Ballybrone

Baile Uí Bhróin/ Baile an Brunaigh, Brown’s town

Ballybrone is situated in the civil parish of Athenry. It is 7 miles Northwest of Athenry and in the Barony of Clare. It is bounded on the North by Bullaun, Parish of Killmoylan, East by Banaboy, South by Ballyglass, West by knockdoebeg East and Cahernahoon, Parish of Lackagh, and also Corbally South, Parish of Kilmoylan.

The Down Survey Map provides no record of this townland and indicates the map of the barony of Athenry was destroyed in 1711.

O Donovan’s Field Name Books provides various spellings of this townland: Ballybrone, Baile an Brunaigh, Baile Ui Broin, Ballybrone B.S. Sketch Map, Balibrone High Constable 1838, Ballibrone Ing. Temp. Jac. I, Ballybruny Inq. Temp.Gal. II, Ballenbroony Inq. Temp.Gal. II. Ballybrony Inq. Temp.Gal. II, Ballinvroony Inq.Temp. Car. 1, Balla Bron or Brown’s Village Local, Ballybrone Local, Bally-Browne Rev. Thomas Kearney, Ballybrone Vestry Book 1826.

Griffiths Valuation

According to Griffith’s Valuation 1855, Sir Blake leased tenements to Martin Cullinane. Martin Cullinane also seemed to have leased tenements to the following: Martin Costello, Martin Greany, Martin Collins, Michael Murphy, Michael Greene, Margaret Leonard, Denis Hynes, Patrick Leonard, Thomas Collins, and Patrick Murphy.

Martin Costello paid rent of £2-5-0 for 6 acres and 20 perches, for his house, office and land. Martin Greany paid £1-10-0 for his house and land comprised of 4 acres, 3 roods, and 9 perches. Martin Collins’s house and land came to £1, encompassing 2 acres and 3 roods. Michael Murphy made a payment of £1-15-0 for 4 acres, 3 roods, and 23 perches for his house and land. Michael Greene paid £1-5-0, for his house and land of 3 acres, 2 roods, and 10 perches. Margaret Leonard’s house and garden of 2 roods and 10 perches came to £0-10-0. Denis Hynes (herd) paid £0-10-0 for his house and office. Patrick Leonard paid £0-15-0 for 2 acres, 1 rood, and 15 perches for his house and land. Thomas Collins paid £1-0-0 for 3 acres and 35 perches for his house and land. Patrick Murphy’s house and land came to £2-5-0 and was a total area of 6 acres and 22 perches. All of these tenants paid Martin Cullinane, who in turn paid Sir Thos. E. Blake £215-0-0 for 735 acres,2 roods, and 24 perches for his house, offices, and land. The Total annual valuation of rateable property paid overall in Ballybrone was £228-15-0 for 770 acres, 0 roods, and 20 perches.

1901 Census

There were 13 households in Ballybrone in 1901. There were also 13 individuals who were listed as heads of household. A total of 61 inhabitants were recorded in 1901, 28 were male and 33 were female.  The census forms which were collected on 1^st April 1901 showed that all houses were built as private dwellings. It also indicated that all houses were inhabited, built from stone, brick, or concrete, and roofed with thatch, wood, or another perishable material. Each house had 1 distinct family in it and everyone in this townland was Roman Catholic and originated from County Galway. Overall, there were 44 farm-buildings-11 stables, 1 coach house, 1 harness room, 9 cow houses, 4 calf houses, 9 piggeries, 2 fowl houses, 3 barns, 1 potato house, and 3 sheds.

Mary Morris (73) was a widowed farmer who lived with her son Pat (27), and daughter Winnie (29). Both children’s occupation was listed as farmer’s son and farmer’s daughter respectively, and both were able to speak Irish and English, whilst Mary could only speak Irish. They were both single and could read and write, unlike their mother who couldn’t read.  The family of three, lived in a 2^nd class house, with 3 front-facing windows and 3 rooms. Mary Morris owned the land on which her house was situated, along with 1 cow house and 1 piggery.

Martin Collins (70) was a farmer married to Honor (65) who was listed as a farmer’s wife. Neither could read but lived with their single son Daniel (27) who could read and write. Daniels’s occupation was under farmer’s son and all 3 in the house spoke both English and Irish. They lived together in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Martin owned the land his house was built along with 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 piggery, and 1 fowl house.

Michael Murphy (67) was a single farmer who lived with his sister Bridget (69), whose occupation wasn’t listed. Neither of the siblings could read or write and both were unmarried and spoke both English and Irish. The 2 lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 rooms and 2 front windows. Michael owned the grounds his dwelling was located, along with a piggery and fowl house.

Denis Hynes (63) was a farmer. He was married to Mary (50) and lived with his wife and 2 single daughters Kate (19), and Bridget (16). Both children were listed as farmer’s daughters and all in the house spoke Irish and English. All but Denis could read and write. They all lived together in their 3^rd class house with 2 rooms and 2 front-facing windows. Denis Hynes owned the land his house was built along with a single piggery.

Timothy Murphy (64) was a widowed shepherd. He lived with his son-in-law, who was also a shepherd, John Fahy (30), daughter Ellen (25), and 2 granddaughters Nora (4), and Maggie (2). Only John and Ellen Fahy were married and able to read and write. The three adults Timothy, John, and Ellen were all listed as being able to speak English and Irish. The family of 5 lived in a 2^nd class house with 4 rooms and 3 windows at the front of the house.  Timothy did not own the land his house was situated. Patrick Cullinan was the landowner Timothy’s house was situated on along with his cow house and stable.

Patrick Dixon Glynn (30) was a physician and surgeon and was married to Mary J (23). He lived with his sister Mary (23), son Michl J [SIC] (1), and two servants Pat Goven (18) and Kate Owens (18).  The 2 servant’s occupations were written as ‘domestic’ in the census and both Pat and Michl J [SIC] were noted as Bachelor’s in their marital status section, as opposed to Mary and Kate who were Spinsters. Everyone but Michl J [SIC] could read and write.  They all resided in a 2^nd class house with 9 rooms and 4 front windows. Patrick Cullinan was also the landowner of where Patrick Glynn’s house was situated, along with his 5 stables, 1 coach house, 1 harness room, 1 cow house, 1 calf house, and 1 piggery.

Philip Hynes (48) was a shepherd who was married to Margaret (38). They had 2 sons Denis (15), and Martin (5), along with 7 daughters Julia (14), Kate (12), Mary (10), Maggie (8), Norah (5), Bridget (2), and Anne (<1). All of the children (but the two youngest daughters) were listed as scholars and everyone in the house (except the two youngest daughters) could read and write. The family of 11 lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. Once again Patrick Cullinan was the landowner of the holdings Philip’s house was situated along with his stable, cow house, a calf house, piggery, and barn.

John Murphy (65) was a married farmer who lived with his wife Mary (60), son Michael (30), daughter Margaret (20), and visitor Mary O’Brien (8). His two children were listed as farmer’s son and daughter while the visitor was included as a scholar. The three children were single, and able to read and write, unlike their parents. Everyone was able to speak both English and Irish, but John Murphy who spoke Irish only. The 5 of them lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. John Murphy owned the land his house occupied along with a stable, cow house, a calf house, piggery, barn, potato house, and a shed.

Thomas Murphy (47) was a farmer who married Margaret (42) and had 3 daughters Bridget (22), Katie (20), and Mary (18), along with 4 sons John (17), Thomas (12), Michael (10), and Patrick (8). Everyone in the house spoke both Irish and English and all the children were single. The three daughters were listed as being farmer’s daughters and the eldest son John’s occupation was farmer’s son. The three youngest boys were listed as scholars. Neither of the parents could read or write and Bridget, Michael, and Patrick could ‘read only’. The remaining children could both read and write. The family lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front-facing windows. There were 3 rooms in the house, which was established on terrain that Thomas Murphy owned, along with a single cow house.

Patrick Murphy (32) was listed as a farmer. He was identified on the census as being married to Kate (31). They lived with their daughter Mary (12), and sons James (11), Patrick (10), Augustin (1), along with a married border, Mary Forde (45). The three eldest children were noted as scholars while Mary Forde was listed as a domestic servant. All but Mary Forde and Augustin were able to read and write and all three adults spoke both English and Irish. The 7 of them lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. Patrick Murphy owned not only the property encompassing the house, but his stable, cow house, calf house, piggery, barn and shed as well.

Michael Collins (60) was a farmer who was widowed. He resided with his 2 daughters Mary (20), and Bridget (14), and 3 sons Michael (17), Thomas (16), and Robert (12). All in the house spoke Irish and English and none were married. The only people able to read and write were Mary and Robert. The 3^rd class house they lived in had 2 front windows and 3 rooms. Michael Collins also owned the land his house was situated on, along with a stable, cow house, piggery, and shed.

Margaret Leonard (65) had no occupation listed. She was a widow who lived with her son Michael (29) who was listed as a farm labourer, and grandchildren Patrick Duffy (10) and Kate Duffy (6). The two children were scholars and Patrick was the only one in the family who could read. They all spoke Irish and English. All four of them lived in a 4^th class house with 1 room and no front-facing windows. Patrick Cullinan owned the land her house resided.

Martin Leonard (29) was a single farmer. He could read and speak Irish and English. He lived alone in his 3^rd class house with 1 room and 2 front windows. He owned the land his house was situated on.

Census 1911

There were 13 households in Ballybrone in 1911. There were 55 inhabitants, 24 were male and 28 were female. All of the occupants were Roman Catholic. The birthplace of all the residents, but one man, in the townland, was County Galway. but Thomas Murphy originated from County Mayo. The heads of households were: Philip Hynes, Michael Murphy, Thomas Murphy, Patrick Murphy, Michael Collins, Margaret Kelly, John Fahey, Patrick Glynn, Denis Hynes, Michael Murphy, Martin Collins, Patrick Morris, and Martin Leonard.

Philip Hynes (54) was a shepherd who was married to Maggie (50). They were married for 27 years in 1911 and although they had 11 children, 10 children remained in 1911. They lived with their 2 single sons Denis (27), and Martin (19), and 5 daughters Norah (17), Maggie (15), Bridgie (12), Annie (10), and Winifred (7). The three youngest daughters were listed in the census as scholars and both sons were noted as general labourers. All of the family spoke both Irish and English and all were able to read and write. They lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 4 rooms. Patrick Cullinane owned the property this house was built on along with Philip’s stable, cow house, calf barn, dairy, piggery, fowl house, barn, and shed.

Michael Murphy (50) was a widowed farmer who was unable to read and spoke Irish and English. He lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front-facing windows and 3 rooms. He owned the land his house was situated on along with his stable, cow house, piggery, fowl house, and barn.

Thomas Murphy (63) was listed as a farmer. He was married to Margaret (55) and in the year 1911, they were married for 33 years. They had 9 children, 3 of which were still living in 1911. They lived with their single daughter Mary (25) and 2 sons Michael (19) and Patrick (18). Mary was the only one in the house who could both read and write, her parents could do neither and her 2 brothers could read. They all lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Thomas also owned the land his house was built on along with a stable, cow house, piggery, and fowl house.

Patrick Murphy (43) was a farmer. By the year 1911, he was married to Kate (47) for 23 years, they had 8 children with 4 surviving in the year 1911. 1 daughter Ellen (7), and 3 sons James (20), Patrick (18), and Augustine (11). Everyone could read and write and spoke both English and Irish. All the children were single and while the eldest 2 children’s occupations were listed as farmer’s sons, the younger 2 were scholars. The 6 of them lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. Patrick Murphy owned the land his house, stable, cow house, piggery, fowl house, and barn resided on.

Michael Collins (29) was a married farmer who lived with his wife Julia (24) and daughter Mary (1). Julia was the only one in the house able to read and write and in the year 1911, they had been married for 5 years, having 3 children, 2 of which were still alive. The two parents spoke both English and Irish. Their 2^nd class house has 3 rooms and 3 front windows. He owns the holding his house is situated on along with a stable, cow house, piggery, and fowl house.

Margaret Kelly (75) was a widowed old age pensioner who spoke only Irish. She lived with her single sister Bridget Kenny (70), granddaughter Catherine Kelly (14), and 2 boarders Mary (36) who was a widow, and John McDonald (6 months). While Margaret only spoke Irish the rest of the family spoke both English and Irish. Catherine was the only one in the house able to read and write. They lived in a 3^rd class house with no front windows and 2 rooms. Patrick Cullinane owned the land her house and fowl house was built on.

John Fahey (40) was a married shepherd who resided with his wife Ellen (46), 3 daughters Norah (13), Margaret (11), and Mary Kate (4), 2 sons John (8), Thomas (5), and border Thomas Murphy (81). Everyone in the house was able to read but the two youngest children and border, Thomas. Thomas Murphy’s occupation was listed under retired shepherd, his birthplace was County Mayo, and he was also noted as a widow in the census. John and Ellen had been married for 14 years at the time of this census and had 5 children all of which were still living. Everyone spoke both Irish and English. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows. The 3 rooms were accompanied by a stable and cow house, that was built on the land Patrick Cullinane owned.

Patrick Glynn (40) was a physician surgeon. He was married to Mary Joseph (32) for 12 years in 1911 and they had 3 children together, all of whom were still alive. They had 2 sons Michael Joseph B (11) and Cecil [SIC] (5), along with 1 daughter Mary (8). Honor Moloney (50) was also bordering with them and was a single servant. Everyone staying in the 2^nd class house was able to read and write. The house itself had 4 front windows and 8 rooms. The land occupying it and his stable, coach station, Harness room, cow house, calf house, piggery, fowl house, boiling house, barn, turf shed, potato house, and laundry were owned by Patrick Cullinane.

Denis Hynes (73) was listed as a farmer at the time of the 1911 census. He was married to Mary (71) for 42 years and out of the 6 children they had together, 4 were still existing. Their single son and daughter, Thomas (40) and Kate (28) lived with them in a 3^rd class house. They all spoke English and Irish and although the parents could not read their children could both read and write.  Denis murphy owned the land his 2 room house was situated on and along with the house’s 2 front windows, Denis also had a fowl and cow house.

Michael Murphy (78) was noted as a farmer. He was single and unable to read but spoke both English and Irish. He lived alone in a 3^rd class house with 2 front-facing windows and 2 rooms. He also owned the land his house resided on.

Martin Collins (80) was specified as a farmer. He had been married for 40 years and had 4 children all noted as alive, with his wife Norah (76). The two only spoke Irish with the rest of the house being able to speak both Irish and English. They lived with their married son Daniel (40), married daughter Mary (39), Grandsons Martin (6), and Patrick (3), and their granddaughter Mary (1). Martin and Norah’s 2 children were also the only ones in the house able to read and write. The 7 inhabitants lived in a 3 roomed, 2^nd class house with 3 front-facing windows. Martin also owned the property his house stable, cow house, and piggery were built on.

Patrick Morris (35) was a single farmer who lived with his sister Winifred (38) at the time of the census. The siblings spoke Irish and English and were able to read and write. They resided together in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. Patrick owned the terrain his house, cow house, piggery, and fowl house was erected on.

Martin Leonard (50) was a single general labourer. He spoke Irish and English but was unable to read. He inhabited a 3^rd class house with 2 rooms and front windows. Patrick Cullinane owned the holdings Martin’s house was situated on.