Creea, an Anglicisation of the Gaelic, either ‘Críocha’ meaning The Territory or the Boundaries, or ‘Cré’ meaning Clay, or ‘Croí’ meaning The Heart or 'Criathar' meaning a Sieve, is a townland in the civil parish of Templeport, County Cavan, Ireland. It lies in the Roman Catholic parish of Glangevlin and barony of Tullyhaw.
In Scotland, Creea is also an alternative spelling of the Gaelic, 'cridhe', meaning heart or courage, used as a given name.
Creea is bounded on the north by Corratawy townland, on the west by Curraghvah, Drumhurrin and Legnagrow townlands and on the east by Corneenflynn and Edenmore townlands. Its chief geographical features are the Owenmore River (County Cavan), mountain streams, woods, a gravel pit and spring wells. The townland is traversed by the regional R206 road (Ireland), minor public roads and rural lanes. The townland covers 318 statute acres.
In earlier times the townland was probably uninhabited as it consists mainly of bog and poor clay soils. It was not seized by the English during the Plantation of Ulster in 1610 or in the Cromwellian Settlement of the 1660s so some dispossessed Irish families moved there and began to clear and farm the land.
By 1720 Morley Saunders, was the owner of the townland.
By deed dated 24 December 1720 the aforesaid Morley Saunders leased the townland of Creeau, inter alia, to Thomas Enery of Bawnboy for a term of 41 years.[1]
A deed dated 13 Nov 1738 includes: Crean.[2]
A deed dated 30 April 1740 by Thomas Enery includes: Creagh.[3]
A rental of the Annesley Estate dated c.1802 lists the tenant of Crea as Hugh Delacy, held under a lease for 31 years commencing on 1 May 1774.[4]
The Tithe Applotment Books for 1826 list seven tithepayers in the townland.[5]
The 1836 Ordnance survey Name books state- The soil is of a light gravelly nature. In the 1836 OS map a small part of the townland to the south was part of Corneenflynn townland but by the 1913 edition this small part had been merged with Creea townland. The 1836 Name Books refers to it as- This is a small arable spot containing 8 chains belonging to the townland of Cornaflin. It is in no way connected with Cornaflin being separated from it by Legnagrow and Cray.
The Creea Valuation Office Field books are available for July 1839.[6] [7]
Griffith's Valuation of 1857 lists twelve landholders in the townland.[8]
The landlord of Creea in the 19th century was the Annesley Estate.
| Year | Population | Males | Females | Total Houses | Uninhabited | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1841 | 77 | 37 | 40 | 14 | 0 | |
| 1851 | 61 | 28 | 33 | 14 | 1 | |
| 1861 | 72 | 41 | 31 | 11 | 1 | |
| 1871 | 75 | 40 | 35 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1881 | 77 | 38 | 39 | 13 | 0 | |
| 1891 | 70 | 33 | 37 | 12 | 0 |
In the 1901 census of Ireland, there are thirteen families listed in the townland.[9]
In the 1911 census of Ireland, there are thirteen families listed in the townland.[10]