Knockacullen/Knockacillan townland, Co. Tipperary (Borrisoleigh RC parish)

Earlier this year, I posted a query titled "Con Kennedy research conundrum" which related to the townland names of Knockacillan (Glenkeen Civil Parish, RC Parish of Borrisoleigh) and Knockacullen (Kilnarath Civil Parish, RC Parish of Newport). My query has since been resolved so I am posting this for future reference. 

The townland of Knockacullen in the Glenkeen Civil Parish no longer exists on present day maps, nor has it been found (to date) on older ordinance maps. The name derives from “Knockakillin” which roughly translates as, “hill of the little chapel”. According to local lore, a chapel existed in the area of Killamoyne, Curraghleigh and Gurteenabarna in the 18th century. Newspaper references (circa mid-1840s to mid-1850s) for Knockacullen/Knockaquilling support the existence of a townland within this area (refer attachment). There are multiple entries within the Borrisoleigh RC parish registers from as early as 1814 with variant spellings of this townland. Ancestors found in the Borrisoleigh RC parish registers were subsequently confused with people found in the Newport RC parish registers on the basis of the similar townland name of Knockacullin (Cnoc an Chuillinn or Holly hill), which is still in existence today in Kilnarath Civil Parish.

In conclusion, there is evidence to support the existence of a townland known by its variant spellings of Knockacillan / Knockacullen / Knockaquilling / Knockacillean etc that was located within the area of Killamoyne, Curraghleigh and Gurteenabarna in the present day civil parish of Glenkeen for anyone who may be researching ancestors in the early 19C RC Parish of Borrisoleigh registers. 

A note of thanks to a very helpful local historian in Borrisoleigh!

Peggy Kennedy