Charlestown/Pollnamucka

Poll na Muice, hole of the pig

Charlestown or Pollnamucka is situated in the civil parish of Killeroran, Barony of Killian, County Galway. This townland lies in the South of the parish and is bounded by Cartronearl, Ballinlass, Cornanantymore and Newtown.

The Down Survey Map indicates the 1670 (Post-Cromwell) owner of Charlestown or Pollnamucka was Colonel John Kelly (Catholic). The Down Survey Name was Killeinereagh and Agherahar.

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books states this townland is the property of Lord Ffrench who holds it under deed forever. All the land is under good cultivation except approximately 30 acres which is bog. It is stated the residents of this townland lived miserably, but the rest is unreadable. It pays £1-7-3½ in County Cess.

Census 1841-1851

According to the 1851 census, Charlestown or Pollnamucka consists of 88 acres, 0 roods and 10 perches. The total 1841 population was 50 people, 24 of whom were male and 26 were female. There were 9 houses, 8 of which were occupied. The population had decreased to 46 people in 1851, 25 were male and 21 were female. There were 9 houses, and all were occupied. The poor law valuation paid in 1851 was £32-10-0.

Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864

According to Griffith’s Valuation, Thomas Thorngate was the immediate lessor of the land. Richard Meacle paid £18-15-0 for 33 acres, 2 roods and 0 perches of house, offices and land.

Thomas Tully rented house and land measuring 6 acres, 2 roods and 4 perches for £2-15-0. Patrick Tully paid £5-15-0 for 13 acres, 2 roods and 34 perches of house and land.

Michael Fallon paid £3-5-0 for 7 acres, 2 roods and 22 perches of house and land.

Thomas Hely rented house and land measuring 2 acres, 3 roods and 37 perches for £2-0-0.

Christopher Gilham rented 3 acres, 2 roods and 17 perches of land for £2-0-0.

Thomas Hely and Christopher Gilham rented land measuring 12 acres, 3 roods and 25 perches from James Thorngate and others for £0-15-0 each.

Patrick Connor paid £4-10-0 for house, office and land measuring 7 acres, 0 roods and 31 perches. The total annual valuation of rateable property was £40-10-0.

Census 1901

There were 6 houses in 1901, all of which were occupied. The total population was 33 people, 16 of whom were male and 17 were female. The heads of the households were as follows: Bridget Gillard, Bryan Healy, Pat Fallon, Cormack Tully, Thomas Tully and Mary O’Connor. All inhabitants of this townland were born in County Galway except Bridget Tully in House 4, who was born in County Roscommon. All residents were Roman Catholic. Each house was listed as a private dwelling. There was a total of 20 farm steadings, consisting of 4 cow houses, 1 calf house, 6 piggeries, 5 fowl houses, 3 barns and 1 workshop. The census forms were collected on the 8^th of April.

Bridget Gillard (47) was a widowed farmer. She lived with her 2 sons Christopher (18) and John (11) and her daughter Mary (14). Christopher was listed as a farmer’s son. John and Mary were scholars. Only Mary and John could read and write, while Christopher could read only. Bridget spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for her children suggesting they spoke English only. The family lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. Permanent material was used for the house walls, while the roof was made of perishable material. Bridget owned the land on which her house was situated along with 1 piggery and 1 fowl house.

Bryan Healy (60) lived with his wife Bridget (60). Bryan worked as a farmer. Neither Bryan nor Bridget could read or write, but they each spoke both Irish and English. The family occupied a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. The walls of the house were made of permanent material, while perishable material was used for the roof. Bryan owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 cow house, 1 piggery and 1 fowl house.

Pat Fallon (30) was a married farmer. He lived with his wife Norah (30), their 2 daughters Ellie (2) and Mary (1) and his widowed mother-in-law Mary Murray (65). Only Norah could read and write, while Pat could read only. Norah and her mother Mary spoke Irish and English, while Pat spoke English only. The Fallon family lived in a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 front windows and 3 rooms. While the roof was made of perishable material, the walls of the house were made of permanent material. Pat owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 cow house, 1 piggery and 1 barn.

Cormack Tully (45) lived with his wife Bridget (35), their 3 daughters, Hanne (11), Delia (4) and Kate (1) and their 2 sons Patrick (9) and Michael (6). Cormack was a farmer, while Bridget was listed as a housekeeper. Hanne, Patrick and Michael were attending school. Delia and Kate were listed as farmer’s daughters. Cormack, Bridget, Hanne and Patrick could read and write. No language was listed for any family member, suggesting they spoke English only. All members of the family were born in County Galway, except Bridget who was born in County Roscommon. The Tully family lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Permanent material was used to construct the walls of the house, while the roof was made of perishable material. Cormack owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 cow house, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house and 1 barn.

Thomas Tully (70) lived with his wife Catherine (65). Thomas worked as a farmer, while Catherine was listed as a housekeeper. Thomas could read and write, Catherine could read only. Both Thomas and Catherine spoke Irish and English. The family lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 front windows and 2 rooms. The house walls were constructed of permanent material, while the roof was made of perishable material. Thomas owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 piggery and 1 fowl house.

Mary O’Connor (74) was a widow who lived with her married son Patrick (50), daughter-in-law Cathern (35), her 7 grandsons, Thomas F. (16), Malachy (14), Daniel (12), Joseph (10), Denis (8), Patrick (6) and John (6 months) and her 2 granddaughters Mary (4) and Bridget (2). Also, in the house on the night of the census was visitor Bridget McLoughlin (74). Bridget was a widow. Patrick worked as a carpenter and a farmer and his 6 eldest children were scholars. While Mary could read only, Patrick, Cathern, Thomas F., Malachy, Daniel, Joseph, Denis and Patrick (6) could read and write. Mary, Cathern, Thomas F. and Bridget McLoughlin spoke Irish and English, while the others spoke English only. The family lived in a 1^st class house with 6 front windows and 6 rooms. Both the walls and the roof of the house were made of permanent material. Mary owned the land on which her house was situated along with 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house, 1 barn and 1 workshop.

Census 1911

There were 5 houses in 1911 and each of these were occupied. The total population was 28 people, 13 of whom were male and 15 were female. The heads of the households were as follows: Catherine Tully, Cormack Tully, Norah Fallon, Bridget Gillard and Mary O’Connor. All inhabitants were born in County Galway, except Bridget Tully in House 2 who was born in County Roscommon. All residents were Roman Catholic.

Each of the 5 houses were listed as private dwellings. There was a total of 15 farm steadings, consisting of 2 stables, 4 cow houses, 2 piggeries, 2 fowl houses, 1 barn, 1 workshop, 2 sheds and 1 store. The census forms were collected on the 5^th of April.

Catherine Tully (77) was a widowed farmer who lived alone. She could not read, but she spoke both Irish and English. Catherine lived in a 3^rd class house with 3 front windows and 2 rooms. Perishable material was used to construct the walls and the roof of the house. Catherine was the landholder.

Cormack Tully (61) lived with his wife Bridget (42), their 3 sons, Patrick (19), Michael (16) and Thomas F. (7) and their 3 daughters, Delia (13), Katie (10) and Margaret E. (5). Cormack and Bridget had been married for 22 years and had 7 children, all of whom were living in 1911. Cormack worked as a farmer and both Patrick and Michael were listed as farmer’s sons. Delia, Katie and Thomas F. were scholars. All members of the family could read and write, except the youngest child Margaret E. No language was listed for any member of the family suggesting they spoke English only. Bridget was born in County Roscommon, while the rest of the family were born in County Galway. The Tully family lived in a 3^rd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Both the walls and the roof of the house were made of perishable material. Cormack owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house, 1 barn and 1 shed.

Norah Fallon (40) lived with her 2 daughters Ellen (13) and Mary (11) and her 3 sons, Patrick (9), John (7) and Edward (5). Norah is listed as being married for 14 years, yet there is no record of her husband here. She had 7 children, sadly only 5 children were living in 1911. Norah worked as a farmer and her 4 eldest children were scholars. All members of the family could read and write, except the youngest child, Edward. Norah spoke Irish and English, while her children spoke English only. The family lived in a 3^rd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. The walls and the roof of the house were constructed of perishable material. Norah owned the land on which her house was situated along with 1 cow house.

Bridget Gillard (60) was a widow who lived with her son John (21). John worked as a farmer. Only John could read and write. Bridget spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for John suggesting he spoke English only. Bridget is listed as being blind. The family lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. Perishable material was used for both the walls and the roof of the house. There was also 1 cow house. John Gillard was the landholder.

Mary O’Connor (76) was a widow who lived with her married son Patrick (63), daughter-in-law Catherine (50), her 4 grandsons, Daniel (23), Joseph A. (20), Patrick (18) and John (12), her 3 granddaughters, Mary (16), Bridget (14) and Margaret (8) and servant Bridget McLoughlin (76). Bridget was a widow. Patrick and Catherine had been married 27 years and had 9 children, 8 of whom were living in 1911. Patrick worked as a farmer, while Daniel, Joseph A. and Patrick (18) were listed as farmer’s sons. Mary, Bridget, John and Margaret were scholars. All members of the family could read and write, except Mary (76) who could read only and Bridget McLoughlin who could not read. Mary (76), Patrick, Catherine and Bridget (76) spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for the other suggesting they spoke English only. The O’Connor family occupied a 2^nd class dwelling with 7 front windows and 5 rooms. Permanent material was used for both the walls and the roof of the house. Patrick owned the land on which the house was situated along with 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house, 1 workshop, 1 shed and 1 store.