Gortaroe

Gortaroe

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

Its standard name is Gortaroe, with the Irish form of the name being Gort Ruadh, which translates to red garden. Other forms of the name include Gorta Ruadh, Gurtarooa, when referring to the Clerk of the Peace for Galway, Gurtaroe on the Freehold Registry and Gurtarooa on the Sketch Map.

The proprietor for this townland is Morris Blake, and the Agent is Anthony Blake. 7 tenants occupied Gortaroe, with the rent being between 7 and 10 shillings per acre. The townland is a bed of limestone rocks, with the production of potatoes, oats and bad wheat. The house of stone needed repairs.

It is situated to the west of the parish, is bounded on the north by the Drumacoo parish, on the east by townland Muggannagh and Killeenavara parish, on the south by Killeenavara and on the west by Mulrooag East townland.

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 100 Acres, 0 Roods and 36 Perches.

The land value at the time would have been £20.15s.0d

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

There were two landholdings in Gortaroe, both rented out by Rep. Maurice Blake, to 2 occupiers.

Plot 1 – Thomas Healy – A house, office and land – £4.0s.0d

2. Rep. Maurice Blake – Land – £16.15s.0d

Residents

1901 Census

The 1901 census recorded a population of 2 people in the townland of Gortaroe. They lived together in a singular household, both females. One out office was also recorded.

House 1 – Linnane – There were 2 people in this household on the night of the census. Kate Linnane was the head of the family, aged 50 and working as a farmer. She lived in this private dwelling alongside her niece, Margaret Kelly. She was aged 15 and worked as a farm servant. She was able to read and write. Both residents were born in County Galway, and were able to speak Irish and English. Their house featured 1 out office, and was deemed 3^rd class.

1911 Census

The 1911 census recorded a population of 1 person living alone in their household, with no out offices.

House 1 – Linnane – Kate Linnane lived alone in the only household in Gortaroe townland. She was 70 years old, and employed as a farmer. She was unable to read, but spoke Irish and English. Her house had no recorded out offices, was made of stone walls and had 2 front windows. It was deemed a 3^rd class building.