The Keanes are the principal landlords in this town. The first Keane to come to the district was a Yeoman captain who came from Antrim near the end of the eighteenth century. This captain's name was John Keane and he was not liked in Cappoquin. During the rising of '98 he used, with his troops of yeomen, to burn the houses of the people, particularly in the Modeligo district. Because of these burnings he was called "Sean an Teocár" (John the Burner)