Fawnarevagh

Fawnarevagh

Fawnarevagh is a townland located in the civil parish of Kilcolgan, in the Barony of Dunkellin.

Its standard name is Fawnarevagh, and the Irish form of the name is Fána riabhach, which translates to a grey or brindled slope. Other forms of the name include Fana, Faunreevagh, when referring to the Clerk of the Peace for the town of Galway, Tanereevagh in the County Book, Fanreawagh on the County Map and Fanera in the Tithe Composition Book.

The townland is split in three portions, which are known as Upper, Middle and Lower Park, with half the townland being arable and pasture, and the other half being uncultivated and rocky. The proprietor for this townland is John Bodkin, with the Agent being Dennis Bodkin. The townland is occupied by 4 tenants with no tenure.

Fawnarevagh is situated on the west of the part of the parish on the East which is isolated. It is bounded on the North and West by Killeely Parish on the east by townland Parkaloughaun, and on the west by Lisscavin townland and Ardrahan Parish.

Griffith’s Valuation

The aim of Griffith’s valuation was to produce a uniform guide to the relative value of land through Ireland, in order to decide how to pay out the Poor rate.

Griffiths Valuation has recorded of this townland was composed of 284 Acres, 2 Reeds and 5 Perches.

The land value at the time would have been £80.0s.0d

The currency measures at the time was in the form of Pounds, Shillings, Pence (£.s.d)

There were two landholdings in this particular townland, both rented out by Robert Bodkin, to 2 different renters. These landholdings contained no property, so it is under the assumption that they were used for farming.

Plot 1 – Patrick Blake – Land – £35.0s.0d

2. Thomas Nolan – Land – £5.0s.0d

Residents

1901 Census

There was only one household recorded in Fawnarevagh on the 1901 census, totalling a population of 9 people, 6 males and 3 females. 5 out offices were also recorded.

House 1 – Fahy – There were 9 people occupying this house on the night of the census, with 1 recorded visitor. Patrick Fahy was the head of the family, a 60 year old shepherd. He was married to his wife Margaret Fahy, who was 45 and they lived in this house with their 6 children. From eldest to youngest, their children were Peter (20), John (18), Michael (17), Winnifred (14), all were listed as the shepherd’s sons/daughter. The youngest two children were Mary (12) and Joseph (7), who were both listed as scholars. The visitor to this house was Thomas Moran, who was also the head of family’s brother in law. He was 30 years old and employed as a farmer. Everyone in the house was born in County Galway, and they were all able to speak Irish and English, except for the head of family’s two youngest children. Everyone in the family except for the head of the family were able to read and write. The private dwelling had 5 out offices, which were: a stable, a coach house, a cow house, a piggery and a barn. They occupied 5 rooms in their house, which was made of stone, with 3 front windows. It was deemed 2^nd class, and they rented off of Martin Bodkin, the original homeowner.

1911 Census

There were two buildings listed on the census, but only 1 was occupied. The first dwelling had 6 out offices, and they were both owned by Margaret Fahey

House 1 – Fahey –  There were 4 people living in this household. Margaret Fahey was the head of the family, a 57 year old farmer. She was a widow, living with her 3 children, Edward (24), Winifred (22) and Joe (16). All of her children were listed on the census as being either ‘Farmer’s Son/Daughter,’ All of the household were living in County Galway, and the oldest two in the household spoke both Irish and English. Their private dwelling included 6 out offices, which were: a stable, a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house, a barn and a shed. The house had a slated roof and stone-type walls, as well as 3 front windows. It was deemed 2^nd class on the census.