Cuilnacappy

 

Field in Cuilnacappy

Carmel O'Rourke

Cuilnacappy

Civil Parish of Kilbegnet

Coill na Ceapaí, wood of the plot

Located at the Southern boundary of Kilbegnet parish, Barony of Ballymoe, County Galway. Cuilnacappy borders the civil parish of Athleague, Barony of Killian, County Galway.

The Down Survey Map indicates the Cuilnacappy, under the names Killnekappie and Sunlavan was owned by John Bourke (Catholic) in 1670. The survey specifies there were 71 plantation acres of unprofitable land, while 81 acres were of profitable land. 81 plantation acres were forfeited.

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books gives a description of the landscape of Cuilnacappy. In both the North and the South, there is a portion of bog, while the remaining land is tillage and pasture.

Census 1841-1851

According to the census records Cuilnacappy was comprised of 184 acres, 1 rood and 10 perches. The 1841 population was a total of 86 people, 47 of whom were male and 39 were female. There were 15 houses in 1841, all of which were occupied. By the 1851 census the population had decreased to 42 people, 22 were male and 20 were female. In 1851 there was a total of 6 houses and all of them were occupied. The poor law valuation paid in 1851 was £61-5-0.

Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864

According to Griffith’s Valuation 1855, Allen Pollock owned the land and leased it to several tenants. Michael Kelly, John Hurley and Michael Blighe jointly rented land measuring 8 acres, 2 roods and 28 perches from Allen Pollock. Michael Kelly paid £0-10-0, while John Hurley and Michael Blighe each paid £0-3-0. Michael Kelly paid a total of £43-0-0 for two lots of land on the same holding. There was 68 acres, 3 roods and 30 perches and another lot of land measuring 34 acres, 3 roods and 35 perches. John Hurley rented house, office and land measuring 16 acres, 0 roods and 23 perches for £7-15-0. Michael Blighe paid £8-5-0 for house, office and land measuring 14 acres, 1 rood and 19 perches. Michael Duffy paid £12-15-0 for house, office and land measuring 25 acres, 3 roods and 26 perches. Patrick Nicholson rented 15 acres, 1 rood and 9 perches of house, office and land for £8-5-0. The total annual valuation of rateable property was £80-16-0.

Census 1901

There were 2 households in Cuilnacappy in 1901. The heads of the households were Michael Reynolds and John Carter. There was a population of 11 people, 6 of whom were male and 5 were female. All residents were from County Galway, except Michael and Norah Reynolds, who were from County Roscommon. All inhabitants of Cuilnacappy were Roman Catholic. There were 2 farm steadings; 1 cow house and 1 piggery.

Michael Reynolds (48) lived with his wife Norah (39), their 4 sons, Thomas (20), Patrick (19), Michael (12) and James (10) and their 3 daughters, Mary (23), Katie (16) and Ellie (14). Michael and his wife were born in County Roscommon, while their children were born in County Galway. Michael and his 2 eldest sons were shepherds. His younger sons Michael and James were scholars. Each of Michael’s daughters were listed as shepherd’s daughters. All members of the family could read and write, except Michael (sen.) who could read only. The family spoke English only. The Reynolds family lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. The walls of the house were made of permanent material, while the roof was constructed using perishable material. Hubert Satchwell owned the land on which the house was situated along with 1 cow house and 1 piggery.

John Carter (52) lived with his wife Margaret (48). John worked as an agricultural labourer. John could read and write, as well as speak both Irish and English. Margaret could read only, and she also spoke English only. The family occupied a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. Permanent material was used for the walls of the house, while perishable material was used for the roof. Hubert Satchwell owned the land on which the house was situated.

Census 1911

There were only 2 households in Cuilnacappy in 1911. The heads of the households were John Carter and Michael Reynolds. There was a population of 8 people, 4 people were male and 4 were female. All inhabitants of Cuilnacappy were born in County Galway, except Michael Reynolds who was born in County Roscommon. All residents were Roman Catholic. Both houses were listed as private dwellings. There were 6 farm steadings; 2 cow houses, 1 dairy, 1 fowl house and 2 sheds. The census forms were collected on the 15^th of April.

John Carter (64) lived with his wife Mary (60). John and Mary had been married for 13 years at the time of the census. They had no children. John was a farmer and Mary’s occupation was listed as a farmer’s wife. They could both read and write and spoke Irish and English. The family lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. The walls of the house were made using permanent material, while the roof was constructed using perishable material. John owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 fowl house and 1 shed.

Michael Reynolds (66) was a widower. He lived with his 2 sons Patrick (28) and James (22), his 2 daughters Kate (26) and Ellen (22) and granddaughter Hanoria Salmon (3). Michael was born in County Roscommon; the other members of the family were born in County Galway. Michael and Patrick both listed their occupation as herd, while James worked as a labourer. The census records indicate that each member of the family could read and write, including 3-year-old Hanoria. The family spoke English only. The Reynolds family lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 2 rooms. Permanent material was used to construct the walls of the house, while the roof was made of perishable material. There was also 1 cow house and 1 shed. Hubert Satchwell was the landholder.