Ashfield / Gort na bhFuinseóg Irish Grid M 67071 41414
Author: Mike Kelly/Galway Rural Development
The townland of Ashfield is in the civil parish of Ballymacward, in the barony of
Tiaquin and the County of Galway.
Books 1838 the meaning of the townland name is “white Alloon”. He gives the following as the source of the name: Andrew Browne, Esq., By. Sketch Map, Francis Davies, Esq.,Honble. Willm. Le Poer Trench and William Woods.
Situation:
Ashfield lies in the North of this parish in the barony of Tiaquin, bounded by the following townlands:
Description:
This townland is the property of – Blake, Esq., who holds it under a deed for ever. It is flat country about 25 acres of it bog, the rest arable and of a good quality. The houses are in middling repair. Roads in good repair is situated about 1-mile S. West of castle. County Cess included with Annaghbaun (Blakeny).
Census of Ireland (1821- 1911)
The first full population census of Ireland was taken in 1821 and the first four Irish censuses were arranged by county, barony, civil parish and townland.
1821: Only some fragments for small parts of county Galway survive. There are no records for Ballymacward.
1831: The only surviving records are from Counties Antrim and Derry.
1841: There are no surviving records for County Galway.
1851: There are no surviving records for County Galway.
1861: Census records for 1861 and 1871 were deliberately destroyed by the government
1881: The records for 1881 and 1891 were pulped as waster paper during the shortages of World War I.
1901: Full Census records are available See below.
1911: Full Census records are available See below.
1911 Census
Overview of townland
There were 3 houses in total in this townland, all of which were built and are recorded as private dwellings. All houses had stone or brick walls, one had a slate roof and two had roofs of thatch, wood or other perishable material. Two dwellings were recorded as 2nd class and one as 3rd class. There was a total of 14 people living in the townland of which 9 were male and 5 were female and all were Roman Catholic. There was a total of 9 out buildings listed for the townland which comprised of 2 stables, a coach house, 2 cow houses, 2 piggeries, 1 barns and a forge.
House 1: Keane
The head of the household was Martin Keane, a 36-year-old married herd who lived with his wife Lizzie (35). They had been married for 2 years and had 1 child who was still living – their son John Gerard aged 9 months. They were joined in the house on the night by visitor Annie Keane a 10-year-old scholar. All the occupants were Roman Catholic all came from County Galway and all could read and write. No language details given for the family but visitor Annie Keane is recorded as speaking both English and Irish. The house is described as 2nd class having stone or brick walls and a slated roof. The house had 2 rooms and 6 windows. There were 3 outbuildings consisting of a stable, a coach house and a barn. The landowner is recorded as George Potter
House 2: Mannion
The head of this household was 50-year-old Laurence Mannion, a married herd who lived with his wife Kate (40) and their family. They had been married for 23 years and had 6 children, all of whom were still living, sons Patrick (20), Michael (18) both labourers and scholars Thomas (15), John (11) and 10-year-old daughter Bridget. All the occupants were Roman Catholic, came from County Galway and all could read and write. No language proficiency is given for anyone. The house was 3rd class with walls of stone or brick and a roof of thatch and had 2 rooms and 2 windows. The family had 3 outbuildings – a stable, cowhouse and a piggery. The landowner is recorded as R. Blakeney.
House 3: Meskell/Dooly
The head of the house was 65-year-old widowed farmer Martin Meskell (sic) who lived with his unmarried daughter Mary Anne (27) for whom no occupation is given. Also in the house was servant Thomas Dooly aged 67 and unmarried. All occupants were Roman Catholic, came from County Galway and all could read and write except Thomas Dooly. Both men could speak both Irish and English but no language details are recorded for Mary Anne Meskell. The house was 2nd class with walls of stone or brick and a roof of thatch, wood or other perishable material. There were 3 outbuildings consisting of a cowhouse, piggery and a forge.
1901 Census
Overview of townland
There were 4 houses in total in this townland, all of which were built and are recorded as private dwellings. All houses had stone or brick walls, one had a slate roof and three had roofs of thatch, wood or other perishable material. Two dwellings were recorded as 3rd class, one as 2nd class and one as 1st class. There was a total of 21 people living in the townland of which 15 were male and 6 were female. There were 20 Roman Catholics and one male member of the Church of Ireland. There were a total of 12 out buildings listed for the townland which comprised of 2 stables, a coach house, 2 cow houses, 2 piggeries, 1 barn and 2 sheds.
House 1: Miskell/Dooley
The head of the house was 53-year-old married master blacksmith Martin Meskell who lived with his wife Bridget (44) and unmarried daughter Mary Anne (18) for whom no occupation is given. Also in the house was unmarried servant Thomas Dooley aged 40 whose occupation is given as blacksmith. All occupants were Roman Catholic, came from County Galway and all could read and write except Thomas Dooley. All could speak both Irish and English with the exception of for Mary Anne Miskell. The house was 2nd class with walls of stone or brick and a roof of thatch, wood or other perishable material. There were 5 outbuildings consisting of a stable, cowhouse, piggery, shed and a forge. Martin Miskell was also the landowner.
House 2: Brien
The head of the household was Patrick Brien, an 84-year-old married retired butcher who lived with his wife Margaret (60) and their 18-year-old unmarried son Martin, described as an agricultural labourer. All the occupants were Roman Catholic all came from County Galway and all could read and write. All occupants are listed as speaking both English and Irish. The house is described as 3rd class having stone or brick walls and a thatched roof. The house had 2 rooms and 2 windows. There were 2 outbuildings consisting of a piggery and a shed. The landowner is recorded as Thomas A. Potter
House 3: Mannion
The head of this household was 43-year-old Laurence Mannion, a married shepherd who lived with his wife Kate (38) and their family, sons Patrick (10), Michael (8), Thomas (5), John (2) and daughters Katie (10) and 3-year-old Bridget. All the children except the 2 youngest are listed as scholars Also in the house was his brother-in-law Thomas Hession (35), and his uncle John Mannion (60), both unmarried farm servants. All the occupants were Roman Catholic, came from County Galway and all could read and write except the 4 youngest children and uncle John Mannion. No language proficiency is given for anyone except Laurence and John Mannion who both spoke English and Irish. The house was 3rd class with walls of stone or brick and a roof of thatch and had 2 rooms and 2 windows. The family had 2 outbuildings, a stable and a cowhouse. The landowner is recorded as William Hession.
House 4: Potter/Graney/Talbot
The head of the household was Thomas Alexander Potter, a 45-year-old single farmer. Also in the house were unmarried servants William Talbot (40), a farm servant and 16-year-old Martin Graney, a shop assistant. Mr. Potter was a member of the Church of Ireland whilst both servants were Roman Catholic. All occupants came from County Galway and all spoke English. Both Thomas Potter and Martin Graney could read and write whilst William Talbot could not. The house is described as 1st class with walls of stone or brick and a slated roof and had 4 rooms and 6 windows. There were 3 outbuildings – a stable, a coach-house and a barn. The head of the household was also the landowner.
Griffith’s Valuation
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