Gorteen

Goirtín

Roger Harrison

Gorteen / Goirtín                                          Irish Grid M 61 35

 

Author: Roger Harrison

 

Gorteen is a townland in the Civil Parish of Ballymacward in the barony of Tiaquin and the County of Galway.

 

Description:

(John O’Donovan 1806-1861)

Is the property of James Daly, Esq. who holds it under a deed for ever. It contains 28a. 3r. 24p. all of which is under a good state of cultivation with exceptions of about 35 acres of bog, on the West side the greater part of this townland is under sheep walks. Houses and roads are in good repair. County Cess included with [unable to read] see page 23 this book.

 

Situation:

(John O’Donovan 1806-1861)

Lies in the west of this parish in the barony of Tiaquin, bounded by Glannnamwicka, Creeraun and Gurtnahultra townlands in this parish and by Shanballeeshul, Cloonborna, Gortnacrusha, Ballyglass and Cloonkeen in the parish of Cloonkeen in same barony.

 

This is a list of townlands that share a border with Gorteen.

 

 

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 the townland

The census of 1911 shows that there were a total of 8 houses in the townland of Gorteen and that they were all occupied and were listed as being private dwellings. The houses were all built of stone, brick or concrete and had thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. Houses 1, 3, 4, 7 and 8 were 2nd class dwellings and houses 2, 5 and 6 were 3rd class. House 5 had 2 rooms and 1 window in the front, houses 2 and 6 had 2 rooms and 3 windows and all the rest of the houses had 2 rooms and 3 windows in the front. The out-offices and farm-steadings return (form B.2) shows that there were a total of 31 outbuildings and that they consisted of 6 stables, 8 cow houses, a calf house, 7 piggeries, 2 fowl houses, 6 barns and a shed. The enumerator’s abstract return (form N) shows that there were a total of 38 people, 21 male and 17 female in the townland. The enumerator for the area was Const. Daniel Fitzpatrick.

 

House 1: Naughton / Kilkenny

The head of the first family in Gorteen was the widow Bridget (70) and she shared the house with 2 of her sons, Martin (38) and Patrick (36) and also 2 nieces, Kate Kilkenny (23) and Mary Kilkenny (19). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English and all could read and write. Bridget was listed as being a farmer and Martin and Patrick were farmer’s sons. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class house with a stable, a cow house, a calf house, a piggery, a barn and a shed. The landholder was Bridget Naughton.

 

House 2: O Dea / Geraghty

John (38) was listed as the head of this family and he was recorded as being married but there were no details of a wife. Also in the house at that time was James Geraghty (74), a widower and a visitor. They were both born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Both spoke Irish and English but only James could read and write. John was a farmer and James was an old age pensioner. The house was 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and they had a cow house. John O Dea was the landholder.

 

House 3: Kenny

The head of this family was Thomas (50) and he had been married to Bridget (35) for 5 years but they had no children. Also in the house was Thomas’ daughter[i] Mary (11). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Thomas and Bridget spoke Irish and English but there was nothing entered for Mary, which probably meant that she only spoke English. Only Bridget and Mary could read and write. Thomas was a farmer and Mary was a scholar. The house they all lived in was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and they had a cow house, a piggery, a fowl house and a barn. The landholder was Thomas Kenny.

 

House 4: Scarry

The widower Peter (59) was the head of this family and he shared the house with 6 of his children and they were Maria (22), Annie (20), Thomas (21), Michael (19), John (12) and Peter (11). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Peter (59) spoke Irish and English but there nothing entered for the others which could indicate that they only spoke English. Peter (11) could read only and the others could all read and write. Peter (59) was a farmer, Thomas and Michael were farmer’s sons and John and Peter (11) were scholars. The house they all lived in was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling with a stable, a cow house, a piggery and a barn. Peter Scarry was the landholder.

 

House 5: Kenny

The widow Honor (62) was listed as the head of this family in house 5 and she shared the house with 4 of her children, Pat (34), Bridget (24), Nora (22) and Martin (20). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Honor, Pat and Bridget spoke Irish and English and Nora and Martin spoke only English. They could all read and write. Honor was a farmer and Pat and Martin were listed as being farmer’s sons. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and had a stable a cow house, a piggery and a fowl house. The landholder was Honor Kenny.

 

House 6: Keane

The head of this family was John (74) and he had been married to Catherine (70) for 33 years and they had had 4 children and all of those had survived. They shared the house with their son, Michael (29) who was married to Margaret (28) and they had been married for a 1 but had no children at that stage. Also in the house were a further 2 sons, Patrick (27) and Edward (23). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Only John spoke Irish and English and there was nothing listed for the others so that probably meant that they only spoke English. All, apart from John, could read and write. John was a farmer and Michael, Patrick and Edward were listed as being farmer’s sons. The house was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling with a stable, a cow house, a piggery and a barn. The landholder was John Keane.

 

House 7: Dooley

Patrick (60) was listed as the head of this family and he had been married to Mary (50) for 15 years and they had had 4 children but only 2 had survived. They shared the house with those 2 children and they were John (10) and Mary (12). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Patrick and Mary (50) spoke Irish and English bur there was nothing entered for the children so they probably spoke only English. Patrick, John and Mary (12) could read and write. Patrick was a farmer and John and Mary (12) were scholars. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class house with a stable, a cow house, a piggery and a barn. Patrick Dooley was the landholder.

 

House 8: McGee

The head of the last house in Gorteen was Patrick (76) and he had been married to Mary (65) for 45 years and they had had 8 children of which 7 had survived. They lived with 4 of those children, Patrick (30), Thomas (24), Maria (39) and Ellie (22). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Patrick (76) and Mary spoke Irish and English and the others all spoke only English. They could all read and write. Patrick (76) was a farmer, Patrick (30) was a farmer’s son, Thomas was a shop assistant and Ellie was a seamstress. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class house with a stable, a cow house, a piggery and a barn. Patrick McGee was the landholder.

 

1901 Census

There were a total of 9 houses in the townland of Gorteen and all were listed as occupied and were private dwellings. All the houses were constructed of stone, brick or concrete walls and they all had thatch, wood or other perishable materials for roofing. Houses 5 and 9 were 3rd class dwellings and the others were all 2nd class. Houses 5 and 9 had 2 rooms and 2 windows in the front and all the other houses had 2 rooms and 3 windows. There were a total of 44 people in the townland, 23 male and 21 female. The enumerator for the area was Const. Patrick Duffy.

 

House 1: Kenny / Hynes

The first house in Gorteen had, as its head of the family, Thomas (37) who was married to Julia (26) and they shared the house with their daughter Mary (1) and a servant, Thomas Hynes (60). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Thomas (37) and Thomas (60) spoke Irish and English and the other 2 spoke only English. Only Julia could read and write. Thomas (37) was a farmer and Thomas Hynes was a farm servant. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and Thomas Kenny was the landholder.

 

House 2: Scarry

The head of the Scarry family in house 2 was Peter (48) and he was married to Mary (35) and they shared the house with 5 of their children, Maria (14), Thomas (10), Michael (8), John (2) and Honor (9). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Only Peter and Julia could speak Irish and English and there was nothing entered for the others so that probably meant they only spoke English. Apart from John, they could all read and write. Peter was a farmer and Maria, Thomas Michael and Honor were scholars. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and Peter Scarry was the landholder.

 

House 3: Kenny

The head of this family was Fardy (sic) (54) and he was married to Hanor[ii] (sic) (46) and they shared the house with 5 of their children, Mary (27), Patrick (25), Bridget (14), Hanor (sic) (12) and Martin (10). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English except Hanor (12) and Martin, who probably only spoke English. With the exception of Patrick, they could all read and write. Fardy was a farmer, Mary was a farmer’s daughter, Patrick was a farmer’s son and Bridget, Hanor (sic) and Martin were scholars. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and Fardy Kenny was the landholder.

 

House 4: Kane

John (57) was the head of the family in house 4 and he was married to Kate (40) and they lived with 4 of their sons, John (19), Michael (18), Patrick (15) and Edward (10). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Only John and Kate spoke Irish and English and there was nothing entered form the others which may indicate that they only spoke English. With the exception of John (57), they could all read and write. John (57) was a farmer, John (19) and Michael were farmer’s sons and Patrick and Edward were scholars. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class house and John Kane was the landholder.

 

House 5: Dooly

The widow Celia (74) was the head of this family and she shared the house with her son, Patrick (50), who was married to Bridget (40) and 2 of her grandchildren, James (4) and Mary (3). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Celia, Patrick and Bridget spoke Irish and English. Only Celia and Patrick could read and write. Celia was listed as being a farmer, Patrick was a farmer’s son and Bridget was a farmer’s daughter-in-law. The house was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and Celia Dooley (sic) was listed as the landholder.

 

House 6: McGee

The head of the family in house 6 was Patrick (67) and he was married to Mary (50) and they lived with 5 of their children, Patrick (22), Maria (28), Sarah (23), Eleen (sic) (12) and Thomas (15). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Only Patrick (67) and Mary spoke Irish and English but there was nothing entered for the others which probably indicated they only spoke English. They could all read and write. Patrick (67) was a farmer, Patrick (22) was a farmer’s son, Maria and Sarah were farmer’s daughters and Eleen (sic) and Thomas were scholars. They all lived in a 2 roomed, 2nd class house and Patrick McGee was the landholder.

 

House 7: Daly

The head of this family was the widower Connor (44) and he lived with his daughter, Bridget (24). They were both born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Both spoke Irish and English but only Bridget could read and write. Connor was a tailor and Bridget was a housekeeper. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and the landholder was Patrick Ford.

 

House 8: Naughton / Kilkenny

The head of this family was the widow Bridget (58) and she lived with 2 of her sons, Martin (27) and Patrick (24) and also a niece, Kate (12). They were all born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. All of the family could speak both Irish and English with the exception of Kate. They could all read and write. Bridget was a housekeeper, Martin and Patrick were shepherds and Kate was a scholar. The house was a 2 roomed, 2nd class dwelling and the landholder was John Cormican (sic)

 

House 9: O Dea

The widow Bridget (65) was the head of the last house in Gorteen and she lived with her son John (28). They were both born in Co. Galway and were Roman Catholic. Both spoke Irish and English but could not read. Bridget was a cottier and John was an agricultural labourer. The house was a 2 roomed, 3rd class dwelling and Bridget O Dea was the landholder.

 

Griffith’s Valuation

Lord Dunsandle was the main owner of this area at this time, 1847-1864. He had herd’s houses and offices on 223 acres and 10 perches of land with an annual ratable valuation of £70 for the land and 10s for the buildings. John Naughton leased a house on 2 acres, 1 rood and 10 perches of land from him for £1 5s for the land and 10s for the house. Laurence Griffin leased 4 acres and 2 roods of land from Lord Dunsandle for £2 10s and also a Cottiers’ house with a 10 perches garden for 1s for the garden and 4s for the cottiers’ house. There were 10 tenants that leased tenements from Lord Dunsandle with an area of 198 acres, 3 roods and 34 perches of land. Those tenants were Michael Kenny wo leased a house, office and cottiers house and land for £10 10s for the land and £1 for the buildings, Martin Hynes leased a house and land for £3 3s for the land and 7s for the house, Peter Flannery leased a house, offices and land for £16 for the land and £1 for the buildings and Thomas McGee leased a house, offices and land for £6 6s for the land and 9s for the buildings. James Keane leased a house, offices and land for £6 6s for the land and 9s for the buildings, James Dooly leased a house, offices and land for £16 16s for the land and 19s for the buildings and John Coghlan (sic) leased a house, office and land for £6 6s for the land and 9s for the buildings. Thomas Seery (sic) leased a house and land for £7 for the land and 10s for the house, Margaret Mullen leased a house and land for £1 1s for the land and 4s for the house and Thomas Tarp leased a house, office and land for £2 2s for the land and 13s for the buildings.

 

 

[i] Possibly from a previous marriage

[ii] Possibly Honor

This page was added on 20/01/2020.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.