‘The Irish name for Knocks West is An Cnoc Thiar’
Tithe Applotment – Currin Parish Substitute 1827
Griffith’s Valuation 1861
1901 CENSUS
RESIDENTS OF HOUSE 13 IN KNOCKS, WEST (CURRIN, MONAGHAN)
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | Catherine | 72 | Female | Head of Family | Roman Catholic |
| Smith | John | 36 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Smith | Owen | 26 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Roddan | Maggie | 16 | Female | Grand Daughter | Roman Catholic |
1911 CENSUS
No Ruddens were present in Knocks West on the 1911 census
Notes: The Schools Collection
The following excerpt has been taken from the Schools Collection which is essentially a gathering of local folklore that Irish school children were asked to compile during the 1930’s. The following story is called Penal Days and describes the ‘Mass Rock’ in Knox.
Transcribed from the above story:
The parish of Currin was greatly persecuted in penal days. There was a “Mass Rock” situated in the townland of Knox parish of Currin. It was on the right hand side of the lane leading to a house the property of the late Owen McCaul. This “Rock” was taken away about twenty years ago. The spot where the “Mass Rock” was can still be traced there is a spring well just beside it and it was here that the priests got the water to use at Mass. Father Owen McCaul a native of Knox read mass at this “Rock” in the year 1815. He was chased by a band of spies and he ran into “Cleeskin” fort to hide. He read Mass in this fort also. Shortly after this he went to Carrickmacross and died there.
Source: Penal Days ·The Schools’ Collection | dúchas.ie (duchas.ie)