Ballea, Cork. Anyone with knowledge of the area early 1800s?

My surname is Mellifont and my ancestors are from Cork. My great-grandfather Thomas Mellifont lived on Douglas st, Cork and emigrated to Australia in 1862.

There are many records of Mellifont’s who lived and worked in Ballea and surrounds between 1810 and the 1830s.

Mick Mellifont married Mary Dineen and had many children

Mary Mellifont married Daniel Madden and had children

Anne (Nancy) Mellifont married John Ford in 1825 and had children

William Mellefont married Peg (Margaret) Barrett in 1826 and had children

I suspect that these Mellifont’s were cousins or otherwise related to my great-grandfather Thomas, by 1840 Mick Mellifont is at Cork South parish with my g-g-grandmother as sponsor at his son’s Christening.

I think the Mellifont’s, Maddens, Fords and Dineens worked as tenant farmers or paid labourers in Ballea, Monees, Coolmore and Carrigaline In those years, and by 1840 the farming days were over. My ancestors weren’t wealthy- they were labourers.

I wondered if the landlord they worked for possibly lived in Ballea Castle, or if there are records, or if there is anyone with historical knowledge of the area in those days.

I’m visiting Cork in September, and I plan to visit the area, take photos, and hopefully learn some history of the area.

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