Ard Manách Beg - Small Height of the Monk ( Monk's Height ) - 5 Acres
Ardmanning Beg - 1890 OSi Map
Aerial photo - 1951
There is , like its neighbouring Townland ( see Ardmanning More )
of the same name , much speculation as to the origin or indeed the
actual meaning of the name. It is not named in the Down Survey and like its bigger sibling , Ardmanning More , may have been a sub-townland.It also holds two distinctions ; it is the
smallest Townland in Togher , being only 5 acres in size and it is also the only Townland in Togher to be completely landlocked by other Townlands , being surrounded by Ardmanning More to its north , Killeenreendowney to it east and Clashduff to it west and Deanrock to its south. Given its small stature , the title Ardmanning came to be applied not only to the two Townlands but also to tracts of Killeenreendowney and Clashduff. Ardmanning as a name is tidally locked to Togher.
Ardmanning Beg ( Data from Townlands.ie )
Ardmanning Beg may possibly have been the dwelling place of a monk who
most likely would have lived a solitary life in a stone beehive shaped
abode. Following the Norman invasion of 1169 , the old Irish form of
christianity was superseded by the Gregorian Reforms and the townland
was brought under church control becoming like most of Togher a part of
the Manor of Fayd. It was leased out to the Gold family for many
centuries who in turn sublet it to small tenants. However the
Cromwellian Confiscations of the 17th Century saw the land ( including
nearby Clashduff and others ) transferred to the French family who would
be landlords right up to the late 20th Century! The land although
primarily used for grazing of cattle was also the abode of several
tenants down through the years including Patrick Dorgan and Robert
McDonnell with Daniel Foley and Geoffrey O'Connell living there circa
1827. By 1850 , Edward Miller was a tenant with Edward French living in a
lodge which was part of the Clashduff estate , also owned by the French
family. The townland has seen many owners over the last 1000 years ,
with houses being built and subsequently being knocked. By the 1950s
Bannions and O'Briens would be residents of two houses fronting onto
Togher Road ( that section also known locally as Ardmanning Hill ). 1970 and 1971 would see the completion of the new housing schemes
following compulsory purchase of the Townland by Cork Corporation. Most
of Hazel Road and all of Sycamore Place would be the new addresses of
Ardmanning Beg. All previous traces of habitation were entirely erased. The aerial map below indicates its boundaries from a
modern perspective.
Addresses ( Modern Era )
Sycamore Place
Hazel Road ( 47 of 56 houses )
Togher Road ( portion shown in map below )
Addresses/Structures ( Historical Era )
O'Briens ( demolished 1968 )
Bannions ( demolished 1969 )
Boundary ( shown in red on aerial photo )
A point on Togher Road at the entrance to Sycamore Place and following the rear gardens of same before moving north west through the rear gardens of Hazel Road and around to the top of Hazel Road at the junction of Cherry Tree Road and Earlwood Estate before journeying back down the hill to the old Porters house where the line cuts diagonally to the old Kavanaugh house on Togher Square taking in all that section before turning back onto Togher Road and meeting up at the entrance to Sycamore Place again.
Boundary of Ardmanning Beg
Click on link below for the next Townland in the series.
Clashduff
