Baurrevagh

Translation:  Greyish Top

Down Survey:  The Down Survey of Ireland is the first ever detailed land survey on a national scale anywhere in the world.  The survey is a cadastral survey of Ireland and was so called simply by its topographic details all laid down by admeasurements on maps.  It was carried out by William Petty an English scientist in 1655 and 1656.   The survey sought to measure all the land to be forfeited by the Catholic Irish, in order to facilitate its redistribution to merchant adventurers and English officers and soldiers in Oliver Cromwell’s army. It was to repay them and the many English politicians and adventurers who had funded Cromwell’s military campaign in Ireland.

The Down Survey name for the townland of Barrevagh was Knockrosse.  In 1641 the owner was catholic Thomas Oge McRedmond Shoy.  In 1670 it was in protestant ownership of John Brown.  It is in the half barony of Rosse (sic) in the parish of Rosse, County Galway.  There were 46 plantation acres of profitable land, and this amount was forfeited.

O’Donovan’s Field Name Books 1838:  John O’Donovan recorded many variations of the name for this townland.

Other forms of the name:  Barurevagh, Barr Riabhach, Baurrewaugh (Boundary Surveyors Sketch Map), Baurretragh (Mearsman), Barivagh (Rev. Michael Heraghty P.P.), Baurrevagh (Tithe Ledger).

Description:  The proprietor was the Provost of Trinity College Dublin.  The agent was Alexander Nesbitt Junior, 96 Stephens Green, South Dublin.  The land was all held by Robert Fair, Esq., of Carravilla near Kilonan under a lease of twenty-one years.  The rent was £45 per year.  The soil is described as all mountain, steep heath and rough pasture with coarse pasture and arable mountain at the valley called Gleantreag.

The County Cess paid for 100 acres held by Robert Fair. There was a herd’s house and ruins of a village.  The river Shruffaunagreeve / Sruthán na gCraobh meaning streamlet of the branches or bushes, meres between Baurrevagh and Cammanagh and runs into Lough Mask.

Situation:  It is a central townland bounded on the north by the townland of Lecarrow, west by Cammanagh, to the south by Maum East and Crimlin West and on the east by Drishaghaun.  It is in the barony of Ross in County Galway.

Griffith’s Valuation 1849: According to Griffith’s Valuation (Ordnance Survey Sheet 25 & 26) there were 783 acres and 39 perches of land in one plot owned by Robert Fair.  The land value at the time was £29.10.4.

Plot 1:  James L. Foster leased 783 acres, 1 rood and 35 perches of land and a herd’s house. The land had a ratable annual valuation of £32 and 10 shillings; the herd’s house had an annual valuation of 10 shillings.  His total annul rent was £33 and this was payable to Robert Fair.

1901 Census:  Barrevagh is in the electoral district of Ross, in the sub district of America Hut.  Constable Patrick McShane collected the census return on April 4^th, 1901.  There was one 2^nd class dwelling with a perishable roof that was most likely thatch.  Lord Ardilaun was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.

No 1:  John Gray (65) a single man, and his sister Sarah Gray (45) a single woman, were born in Scotland and were Presbyterian.  John was a stock manager and Sarah’s occupation was not recorded.  Both could read and write.  The house was 2^nd class with three windows in front and two people occupied three rooms.  There was a cow house on the holding.  Lord Ardilaun was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.

1911 Census:  The census was enumerated by Constable Patrick Brehany on April 15^th 1911. House and Building Return (Form B1) lists one private dwelling with a non-perishable roof that was presumably slate, it had three windows in front.

House No 1: John O’Malley was recorded as the head of the family, and five people occupied three rooms.  There was a stable and a cow house on the property.  Lord Ardilaun was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.  The 1911 Census Form A does not give any further information on this family.

House No 2:  Michael Varily (55) a farm herd was married to Margaret (36) for fourteen years and they had eight children.  Michael (11), John (10), Mary (7), Maggie (5) and Peter (4) were scholars.  Nora was (3), Sabina (2) and infant Anne was (2) months old.  Kate Varily (73) a boarder and Michael’s mother-in-law Sarah Coyne (75) were listed here.  Both women were widows and were old age pensioners.   Sarah, Kate and the youngest children spoke Irish only; the rest of the family were bilingual. Michael, Sarah and Kate could not read, Margaret, Mary, Maggie and Peter could read, and Michael Junior and John could read and write.  All members were born in County Galway and were Roman Catholic.  There is no information on Form B 1 for house number two.