Standard Name: Raheen
Irish Form: Ráithín
Translation: O’Donovan Field Name Book translation is ‘a small fort’
Other Forms of Name: Raithín, Raheeney, Raheeny. (In the 1600’s), Raheene (Tithe Applotment Books)
According to P.W. Joyce, Author of ‘The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places’ Ra, Ray, Raw, Rath; is an ancient, fortified residence: the part of a place-name following Ra, Rath, Raheen, is very often a personal or family name.
Raheen is situated in the Barony of Athenry, on the North West side of the town of Athenry; bounded on the North by Cullairbaun, West by Ballygurraun North, Ballygurraun South and Prospect. It is bounded on the East by the old Town Wall of Athenry and on the North by the road from Athenry to Tuam.
Records from this source (1860’s) list Raheen as the property of Counsellor Lopdell, containing 151 statute acres, nearly all of which is under cultivation, the remainder being a few acres of plantation.
The townlands that share a border with Raheen are:
Athenry
Ballygarraun North and South,
Cullairbaun
Moanbaun
Prospect
The Down Survey (1641 pre-Cromwell; 1670 post Cromwell)
The map of this Barony was destroyed in 1711. No copies have, so far, come to light.
The Down Survey Name is Lekertie. The pre-Cromwell Owner was Richard Burke (Catholic), and the post-Cromwell Owner was the Earl of Clonrickard (Protestant).
The Tithe Applotment Book (Rental Applotment Valuation) has one entry for Raheen:
William Lopdell 90 Acres, Annual Tithes £5.17s.02¼d
The Tithes were calculated using pounds, shillings, and pence and fractions of pence (£ s d).
Griffith’s Valuation (1855) records 2 occupiers as:
John Lopdell 148 Acres 1 Rood, 12 Perches. The rateable annual valuation for the land was £111.0s.0d and £3.5s. 0d for the buildings. John Lopdell held this “in Fee”. The “Description of Tenament” was land, herd’s house, gate-lodge, offices and cottier’s house.
Midland and Great Western Railway Co. (MGW Railway Co.) held 2 Acres 3 Roods and 30 Perches with annual rateable valuation of £2. 16 shillings. This also was held “in fee”.
That gave a total of 151 Acres 1 Rood and 2 Perches with total annual valuation of rateable property £117.1s. 0d
Currency then was Pounds, shillings and pence £ s d
“In Fee” were freehold tenures, derived from a grant from the Crown.
In 1901 six houses are recorded, two of which were un-occupied.12 people resided in Raheen, 4 males and 8 females. 7 were Roman Catholics and 5 were Church of Ireland also known as Irish Church. Constable M. Ruddy was the Census enumerator. The census night was Sunday 31st March 1901, and the forms were collected on April 3rd, 1901. House number 1 as listed on the enumerator’s house and building return form, was un-occupied. Belonging to Kate Lopdell, the house was made of blocks, brick or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. It had 29 front windows and there were 18 out-offices and farm steadings and was designated 1st Class house.
The building listed as Number 6 was the Signal Cabin and was unoccupied. The Heads of the 4 occupied houses were:
Helena Powell
Thomas Lytte
Michael Flannery
Robert Lannon
Powell’s Helena Powell (36), a Dressmaker, is Head of the Family. She could read and write and was not married. Living with her were her 3 unmarried sisters, all able to read and write. Sarah Powell, (32) was a Gate-Keeper; Monzie Powell (30) was a Milliner; Margaret Powell (28) was a Telegraphist. They were Roman Catholics. The Midland & Great Western Railway Company was the Landholder on whose land the house is situated. They lived in a private house made of blocks, brick or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. The house had 1 front window; 3 rooms were occupied by the family. The house was deemed a 3rd Class house. There were no out-offices or farm-steadings.
Lytte’s Thomas Lytte (50), a Gardener was Head of Family, born in Co. Kildare; living with his wife Mary Lytte (51), also a Gardener, who was born in Wiltshire. They were Church of Ireland Denomination and could read and write. Kate Lopdell was the Landholder on whose land the house is situated. They lived in a private house made of blocks, brick or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. The house had 2 front windows and was deemed a 2nd Class house. 3 rooms were occupied by the family. There were no out-offices or farm-steadings.
Flannery’s Michael Flannery (28), a Herd, was Head of the Family. With him, his wife Mary Flannery (28) described as Herd’s wife. Both of them could read and write and spoke Irish and English. They were born in Co. Galway. Cecilia Patterson (76), a lodger, was there on census night. She was born in Co. Wicklow, unmarried and a Dressmaker. This private house was made of blocks, brick or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. The house had 4 front windows and was deemed a second class house. Four rooms were occupied by the family. There were three out-offices – cow house, piggery and fowl house. Katie Lopdell was the Landholder on whose land the House is situated.
In 1911 five houses are recorded, one of which was un-inhabited. 21 people resided in Raheen, 4 males and 17 females. Constable John Carroll was the Census enumerator. The census night was Sunday 2nd April 1911, and the forms were collected on April 10th 1911. The Heads of the Households were Robert Kennedy, Katie Lopdell, Michael Flannery and Sarah Powell.
Kennedy’s Robert Kennedy (35) Head of the Family, gardener and could read and write. Married for 7 years to Anne Jane Kennedy (29) who could also read and write. Their two-year-old son John James was residing with them on census night. All three were born in Armagh and are part of the Church of Ireland religious denomination. They had two children born alive, one child living at the time of the census. This private house was made of blocks, bricks or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. The house had 3 front windows and was deemed a second class house. Two rooms were occupied by the family. There was one out-office. Katie Lopdell was the Landholder on whose land the house was situated.
Lopdell’s Catherine (Katie) Lopdell (74) Head of the Family, born in Co. Derry, a widow, with 9 children born alive and seven now living. In the house were: Louie Bradshaw (45) her daughter, a widow, born in Co. Galway; Aileen Hall (18), a grand-daughter, single and born in Co. Galway; Ruby Bradshaw, grand-daughter (10) born in Co. Dublin; Mary Costello, (23) a niece, Single, born in Co. Tipperary. All of those 5 people were Irish Church Episcopalian. staff accounted for on census night were: Hilda Burditt (19), Governess, Single, born in Leicestershire and described as English Church Episcopalian; Margaret Murphy (50), Widow, Domestic Servant Cook, Roman Catholic, born in Co. Limerick; Mary Fay (21) Domestic Servant, Parlourmaid, born in Co. Westmeath, a Roman Catholic; Bernie Kearns, (23) Domestic Servant nursemaid, Single and born in Co. Kilkenny, a Roman Catholic; Thomas Higgins, (46) servant coachman, Single, Roman Catholic, born in Co. Galway and spoke Irish and English; Margaret Feeney (26), Domestic Servant kitchen-maid, Roman Catholic, Single, born in Co. Galway. Everyone in the household could read and write.
This private house was made of blocks, brick or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. The house had 20 front windows and was deemed a first class house. Sixteen rooms were occupied by the family. There were 15 out-offices and farm-steadings – 2 stables, coach-house, harness room, cow house, calf house, dairy, piggery, fowl house, boiling house, barn, turf house, shed, forge and store. Katie Lopdell was the Landholder on whose land the House is situated.
Flannery’s Michael Flannery (45), a Herd, was Head of the Family. With him, his wife of 15 years, Mary Flannery (44) and their daughter Mary (9), a scholar. The 3 of them could read and write and the parents spoke Irish and English. They were born in Co. Galway. They had 3 children born alive and just one child still living. This private house was made of blocks, bricks or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. The house had 4 front windows and was deemed a second class house. Four rooms were occupied by the family. There were three out-offices-cow house, piggery and fowl house. Katie Lopdell was the Landholder on whose land the House is situated.
Powell’s Sarah Powell (44), a Gate Keeper, is Head of the Family. She could read and write and was not married. Living with her were her 3 unmarried sisters, all able to read and write. Monzie Powell, (42) was a Saleswoman; Margaret Powell (39) was a Telegraphist; Helena Powell (48), no recorded occupation. The Midland & Great Western Railway Company was the Landholder on whose land the house is situated. They lived in a private house made of blocks, brick or concrete and had a roof of slate, iron or tiles. The house had 2 front windows; 3 rooms were occupied by the family. The house was deemed a 2nd Class house. There was one out-office – a shed. They were Roman Catholics and were all born in Co. Galway.
Un-inhabited There was one un-inhabited house – the property of Katie Lopdell.
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