Curragh

Irish Grid: M 80796 29148

DED: Ballinasloe Rural

Description:

(John O’Donovan 1806-1861)

This townland contains a. r. p. (270 acres, 3 roods and 39 perches) about 60 acres of which is bog, remainder in a good state of cultivation, houses and roads in good repair. It is the property of the Earl Clancarty held by deed for ever. Pays £4.14.0 County Cess.

Situation:

(John O’Donovan 1806-1861)

Lies in the S. West of the parish and is bounded by Grange, Knockroe, Caher, Loughbound and Barnacragh in this parish by Urraghree in the parish of Clontooskert and barony of Cloonmacnoon and by Coolaka in the parish of Aughrim in the Barony of Kilconnel.

This is a list of townlands that share a border with Curragh.

• Barnacragh
• Caher
• Coololla
• Grange
• Knockroe
• Loughbown
• Urraghry

Census of Ireland (1821- 1911)

The first full population census of Ireland was taken in 1821 and the first four Irish censuses were arranged by county, barony, civil parish and townland.

1821:  Only some fragments for small parts of county Galway survive. There are no records      for Kilcloony.

1831:  The only surviving records are from Counties Antrim and Derry.

1841:  There are no surviving records for County Galway.

1851:   There are no surviving records for County Galway.

1861:  Census records for 1861 and 1871 were deliberately destroyed by the government

1881:  The records for 1881 and 1891 were pulped as waster paper during the shortages of World War I.

1901:   Full Census records are available    See below.

1911:   Full Census records are available    See below.

1911 Census

Overview of the townland.

There were a total of 8 houses in the townland of Curragh with 6 of those being occupied. Houses 6 and 8 were unoccupied and the landholder of house 6 was Edward Cooke and the landholder of house 8 was Christopher O’Brien. All the houses were listed as being private dwellings and were constructed of stone, brick of concrete walls and houses 3 and 5 had slate, iron or tiled roofs while the other occupied houses all had only thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. House 3 was a 1^st class dwelling wand the others were 2^nd class. House 1 had 2 rooms and 1 window to the front, houses 2, 4 and 7 had 3 rooms and 3 windows, house 3 had 11 rooms and 5 windows in the front and house 5 had 6 rooms and 6 windows. There were a total of 32 out buildings, 6 stables, a coach house, 5 cow houses, 2 dairies, 4 piggeries, 5 fowl houses, 5 barns, a turf house and 3 sheds. There were 22 people in the townland at that time, 10 males and 12 females. The enumerator for the area was Const. John E. Harte.

House 1: Wylie

Elizabeth (32) was listed as the head of the first family in Curragh and she had been married for 6 years and had 3 children, Mary A. (3), Elizabeth M. (2) and Alice K. (1). There was no mention of a husband in this entry. They were all Roman Catholic and Elizabeth and Alice K. were born in Co. Galway and Mary A. and Elizabeth M. were born in America. Only Elizabeth could read and write but there was no occupation listed for her. The house was a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 rooms. The landholder was Henry Ogle.

House 2: Ogle

Henry (42) lived in this house with his wife of 9 years, Annie (43). Both were Church of Ireland and Henry was born in Co. Galway while Annie was born in Kings County[i]. Both could read and write and Henry was a farmer. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and they had a stable, a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house, a barn and a shed. The landholder was Henry Ogle.

House 3: Bradshaw / Horan

The widow Ellen (72) was listed as the head of this household and she shared the house with her daughter, Helena (32) and a servant Pat Horan (40). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Ellen could speak both Irish and English and all could read and write. Ellen was a farmer and Pat was a general servant. The house was a 1^st class dwelling with 11 rooms and they had a stable, a cow house, a dairy, a fowl house, a barn, a turf house and a shed. The landholder was Ellen Bradshaw.

House 4: Cooke / Burke / Ryan

Margaret (48), a widow, was the head of this household and shared the house with her sons William (13) and Joseph (11), her daughter, Maria (12) and 2 servants, Michael Burke (73) and John Ryan (42). The Cooke’s were Church of Ireland and Michael and John were Roman Catholic with all being born in Co. Galway. All, with the exception of Michael Burke, could read and write. Margaret was a farmer, William, Maria and Joseph were scholars, Michael was a farm servant and John was a general servant. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and they had a stable, a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house, a barn and a shed. The landholder was Margaret Cooke.

House 5: Cooke

George (72) was listed as the head of this family and he had been married to Lydia (67) for 48 years and they had had 7 children and 5 of those had survived. They shared the house with their son, Robert (37). They were all Church of Ireland and were born in Co. Galway and they could all read and write. George was a farmer and Robert was a farmer’s son. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 6 rooms and they had 2 stables, a coach house, a cow house, a dairy, a piggery, a fowl house and a barn. The landholder was George Cooke.

House 6 was unoccupied.

House 7: Mitchell

The widow, Anne (65) was listed as the head of the last family in Curragh and she shared the house with 3 of her children, John (38), William (32) and Anne (24). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. John and Anne could read and write and Anne was a farmer and John and William were farmer’s sons. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 2 rooms and they had a stable, a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house and a barn. The landholder was Anne Mitchell.

House 8 was unoccupied.

1901 Census

Overview of the townland.

There were 8 houses in the townland of Curragh in 1901 and 7 were occupied with house 8 being empty but the landholder was Joseph Cooke. They were all listed as being private dwellings and all were constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and houses 3, 4 and 6 had slate, iron or tiled roofs while the others had only thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. House 6 was a 1^st class dwelling, houses 3, 4, 5 and 7 were 2^nd class dwellings and houses 1 and 2 were 3^rd class. Houses 1 and 2 had 2 rooms and 2 windows in the front, houses 5 and 7 had 3 rooms and 3 windows, house 3 had 4 rooms and 5 windows, house 4 had 6 rooms and 6 windows and house 6 had 9 rooms and 6 windows. There were 28 people in the townland, 17 males and 11 females. The enumerator for the townland was David Currane [sic].

House 1: Mitchell

The widow, Anne (50) was the head of the first family in Curragh and she shared the house with 5 of her children, John (27), Thomas (22), William (20), Michael (18) and Anne (15). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic and William could read only and all the others could read and write. Anne was a housekeeper, the boys were all farmer’s sons and Anne (15) was a farmer’s daughter. The house was a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and the landholder was Anne Mitchell.

House 2: Meakle [sic]

Michael (40) was the sole occupant in this house and he was a Roman Catholic and born in Galway E. R. He could not read and was listed as being a farm labourer. The house was a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 rooms and the landholder was Michael Meakle [sic].

House 3: O’Brien

The head of this family was Jane (69), who was a widow and she shared the house with her daughter-in-law, Margery (26) and grandson, Herbert (1). They were all Church of Ireland and born in Co. Galway. Jane and Margery could read and write and Jane was listed as being a farmeress and Margery was a housekeeper. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 4 rooms and the landholder was Jane O’Brien.

House 4: Cooke

George (63) was listed as being the head of this family in house 4 and he was married to Lydia (55) and they lived in the house with 2 of their children, Robert (25) and Dora (27). They were all Church of Ireland and were born in Co. Galway. They could read and write. George was a farmer, Lydia was a farmer’s wife, Robert was a farmer’s son and Dora was listed as a farmer’s daughter. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 6 rooms and the landholder was George Cooke.

House 5: Cooke / Barber / Horan / Ryan

The widow, Margaret (32) was the head of this household and she lived in the house with 3 of her children, Jeffory [sic] (4), Maria (3) and Joseph (11mths), a visitor, Susan Barber (24) and 2 servants, John Horan (40) and John Ryan (30). John Ryan and John Horan were Roman Catholic and the others were all Church of Ireland. Margaret and Susan were born in King’s County[ii] and all the others were born in Galway E. R. Margaret, Susan, and the 2 Johns could read and write. Margaret was a housekeeper, Susan was a farmer’s daughter, Jeffory [sic] was a scholar and John Ryan and John Horan were Agricultural labourers. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and the landholder was Margaret Cooke.

House 6: Bradshaw

James (60) was listed as the head of this family and he was married to Ellie (58) and they lived with 2 of their children, Joseph (28) and Helena (26). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. They could all read and write and James and Ellie were farmers, Joseph was a farmer’s son and Helena was a farmer’s daughter. The house was a 1^st class dwelling with 9 rooms and the landholder was James Bradshaw.

House 7: Sinclair / Ogle

Bridget (62), a widow, was the head of this household and she shared the house with 2 sons, George Ogle (33) and Henry Ogle (32). They were all Church of Ireland and were born in Co. Galway. Bridget spoke both Irish and English and all could read and write. Bridget was a housekeeper and George and Henry were farmer’s sons. The house was a 2^nd class dwelling with 3 rooms and the landholder was Bridget Sinclair.

House 8 was unoccupied.

Griffith’s Valuation

Plot 1: Fras. O’Shaughnessy leased a house and offices on 21 acres. 3 roods and 36 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £10 10s for the land and £3 10s for the buildings.

Plot 2: John Cooke leased a house and offices on 55 acres, 3 roods and 9 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £29 for the land and £2 10s for the buildings.

Plot 3: Jonathan Ogle leased a house and offices on 35 acres and 10 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £22 for the land and £2 for the buildings.

Plot 4Aa: Garrett Larkin leased a house and offices on 28 acres, 2 roods and 22 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £17 for the land and £4 for the buildings.

Plot 4B: Garret Larkin leased 10 acres and 14 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £2 15s.

Plot 4Ab: George Macklin leased a house from the Earl of Clancarty for 15s.

Plot 4Ba: Judith Harte leased a house from Garret Larkin for 5s.

Plot 5: Garrett Larkin leased 4 acres, 3 roods and 33 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £2 5s.

Plot 5a: Rose Rattigan leased a house and a garden of 21 perches from Garret Larkin for 2s for the garden and 6s for the house.

Plot 6: Patrick Harte leased 2 acres, 2 roods and 6 perches of land from Garrett Larkin for £1 10s.

Plot 6 (4Ac): Patrick Harte leased a house on 1 rood and 16 perches of land from Garrett Larkin for 5s for the land and 15s for the house.

Plot 7A: Edmund Cooke leased a house and office on 17 acres, 3 roods and 25 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £10 10s for the land and £1 10s for the buildings.

Plot 7B: Edmund Cooke leased 8 acres, 1 rood and 10 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £2 5s.

Plot 8a: Peter Cassidy leased a house on 1 acre and 24 perches of land form Garrett Larkin for £1 for the land and 10s for the house.

Plot 8b: Thomas Glynn leased a house with a garden of 1 rood and 10 perches from Edward Cooke for 5s for the garden and 3s for the house.

Plot 8c: Mary Morgan leased a house with a garden of 2 roods and 35 perches from the Earl of Clancarty for 10s for the garden and 5s for the house.

Plot 8: There was an area of waste land consisting of 30 perches but had no ratable valuation.

Plot 9: Bryan Flannery leased a house on 1 acre, 3 roods and 14 perches from the Earl of Clancarty for 18s for the land and 12s for the house.

Plot 10: Thomas Wakefield leased 31 acres, 3 roods and 23 perches of land from the Earl of Clancarty for £3 5s.

Plot 10a: Thaddeus Kelly leased a garden of 22 perches from Thomas Wakefield for 2s.

Plot 11: Edward Mitchell paid £6 10s for 12 acres, 2 roods and 26 perches of land and £1 for a house and office to the Earl of Clancarty.

Plot 12: The Earl of Clancarty had, in fee, 56 acres, 2 roods and 29 perches of bog that had an annual ratable valuation of £1 15s.

[i] Co. Offaly.

[ii] Co. Offaly