Pre famine Caheragh had one of the highest rural population densities in the world. The Protestant population was small. Here perhaps not all signed, the Evans family of Lissangle, who were probably there are not signatories, perhaps they were Methodist.
Most of the Caheragh townlands appear early 17th century in surrender and re grants of the O’Donovans of Castledonovan and Sir Walter Coppinger (he mortgaged to the McCarthys and went into possession when they defaulted). Their lands were forfeit for rebellion post 1641.
One of the complaints of the parishioners in that of a non-resident clergyman, who only appears once a year to collect tithes. The areas was the centre of anti tithe agitation in the 1820s.
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