Ballygarraun North

Baile an Gharráin Thuaidh, town of the shrubbery North

Ballugarraun is situated in the civil parish of Athenry. It is 1 mile West of Athenry bounded on the North by Moanavaun, West by Poulnagrough, South by Ballygurraun South, and East by Raheen and Culllerbaun.

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 provide various spellings of this townland: Ballygarraun, Recte Baile and Gharráin, Baile Gharráin, Baile Gharráin, Ballygurraun North B.S. Sketch Map Ballygurraun Barony Map, Ballygurraun County Map, and Ballygurrane Vestry Book 1826.

Tithe Applotment Books[i]

The Tithe Applotment books show that Dom G Browne [SIC] occupied 123 acres of land. He paid £3 8s 1 1/2d in tax. Jas [SIC] Burke paid £1 10 ¼ d in tax for his 16 ¼ acres of terrain. John Clasby occupied 39 ¼ acres of land and paid a tax of £2 1s 4d. Thomas [SIC] Cullaby paid £1 3s 11 ½ d of tax for 23 acres of holdings. Thos [SIC] and partners paid £4 15s for 112 acres. John Fury and partners occupied 39 ¼ acres of land and paid tax amounting to £2 1s 5d. Pat Henely and partners paid 16s 5d for 15 ¾ acres of terrain. Widow Glynn occupied 8 ½ acres and paid 13s 3 ½ d to tax. Lastly, Al Lopdell [SIC] occupied 23 ¼ acres of holding and paid tax amounting to £1 16s 4d. The tithes were calculated using pounds, shillings, and pence.

Griffith’s Valuation

According to Griffith’s Valuation 1855, James Perry leased tenements to Denis Dunley, Thomas Keighrey, Patrick Molloy, James Glynn, Thomas Dunlevy, Thomas Dunlevy, Michael Nolan. James Perry was cited as being ‘in Fee’. In fee were freehold tenures, derived from a grant from the crown.

Denis Dunley paid rent of £11-0-0 for 23 acres, 3 rood, and 58 perches of land, house, and offices. Thomas Keighrey paid £11-5-0 for 27 acres, 3 roods, and 15 perches for houses, land, and offices. Patrick Molloy paid £9-15-0 for 24 acres, 4 roods, and 29 perches of house, land, and offices. James Glynn paid £5-0-0 worth of house and land coming to 9 acres, and 22 perches. Thomas Dunley paid for land of up to 13 acres, and 4 perches for £5-5-0. Another Thomas Dunley and Michael Nolan paid for the same 73 acres and 3 perches of land for their houses and offices. Thomas Dunley paid £13-10-0, while Michael paid £13-5-0. Lastly, James perry paid £13-0-0 for land recorded as 43 acres, 3 roods, and 23 perches.

1901 Census

There were 6 households in Ballygarraun North in 1901. 6 individuals were listed as head of household. A total of 29 inhabitants were recorded, 14 male and 15 female. All the residents in this townland were from County Galway and Roman Catholic. The census forms which were collected on the 3^rd of April showed that all the houses were inhabited and were private dwellings. All of the walls of the houses were made from stone, brick or concrete while the roofs were made from thatch, wood, or another perishable material.

Edward Whelan (59) was a farmer. He was married to Honor (56) and lived with his 2 single sons Thomas (28) and Edward (19). Everyone in the house could read and write but Honor who could not read. Both the sons were listed as Farmer’s sons and Honor as Farmer’s wife. All in the Family spoke English and Irish. All 4 of the occupants lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. Edward owned the property his house was built on along with 3 out-offices and farm steadings.

Patrick Dunleavy (60) was listed as a farmer. His wife Bridget (40) was listed as a farmer’s wife. They resided with their 9 single children. They had 6 sons Denis (19), John (17), Patrick (14), Michael (7), Thomas (2), and James (10 months). They also had 3 daughters Ellen (11), Bridget (6), and Nonie (4). Everyone over 6 years old could read and write, but Patrick who could not read, and Bridget who could only read. The four oldest in the house spoke Irish and English but the remaining children only spoke English. This family of 11 lived in a 3-room house with 3 front windows. Patrick Dunleavy owned the property his 2nd class house resided on along with 3 out-offices or farm-steadings.

Julia Nolan (56) is listed in the 1901 census as a farmer. She is widowed and lived with her 2 daughters Norah (22), and Julia (19). All 3 spoke English and Irish and although the mother could not read both single daughters were able to read and write. They lived in a 3^rd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front windows. Julia owned the holdings her house and 3 out-offices/ farm-steadings were situated on.

Michael Dunleavy (45) was a single farmer who lived with his single sister Norah (40). Although Michael was unable to read, his sister could read and write. Her occupation was listed as a domestic servant. Both siblings spoke Irish and English. Michael and his sister lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front-facing windows. He also owned the holding his house resided on along with his 3 out-offices/ farm steadings.

John Molloy (28) was a married farmer. His wife Bridget (21) was listed as a farmer’s wife. They lived with John’s widowed mother Catherine (70), and their 2 daughters Julia (2), and Kate (11 months). Catherine was unable to read, and John could only read. All 3 adults spoke Irish and English. They inhabited a 2^nd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. John Molloy owned the terrain his house and 2 farm steadings/ out offices resided on.

Patrick Glynn (65) was listed as a farmer. He was married to Bridget (61) and lived with his single son James (26), whose occupation was listed as a general labourer, and single niece Norah Hanniffy (22), who was a general domestic servant. All four spoke both English and Irish. Everyone could read and write but Bridget who could read only. They lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front-facing windows and 3 rooms. Patrick Glynn also owned the land his house resided on along with 3 farm steadings/ out-offices.

1911 Census

There were 5 households in Ballygarraun North in 1911. There were 35 inhabitants, 20 were male and 15 were female. All the occupants were Roman Catholic and originated from County Galway. The heads of households were: Patrick Glynn, Michael Dunleavy, Richard Commins, Patrick Dunleavy, Edward Wheelan, and John Molloy. The census forms, which were collected on the 15^th April 1911, showed that all the houses were listed as private dwellings. Each house roof was made of thatch, wood, or another perishable material, while all of the walls were made from stone, brick, or concrete.

Patrick Glynn (77) was a farmer. He had been married to Bridget for 43 years at the time of the census. They had 4 kids, with 3 still living in 1911. They lived with their single son James (39) who was listed as a farmer’s son. Both men could read and write, while Bridget could read only. They all spoke Irish and English. They lived in a 3 roomed, 2^nd class house with 3 front-facing windows. Patrick owned the land his house, cow house, piggery, and barn resided on.

Michael Dunleavy (60) was listed as a farmer in the census. He resided with his two sisters Norah (58), and Ellen (40). They were all single, were able to read and write, and spoke both Irish and English. They were dwelling in a 2^nd class house with 4 rooms and 3 front windows. Michael Dunleavy owned the holdings his house was built on along with a stable, cow house, and piggery.

Richard Commins (45) was a married farmer. He had been married to Catherine (42) for 13 years and had 3 children with her. He lived with his 3 sons Patrick (17), Christy (5), and John (1 month), along with his daughter Mary (3). All four children in the house were single and all spoke both English and Irish. Richard lived in his 2^nd class house with 5 rooms and 3 front windows. He owned the holdings his house, stable, cow house, piggery, fowl house, and turf shed were situated on.

Patrick Dunleavy (72) was a farmer. He was married to Bridget (49) for 29 years and out of the 12 children they had together, 9 were still alive. They lived with their 4 sons Patrick (24), Michael (17), Thomas (12), James (10), and 3 daughters Ellen (20), Bridget (15), and Nora (14). Patrick was listed as farmer’s son while the younger 4 children were listed as scholars. All the children living in the house were single, all in the house spoke Irish and English. Everyone read and wrote except the head of the household Patrick. They all lived in a 2^nd class house with 4 rooms and 3 front windows. He too owned the terrain his house was built on along with a stable, cow house, piggery, fowl house, and shed.

Edward Wheelan (71) was listed as a farmer in the 1911 census. He was married to Honor (72) and they had been married for 40 years and had 5 children. They lived with their 2 single sons Thomas (38) and Edward (31). They all spoke Irish and English, and all could read and write but Honor. Edward owned the land his 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms resided on, along with a stable, cow house, piggery, fowl house, and barn.

John Molloy (40) was a married farmer. He had been married to his wife Margaret for 13 years and they had 8 children together. They had 4 daughters Julia (12), Katie (11), Mary (7), and Delia (4). They also had 4 sons Michael (9), Patrick (6), and twins John and Thomas (1 month). The only ones in the family who were listed as being able to read and write were the 3 eldest children and parents. The 5 oldest children were listed as scholars. Both parents were able to speak Irish and English. They all lived in a 2nd class house with 3 front windows and rooms. John Molloy owned the terrain his house, stable, cow house, and piggery were built on.

[i] Tithe Applotment Books only listed the townland as Ballygarraun and failed to specify from which region North, South, or West the inhabitants dwelled.