Near
this article we feature a fine sepia tint
photograph taken in about 1918 and showing a
family group, the Bawnaneal O'Learys from
Augheras. Who were these people, and where
is Bawnaneal?
Bawnaneal
is a sub-division of the
townland of Augheras, and is
situated in the Northern
part, forming about one
quarter of that townland.
We have other examples of
townlands being sub-divided
such as Copse in
Keamcorravooly. These
are usually large townlands,
and the names of the
sub-divisions, whilst still
well known locally, are
rarely shown anywhere on a
map.
Augheras has an
unusual history. It
was part of the Civil Parish
of Uibh Laoghaire, but for
much of its time did not
come under the rule of the
O'Learys, the paramount
chieftains. Instead,
it was peopled by McCarthy
families and a McCarthy
chieftain. McCarthy of
Augheras was descended from
Donncha an Drumin, the
sixth son of Cormac Fionn
who was MacCarthy mor in
ad.1247. By 1640
there was a separate area
called Greater Augheras
which was owned by this
McCarthy family, and which
included the present
townlands of Carrigbaun,
Cahernacaha, Gurteenflugh,
Lackabaun, Carrignadoura,
Lyrenageeha, Gurteenowen,
Derreenclodig, Coomdorragha,
Derreenabourky,
Gortnaloughra, Scrahanmore,
Keamcorravooly,
Gorteenakilla and Augheras.
Fifteen townlands in all,
under the rule of McCarthy
Eachruis. Note that
these Augheras McCarthys
were not related to the
Muskerry McCarthys, but
instead claimed allegiance
to McCarthy Mor in Co.Kerry.
Chris Daniel's house was
the centre of Bawnaneal and
is shown on some old maps as
"Augheras Castle".
There is no evidence that
there was ever a tower house
there, but there may well
have been a Ringfort, and
this Ringfort was probably
the home of the ruling
McCarthy of Augheras.
By the 18th.c.
these McCarthys had
disappeared, and Augheras
townland in the Griffiths
Survey includes three
separate O'Leary families
who are substantial tenants
to the landlord, William
B.Hoare. Farm 2A is
shown as 78 acres and farmed
by Cornelius Leary in 1854.
This Cornelius was the son
of Timothy Leary and Ellen
Sullivan. He was born
in 1823 and married
Catherine Barry.
Cornelius died young however
and there then followed a
complicated series of
marriages in which the
widow, Catherine married
John, Cornelius' cousin, and
John married Mary Sullivan
in 1858 following
Catherines' death.
Daniel, born 1866 was the
eldest child of the marriage
of John Leary of Bawnaneal
and Mary Sullivan. He
inherited the tenancy of the
78 acre farm and married
Mary Murphy from Gortluachra
in 1891. They are the
parents in the picture,
surrounded by ten of their
eleven children, Con having
died before the picture was
taken.
These
O'Learys were O'Leary Breac
from Dromanalig, related to
the O'Leary Breac in
Glasheen. They were often
known as the Barnaby
O'Learys and should not be
confused with the other big
O'Leary family in Augheras,
the Diamond O'Learys who
were a branch of O'Leary
Riabhach from Derryvane.
John in the picture had a
family, several of whom now live in Dublin.
Danny also had a family. Bawnaneal House was
sold in recent times to Chris and Pauline Daniels
from England