Ballynamona

Baile na Móna meaning town of the bog

Names:

According to O’ Donovan’s Field Name Books 1838, the standard name given to this townland was Ballynamona and Baile na Móna was its official Irish name.  Other names this townland has been known as are Ballinamona (Boundary Surveyor’s Sketch Map, Meresman), Ballanamona (County Cess Collector) and Ballynamona (Local, Rev. Michael Waldron P.P., Tithe Ledgar).

Situation:

This townland is a central townland.  It is bounded on the north by Cullenalena and Carrowbaun, bounded west by Ardaun, bounded east by Ardnageehee, Croaghrim and Tubbernogue and bounded south by Ardnageehee.

Description:

Down Survey:

The Down Survey was a cadastral survey of Ireland carried out by William Petty, English scientist in 1655 and 1656. The survey was apparently called the “Down Survey” by Petty because the results were set down in maps ‘‘admeasurement down’ was used; it is referred to by that name in Petty’s will.’ (Wikipedia).  The name used by the Down Survey for this village was Ballimaquine.  In 1641, the owner for this townland was Sir Thomas Blake who was a Protestant.  In 1670, the owner was John Darcy who was a Catholic.  There was 40 acres of profitable land in this village and 40 acres were forfeited.

O Donovan’s (1838):

The proprietor for this village was Lord Oranmore, Castlemontgaret (sic.), Co. Mayo or London.  The agent for Ballynamona was Jerrard Strickland, Esq. Loughglynn, Co. Roscommon.  According to O’ Donovans Field Name Books, this townland was composed of 54 acres, 0 roods and 20 perches.  The townland was held under lease by Robert Brown, Esq. Portarlington and was sublet to tenants at a rent of 26 shillings per acre. The Co. Cess paid 11¼ d. per acre half yearly for each of 32d.  The farms ranged from 1 to 4 acres.  The soil in this village was a small part middling having some moor and swamp. This village produced middling crops of potatoes and wheat and a little of oats and flax.  There were two lakes called Lough Laur and Lough of Killeenalena to the north of this village.

Griffiths Valuation

According to Griffith’s Valuation, Ballynamona had a total acreage of 54 acres, 1 rood and 16 perches.  The total valuation for this village was £18.5s.0d.  The immediate lessor for this townland was Benjamin L. Guinness.  This townland was divided into 8 plots.

Plot 1 was composed of 6 acres, 0 roods and 32 perches.  This plot was divided into two plots.  The first plot was unlabelled and the second plot was labelled 4d.  The two plots were owned by Jeremiah McGrath.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.2s.0d.

Plot 1 Jeremiah McGrathhad land valued at £1.15s.0d.  Total valuation of this sub-plot was £1.15s.0d.

Plot 1 4d Jeremiah McGrathhad a house valued at £0.7s.0d.  Total valuation for this sub-plot was £0.7s.0d.

Plot 2 was comprised of 5 acres, 2 roods and 0 perches.  This plot was divided into two plots.   The first plot was unlabelled; the second plot was labelled 7a.  Both plots belonged to Thomas Sullivan.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.4s.0d.

Plot 2 Thomas Sullivanhad land valued at £2.0s.0d.  Total valuation for this sub-plot was £2.0s.0d.

Plot 2 7a Thomas Sullivanhad a house valued at £0.4s.0d.  Total valuation for this sub-plot was £0.4s.0d.

Plot 3 was composed of 5 acres, 3 roods and 6 perches.  This plot belonged to Myles Walsh.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.2s.0d.

Plot 3 Myles Walshhad land valued at £2.2s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.2s.0d.

Plot 4a was comprised of 6 acres, 1 rood and 26 perches.  This plot belonged to Thomas Walsh.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.10s.0d

Plot 4a Thomas Walsh had a house, office and land.  The buildings were valued at £0.8s.0d and the land was valued at £2.2s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.10s.0d.

Plot 5 was composed of 5 acres, 2 roods and 13 perches.  This plot belonged to Martin Varley.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.5s.0d.

Plot 5 Martin Varleyhad land valued at £2.5s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.5s.0d.

Plot 6 was comprised of 6 acres, 2 roods and 39 perches.  This plot belonged to Thomas Varley.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.4s.0d.

Plot 6 Thomas Varleyhad land valued at £2.4s.0d.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.4s.0d.

Plot 7 was composed of 10 acres, 3 roods and 35 perches. This plot was split into two plots. The first plot was unlabelled and the second plot was labelled as 4b.  Both plots belonged to Myles Varley.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.10s.0d.

Plot 7 Myles Varleyhad land valued at £2.2s.0d.  Total valuation for this sub- plot was £2.2s.0d.

Plot 7 4bMyles Varley had a house valued at £0.8s.0d. Total valuation for this sub-plot was £0.8s.0d.

Plot 8 comprised of 7 acres, 0 roods and 25 perches.  This plot was split into two plots.  The first plot was unlabelled and the other plot was labelled 4c.  Both plots belonged to John Varley.  Total valuation for this plot was £2.8s.0d.

Plot 8 John Varleyhad land valued at £2.0s.0d.  Total valuation for this sub-plot was £2.0s.0d.

Plot 8 4c John Varleyhad a house valued at £0.8s.0d.  Total valuation for this sub-plot was £0.8s.0d.

Census 1901

There was one inhabited house in this village.  There were five males and two females in Ballynamona in 1901.  Everyone in this village was Roman Catholic according to the Enumerators Abstract (Form N). There was one forge in this village according to the Return of Out-Offices and Farm Steadings (Form B2).

House 1- Martin and Bridget Ryan

Martin (40) and Bridget (35) Ryan resided in house 1 with their five children. Their children were Ellen(16), Patrick(14), John(12), Martin(8) and Thomas(4).  Martin (Snr.) was a blacksmith.  Patrick, John and Martin were scholars.  The parents and Thomas could not read or write.  Martin (Jnr.) could read only.  The rest of the household could read and write.  Martin (Jnr.) and Thomas spoke English only, the rest of the household spoke Irish and English.  It was not stated on this household’s census form where Thomas was born.  The rest of the household was born in Galway. They lived in a 3^rdclass house with two rooms.  They had a forge.

Census 1911

Ten years later the census questions were expanded to include the following: Particulars as to Marriage (which included – completed years the present marriage has lasted, children born alive to present marriage, total children born alive to this marriage, and children still living). There was one inhabited house in this village.  There were four males and two females in this village in 1911.  Everyone in this village was Roman Catholic.  There was three out-offices/farm steadings in this village in 1911.  There was a cow house, a piggery and a forge.

House 1-Martin and Bridget Ryan

Martin (66) and Bridget (63) Ryan lived in house 1, previously numbered house 1, with their three children and granddaughter.  Their children were Patrick(25), Martin(18), and Thomas(16).  Their granddaughter was Mary Seahill(sic.) (5). There was no mention of Ellen or John in this 1911 census.  There were present in this household in 1901.  Martin (Snr.) and Bridget were married for 29 years, had seven children and five of them survived until 1911.  Martin (Snr.) and Patrick were blacksmiths.  Martin was an agricultural labourer.  Thomas was a scholar.  The parents and Mary could not read or write.  The rest of the household could read and write.  Mary spoke English only; the rest of the household spoke Irish and English.  Everyone in this household was born in Galway.  They lived in a 3^rdclass house with two rooms. They had a cow house, a piggery and a forge.