Knockavilra (Fountainhill)

Cnoc an Bhiolra

Roger Harrison / Forum Connemara

Townland:                                Knockavilra

Civil Parish:                              Omey

Barony:                                     Ballynahinch

Church Parish:                         Clifden

District Electoral Division:    Sillerna

 

Baptism and Marriage records for Clifden R.C. Parish 1821-1881

Old Pension Census (1841-1851) for Knockavilra  (no records)

Map

Galway Library for Knockavilra

Logainm for Knockavilra

1670 Down Survey for Knockavilra

NUI Galway Digital Collections for Knockavilra

Name Books for the Parish of Omey

West Connemara men who lost their lives in WWI (Clifden and Connemara Heritage Society)

 

1911 Census for Knockavilra

Overview of Knockavilra in 1911

There were 4 houses in the townland of Knockavilra in 1911 and all were occupied and listed as being private dwellings. They were constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and had thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. House 2 was a second class dwelling and the other 3 were all 3rd class. Houses 1, 3 and 4 had between 2 and 4 rooms and 2 windows in the front and house 2 had between 2 and 4 rooms and 3 windows. The out-offices and farm-steadings return shows that there were a total of 11 out buildings consisting of a stable, 4 cow houses, a calf house, 2 piggeries, a fowl house and 2 potato houses. There were a total of 20 people in the townland at that time, 10 males and 10 females. The enumerator was sergeant Andrew Young.

 

Alderdice

Elizabeth (30) was the only occupant of house 1 and she was born in Co. Galway and was a Roman Catholic. She could read and write and was listed as being a dressmaker and farmer. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and she had a cow house. The landholder was Elizabeth Alderdice.

 

Davis

There were 11 members of this Davis family and the head of the family was John (48) and he had been married to Catherine (49) for 17 years and they had had 9 children, Joseph (16), Richard (15), Mary (14), John (12), Annie (11), Anthony (9), Peter (8), Maggie (6) and Thomas (4). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. The whole family could speak only English and, with the exception of Maggie and Thomas, they could all read and write. John was a farmer, Joseph and Richard were farmer’s sons and Mary, John, Annie, Anthony and Peter were scholars. The house was a 2nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and they had a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house and a potato house. The landholder was John Davis.

 

Lacey

John (30) was the head of this family and he was married to Catherine (27) and had been for 3 years, in which time they had had 2 children, Mary (2) and Anne (1). Also in the house at that time was Michael’s widowed mother, Anne (70), whom had been married for 40 years and had had 3 children and all had survived. They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Michael, Catherine and Anne (70) spoke both Irish and English but only Catherine could read and write. Michael was a farmer and mason, Mary and Anne (1) were farmer’s daughters and Anne (70) was listed as being a farmer’s wife. The house was a 2nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and they had a cow house, a calf and a piggery. The landholder was John Lacey.

 

Ward

Michael (74) was the head of the last family in Knockavilra and he had been married to Honor (67) for 47 years and they had had 11 children, of which 10 had survived. They shared the house with their son, John (26). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English but only John could read and write. Michael was a farmer and John was a farmer’s son. The house was a 2nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and they had a stable, a cow house and a potato house. The landholder was Michael Ward.

 

1901 Census for Knockavilra (Fountainhill)

Overview of Knockavilra in 1901

Knockavilra was also known as Fountainhill at this time. There were a total of 10 houses in the townland of Knockavilra in 1901. They were all occupied and listed as being private dwellings. They were all constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and had thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. House 9 was a 2nd class dwelling and all the others were 3rd class. Houses 6 and 7 had 1 room and 1 window in the front, houses 1, 3 and 4 had between 2 and 4 rooms and 1 window, houses 2, 5, 8 and 10 had between 2 and 4 rooms and 2 windows in the front and house 9 had 5 rooms and 3 windows in the front. There were 12 outbuildings in the townland and they consisted of a stable, 5 cow houses, 5 barns and a potato house. The enumerator’s abstract return shows that there were a total of 41 people in the townland at that time, 20 males and 21 females. The enumerator for the area was Const. Peter Hunt.

 

Cloonan

The head of the first family in Knockavilra was Michael (31) and he was married to Ellen (52) and they shared the house with 4 of their children, Michael (8), Mary (7), Annie (5) and Tom (2). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Michael (31), Ellen and Michael (8) could speak both Irish and English and Ellen and Michael (8) could read and write, Michael (31) was a farmer and Michael (8) and Mary were scholars. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a cow house. Michael Cloonan was the landholder.

 

Ward

Michael (55) was the head of this family and he was married to Honor (50) and they lived in the house with 4 of their children, Michl (23), Rodger (23), Honor (19) and Jane (18). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English and Michl, Rodger and Jane could read and write. Michael was a farmer, Michl and Rodger were farmer’s sons and Honor (19) and Jane were farmer’s daughters. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a barn. The landholder was Michl Ward.

 

Diamond                                 (additional surname: O’Donnell)

The widow Bab (80) was listed as the head of this family and she lived in the house with her son-in-law, John ODonnell (52) and daughter-in-law, Bridget ODonnell (48). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English and none of the family could read. Bab was a farmer and John was a farmer’s son. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a barn. The landholder was Bab Diamond.

 

Ward

Mary (72), a widow, was the only occupant of house 4. She was born in Co. Galway and was a Roman Catholic. She could not read but spoke both Irish and English and was listed as being a farmer. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and she had a cow house. The landholder was Mary Ward.

 

O’Brien

James (63) was the head of the family in house 5 and he was married to Barbara (62). They were both born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. They could speak both Irish and English but neither could read. James was a farmer. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a stable, a cow house and a barn. The landholder was James O’Brien.

 

Lacey

Patk (60) was the head of this family and he was married to Mary (56) and they shared the hosue with their son Thos (22). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English but only Thos could read and write. Patk was a farmer and Thos was a farmer’s son. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 1 room and they had a cow house. The landholder was Pat Lacey.

 

Lacey

Frank (68) was listed as the head of this household and he was married to Anne (45) and they lived in the house with 3 of their children, Michael (20), Mary (16) and Anne (14). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English but only Anne (14) could read and write. Frank was a farmer, Michael was a farmer’s son, Mary was a farmer’s daughter and Anne (14) was a scholar. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 1 room and they had a cow house. The landholder was Frank Lacey.

 

Alderdice

The widow, Catherine (65) was the head o this household and she shared the house with her son, Thomas (17). They were both born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. They could speak both Irish and English but neither of them could read. Catherine was a farmer and Thomas was a farmer’s son. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms. The landholder was Catherine Alderdice.

 

Walsh

Anthony (37) was the head of the family in house 9 and he was married to Ellen (30) and they lived with 3 of their children, Anthony (3), Michael (2) and Katie (4mths) and also in the house was a boarder, Katie (15). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Anthony, Ellen and Katie (15) spoke both Irish and English and could read and write. Anthony was listed as being a farmer. The house was a 2nd class dwelling with 5 rooms and they had a barn and a potato. The landholder was Anthony Walsh.

 

Davis

John (31) was the head of the last family in Knockavilra and he was married to Catherine (30) and they lived in the house with 5 of their children, Joseph (6), Richard (5), Mary (4), John (2) and Annie (9mths). They were all Roman Catholic with Catherine being born in Co. Mayo and the rest being born in Co. Galway. John (31) and Catherine spoke Irish and English but none of the family could read. John (31) was a farmer and Joseph was a scholar. The house was a 3rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a barn. The landholder was John Davis.

 

Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1864) for Knockavilra

Walter Coneys leased a house and offices on 143 acres and 31 perches of land from Patrick Greene for £33 10s for the land and £1 10s for the buildings.

 

This page was added on 18/06/2018.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.