Gort: field
In the barony of Loughrea, in the eastern area of Kitlhomas, is the townland of Gortadragaun.
O’Donovan’s Field Name Books noted Gort Eadragán, Gort eadragan, Gurtaddrakaun, and Gurtadrigan as other spellings of Gortadragaun. This townland was described as large and mainly mountainous, covered with heath. The reclaimed areas are described as poor. The listed proprietor was Mr. Galbraith. The rent was 8 shillings per acre and there was no county cess.
The Down Survey Map under ‘Garryblakine’ listed Teige MOwen McBrien O’Ffahy (Catholic), as the landowner in 1641 (pre-Cromwell) and Duke of York (Protestant) in 1670 (post Cromwell). There 510 plantation acres of unprofitable land and 168 plantation acres of profitable and forfeited land.
There were a few primary landowners in Gortadragaun in 1855. The following tenants leased from Rep. Francis B. Knox: Patrick Callanan leased land (41 acres, 2 roods, 14 perches) for £2-15-0. John Spelman, Francis Roche, William Flynn, John Roche, Patrick Haver, Cornelius Mullins, Mary Mullins, and Margaret Mullins all leased holdings of a house, offices, and land with an area of 235 acres, 3 roods, and 25 perches. Mary and Margaret’s holding was only a house and land. The following tenants paid for a holding of houses, offices, and land (416 acres,3 roods, 20 perches), Bridget Healy (£3-0-0), Patrick Grady (£2-12-0), James Fitzgerald (£2-8-0), John Healy (£4-14-0), Thomas Gleese (£3-10-0), Jeremiah Healy (£3-13-0), James O’Donnell (£4-0-0), and Thomas Deely (£2-7-0). Patrick Flynn leased land for £2-10-0, and Michael Healy leased land for £1-1-0. Michael Roche leased a house from John Roche for £0-5-0. Patrick Haver owned a vacant house, valued to be £0-5-0.
The total annual valuation of rateable property paid overall was £59-5-0 for 724 acres, 1 rood, and 19 perches of house, offices, and land.
Gortadragaun had a population of 53 inhabitants in 1901, 30 males and 23 females. There were 15 inhabited households. It is important to note the population recorded on each of the forms are inconsistent. All occupants were Roman Catholic and born in County Galway, unless specified otherwise. The houses were built as private dwellings. The roofs were made of wood, thatch, or other perishable material. The walls were made of stone, brick, or concrete.
John Callanan (50) was a farmer living with his wife Margret Callanan (48). They lived with their unmarried children Kate (23), Margret (20), and Bridget (17). They were all farmer’s daughters. All could read and write, Margret could only read. All spoke English, the parents also spoke Irish. The Callanans lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. They had a cow house and a piggery. John was the landowner.
Honor Spelman (50) was a farmer living with a lodger, Bridget Collins (25), who was a servant. Only Bridget could read and write. Both spoke Irish and English. They lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. There was a cow house and a shed. Honor owns the land.
Thomas Collins (50) was a farmer living with his wife Mary Collins (50). They lived with their children Mary (15), John (14), and Thomas (11). The sons were scholars, Mary was a farmer’s daughter. Only the children could read and write, Mary only read. All spoke Irish and English. They resided in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. Thomas owned the land on which there was a cow house.
Patrick Deely (50) was a farmer living with his wife Bridget Deely (40) and children, Annie (15), Fergus (13), Michael (11), Thomas (7), and Margaret (2). The children were scholars, except for Annie who was a farmer’s daughter, and Margaret had no occupation. All Deelys could read and write except Thomas could only read, Margaret could not. Only the parents had Irish and English listed. They resided in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. They had a cow house, a piggery, and a barn. Patrick owned the land on which they lived.
Michael Fitzgerald (23) was a farmer who lived with his siblings, Martin (19) and Catherine (18). They were listed as farmer’s brothers/ sisters. All three could read and write. Martin and Michael had Irish and English listed. They lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms, 3 front windows, a stable, a cow house, and a barn. Michael was the landowner.
Patt Flynn (80) lived with his wife Mary Flynn (80). Patt was a farmer and lived with his unmarried sons, William (50), Michael (40), and John (38). The sons were listed as farmer’s sons. Only the sons could read and write. All Flynns spoke Irish and English. Their house had 3 rooms and 3 front windows. It was a 2nd class house with a stable, a cow house, and a barn. Patt was the landowner.
Winifred Gleese (60) was a widowed farmer living with his unmarried children, John (35), Michl [sic] (30), and Margaret (27). They were listed as farmer’s sons/daughters. Only Michl and Margaret could read and write. All Gleeses spoke Irish and English. The family lived in a 2nd class house. The house had 3 front windows and 3 rooms. There were 2 cow houses and a piggery. Winifred owned the land.
Peter Gready (40) was a farmer and widower. He lived with his children who were scholars, Patrick Gready (8) and Kate Gready (5). Only Peter could read and write and had English and Irish listed. They lived in a 3rd class house of 2 rooms and 1 front window. There was a stable, a cow house, and a barn. Peter was the landowner.
Micheal Helly (60) was a farmer who lived with his wife Kate Helly (50). The couple lived with their unmarried children, Mary (20), Jerome (19), Bridget (16), and Micheal (11). The children were farmer’s sons / daughters, Micheal was a scholar. All of the Hellys could read and write. Mary, Micheal (60), and Kate had Irish and English listed. Micheal’s land had a stable, a cow house, a barn, a shed, and a 3rd class house with 3 rooms and 1 front window. Micheal was the landowner.
Bridget Helly (60) was a farmer’s wife and widowed. She lived with her children, Tady1 (40), Michael (33), and Mary (25). They were all farmer’s sons/ daughters. Trady and Mary could read and write. All Hellys spoke Irish and English. Trady was married. They lived in a 3rd class house of 2 rooms with a stable, a cow house, a piggery, and a barn. Bridget owned the land.
John Helly (67) was a farmer living with his wife Catherine Helly (55) and their unmarried children Julia (16), Winfred (15), Thomas (14), and Michael (12). The children were farmer’s sons / daughters, Michael was a scholar. All children could read and write, John could only read. All spoke Irish and English. The Helly family lived in a 3rd class house with 2 rooms and 1 front window. They had a stable, a cow house, and a barn. John was the landowner.
John Mullins (56) was a farmer living with his wife Honor Mullins (52). They lived with their unmarried children John (24), Patt (20), Michael (17), Maria (12), Cornelius (10). The 3 oldest boys were farmer’s sons, Maria and Cornelius were scholars. Only Maria, Michael, and Cornelius could read and write. All spoke Irish and English, John (56) only spoke Irish. The Mullins resided in a 3rd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front windows. Additionally there was a cow house and a piggery. John owned the land on which they lived.
Mary O’Donnell (60) was a widowed farmer who lived with her unmarried sons, Patt (35), James (30), and John (29). They were farmers’ sons. No one was able to read nor write. All 4 spoke Irish, the sons also spoke English. The O’Donnells lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front windows. On their land was a stable, a cow house, and a barn. Mary was the landowner.
Eliza Roach (70) was a housekeeper and widower. She lived with her son John Roach (40), daughter Kate Roach (35), and sister in law Bridget Roach (80), who was also a housekeeper. Kate and John were labourers. All spoke Irish and English. Only John could read and write. The family lived in a 2nd class house with 2 rooms and 3 front windows. On the property was a stable, a cow house, a piggery, a barn, and a shed. John Callinan owned the property.
John Roche (30) was a farmer living with his wife Sarah Roche (32) and his sister Maggie Roche (31), who was listed as a farmer’s sister. All three could read, write, and speak Irish and English. The family lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. There was also a cow house, a piggery, and a barn. John was the landowner.
This census recorded a population of 39 inhabitants, 21 males and 18 females. There were 15 inhabited households. All occupants were Roman Catholic and born in County Galway, unless specified otherwise. The houses were built as private dwellings. The roofs were made of wood, thatch, or other perishable material. The walls were made of stone, brick, or concrete.
John Callanan (67) was a farmer living with his wife of 38 years, Margret Callanan (67). They had 6 children, 4 of which were still alive in 1911. They lived with their children Catherine (30) and Margret (28). All could read and write, Margret (67) could only read. All spoke English and Irish. The Callanans lived in a 3rd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front windows. They had a stable, calf house, a barn, a cow house and a piggery. John was the landowner.
Norah Spelman (68) was a single farmer living with her niece, Bridget Collins (36). Only Bridget could read and write. Both spoke Irish and English. They lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. There was a cow house and a piggery. Norah owns the land.
Thomas Collins (72) was a farmer living with his wife of 29 years, Mary Collins (65). The couple had 3 children, all of which were still living. They lived with their children Mary (27), John (26), and Thomas (24). Only the children could read and write. Thomas and Mary (65) spoke Irish and English. They resided in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. Thomas owned the land on which there was a cow house, a piggery, a barn, and a shed.
Patrick Deely (61) was a farmer living with his wife Bridget Deely (55) and children, Fergus (22), Michael (20), Thomas (18), and Margaret (12). The children were farmer’s sons except for Margret who was a scholar. All children could read and write. Only the parents had Irish and English listed. They resided in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. They had a stable, a piggery, and a barn. Patrick owned the land on which they lived.
Michael Fitzgerald (35) was a farmer who lived with his aunt, Ellen Fitzgerald (70). Michael could read and write. Both had Irish and English listed. They lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms, 3 front windows, a stable, a cow house, and a barn. Michael was the landowner.
Michael Flynn (56) lived with his brother, John Flynn (55). Both could read and write, and speak Irish and English.Their house had 3 rooms and 3 front windows. It was a 2nd class house with a calf house, a cow house, and a piggery. Patt was the landowner.
John Gleese (45) was a farmer living with his siblings, Michael (40) and Margaret (35). Only Margaret could read and write. All Gleeses spoke Irish and English. The family lived in a 2nd class house. The house had 3 front windows and 3 rooms. There were 1 cow house, 1 barn, and 1 piggery. John owned the land.
Patrick Grady (19) was a farmer living with his sister Catherine (14). Neither could read. Patrick had English and Irish listed. They lived in a 3rd class house of 2 rooms and 1 front window. There was a cow house and a piggery. It is noted that Peter Grady is listed as the household head and landowner.
Bridget Helly (78) was a farmer and widower. She lived with her children Timothy (53), Michael (48), and Mary (34). Mary could read and write, Bridget and Timothy could only read. All Hellys spoke Irish and English. Trady was married. They lived in a 3rd class house of 3 rooms with a cow house and a shed. Bridget owned the land.
John Mullins (72) was a farmer living with his wife of 42 years, Norah Mullins (70). The couple had 7 children, 6 of which survived. They lived with their children John (41), Michael (35), and Mariah (22). Only Mariah and Michael could read. All spoke Irish and English. The Mullins resided in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. Additionally there was a stable, a barn, a cow house and a piggery. John owned the land on which they lived.
Patrick O’Donnell (61) was a farmer who lived with his brothers, James (59), and John (58). They were farmers’ sons. No one was able to read nor write. All 3 spoke Irish and English. The O’Donnells lived in a 3rd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front windows. On their land was a stable, a cow house, and a piggery. Patrick was the landowner.
John Roach (41) was a farmer living with his wife of 13 years, Sarah Roach (42) and their only 2 children, Mary (9) and Sarah (4). The daughters were scholars. All three could read and write. The parents spoke Irish and English. The family lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. There was also a cow house, a piggery, a calf house, and a shed. John was the landowner.
Elizabeth Roach (89) was a farmer and widower. She lived with her son John Roach (55) and daughter Elizabeth Roach (63), both unmarried. John was a farmer’s son. All spoke Irish and English. Only Elizabeth (63) could read. The family lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. On the property was a calf house, a cow house, and a piggery. John Callinan owned the property.
Catherine Helly (72) was a widowed farmer living with her son, Thomas Helly (20), who was also a farmer. Only Thomas could read and write. English and Irish were listed for Catherine. They lived in a 3rd class house with 3 rooms and 1 front window. On her land was a cow house and a shed. Catherine owned the property.
Michael Helly (72) was a farmer living with his wife of 34 years, Catherine Helly (54). They had 4 children, 3 of which were still living. Neither could read nor write, both spoke Irish and English. The couple resided in a 3rd class house with 3 rooms, 1 front window, 1 stable, 1 piggery, and 1 cow house. Michael was the landowner.
1 It is difficult to decipher the name written on the form. It appears to be Tady.
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