weeks, keep our local GAA club in mind. They are holding a Used Clothing Collection this Saturday, 2nd July at the hall and will be delighted with your donations. Ah go on, you know you have been putting off that clean out… what better excuse then to assist your local club in its fundraising.