Ballynahowna

Bhaile na hAbhna / townland / homestead

In the barony of Loughrea, the central area of the civil parish of Kilthomas, is Ballynahowna. 

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books recorded the following other spellings used: Baile na h-Abhana, Ballynahouna, Ballinahown, Ballinahouna, and Ballynahoun. The county cess or tax was 1 shilling 0.5 pence. The Proprietor was Mr. Galbraith, the rent was 10 shillings per acre. The townland was described as about half pasture and half tillage.

The Down Survey Map under ‘Ballyanvoney’ listed Earl of Clanricard (Protestant), as the landowner in 1641 (pre-Cromwell) and in1670 (post Cromwell). There were 14 plantation acres of unprofitable land and 99 acres of profitable land.

Griffith’s Valuation 1855

This source recorded the landowners in Ballynahowna. James Galbraith owned 2 holdings of land (54 acres, 3 roods, 9 perches and 9 acres, 3 roods, 27 perches) worth £16-0-0. James Galbraith also owned the remainder of the land. William Healy leased numerous holdings land (7-3-20) , land (10-2-8), offices and land (4-2-36), land (10-2-2), and a house for £8-15-0. Patrick M. Hugo leased land (7-1-28), land (11-1-20), house, offices, and land (35-1-0) for £12-0-0. Jeremiah O’Brien leased house, offices, land (8-1-11) and land (10-3-16) for £5-10-0. John Curran leased house, office, land (8-1-0) and land (12-2-38) for £5-15-0. Michael Kenny leased house and land (4-2-13), land (5-0-9)  and land (8-1-29). Catherine Connor leased holdings of house offices land (3-1-33), land (5-2-0), and land (8-3-2) for £4-10-0. Michael Gleeson leased land (3-0-21), land (5-3-22), land (12-1-16), and house, offices, land (0-1-20) for £6-15-0. William Healy, Patrick M Hugo, Jeremiah O’Brien, John Curren, Michael Kenny, Catherine Conor, and Michael Gleeson leased a bog (7-3-9) for £0-8-0. 

The total annual valuation of rateable property paid overall was  £64-6-0 for 257 acres, 3 roods, and 38 perches of house, offices, and land.

1901 Census 

No results on the national archive website (20/03/2024).

1911 Census

Ballyhowna in 1911 consisted of 3 households with a population of 22, 9 males and 13 females. All occupants  were Roman Catholic and born in County Galway. The houses were built as private dwellings. The roofs were made of wood, thatch, or other perishable material, with the exception of the house 3, occupied by Patrick Collins, which had slate, iron, or titles for the roof. The walls were made of stone, brick, or concrete. 

Patrick Collins (45) was a farmer who lived with his wife of 13 years, Mary Collins (37). The two had 9 children as of 1901, all of which were still living. The couple lived with the Collins children: Annie (12), Maggie (11), Mary (10), Patrick (8), Thomas (7), Delia (4), Kathleen (2), and Michael (4 months). All of the children were scholars, except Kathleen and Michael. The family could all read and write, with the exception of Patrick (45), Delia, Kathleen, and Michael. Patrick (45), Mary (37), Annie, Maggie, and Mary (10) all spoke Irish and English. Patrick, Thomas, Delia, and Kathleen spoke English only, there were no language specifications for Michael. The Collins home was a 3 room, 2nd class house, with 3 front windows. There was 1 cow house on the property. Patrick was the land owner.

John Healy (57) was a farmer who lived with his wife Bridget Healy (66), and his unmarried children Mary Healy (26) and Pat Healy (19). John and Bridget were married 30 years and bore 2 children. Mary and Pat were listed as farmer’s sons/ daughters. All four family members could read and write. The parents spoke Irish and English, the children only spoke English. The Healy family occupied a 3rd class, 2 bedroom house with 2 front windows. There was 1 cow house, 1 piggery, and 1 shed on the land. John owned the land on which his house was situated.

Martin Collins (40) was a farmer who lived with his wife of 14 years, Catherine Collins (44). The two had 6 children as of 1901, 5 of which were still living. The couple lived with the Collins children: Sarah (12), Delia (10), Michael (7), Catherine (5), and Patrick (4). They also lived with Martin’s mother-in-law, Bridget Mc Hugh (59). All of the children were scholars, except Patrick. Only Sarah, Delia, and Bridget could read and write. Only Martin and Bridget had Irish and English listed, Catherine (44) and Sarah had English listed. The Collins home was a 1 room, 4th class house, with no front windows. There was 1 cow house and 1 barn on the property. Martin was the land owner.