Gorteenapheebera

Gorteenapheebera

County: Galway

Barony: Loughrea

Municipal District: Loughrea

Civil Parish: Loughrea

Roman Catholic Parish: Loughrea (St. Brendan’s)

District Electoral Division: Loughrea Rural (1901), Loughrea Town (1901) and Loughrea Urban (1911)

Area (Loughrea Urban): 34.88 acres (34 acres, 3 roods, 21 perches), according to Townlands.ie.

Area (Loughrea Rural): 120.15 acres (120 acres, 0 roods, 24 perches), according to Townlands.ie.

OS Map (Larkin, 1819): Available here.

OS Map (6″ OS, 1840): Available here.

Irish Form Of Name: According to Logainm, the Irish form of the name is ‘Goirtín an Phíobaire’ (‘goirtín’ meaning ‘little field’). According to O’Donovan’s Field Name Books, the Irish form of the name is ‘Goirtín a Phíobaire’, meaning ‘little garden of the piper.’

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books

Description: ‘This townland is of a middling size and all arable, chiefly tillage. It contains a Charter school and a Danish Fort. Proprietor the Earl of Clanricarde. Rent per acre £1. 15s. County Cess 1s. 4d. half yearly.’

Situation: About the centre of the parish, is bounded by the townlands of Fairfield, Carn, Knockaddikan [Knockadikeen], Thoanroastha [Tonaroasty], Bawnock [Baunoge], Farranalynch, Caherwalter and Greeneenagh.

Griffith’s Valuation (1847-1867) For Gorteenapheebera

According to Griffith’s Valuation, the townland of Gorteenapheebera comprised 154 acres, 3 roods and 38 perches of land, at a total annual valuation of £155. There were 4 occupants recorded: Jeremiah O’Leary, John Smith, Rev. John Macklin and Thomas Morrissey. The Marquis of Clanricarde was the sole landowner and immediate lessor for the entire townland.

The largest individual holding was held by Thomas Morrissey, who held 82 acres, 3 roods and 38 perches of land, while the smallest holding was held by John Smith who held 2 roods and 29 perches of land. Names which appeared holding a house and office included John Smith and Thomas Morrissey, while Rev. John Macklin and Jeremiah O’Leary held land only.

Jeremiah O’Leary leased 31 acres, 2 roods and 3 perches of land, for which he paid an annual valuation rate of £35.

John Smith leased 2 roods and 29 perches of land, on which he had a house and an office. He paid an annual valuation rate of £2 15s for the land and £11 10s for the buildings, with a total annual valuation of rateable property amounting to £14 5s.

Rev. John Macklin leased 37 acres, 3 roods and 8 perches of land with no buildings, for which he paid an annual valuation rate of £35.

Thomas Morrissey leased 82 acres, 3 roods and 38 perches of land, on which he had a house and an office. He paid an annual valuation rate of £70 for the land and 15s for the buildings, with a total annual valuation of rateable property amounting to £70 15s.

The total annual valuation of rateable property paid overall in Gorteenapheebera was £142 15s for the land and £12 5s for buildings, with the townland’s total valuation amounting to £155. The land in Gorteenapheebera was valued at approximately 18s 5d per acre.

1901 Census

Please note that Gorteenapheebera is spelled as ‘Gorteenapheebra’ in the 1901 Census and is split between Loughrea Town and Loughrea Rural.

Overview Of Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Rural) In 1901

According to Form A of the 1901 Census, there was 1 household in Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Rural) at that time. According to Form B1 of the House and Building Return, it was a 2nd-class, 3-roomed private dwelling with 3 windows in the front. The walls were made of non-perishable material, such as stone, brick or concrete, while slate, iron or tile was used for roofing.

The Enumerator’s Abstract Return recorded a total of 2 individuals in Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Rural) at that time, both male, with an average age of 21. Both residents were Roman Catholic, born in Co. Galway, and were bilingual in Irish and English.

According to Form B2 of the Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings Return, there were 5 out-offices in the townland: a stable, a cow house, a calf house, a barn, and a shed. The enumerator was Const. Andrew Murphy. The landholder was Michael Cosgrove.

Darcy                                                                                      Additional Surname: Connors

The head of the only household in Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Rural) was John Darcy (23), an unmarried farm servant. He shared the home with Patrick Connors (19), who was also an unmarried farm servant. Both members of the household were born in Co. Galway, were Roman Catholic and could speak both Irish and English. John Darcy (23) could read and write, while Patrick Connors (19) could read only.

They lived in a 2nd-class, 3-roomed private dwelling with 3 windows in the front. The walls of the home were made of stone, brick or concrete, and slate, iron or tile was used for the roofing. There were 5 out-offices attached to the household: a stable, a cow house, a calf house, a  barn, and a shed. Michael Cosgrove was the landholder.

Overview Of Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Town) In 1901

According to the 1901 Census, there was 1 household in Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Town) at that time. According to Form B1 of the House and Building Return, it was a 1st-class, 10-roomed private dwelling with 13 windows in the front. The home was made of non-perishable material, with the walls made of stone, brick or concrete, and slate, iron or tile used for roofing.

The Enumerator’s Abstract Return recorded a total of 13 individuals in the townland at that time, consisting of 4 males and 9 females, with an average age of 13 (13.1). Every individual in Gorteenapheebera was born in Co. Galway and was a Roman Catholic. Literacy was 61.5%, with 8 individuals able to read and write, while 7.7% (1 individual) could read only and 30.8% (4 individuals) were illiterate. The enumerator was Const. Martin Fahey. John Francis Ryan (41) was the head of the only household in Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Town) and was also the landholder.

There were 6 out-offices in the townland according to Form B2 of the Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings Return: a stable, a coach house, a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house, and a shed.

Ryan                                                                           Additional Surnames: Hussey, Donlon, Flynn

The head of the only household in Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Town) was John Francis Ryan (41), whose stated occupation was a ‘General Practitioner L.R.C.S and P.E.D,’ meaning he was a fully qualified medical doctor who held professional licences in both medicine and surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. He shared the home with his wife, Teresa Mary Ryan (34), their 6 daughters, 2 sons as well as 2 servants and 1 nurse. Joseph Ryan (12) was his eldest son; he was a scholar and could read and write. Bernard Ryan (1) was his youngest son, and he could not read or write. Evelyn Ryan (10) was his eldest daughter; she was a scholar and could read and write. Annie Ryan (9) was also a scholar and could read and write. Alice Ryan (5) was a scholar, and the only member of the household who could read only. Recorded also as scholars within the household were Bridgt [Bridget] Josephine Ryan (3) and Margaret Ryan (2), both of whom could not read or write. Gertrude (11 months old) was the youngest member of the Ryan family.

In addition to the Ryan family, three individuals were recorded within the household: Catherine Hussey (17), an unmarried domestic servant who could read and write and was the only member of the household able to speak both Irish and English; Harry Flynn (19), an unmarried servant who could read and write; and Ellen Donlon (17), an unmarried nurse who could read and write. Every member of the household was born in Co. Galway and was a Roman Catholic. Every member recorded within the household was unmarried apart from John Francis (41) and Teresa Mary Ryan (34). Every member of the household could read and write, with the exception of Alice Ryan (5), who could read only, and the four youngest children, Bridget Josephine Ryan (3), Margaret Ryan (2), Bernard Ryan (1), and Gertrude Ryan (11 months old), all of whom could not read or write.

They lived in a 1st-class, 10-roomed private dwelling with 13 windows in the front. The home was made of non-perishable material, with walls made of stone, brick or concrete, and slate, iron or tile used for roofing. There were 6 out-offices attached to the household: a stable, a coach house, a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house, and a shed. John Francis Ryan (41) was the landholder.

Combined Overview: Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Town & Loughrea Rural) In 1901

In 1901, the townland of Gorteenapheebera (recorded as ‘Gorteenapheebra’) was split between the Electoral Divisions of Loughrea Rural and Loughrea Town. In total, the townland comprised 2 households and 15 individuals. Every individual was Roman Catholic and born in Co. Galway.

The population consisted of 6 males and 9 females. The combined average age for the whole townland was 14.2. Bilingualism was present in 20% (3 individuals) of the total population. Literacy in the townland was high among adults and staff, with 60% (9 individuals) able to read and write. A further 13.3% (2 individuals), Patrick Connors (Rural) and Alice Ryan (Town), were able to read only. The remaining 26.7% (4 individuals) who were illiterate were accounted for entirely by the four youngest children in the Ryan household.

Both households were constructed of non-perishable materials, such as stone, brick or concrete walls with slate, iron or tile roofing. The Ryan (Town) household occupied a 1st-class, 10-roomed residence, while the Darcy (Rural) household occupied a 2nd-class, 3-roomed dwelling. In total, there were 11 out-offices in the townland: 2 stables, 2 cow houses, 2 sheds, a coach house, a calf house, a piggery, a fowl house and a barn.

1911 Census For Gorteenapheebera

Overview Of Gorteenapheebera (Loughrea Urban) In 1911

According to the 1911 Census, there was 1 household in Gorteenapheebera, classed as a private dwelling. According to Form B1 of the House and Building Return, it was a 1st-class, 10-roomed dwelling with 8 windows in the front. The walls of the home were made of non-perishable material such as stone, brick or concrete, while slate, iron, tile or other non-perishable material was used for roofing.

The Enumerator’s Abstract Return recorded a total of 4 individuals in Gorteenapheebera at that time, consisting of 1 male and 3 females, with an average age of 31. Every individual was a member of the Church of Ireland and could read and write.

The head of the only household in Gorteenapheebera was Richard Ewing. The landholder was the Marquis of Clanricarde. According to Form B2 of the Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings Return, there were 7 out-offices in the townland: a stable, a coach house, a cow house, a dairy, a fowl house, a shed, and a store.

Ewing

The head of the only household in Gorteenapheebera was Richard Ewing (45), born in Armagh City, whose occupation was recorded as a ‘land agency accountant and owner of land in fee’. He shared the home with his wife Bessie Amelia Ewing (47), born in Cork City, whom he had been married to for 23 years and with whom he had 5 children, 4 of whom were still alive by 1911. Also recorded within the household were their two daughters, Eileen Victoria Maud Ewing (17) and Sylvia Charlotte Ewing (15), both unmarried scholars who were born in Co. Roscommon. Every member of the household was a member of the Church of Ireland and could read and write.

They lived in a 1st-class, 10-roomed private dwelling with 8 front windows. The walls of the home were made of stone, brick or concrete, while slate, iron or tile was used for roofing. There were 7 out-offices attached to the household: a stable, a coach house, a cow house, a dairy, a fowl house, a shed and a store. The landholder was the Marquis of Clanricarde.