Ballyeighter (Dowdall)

Irish Grid: M 83021 37040                                      Lat / Long: 53.3835, -8.25589

DED: Ahascragh

Description:

(John O’Donovan 1806-1861)

This townland contains a. r. p. (142 Acres, 0 roods, 2 perches) about ½ of which is bog, the remainder arable and pasture. Flat, wet, land, but of bad quality. Houses in bad repair. It is the property of Sir Ross Mahon held by deed for ever. It pays £3. 17. 2½ County Cess.

Situation:

(John O’Donovan 1806-1861)

Lies in the S. East of this parish bounded by Eddergool North, Ballyeeghter, Mahon and Annaghbeg townlands. It is in the Barony of Cloonmacnoon.

This is a list of townlands that share a border with Ballyeighter (Dowdall).

• Addergoole North
• Annaghbeg
• Ballyeighter (Mahon)

Census of Ireland (1821- 1911)

The first full population census of Ireland was taken in 1821 and the first four Irish censuses were arranged by county, barony, civil parish and townland.

1821:  Only some fragments for small parts of county Galway survive. There are no records      for Ahascragh.

1831:  The only surviving records are from Counties Antrim and Derry.

1841:  There are no surviving records for County Galway.

1851:   There are no surviving records for County Galway.

1861:  Census records for 1861 and 1871 were deliberately destroyed by the government

1881:  The records for 1881 and 1891 were pulped as waster paper during the shortages of World War I.

1901:   Full Census records are available    See below.

1911:   Full Census records are available    See below.

1911 Census

Overview of the townland.

There were just the 2 houses in the townland of Ballyeighter (Dowdall). Both houses were occupied and listed as being private dwellings. Both were constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and had thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. Both were 2^nd class dwellings and had 2 rooms and 3 windows to the front. There were 5 out buildings consisting of 2 stables, 2 cow houses and a piggery. There were a total of 11 people in the townland at that time, 6 males and 5 females. The enumerator for the area was Const. William Kearney.

House 1: Donnellan / Lyons

Martin (38) was listed as the head of this household and he had been married to Margarett [sic] (36) for 6 years and during that time they had had 3 children, John (5), Kathleen (3) and Peter (2) and also in the house at that time was a step daughter, Tessie Lyons (12). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic, with the exception of Tessie, who was born in America. Both parents could read and write and Martin was a farmer and Tessie was a scholar. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a stable and a cow house. The landholder was Martin Donnellan.

House 2: Kearns

The head of this family was listed as being Michael (69), a widower and he lived with his son, Thos (30) and daughter-in-law, Mary (25), his son, John (18) and daughter, Cecila [sic] (25). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic, except for Mary, who was born in Co. Roscommon. All could read and write. Michael was a farmer, Thos and John were farmer’s sons and Cecila [sic] was a farmer’s daughter. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a stable, cow house and a piggery. The landholder was Michael Kearns.

1911 Census

Overview of the townland.

The were 2 houses in the townland of Ballyeighter (Dowdall) and both were occupied and listed as being private dwellings. They were both 2^nd class dwellings and had 3 rooms and 3 windows to the front. There were 14 people listed, 8 males and 6 females. The enumerator for the area was Const. Joseph Lawson.

House 1: Kearns

There were 10 members of this family in house 1 and the head was listed as being Michael (55) and he was married to Anne (50) and they lived in the house with 8 of their children, Kate (19), Mary (17), Thomas (16), Bridget (14), Edward (12), Michael J. (10), Cecilia E. (8) and John (6). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic and all could read and write apart from John. Michael was listed as being a farmer, Anne was a housekeeper, Kate and Mary were farmer’s daughters, Thomas was a farmer’s son and the other children were all scholars. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and the landholder was Michael Kearns.

House 2: Kearns / McDonnell

James (34) was the head of this household and he was married to Rose (32) and they had a son, Thomas (8mths) and also in the house at that time was a servant, Bernard McDonnell (36). They were all Roman Catholic and James was born in Co. Galway and the others were all born in Co. Roscommon. All the adults could read and write and James was a farmer and Bernard was a farmer servant. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and the landholder was James Kearns.

Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864

Plot 1a: John Kearns leased a house and offices with 81 acres of land from Matthew O’Reilly for which he paid £23 15s for the land and £1 5s for the buildings.

Plot 1b: This plot was a vacant house belonging to John Kearns that had an annual ratable valuation of 5s.

Plot 2: Matthew O’Reilly had, in fee (for himself), 1 acre and 19 perches of bog that had an annual ratable valuation of 5s.