Boyhill   

Civil Parish of Athenry

Evelyn Hoare Athenry Active Retirement  / Heritage Office Galway County Council

Boyhill

Boyhill Townland

Boyhill is situated one mile S. SE. of Athenry, bounded on the North and East by Baunmore and Rahard and on the south by Loobruah, Bottom, Tuberconnolly and Mountain South and on the East by Farranablanky (Farranablake).

The land was the property of Burton Persse Esq, containing 177 statute acres, all arable, with exception of two small lakes, one in the East angle and the other 20 chains South of its North angle. It is bounded on the East and West by the roads from Athenry to Loughrea and Craughwell respectively. There is a large fort at the North angle of this townland and a remarkable hill 3 chains West of its East angle called Boyhill

In 1901 the land in the townland of Boyhill was owned by the Persse Family of Moyode. It was bought in 1906 by Lord Ardilaun as part of the Moyode Estate.

The Down Survey of Ireland

Town land of Boyhill

Down Survey Name – Carrowboy

1641 Owner(s) Blake Sir Richard (Catholic)

1670 Owner(s) Blake Robert (Protestant)

County Galway

Baronry Athenree

Parish – Killrekill

Unprofitable land – 52 plantation acres.

Profitable land – 231 plantation acres

Griffith’s Valuation 1855

Area in Acres, Roods, and Perches

  1. P.
  2.  0.   9.

Land value at the times in pounds shillings and pence.

£92. 18. 6.

Building value at the time in pounds, shillings and pence.

£23. 5. 0.

Total Value at the time in pounds shillings and pence.

£104. 9. 6.

Heads of households living in the Townland at that time:

Richard Persse, Michael Kinneen, Michael Murphy, Jeremiah Murphy, Michael Size. All from the Parish of Athenry Co. Galway.

Richard Persse –

Leasing from Burton Persse:

Area – 52 acres, 1 rood, 12 perches, which includes house and offices.

Rates on Land – £28.10.0.

Rates on buildings – £5.0.0.

Total Annual Valuation of Rateable Property – £33.10.0.

 

Michael Kineen

Leasing from Burton Persse:

Area – 117 acres, 0 roods, 31 perches of land which includes house and offices.

Rates on land – £52.10.0.

Rates on buildings – £ 4.0.0.

Total Annual Valuation of rateable property – £56.10.0.

 

Michael Murphy

Leasing from Michael Kinneen – Area 0 acres, 3 roods, and 31 perches

Plus

Area 0 acres, 2 roods, and 22 perches.

Rates on land £ 0.15.0.

No rates on buildings.

Total Annual Valuation of rateable property £ 0.15.0

 

Jeremiah Murphy

Leasing from Michael Kinneen

Area – 5 acres, 2 roods, and 3 perches, of land which includes house and offices.

Rates on land – £2.5.0.

Rates on buildings – £0.15.0.

Total Annual Valuation of Rateable Property £3.0.0.

 

Michael Size

Leasing from Michael Kinneen

Area 3 acres 1 rood and 30 perches, which includes house and offices.

Rates on land £1.5.0.

Rates on buildings £ 0.10.0.

Total Annual Valuation of rateable property £1.15.0.

 

Total Area of Boyhill

180.0.9 acres.

Rates on Land £85.5.0

Rates on Buildings £10.5.0.

Total Annual Valuation of Rateable Property £ 95.10.0

O’Donovan’s Field Names 1838

Standard Name – Boyhill

Irish form of Name – Crocan na Mbuachailidhe

Translation – Hillock of the Boys

Other forms of the name with authority source.

Slieverue, Sleaverue,

Boyhill B.S. Sketch Map.

Slievruain. Red Mount Barony Map.

Boyhill Vestry Book 1826.

Part thereof called Vestry book 1827

Tithe Applotment Books

2 people are recorded in these books:

Patt Murphy      25½ Acres £0. 19s. 0 – yearly fee

W.M. Kinneen   101 Acres   £4. 12s. 9 – yearly fee

1901 Census

Boyhill Townland.

There were 3 households in Boyhill in 1901, all of which were inhabited. There was a total population of 18 people,10 males and 8 females.

The heads of the households were as follows:1. Thomas Size, 2. Patrick Dooley, 3. John Curreen.

House No.1.on Form B

Sice Family.

Census taken on 6th April by Sgt Mark Davis

Thomas Size aged 60 was head of household. He was a farmer and was married to Mary (43) whose maiden name was Rooney. They were both Roman Catholic. He was the lease holder of the land upon which his house was built. The house was a 2nd class house, built of stone and had a thatched roof. It had 3 rooms occupied and 3 windows to the front. Thomas and Mary could both speak Irish and English but couldn’t read or write. They had 5 children 2 sons and 3 daughters. Sons: John (19) who was single and Patrick (15). They could both speak English and Irish and could read and write. They had 3 daughters Norah (17), Annie 12), and Katie (6). They all could speak Irish and English and could all read and write. They were all born in Co. Galway. No-one in the house was ill on 31st March 1901 the day the Census was recorded

House No 2. on Form B.

Dooley Family

Patrick Dooly (60) was the leaseholder and head of the household. He was a Land Steward for Burton Persse of Moyode Castle. Burton Persse owned the land. Patrick’s wife Bidelia (45) was a housekeeper. They had two children, William (20) and Patrick (21). William was a mechanic and Patrick was a farmer, neither were married. They lived in a 2nd class house which had 5 rooms occupied. The walls were made of stone, and it had a thatched roof and 3 windows to the front. All could speak Irish and English and could read and write. All were born in Co. Galway, and all were Roman Catholic. No-one in the house was ill on 31st March 1901, the day the census was recorded. Census Form was collected 6th April.

House No 3 on Form B.

Cureen Family.

John Cureen (50) was head of the household. He lived in “Boyhill House” with his wife Mary aged 31 (maiden name Farrell) who was from Templemartin, Craughwell. They were both Roman Catholic and were married on 11th July 1893 in Athenry R.C. Church. The Witnesses were Bernard Mannion and Delia Farrell. They now had 6 children 3 sons and 2 daughters. Sons: Patrick Joseph (6), born in March 1895. Michael (4) born March 1897.and John Francis (3) born May 1898. Daughters: Honoria (5) born February 1896 and Mary Evelyn (1) born 1900. John was a herd for Burton Persse of “Moyode” Castle. Burton Persse was the landowner on which Boyhill House was built. John and his wife Mary both spoke English and Irish, and both could read and write. There is no language recorded for the children, but they couldn’t read or write. They lived in a 2nd class house with 4 rooms and 3 windows to the front. The house was made of stone and had a thatched roof. There were 7 persons in the family. No-one in the house was ill on the 31st March 1901 the day the Census was recorded. The Census was collected on 6th April 1901. All in the family were born in Co.Galway and all were Roman Catholic.

1911 Census

Enumerator Const. J Carroll

Townland of Boyhill.

There were still only 3 dwellings in the Townland of Boyhill according to the 1911 census. Total population 19. 10 females and 9 males. There were 3 heads of households – Mary Cureen, Patrick Dooley and Thomas Sice.

House no 1 Form B.

Curreen Family

Mary Cureen (widow) (40) was now head of the household. Her husband John had died since the recording of 1901 Census. She had 4 sons and 5 daughters. There were now 11 people living in the house. Mary herself, her 4 sons and 5 daughters and a servant named John Freaney, had now joined the household. Mary’s children: Joseph Cureen (16), Norah Cureen (15), Michael Cureen (12), John Cureen (11), Evelyn Cureen (9), Delia Cureen (8), William Cureen (6), Catherine Cureen (5) Lena Cureen, (3). The family were living in a 2nd class private house. The walls were made of stone and the roof was made of thatch. It had 6 out offices and farm steadings, 1 stable 1 cow house, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house, 1 barn and 1 shed. All the family could read and write except the youngest two children, Catherine and Lena. All the family could speak Irish and English. They were all Roman Catholics, and they were all born in Galway.

House No. 2

Form B

Sice Family.

Thomas Sice  (73) was head of the household, his wife was Mary (57). Her maiden name was Rooney. They were now married for 38 years having been married in 1873. When they got married Mary was (19) and Thomas was (35). They both spoke Irish and English but couldn’t read or write. They were lease holders of their farm. They had five children in total but by 1911 John (19) and Norah (17) had left home. They now had three children living at home who were all single. One son Patrick (25) and 2 daughters Annie (21) and Katie (6). All the children could speak Irish and English and could read and write. They lived in a 2nd class, private, stone-built house with a thatched roof. Three rooms were occupied. It had 2 out offices, 1 stable and 1 cow house. They were all Roman Catholic, and they were all born in Galway.

House No. 3

Form B.

Dooley Family.

Patrick Dooly aged 72 a farmer was the householder and head of the family. Burton Persse was the land holder. Patrick’s wife was called Delia and she was now 61 years old. The marriage had lasted 38 years. They lived in a 2nd class, private built house made of stone with a thatched roof. There were 4 windows to the front of the house and 8 rooms were occupied. It had 3 out offices and farm steadings, 1 stable, 1 cow house and 1 barn. There were two children living at home. Ellen Dooly aged 30, was single and was a Post Office Clerk. Patrick Dooly aged 28 was single and was a labourer. They were all Roman Catholic and were all born in Co. Galway. No-one was ill on the day of the census and the Census Form was collected 14th April 1911.

This page was added on 26/08/2022.

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