Tulach na nUan - Thullanoone

Tulach na nUan – Thullanoone is a small farming, Gaeltacht,  townland in the Taobh Garbh, side of the Civil and Roman Catholic parish of Moycullen in County Galway. Irish is still the main language of the people. It is in the Electoral Division of Sliabh an Aonaigh/Slieveaneena. Tá sé i gceantar Scoile Leamhchoill. There is no record of the townland in Townlands.ie as it is invariably included with neighbouring Slieveaneena townland.

Topography and Features

There are two lakes in the townland – Tullaghnanoon Lough, Loch Beag Thulach na nUan. Sruthán Phoilligh runs from Tullaghnanoon Lough to Cloch Bán in Slieveaneena. The Boliska River winds its way to the sea through the townland.

The Origin of the Townland name

There is no reference in O’Donovan’s field name books. The following information is provided in the Maigh Cuilinn A Muintir publication of 2008:

”Ciallaíonn Tulach na nUan cnoc ina raibh uain. Tá Droim an Fhir Rua suite idir Tulach na nUan agus Poll. Bhíodh Poll I bparóiste Mhaigh Cuilinn go dtí 1942 nuair a d’athraigh sé go Spidéal. Tá dhá loch anseo: Loch Tulach na nUan agus Loch Tulach na nUan Beag.”

The hill of the lambs is the English translation of Thullnanoone. Droim an Fhir Rua, or the hill of the Red-Haired Man, lies between Thullnanoone and the townland of Poll (meaning Hole). Poll was in the parish of Moycullen until 1942 when it joined the parish of Spiddal.

There are two lakes here –Loch Thulach na nUan and Loch Thulach na nUan Beag.

The meaning for Tulach in Logainm is hillock.

Places of Cultural/Historical Interest

The bogs, of Thullanoone are home to a range of flora and fauna, including several varieties of moss as well as insect-eating plants, lichen, Furze, and some Rhododendron.

Field and other local names:

None to hand
Land Ownership and Tenants 

Down Survey 1656-1658 – There is no record in the Down Survey, again probably in with Slieveaneena.

Tithe Applotment Books (1828) –

The first available record of households is the Tithe Applotment Books.  The following households are shown for Tullananoon (sic): Marcus Carr and Patk Kyne.

The landlord was – Directors of the Law Life Assurance Co.

Land Valuation Records (Available in Valuation Office, Abbey St. Dublin)

The Valuations are only available at the Valuation Office in Dublin.

Census Information

Blake Census – The Blake Census was the work of Francis Xavier Blake, the Parish priest in Moycullen between 1792 and 1825. The data for this townland is included in ‘Mountain’ area records.

Records of 1841 to 1891, Griffith’s Valuation and 1901/1911 for Thullnanoone are probably included in Slievaneena records.

Story of households

Information is to be added later.

People of Thullanoone

See Slieveaneena

Pastimes

The locals fished for trout in the lakes in the area. They would visit each other’s houses in the evening and chat and play cards.

Photo Album to be updated. 

References

• Maigh Cuilinn a Muintir – Cumann Staire Ruaidhrí Uí Fhlaitheartaigh
• Maigh Cuilinn a Táisc agus a Tuairisc – Pádraic Breathnach
• Blake Census 
• Tithe Applotment Books 
•  Griffith -valuation
• Land Valuations Records, Valuation Office, Abbey Street Dublin
• 1841-1891 Census figures www.histpop.org
• Census of Ireland 1901/1911 National Archives
• Prompt list – https://moycullen.galwaycommunityheritage.org 
• General information and Place Names, Walter McDonagh  WMcD 26/05/2025