Coolkenno History

An interesting map of South Wicklow from 1604, created just a couple of years before the county of Wicklow was laid out. You can notice the O'Byrne clan and the Butler's of Ormond's authority over the said region, in a time when Coolkenno was actually in Carlow and even more interestingly, when the county of Carlow actually had a coast around Arklow. Notice Tullow (Tollogh), Clonmore (Clanmore), Shillelagh (Shelhela), Carnew (Caverno) and Bunclody (Newtowne). The geography may be wrong but somehow I think Killiguli may have been Kilquiggan. The village of Shillelagh, within the townland of Ballard, had not yet been created so the mention of Shillelagh (Shelhela) may refer to the barony itself. Also note the surnames evident in the area in 1604. Remember, this is before the influential James I plantations of North Wexford, the 1641 Rebellion, the Cromwellian conquest of 1649-51 and the rejuvenation of settlement in the Wentworth era (1660s-1710). You will clearly see Mr. William and Mr. Anker in the area where Coolkenno should be on the map. (Thanks to Daniel Meyer for highlighting this great map to me