Curraghbog

 

Curraghbog Landscape

Carmel O'Rourke

Curraghbog

Civil Parish of Kilbegnet

An Currach Bog, Marsh

Curraghbog is located in the parish of Kilbegnet in the Barony of Ballymoe, County Galway. According to information from O’Donovan’s Field Name Books, Curraghbog can be found 1 mile North West of Creggs village.

The Down Survey Map states that Curraghbog, under the name Gravagh, was owned by John Bourke (Catholic) and Sir Maurice Hurley (Protestant) in 1670.

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books describes the landscape of Curraghbog. At the Eastern boundary there is a portion of bog, while in the Southern Portion there is a Danish Fort. The remaining land consists of tillage and pasture.

Census 1841-1851

According to the 1851 census, Curraghbog consisted of 123 acres, 2 roods and 15 perches. In 1841, the population of Curraghbog was 54 people, 29 were male and 25 were female. The were 10 houses, 9 of which were occupied in 1841. By the 1851 census the population had decreased to 46 people, 26 of whom were male and 20 were female. There was a total of 9 houses, 8 were occupied. The poor law valuation paid in 1851 was £39-5-0.

Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864

According to Griffith’s Valuation 1855, the land was owned by Allen Pollock. Michael Kelly paid £23-0-0 for house, offices and land measuring 44 acres, 1 rood and 6 perches. Thomas Morgan paid a total of £4-15-0 for house, office and land measuring 8 acres, 3 roods and 28 perches and cottier’s house and garden measuring 0 acres, 0 roods and 10 perches on the same holding. Thomas Wallace rented 8 acres, 3 roods and 39 perches of house, office and land for £4-10-0. John Kelly paid £33-5-0 for 61 acres, 1 rood and 12 perches of house, offices, corn-mill and land, as well as a cottier’s house and forge on the same holding. The total annual valuation of rateable property was £65-10-0.

Census 1901

There were 6 houses in Curraghbog in 1901, 5 of which were occupied. The total population was 19 people, 9 of whom were male and 10 were female. The heads of the households were as follows: Thomas Morrisey, Mary Coyne, Denis Mee, Bridget Gorick and Thomas Hanly. Each house was listed as a private dwelling. All residents were Roman Catholic, and all were from County Galway, except Thomas Hanly who was from County Roscommon. There were 9 farm steadings; 1 stable, 1 coach house, 3 cow houses, 1 dairy, 1 piggery, 1 barn and 1 shed. The census forms were collected on the 10^th of April.

Thomas Morrisey (60) lived with his wife Ellen (50), their sons, John (19) and Pat (17) and daughter Bridget (15). Thomas and his 2 sons worked as agricultural labourers, while Bridget was a scholar. All members of the family could read and write, but only Thomas and Ellen could speak both Irish and English. The Morrisey family lived in a 2^nd class house with 2 front windows and 3 rooms. Permanent material was used to construct both the walls and the roof of the house. Sarah Satchwell owned the land on which the house was situated.

Mary Coyne (67) was the sole occupant of this house. She was a widowed collier. Mary could read and write, but she spoke English only. Mary lived in a 2^nd class dwelling with 2 front windows and 3 rooms. The walls and the roof were both made of permanent material. Sarah Satchwell was the landholder. Mary also had 1 cow house.

Denis Mee (46) lived with his wife Margaret (47), their 3 sons, Pat (19), Denis (10) and Michael (7) and their 2 daughters Saragh [sic] (16) and Bridget (14). Denis and his eldest son Pat were agricultural labourers, while the other children were scholars. All members of the family could read and write, except the youngest child Michael who could read only. Denis and Margaret spoke Irish and English, while their children spoke English only. The Mee family occupied a 2^nd class dwelling with 2 front windows and 3 rooms. Permanent material was used for the construction of the walls and the roof of the house. There was also 1 cow house. Sarah Satchwell owned the land on which the house was situated.

Bridget Gorick (76) was a widow who lived alone. Bridget worked as a collier. She spoke Irish and English, but she could not read. Bridget lived in a 3^rd class house with 1 front window and 1 room. The walls of the house were made of permanent material, while the roof was made of perishable material. Thomas Hanly owned the land on which the house was situated.

Thomas Hanly (45) was a married farmer. He lived with his wife Katie (35), their 2 children Owen (2) and Mary Kate (6 months) and general domestic servant Margaret Clarke (16). Thomas, his wife and Margaret could read and write, as well as speak both Irish and English. Thomas was born in County Roscommon, while the other members of the household were born in County Galway. The family lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 7 rooms. Permanent material was used to construct both the walls and the roof of the house. Thomas owned the land on which his house was situated on as well as 1 stable, 1 coach house, 1 cow house, 1 dairy, 1 piggery, 1 barn and 1 shed.

Census 1911

There were 4 houses in Curraghbog in 1911, all of which were occupied. There was a population of 12 people, 6 were male and 6 were female. The heads of the households were as follows: Thomas Hanly, Ellen Morrissey, Catherine Coyne and Thomas Griffin. All residents were from County Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Each house was listed as a private dwelling. There were 12 farm steadings; 1 stable, 1 coach house, 1 harness house, 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 dairy, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house, 1 barn and 3 sheds. The census forms were collected on April 15^th.

Thomas Hanly (60) lived with his wife Katie (45), their 3 children John (13), Eugene (11) and Mary Kate (10) as well as domestic servant Bridget Ryan (14). Thomas and Katie had been married for 15 years and had 3 children. Thomas was a farmer and his 3 children were scholars. All members of the family could read and write. According to the 1911 census forms, only John spoke Irish and English with the rest of the household speaking English only. The family lived in a 2^nd class house with 5 front windows and 6 rooms. Permanent material was used to construct both the walls and the roof of the house. Thomas owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 stable, 1 coach house, 1 harness house, 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 dairy, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house, 1 barn and 1 shed.

Ellen Morrissey (67) was a widow who lived with her unmarried daughter Bridget (24). Ellen had been married for 49 years and had 6 children before being widowed. All of her children were living in 1911. Ellen listed her occupation as labourer’s wife, while Bridget was a labourer’s daughter. Ellen could not read, but her daughter could read and write. No language was listed for either family member, suggesting they spoke English only. Ellen and her daughter occupied a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 front windows and just 1 room. Permanent material was used to build the walls and the roof of the house. There was also 1 shed. Allen (?) Satchwell was the landholder.

Catherine Coyne (84) was a widow who lived with her unmarried son Pat (48). Pat worked as a farm labourer. While Catherine could not read, her son could read and write. No language was listed for either family member, which may indicate they spoke English only. The Coyne family lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 1 room. The walls and the roof of the house were constructed using permanent material. Allen Satchwell owned the land on which the house was situated along with 1 shed.

Thomas Griffin (38) was an unmarried postman. On the night of the census, there was a visitor John Keaveny (24). John was a carpenter. Thomas could read and write, as well as speak Irish and English. John could read and write but spoke English only. Thomas lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 1 room. Both the walls and the roof of the house were made using permanent material. Thomas owned the land on whic