Garraunmore

 

Road in Garraunmore

Carmel O'Rourke

Garraunmore

Civil Parish of Kilbegnet

An Garrán Mór, Big Grove

Garraunmore is located in the civil parish of Kilbegnet, Barony of Ballymoe, County Galway. A monument in the townland of Kilbegnet can be found 1¾ mile to the east of Garraunmore.

The Down Survey Map name of Garraunmore was Knockanroe. The 1670 owner of Garraunmore was the Earl of Clanrickard (Protestant). There were 42 plantation acres of profitable land and 42 plantation acres were forfeited.

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books indicates there is 3 portions of bog land in Garraunmore. Bog can be found at the Southern boundary, while there is another portion in the North East corner and the third portion can be found six chains to the West of the latter. There is a portion of a lake in the South Eastern corner. The remaining land is made up of tillage and pasture.

Census 1841-1851

According to the 1841 census, Garraunmore consists of 245 acres, 3 roods and 19 perches. The 1841 population was 64 people, 28 were male and 36 were female. There were 11 houses, all of which were occupied. By 1851 the population had decreased to 36 people, 19 of whom were male and 17 were female. The 7 houses in 1851 were all occupied. The poor law valuation rate paid in 1851 was £80-0-0.

Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864

Thomas Neary rented from Rev. Solomon Richards and others. Thomas paid £90-0-0 for herd’s house and land measuring 209 acres, 0 roods and 0 perches and cottier’s house and garden measuring 0 acres, 0 roods and 30 perches. Thomas Neary was the immediate lessor of the rest of the land.

Michael Fleming paid £3-5-0 for 10 acres, 1 rood and 4 perches of house and land. Thomas Fitzmaurice rented house and land measuring 4 acres, 2 roods and 29 perches for £1-10-0. James Egan paid £1-5-0 for house and land measuring 4 acres, 0 roods and 29 perches. Bartholomew Britton rented 6 acres, 3 roods and 13 perches of house, office and land for £2-5-0. The total annual valuation of rateable property was £98-5-0.

Census 1901

There were only 2 houses in Garraunmore in 1901, both of which were occupied. The total population was 6 people, 4 were male and 2 were female. The households were headed by Bridget Egan and Thomas Fitzmaurice. All residents of Garraunmore were born in County Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Both houses were listed as private dwellings. 2 cow houses were the only farm steadings. The census forms were collected on the 3^rd of April.

Bridget Egan (56) was a widowed farmer who lived with her unmarried son Martin (24). Martin was a farmer’s son. Both Bridget and Martin could read and write, while only Bridget spoke Irish and English. The family lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Permanent material was used for the walls of the house, while perishable material was used for the roof. Bridget owned the land on which her house was situated along with 1 cow house.

Thomas Fitzmaurice (57) was a widower who lived with his unmarried children Patrick (27) and Catherine (20) and grandson Thomas (1). Thomas worked as a farmer, while Patrick was listed as a farmer’s son and Catherine was a farmer’s daughter. Thomas and Catherine could read and write, while Patrick could not read. Thomas spoke Irish and English, while his family spoke English only. The family lived in a 4^th class house with 1 front window and 1 room. Perishable material was used for the construction of the walls and the roof of the house. Thomas owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 cow house.

Census 1911

There were just 2 houses in Garraunmore in 1911, both of which were occupied. The households were headed by Bridget Egan and Thomas Fitzmaurice. The total population of Garraunmore was 4 people, 3 were male and 1 person was female. All residents were born in County Galway and all were Roman Catholic. Both houses were listed as private dwellings. There were 3 farm steadings, consisting of 2 stables and 1 fowl house. The census forms were collected on the 6^th of April

Bridget Egan (69) was a widowed farmer who lived with her unmarried son Martin (32). Martin’s occupation was listed as a farmer’s son. Bridget and Martin could read only. No language was recorded for either family member, suggesting they spoke English only. The Egan family lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 3 rooms. The walls of the house were made of permanent material, while the roof was constructed using perishable material. Bridget owned the land on which her house was situated along with 1 stable and 1 fowl house.

Thomas Fitzmaurice (69) was a widower who lived with his unmarried son Patrick (39). Thomas had been married for 40 years and had 5 children before being made a widower. Each of his 5 children were living in 1911. Thomas was a farmer and Patrick was a farmer’s son. Thomas could read and write, while Patrick could not read. Both Thomas and Patrick spoke Irish and English. The family lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 1 room. Perishable material was used for both the walls and the roof of the house. Thomas owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 stable.