Gortdrishagh

An Gort Driseach field of brambles

Jo Kelly/Galway Rural Development (GRD)

Gortdrishagh

 

Gortdrishagh is situated in the civil parish of Abbeygormacan barony of Longford Co Galway. It is bounded on the north by Carra and Ballynamurdoon, on the east by Carhooroe in the parish of Kilcooley in the barony of Leitrim, on the west by Ballymurdoon and on the south by Carhooshanbally.

 

O’Donovan’s Field name books give 2 other spellings of this townland: Gurtdresshagh and Gortdrishegh.

 

Down Survey map under the name ‘Ballanen’ shows that the Earl of Clanrickard a protestant owned the land in 1641 and in 1670.

 

Census 1901

 

There were 3 houses in Gortdrishagh in 1901. 1 house was uninhabited. Patrick Hughes owned the land this house was situated on. The other 2 houses had 7 people in total: 3 were male and 4 were female. All occupants were Roman Catholic. They were born in Co Galway. The heads of the households were: Anne Forde and Michael Dwyer. The census taken on the 5th of April 1901 showed that the houses were built as private dwellings. The walls were built with stone, brick or concrete. The roofs were made with perishable material.

 

Anne Forde (54) was a widow. She was a farmer. She spoke Irish and English. She has 4 unmarried children. John (29) and Patrick (28) were listed as farmer’s sons. Bridget (27) and Annie (16) recorded their occupations as seamstresses. The entire family could read and write. They lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. There were 4 outhouses: 1 cow house, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house and 1 shed. Anne Forde owned the land the house was situated on.

 

Michael Dwyer (60) was a farmer. He was married to Norah (55). She was listed as a farmer’s wife. They spoke Irish and English. Michael could read and write. Norah could not read. They lived in a 3rd class house with 2 rooms and 2 front windows. There were 3 outhouses: 1 cow house, 1 piggery and 1 shed. Michael Dwyer owned the land the house was situated on.

 

Census 1911

 

There were 2 houses in Gortdrishagh in 1911. There were 7 residents in total: 3 were male and 4 were female. All occupants were Roman Catholic. They were born in Co Galway. The heads of the households were: John Forde and Norah Dwyer. The census taken on the 5th 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 with perishable material.

 

John Forde (42) was a farmer. He was married for 1 year to Bridget (31). There was no occupation recorded for her. They had 1 child born with 1 living in 1911. Mary Anne was 1 month old. Their nephew Patrick Connaughton (8) was a scholar. Their uncle Patrick Robbin (76) was single. He recorded his occupation as a general labourer. All occupants could read and write except for Mary Anne. Patrick Connaughton and Patrick Robbin both spoke Irish and English. They lived in a 2nd class house with 3 rooms and 3 front windows. There were 3 outhouses: 1 stable, 1 cow house and 1 shed. John Forde owned the land the house was situated on.

 

Norah Dwyer (72) was a widow. She was a farmer. She spoke Irish and English. She could not read. Visitor Eveline R Garry (17) was single. She recorded her occupation as a general domestic servant. She could read and write. They lived in a 3rd class house with 2 rooms, 2 front windows and 1 cow house. Norah Dwyer owned the land the house was situated on.

 

This page was added on 18/09/2020.

Comments about this page

  • Anne Forde was the daughter of Nicholas Robbins and Mary McDonough, and she grew up in Gortdrishagh and inherited her father’s lease when her father died and the majority of her family emigrated to the US and UK. She married John Forde in 1867, and had four children: William (1867-1872), John (1869-1930), Patrick (1871-1947), and Bridget (1873-). After her husband died she married John Murphy and had a daughter, Annie (1883-1909).

    Norah Dwyer was born Honora Lyons and was the daughter of Edmond Lyons and Margaret Robbins. She was also raised in Gortdrishagh, adn her father was a coachman for the Brooklawn estate. Margaret Robbins was likely the sister of Nicholas Robbins, making Honora Lyons and Anne Robbins cousins. When Norah married Michael Dwyer in 1868, Catherine Robbins, a daughter of Nicholas Robbins, acted as a witness. Norah had a sister, Bridget Lyons Keating, who emigrated to the US and settled in Chicago where she died in 1918. A potential brother, Michael Lyons, died in Gortdrishagh in 1878, and an additional potential brother, Peter, registered the death.

    By Brady Robbins (12/03/2021)

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