Ballycasey (Baile Uí Chathasaigh)

The name Ballycasey comes from the Irish Baile Uí Chathasaigh, meaning the townland of O Cathasaigh. It is situated in the civil parish of Kilcoona, Barony of Clare. It is located in the south of the parish and is bounded on the east by Bredagh, Gortnaporia and Manusflynn, on the west by Ballybaun, Mausrevagh and Turloughcor, on the south by Kilcoona and on the north by Crossursa. (Source: Galway Library)

Irish name: Baile Uí Chathasaigh

English name: Ballycasey

Meaning: The townland of O Cathasaigh (O’Casey)

Area: 413 Acres, 1 rood, 1 perch

Field names:

Civil Parish: Kilcoona

Barony: Clare

 

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books

As part of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland, from 1830 to 1842, John O’Donovan helped to collect and record the Irish form of townland names throughout the country.  Information for each townland was collected and written into the Name Book along with information relating to land quality, crops and housing.  (Source: Timeline Genealogy)

Other names: Ballycasey, Baile i Chathasaigh, Ballycasey? (Boundary Surveyors Sketch Map), Ballycasey (Couty Cess Collector), Ballycasey (Inq. Temp. Eliz), Ballechaisse (Inq. Temp. Jac. I), Ballycasey (Local), Balycasey (Mearsman), Ballycasey (Rev. John Molloy, P.P.) and Ballycaecey (Tithe Ledger)

Description: Proprietor John Skerrett, Esq., Athgoe Park, Dublin. Aent Dominick Donnellan, Mount Tully, Tuam. Rent 24 shillings per acre. Held by lease. Soil light. Farms from 6 to 25 acres. Produces light crops of wheat, but middling potatoes. Co. Cess 14d. paid per acre. Antiquities three forts and cave therein called Cahernagoth, the above is held under lease by Proprietor.

Other placenames in this townland

Ballycasey A village situated in the Ballycasey townland.

Ballycasey Turlough Situated in South East part of Ballycasey townland.

Cahernagat (Fort) A fort and cave in the North side of the townland. There is another fort south of the above and not far from it but has not a name given to it. There are 3 others without a name.

 

The Down Survey

The first national-scale survey of its kind in the world, the Down Survey, taken in the years 1656 -1658, sought to acurately map the land in Ireland in order to facilitate its transfer from Irish Catholics to English Protestants after the Cromwellian conquest.

1641 (pre-Cromwell) states that the owner(s) of the townland of Ballycasey (Referred to as Ballycasey in the Down Survey of Ireland, in the Parish of Killcoonagh in the county of Galway, Barony of Clare) was the James Darcy (Catholic). The Down Survey map of 1670 (post-Cromwell) shows that the owner(s) was Edmond Skerret (Catholic).

49 plantation acres was deemed unprofitable land.

24 plantation acres was deemed profitable land.

24 plantation acres was fortified land.

 

Tithe Applotment Book 1826

The Tithe Applotment Books were compiled between 1823 and 1837 in order to determine the amount which occupiers of agricultural holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland. The land was measured in Irish acres, or plantation acres at the time. This equated to 1.698 English acres.

There were no records found for Ballycasey.

 

1851 Old Age Pension Census Search Forms

There were no records found for Ballycasey.

 

Valuation Office Books 1824-1856: House & Field Books

The valuation of Ireland was a cadastral survey made for the purpose of levying tax on property.  A valuation price was put on every piece of property in the country and this became the basis on which local tax was charged, at a rate per pound of valuation.  (Source: National Archives)

The 1845 House Books show the following as house occupiers in Ballycasey as Simon Bolaw (Boland?) and Mary Carr (15 July 1845). (Source: National Archives)

Simon Bolaw occupied a house with a barn, stables, car house and cow house which had an initial valuation of £4 and 9 shillings and 1 penny which was reduced to £3 and 18 shillings.

Mary Carr occupied a house with a barn, stables and car house which had an initial valuation of £3 and 2 shillings which was reduced to £2 and 14 shillings.

The 1853 House Books show the following as house occupiers in Ballycasey as Patrick Toole, Denis McHugh, Mary Carr, Patrick McHugh, Thomas Carr, William Curran, Patrick Curran, John Curran, Simon Boland and John Boland (26 September 1853) (Source: National Archives)

Patrick Toole occupied a house with an initial valuation of 13 shillings which was reduced to 6 shillings. Denis McHugh occupied a house with an initial valuation of £1 and 11 shillings which was reduced to 15 shillings. Mary Carr occupied a house and offices with an initial valuation of £2 and 14 shillings which was reduced to £1 and 7 shillings. Patrick McHugh occupied a herd’s house with an initial valuation of 6 shillings which was reduced to 3 shillings.

Thomas Carr occupied a house and offices with an initial valuation of £2 and 10 shillings which was reduced to £1 and 5 shillings. William Curran occupied a house and offices with an initial valuation of £2 and 7 shillings which was reduced to £1 and 4 shillings. Patrick Curran occupied a house and offices with an initial valuation of £1 and 6 shillings which was reduced to 11 shillings. John Curran occupied a house and offices with an initial valuation of 17 shillings which was reduced to 8 shillings. Simon Boland occupied a house and offices with an initial valuation of £3 and 18 shillings which was reduced to £2. John Boland occupied a house with an initial valuation of 13 shillings which was reduced to 6 shillings.

 

1855 Griffith’s Valuation

Between 1847 and 1864, Richard Griffith was responsible for carrying out the Primary Valuation of Tenements (generally referred to as Griffith’s Valuation because of his role in the project). The aim of the valuation was to produce a uniform guide to the relative value of land throughout the whole of Ireland in order to decide liability to pay the Poor rate (for support of the poor and destitute within each Poor Law Union). The project required Griffith and a team of valuers to determine the value of every piece of land and property in the country enabling every occupiers’ tax due to be assessed. The information they collated covering all 32 counties was compiled into over 300 volumes and published over a period of 17 years. (Source: Find My Past)

Griffith’s Valuation records the following occupiers in Ballycasey as John Boland, Simon Boland, John Carr, Mary Carr, Thomas Carr, John Connor, John Curran, Patrick Curran, William Curran, Daniel Donohoe, Daniel Mc Hugh, Danl. McHugh, Denis McHugh, Patrick McHugh, John Skerrett and Patrick Toole. (Source:  Ask About Ireland)

John Carr occupied lands totalling 40 acres, 3 roods and 36 perches which had a valuation of £16. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Patrick Toole occupied a house with land totalling 6 acres and 29 perches which had a valuation of £2 and 5 shillings, the house had a valuation of 5 shillings. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

John Connor occupied lands totalling 13 acres and 14 perches which had a valuation of £4 and 5 shillings. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Patrick Sr. and Daniel McHugh were co-tenants of lands totalling 21 acres, 2 roods and 12 perches which has a valuation of £4 and 5 shillings for each co-tenant for a total of £8 and 10 shillings. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Daniel McHugh Jr., Daniel Donohoe, Patrick McHugh Sr. and Daniel McHugh were co-tenants of lands totalling 59 acres, 3 roods and 2 perches. Daniel McHugh Jr’s valuation for his co-tenancy was £6 and 10 shillings, in addition, Daniel McHugh Jr. occupied a house which had a valuation of 5 shillings. Daniel Donohoe’s valuation for his co-tenancy was £7. Patrick McHugh Sr’s valuation for his co-tenancy was £3 and 10 shillings. Daniel McHugh’s valuation for his co-tenancy was £3 and 10 shillings. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Patrick McHugh Sr., Daniel McHugh and Daniel Donohoe were co-tenants of lands totalling 30 acres and 17 perches. The valuation for lands held by each co-tenant was £4 each. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

John Boland occupied a house with land totalling 1 acre, 3 roods and 10 perches which had a valuation of 17 shillings, the house had a valuation of 8 shillings. In addition, John Boland occupied a parcel of land totalling 1 rood and 30 perches which had a valuation of 5 shillings. The immediate lessor was Simon Boland.

Denis McHugh occupied a herd’s house with land totalling 30 acres which had a valuation of £12, the herd’s house had a valuation of 10 shillings. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Mary Carr occupied a house and offices with land totalling 24 acres, 1 rood and 27 perches which had a valuation of £10, the buildings had a valuation of £1. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Patrick McHugh occupied a herd’s house with land totalling 30 acres, 3 roods and 31 perches which had a valuation of £13, the herd’s house had a valuation of 5 shillings. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

John Skerrett held lands “In Fee” * totalling 6 acres and 39 perches which had a valuation of £2.

* Lands held ‘in fee’ were freehold tenures, derived from a grant from the Crown.

Thomas Carr occupied a house and offices with land totalling 14 acres, 2 roods and 28 perches which had a valuation of £6 and 10 shillings, the buildings had a valuation of 15 shillings. In addition, Thomas Carr occupied a parcel of land totalling 4 acres and 22 perches which had a valuation of £1 and 10 shillings The immediate lessor was John Skerrett.

William Curran occupied a house and offices with land totalling 29 acres, 3 roods and 23 perches which had a valuation of £12 and 5 shillings, the buildings had a valuation of 15 shillings. In addition, William Curran occupied a parcel of land totalling 6 acres, 1 rood and 22 perches which had a valuation of £1 and 10 shillings The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Patrick and John Curran were co-tenants of a parcel of land totalling 16 acres, 2 roods and 23 perches which had a valuation of £6 and 10 shillings, or £3 and 5 shillings each. In addition, Patrick and John Curran were co-tenants of two houses with offices and land totalling 9 acres, 3 roods and 12 perches which had a valuation of £4 in total or £2 per co-tenant. Each house with office was valued at 10 shillings per co-tenant. The total valuation for each co-tenant was £5 and 15 shillings. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

Simon Boland occupied a house and offices with land totalling 45 acres which had a valuation of £19 and 15 shillings, the buildings had a valuation of £1 and 10 shillings. In addition, Simon Boland occupied two parcels of land, one totalling 17 acres and 34 perches which had a valuation of £6. The second parcel was 3 acres, 3 roods and 24 perches which had a valuation of £1 and 15 shillings which was a total of £29 for all properties held by Simon Boland. The immediate lessor was John Skerritt.

 

Population Statistics

The following statistics are from the census return records from 1842 to 1891 and the National Archives census returns for 1901 and 1911. (Source: Histpop)

1841: 11 houses (incl.1 unoccupied), 66 people (32 males and 34 females)

1851: 13 houses, 74 people (32 males and 42 females)

1861: 17 houses, 90 people (41 males and 49 females)

1871: 13 houses, 82 people (38 males and 44 females)

1881: 12 houses, 58 people (25 males and 33 females)

1891: 11 houses, 60 people (28 males and 32 females)

1901: 9 houses, 51 people (29 males and 22 females)

1911: 8 houses, 49 people (26 males and 23 females)

 

1901 Census

The 1901 Census of Ireland records the following 51 individuals living in 9 households in Ballycasey. (Source: National Archives)

1. Patrick McHugh (60) lived with his wife Margaret (46), daughter Bridget (19), and sons William (16) and Michael (10). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Patrick’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. William’s occupation was listed as Farmer’s Son, Bridget’s occupation was listed as a Farmer’s Daughter. Michael was listed as a Scholar. No occupation was listed for Margaret. Bridget, William and Michael could read and write. All householders could speak Irish and English.

2. Denis McHugh (60) lived with his wife Kate (60), sons William (32), John (25), Denis (13), Michael (10) and Pat (8), and daughter Nora (16). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Denis’ occupation was listed as a Farmer. William and John’s occupation was listed as Farmer’s Son. Nora’s occupation was listed as a Farmer’s Daughter. Michael and Pat were listed as scholars. No occupation was listed for Kate. All householders could read and write with the exception of Denis, Kate and John. All householders could speak Irish and English.

3. Mary Greaney (78) a widow, lived with her son Martin Sr. (36), daughter in law Bridget (35), granddaughters Mary Jr. (13), Annie (6) and Delia (5), and grandsons Pat (11), Thomas (9), Martin Jr. (8) and James (4 months). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Mary Sr’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Martin Sr’s was listed as Farmer’s Son. Mary Jr., Pat, Thomas, Martin and Annie were listed as scholars. No occupation was listed for Bridget, Delia and James. All householders could read and write with the exception of Delia and James; and Annie who could read only. All householders could speak Irish and English with the exception of Martin Jr., Delia, Annie and James.

4. Pat Curran (70) lived with his wife Bridget (66), son Peter (38), daughter in law Mary (29), and male servant Michael Comber (17). All householders were born in Co Galway with the exception of Michael Comber who was born in England. All householders were Roman Catholic. Pat’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Peter’s occupation was listed as Farmer’s Son. Michael Comber’s occupation was listed as a Farm Labourer. No occupation was listed for Bridget and Mary.  All householders could read and write with the exception of Pat. All householders could speak Irish and English.

5. Peter Curran (37) lived with his wife Bridget (35), daughters Mary (5) and Julia (3), son Patrick (2), and nephew Michael Hoban (15). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Peter’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Mary and Julia were listed as scholars. Michael Hoban’s occupation was listed as an Agricultural Labourer. No occupation was listed for Bridget or Patrick. Bridget, Mary and Michael could read and write. All householders could speak Irish and English with the exception of Julia and Patrick.

6. Sarah Curran (65), lived with her son Patrick (32), and daughter in law Winifred (30). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Sarah’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Patrick’s occupation was listed as Farmer’s Son. No occupation was listed for Winifred. None of the householders could read or write. All householders could speak Irish and English.

7. Pat Carr (37) lived with his wife Kate (34), and daughter Mary (7). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Pat’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Mary was listed as a Scholar. No occupation was listed for Kate.  All householders could read and write with the exception of Pat. All householders could speak Irish and English with the exception of Mary.

8. Michael Higgins (65) a widower, was born in Co Galway and was a Roman Catholic. Michael’s occupation was listed as an Agricultural Labourer. Michael could read and write and could speak Irish and English.

9. James Cradock (38) lived with his wife Mary (36), sons John (13), Thomas (10), Joseph (6), Patrick (2) and James Jr. (11 months), daughters Nora Mary (12) and Winifred J. (7), and sister-in-law Ellie Boland (26). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. James Sr’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Ellie Boland’s occupation was listed as a Farmer’s Daughter. John, Nora Mary, Thomas, Winifred J. and Joseph were listed as scholars. No occupation was listed for Mary, Patrick and James Jr. All householders could read and write with the exception of Patrick and James Jr. All householders could speak Irish and English with the exception of Winifred J., Joseph, Patrick and James Jr.

There were 7 second class houses and 2 third class houses. All houses had either a roof of thatched, wood or other perishable material. All houses had walls constructed of either brick, stone or concrete. All seven second class house had three front windows. Of the three third class houses, one had two front windows, and one had one front window.

There was no information on out-offices and farm steadings.

 

1911 Census

There were 8 houses in Ballycasey with a total of 49 individuals recorded in the 1911 Census of Ireland. (Source: National Archives)

1. James Cradock (48) lived with his wife of 24 years Mary (45), sons John (23), Thomas (19), Joseph (15), Patrick (12), James Jr. (10) and Gerard (7 months), and daughters Honoria Mary (20) and Matilda (5). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. James Sr’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. John. Thomas and Joseph’s occupation was listed as Farmer’s Son. Honoria Mary’s occupation was listed as a Farmer’s Daughter. Patrick, James Jr. and Matilda were listed as scholars. No occupation was listed for Mary and Gerard. All householders could read and write with the exception of Gerard. All householders could speak Irish and English with the exception of Matilda (English only) and Gerard. James Sr. and Mary had 12 children, 9 of whom were still living in 1911.

2. Patrick Carr (46) lived with his wife of 18 years Kate (43) and daughter Mary (17). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Patrick’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Mary’s occupation was listed as a Farmer’s Daughter. No occupation was listed for Kate. All householders could read and write. All householders could speak Irish and English. Patrick and Kate had one child who was still living in 1911.

3. Patrick Curran (40) lived with his wife of 10 years Winnie (42), sons John (8) and Stephen (7), daughter Mary (6), and mother Sarah (74). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Patrick’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. John, Stephen and Mary were listed as scholars. No occupation was listed for Sarah or Winnie.  John, Stephen and Mary could read and write. Patrick and Winie could speak Irish and English while Sarah spoke Irish only. Patrick and Winnie had 3 children, all of whom were still living in 1911.

4. Peter Curran (41) lived with his wife of 16 years Bridget (40), son Patrick (12), and daughters Mary (15) and Julia (13). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Peter’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. Patrick, Mary and Julia were listed as scholars. No occupation was listed for Bridget. All householders could read and write. All householders could speak Irish and English. Patrick and Winnie had 4 children, 3 of whom were still living in 1911.

5. Peter Curran (46) lived with his wife of 14 years Mary (38), and male servant Michael Corner (29). All householders were born in Co Galway with the exception of Michael Corner who was born in England. All householders were Roman Catholic. Michael Comber’s occupation was listed as a Farm Labourer. No occupation was listed for Mary.  All householders could read and write with the exception of Pat. All householders could speak Irish and English.

6. Martin Greaney (47) lived with his wife of 25 years Bridget (46), sons Martin Jr. (16) and James (10), and daughters Mary (23), Delia (14), Freddy (9), Onnie (7) and Annie (2). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Martin Sr’s occupation was listed as a Farmer, Martin Jr. and Mary’s occupation was listed as a Farmer’s Daughter. However, Martin Jr. was recorded as “son” under the ‘Relation to the Head of Family’ heading, the recording of his occupation as being a Farmer’s Daughter is obviously a mistake on the enumerators part. James, Delia, Freddie and Onnie were listed as scholars. No occupation was listed for Bridget or Annie. All householders could read and write with the exception of Onnie and Annie. All householders could speak Irish and English with the exception of Onnie and Annie. Martin Sr. and Bridget had 11 children, 7 of whom were still living in 1911.

7. Denis McHugh (72) lived with his wife of 44 years Kate (68), sons Michael (22), Patrick (19) and John (26), daughter in law Julia (40), granddaughter Dorothy (4) and grandson John Denis (1). All householders were born in Co Galway with the exception of Dorothy who was born in Boston, USA. All householders were Roman Catholic. Denis, Michael, Patrick and John’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. No occupation was listed for the remaining householders. All householders could read and write with the exception of Dorothy and John Denis. All householders could speak Irish and English with the exception of Dorothy and John Denis. Denis and Kate had 10 children, 8 of whom were still living in 1911. John and Julia had 3 children, 2 of whom were still living in 1911.

8. Patrick McHugh (69) lived with his wife of 33 years Margaret (62), son William (26), son in law Patrick Newell (36) and daughter Bridget Newell (30). All householders were born in Co Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Patrick, Margaret and William McHugh’s and Patrick Newell’s occupation was listed as a Farmer. No occupation was listed for Bridget Newell. All householders could read and write with the exception of Patrick and Margaret McHugh. Only Patrick McHugh could speak Irish and English. Patrick and Margaret had 6 children, 4 of whom were still living in 1911.

There were 7 second class houses and 1 third class houses. All houses had either a roof of thatched, wood or other perishable material. All houses had walls constructed of either brick, stone or concrete. All seven second class house had three front windows. The third-class house had two front windows. There were 8 stables, 7 cow houses, 8 piggeries, 4 fowl houses, 6 barns, 4 potato houses and 8 sheds.