Monasterredan Plot Number 8.

This plot of land had been the home of the Casey's until the 1990s and is currently owned by Peadar Creagh. It has come to him by his mother Brid and his late uncle and aunt, Michael and Mary Ann Casey.

Along the road is a monument to locals killed in the land wars after the famine. The well beside it, called "The Monument Well", has always provided good drinking water.

Griffith 1858.

At this time, the plot of land was owned by James McDonnell. A house and barns valued at 5/- are shown to be on the site. However, James is also shown to have a house on plot 10 valued at 10/-, twice as expensive. Its likely that this house is in the process of being abandoned for a move closer to the village.

It has always been said that the barn beside the house was used as a soup kitchen to boil the maize for distribution during the famine around 1847. The large pot used was discarded at "The McDermotts" some time later.

The track of this house is barely discernible about 50 meters to the rear of the monument and the ruin of the barn is still standing.

Plot	8
Occupier	James McDonnell
Leased From	Charles McDermott
Description	Land, house and offices
Area	44a 3r 31p
Value of Land	Ł5-0-0
Value of Buildings	5/-
Total Value	Ł5-5-0

Extracts from Valuation Books up to 1980s.

Monasterredan
			Griffith 1858	Valuation 1863	Valuation 1870	Valuation à 1883	Valuation à 1897	Valuation à 1910	Valuation à 1930	Valuation à 1980’s
8	a	L, H, O	James McDonnell				Lawrence Casey 1888		Michael Casey 1928

1901 Census Data

Townland	Monasterredan
Parish	Kilcolman
Barony	Coolavin
County	Sligo
Description	Household
Head of Household	Lawrence Casey,(56)
Occupation	Farmer/married
Others Resident	Winnafred(54) wife Ellen(22) dtr./not married Winnafred(12) dtr Pat(19) son

Family Tree for James McDonnell.

This land was owned by James McDonnell, whose sister Winifred married Laurence Casey from Tawnymucklagh. They moved up to this farm after marriage. To access their family tree click here.