Cornadrum

Corr na Dromainne, round hill of the ridge

Cornadrum is situated in the civil parish of Killeroran, Barony of Killian, County Galway. It is located in the South of Killeroran parish. Cornadrum is bounded by the townlands of Cornanantybeg, Cornanantymore, Gortacoosaun and Ballinlass.

The Down Survey Map states the owner of Cornadrum was the Earl of Clanrickard (Protestant) in both 1641 (Pre-Cromwell) and 1670 (Post-Cromwell). There was 494 plantation acres of unprofitable land and 316 plantation acres of profitable land. The Down Survey name was Bellagarterriffe, Polenemucky & Cornedrumry.

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books indicates Cornadrum is owned by Colonel Rochford who holds it under deed forever. Approximately half of the townland is bog, while the remainder is made up of arable and pasture. It pays £1-3-4½ County Cess.

Census 1841-1851

According to the 1851 census, Cornadrum consists of 65 acres, 3 roods and 20 perches. The 1941 population was 75 people, 43 of whom were male and 32 were female. There were 12 houses, and all were occupied. By 1851, the population had decreased to 68 people, 31 were male and 37 were female. There were 13 houses in 1851 and each was occupied. The poor law valuation paid in 1851 was £16-5-0.

Griffith’s Valuation 1847-1864

According to Griffith’s Valuation, James Thorngate was the immediate lessor of the land. Francis Kelly, Andrew Kelly, Thomas Dooley and Thomas Commons each rented on the same holding that measured 65 acres, 3 roods and 20 perches. Francis Kelly and Andrew Kelly each paid £5-5-0 for house and land. Thomas Dooley paid £5-8-0 for house and land. Thomas Commons paid £4-3-0 for house and land. Thomas Commons paid £0-8-0 for a house. There was vacant house worth £0-10-0. The total annual valuation of rateable property was £20-19-0.

Census 1901

There were 5 houses in Cornadrum in 1901 and all were occupied. The total population was 34 people, 17 of whom were male and 17 were female. The heads of the households were as follows: Thomas Crehan, John Dooley, Pat Dooley, Margaret Cunningham and Thomas Kelly. All inhabitants were born in County Galway and all were Roman Catholic.

Each house was listed as a private dwelling. There was a total of 9 farm steadings, consisting of 4 stable and 5 cow houses. The census forms were collected on the 12^th of April.

Thomas Crehan (34) lived with his wife Mary A. (28), their 4 sons, John (4), Michael (3), Patrick (2), James (1) and widowed daughter-in-law Mary Collins (60). Thomas worked as a farmer and each of his son were listed as farmer’s sons. Only Mary A. could read and write, while Thomas could read only. Thomas, Mary A. and Mary Collins spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for the others 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 walls of the house, while perishable material was used for the roof. Thomas owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 stable and 1 cow house.

John Dooley (67) lived with his wife Bridget (40), their 4 daughters, Margaret (18), Maria (11), Nonnie (6) and Bridget (1) and their 2 sons Joe (13) and Martin (3) and boarder and servant Ellen Collins (65). John worked as a farmer and Bridget was listed as a farmer’s wife. Joe and Maria were scholars. Margaret, Nonnie and Bridget were listed as farmer’s daughters. Martin was listed as a farmer’s son. All members of the family could read and write, except Nonnie, Martin and Bridget (1) who were listed as scholars in the education segment. John, Bridget and Ellen spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for the others suggesting they spoke English only. The family lived in a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. The walls of the house were made of permanent material, while the roof was made of perishable material. John owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 stable and 1 cow house.

Pat Dooley (54) was a married farmer. He lived with his wife Mary (54), their 3 daughters, Margaret (27), Ellie (17) and Nonie (15) and their son Thomas (25). Each of the daughters were listed as farmer’s daughters, while Thomas was a farmer’s son. Pat and Mary could read only, while each of their children could read and write. All members of the family spoke Irish and English. The Dooley family lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. While the roof of the house was constructed of perishable material, the walls were made of permanent material. Patrick Dooley owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 stable and 1 cow house.

Margaret Cunningham (52) was a widowed farmer. She lived with her 2 sons John (16) and Lawrence (9) and her daughter Norah (12). Both John and Lawrence were listed as farmer’s sons. Norah was a scholar. Only Norah and Lawrence could read and write, while Margaret could read only. Margaret and John spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for Norah or Lawrence suggesting they spoke English only. The family occupied a 3^rd class house with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. Permanent material was used to construct the walls of the house, while the roof was made of perishable material. There was 1 cow house. Margaret Cunningham was the landholder.

Thomas Kelly (30) lived with his wife Margaret (24), their 3 children, Bridget (4), John (2) and Thos (1), his widowed mother-in-law Mary Lawless (80), unmarried brother-in-law William Lawless (22) and married servant Timothy Boyle (60). Thomas and Timothy both worked as tailors. Margaret was listed as a housekeeper. Bridget was a scholar. William worked as a farmer. Only Thomas, Margaret, William and Timothy could read and write. All members of the household spoke Irish and English, while the children spoke English only. The family lived in a 3^rd class dwelling with 2 front windows and 2 rooms. Perishable material was used for the roof of the house, while the walls were made of permanent material. Thomas owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 stable and 1 cow house.

Census 1911

There were 5 houses in 1911, all of which were occupied. The total population was 29 people, 18 of whom were male and 11 were female. The heads of the households were as follows: Margaret Cunningham, Mary Collins, Patrick Dooley, John Dooley and Mary Lawless. All residents of Cornadrum in 1911 were born in County Galway and all were Roman Catholic.

Each house was listed as a private dwelling. There was a total of 18 farm steadings, consisting of 1 stable, 5 cow houses, 2 calf house, 4 piggeries, 1 fowl house, 3 barns and 2 sheds. The census forms were collected on the 5^th of April.

Margaret Cunningham (68) was a widow. She lived with her 2 sons John (28) and Lawrence (19). Margaret worked as a farmer and her sons were listed as a farmer’s sons. All members of the family could read and write. Only Margaret spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for her sons suggesting they spoke English only. Margaret is listed as being deaf. The family occupied a 3^rd class dwelling with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Perishable material was used for the walls and the roof of the house. Margaret owned the land on which her house was situated along with 1 cow house.

Mary Collins (72) was a widow who lived with her married daughter Mary Anne Crehan (37), son-in-law Thomas Crehan (43), her 8 grandsons, John (14), Michael (13), Patrick (12), James (11), Marks (9), Thomas (7), Owen (3) and Joseph (6 months) and her granddaughter Mary Ellen (5). Mary Ann and Thomas had been married for 16 years and had 9 children by 1911. Thomas worked as a farmer and his 5 eldest children were scholars. Only Thomas (43), Mary Anne, John, Michael, Patrick, James and Marks could read and write. Mary and Thomas spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for the others suggesting they spoke English only. The family lived in a 3^rd class dwelling with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Both the walls and the roof of the house were constructed using perishable material. There was 1 cow house, 1 piggery and 1 barn. Thomas Crehan was the landholder.

Patrick Dooley (69) lived with his wife of 42 years Mary (69), their married son Thomas (39), daughter-in-law Bee (30) and their unmarried daughter Norah (20). Patrick and Mary had 8 children, 6 of whom were living in 1911. Thomas and Bee had been married for under 1 year and had no children. Patrick worked as a farmer and Thomas was a farm labourer. All members of the family could read and write. Irish and English was spoken by every member of the family, except Norah who spoke English only. The family lived in a 2^nd class house with 4 front windows and 3 rooms. The walls and the roof of the house were made of perishable material. Patrick 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.

John Dooley (79) lived with his wife Bridget (52), their 2 sons Joe (24) and Martin (13) and their 2 daughters Norah (16) and Bridget (11). John and Bridget had been married for 29 years and had 9 children, 6 of whom were living in 1911. John worked as a farmer, while Joe was a farm labourer. Martin and Bridget (11) were scholars. All members of the family could read and write. John, Bridget (52) and Joe spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for the others suggesting they spoke English only. The Dooley family lived in a 3^rd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. Perishable material was used for both the walls and the roof of the house. John owned the land on which his house was situated along with 1 cow house, 1 calf house and 1 piggery.

Mary Lawless was a widow who lived with her married son William (32) and her daughter-in-law Margret (33). William and Margret had been married for under 1 year and had no children. William worked as a farmer. William and Margret could read and write. Only Mary spoke Irish and English, while no language was listed for the other suggesting they spoke English only. The family occupied a 3^rd class house with 3 front windows and 3 rooms. The walls and the roof of the house were made of perishable material. There was 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 piggery, 1 barn and 1 shed. William Lawless was the landholder.