Gortavoher

Gortavoher is situated in the civil parish of Killoran, barony of Longford, Co Galway. It is bounded on the north by Springfield, on the west by Cloonagore, on the east by Ardberrreen and Walshtown and on the south by Knockawns.

O’Donovan’s Field name books provide other spellings of this townland: Gort a’ Bhothair and

Gortevoher.

Down Survey map under the name ‘Ballytranilla, Bogganmore, and Lislacky alias Gortevally shows Laughlin Donnellan, a catholic owned this land in 1641. Ulick Bourke, a catholic owned it in 1670. It states there were 24 plantation acres of unprofitable land. There were 185 plantation acres of profitable land and 185 plantation acres of forfeited land.

Census 1901

There were 6 houses in Gortavoher in 1901. There was also a public house and a lodging house. There were 47 residents in total: 22 were male and 25 were female. The heads of households were: Michael Muldoon, Bridget Noon, Darby Coen, Patrick Martin, Patrick Hardiman, Anthony Gallaher, John Walsh and Anne Whyte. All residents were Roman Catholic. They were born in Co Galway except for the Reeney family who were born in Co Cork. The census taken on the 1^st and 5^th of April 1901 showed that the 6 houses were built as private dwellings. The walls were built with stone, brick or concrete. The roofs were made with perishable material except for Anthony Gallaher’s roof. It was made of slate, iron or tiles.

Michael Muldoon (54) worked as a publican. He was married to Jane (48). Jane was recorded as a publican’s wife. They had 7 unmarried children. Mary (21) and Sarah (19) were recorded as publican’s daughters. Patrick (16) was recorded as a publican’s son. Margaret (17), Jane (14), James (12) and Lizzie (10) were scholars. The entire family could read and write. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 5 rooms, 3 front windows and 6 outhouses. Michael Muldoon owned the land the public house was situated on.

Bridget Noon (61) was a widow. She was recorded as a lodging house keeper. There were 5 boarders: Thomas Reeney (50), Julia Reeney (35), Thomas Reeney (11), Margaret Gorman (29) and John Gorman (1). Thomas (50) and Julia were married. Thomas was recorded as an unemployed agricultural labourer. There was no occupation recorded for Julia. The Reeney family could read and write.  Margaret Gorman was single. She was recorded as an unemployed domestic servant. Margaret and Bridget could not read. They lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 rooms and 2 front windows. There were no outhouses recorded. Bridget Noon owned the land the lodging house was situated on.

Darby Coen (55) was a farmer. He spoke Irish and English. He was married to Catherine (40). Catherine was recorded as a farmer’s wife. Bridget (45) was single. She was recorded as a farmer’s sister. Darby and Catherine had 3 children. Thomas J (11) was recorded as a farmer’s son. Katie (10) and John (9) were scholars. All the family could read and write except for John. He could read only. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms, 3 front windows and 5 outhouses. Darby Coen owned the land the house was situated on.

Patrick Martin (60) was a farmer. He was married to Ellen (50). She was recorded as a farmer’s wife. They spoke Irish and English. They had 7 unmarried children. Michl (22), John (20) and Andrew (14) were recorded as farmer’s sons. Ellen (14), Nora (12), Patrick (10) and Annie (8) were scholars. All the family could read and write except for Annie. She could read only. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms, 3 front windows and 4 outhouses. Patrick Martin owned the land the house was situated on.

Patrick Hardiman (45) was a farmer. He spoke Irish and English. He was married to Mary Anne (33). She was recorded as a farmer’s wife. They had 4 young children. Delia J (12) was recorded as a farmer’s daughter. Pat Joe (8) and Hanoria (6) were scholars. Thomas was 3 years old. All the family could read and write except for Hanoria. She could read only. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms, 3 front windows and 6 outhouses. Patrick Hardiman owned the land the house was situated on.

Anthony Gallaher (60) was a farmer. He spoke Irish and English. He was married to Maria (50). There was no occupation recorded for Maria. They had 7 unmarried children. Peter (25) was recorded as farmer’s son. Mary (23), Ellie (19) and Lizzie (17) were recorded as farmer’s daughters. Thomas (14), Joseph (12) and Delia (10) were scholars. The entire family could read and write. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 4 rooms, 2 front windows and 4 outhouses. Anthony Gallaher owned the land the house was situated on.

John Walsh (66) was a farmer. He was not married. He spoke Irish and English. He could read and write. He lived in a 3^rd class house with 2 rooms, 2 front window and 2 outhouses. John Walsh owned the land the house was situated on.

Anne Whyte (45) was recorded as a domestic servant. She was single. She could not read. She lived in a 3^rd class house with 1 room and 1 front window. There were no outhouses recorded. Anne Whyte owned the land the house was situated on.

Census 1911

There were 6 houses in Gortavoher in 1911. There was also a public house. There were 38 residents in total: 18 were male and 20 were female. The heads of the households were:  Darby Coen, Ellen Martin, Patrick Hardiman, Anthony Gallagher, Anne Curley and Patrick Muldoon. All residents were Roman Catholic. They were born in Co Galway except for John Timon. He was born in Co Roscommon. The census taken on the 7^th of April 1911 showed that the houses were built as private dwellings. The walls were built with stone, brick or concrete. The roofs were made of perishable material.

Darby Coen (68) was a farmer. He was married for 28 years to Catherine (63). There was no occupation recorded for Catherine. They had 5 children with 3 living in 1911. Thomas T (24) and John (20) were recorded as farmer’s sons. Katie (21) was recorded as a farmer’s daughter. All 3 were single. Darby’s sister in law Bridget Coen (70) was single. There was no occupation recorded for her. The entire family could read and write. They lived in a 3^rd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front windows. There were 5 outhouses: 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 piggery and 1 barn. Darby Coen owned the land the house was situated on.

Ellen Martin (65) was a widow. She was a farmer. She had been married for 35 years. She had 9 children with 6 living in 1911. Listed were 4 unmarried children. Patrick (23) was recorded as farmer’s son. Ellen (25), Hanoria (24) and Annie (21) were recorded as farmer’s daughters. The entire family could read and write. They spoke English with Ellen also speaking Irish. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms, 3 front windows, 1 cow house and 1 piggery. Ellen Martin owned the land the house was situated on.

Patrick Hardiman (63) was a farmer. He was married for 24 years to Mary Anne (44). There was no occupation recorded for her. They had 11 children with 10 living in 1911. Listed were 9 unmarried children. Patrick Joseph (20) was recorded as farmer’s son. Mary Anne (21) and Norah (16) were recorded as farmer’s daughters. Thomas (13) and John (9) were scholars. Margaret (6), James (5), Kate (4) and Elizabeth Agnes (2) could not read. The rest of the family could read and write. Patrick, Norah, Thomas and John spoke Irish and English. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 4 rooms and 3 front windows. There were 4 outhouses: 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 calf house and 1 piggery. Patrick Hardiman owned the land the house was situated on.

Anthony Gallagher (73) was a farmer. He spoke Irish and English. He was married for 42 years to Maria (63). There was no occupation recorded for Maria. They had 10 children with 10 living in 1911. Listed were 3 unmarried children. Peter (36) was recorded as a farmer’s son. Mary (34) and Delia (18) were recorded as farmer’s daughters. The entire family could read and write. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 4 rooms and 3 front windows. There were 6 outhouses: 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 piggery, 1 barn and 1 shed. Anthony Gallagher owned the land the house was situated on.

Anne Curley (68) was a widow. She was a farmer. She had been married for 45 years. She had 1 child with 1 living in 1911. Thomas (43) was recorded as a farmer’s son. He was single. Anne’s brother Patrick Walsh (75) was single. He was recorded as a farm servant. Lodger Martin Scott (72) was a widower. He was recorded as a farm servant. Thomas could read and write. Anne and Martin could not read. Patrick could read only. They lived in a 2^nd class house with 3 rooms, 3 front windows, 1 cow house and 1 piggery. Anne Curley owned the land the house was situated on.

Patrick Muldoon (27) was a farmer and publican. Listed were his brother and 3 sisters. All 5 occupants were single. Mary E (30) had no occupation recorded for her. Margaret (28), Jane (23) and James (22) were recorded as shop assistants. Patrick’s brother in law John Timon (43) was single. He recorded his occupation as a policeman R I C. Henry Monohan (42) was single. He was recorded as a farm servant. The entire household could read and write. They lived in a 3^rd class house with 3 rooms and 2 front windows. There were 5 outhouses: 1 stable, 1 cow house, 1 piggery, 1 barn and 1 shed. Patrick Muldoon owned the land the building was situated on.