Translation: Grey Weir
The 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 it’s 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.
No Down Survey information available online for this townland.
O’Donovan’s Field Name Books 1838: John O’Donovan tells us the Irish form of the name for the townland is Currarevagh and it means Grey Weir.
Other forms of the name: Currarevagh, Curra Riabhach, Currareewaugh (Boundary Surveyors Sketch Map), Currevaugh (County Cess Collector), Curraghreevagh (Local), Currareevagh (Mearsman), Curerevagh (Rev. Michael Heraghty P.P.), Curyrevagh (Tithe Ledger), Coradh – riabhach (P. W. Joyce).
Description: The proprietor was the Provost of Trinity College Dublin. The agent was Alexander Nesbitt, Esq. Junior of 96 Stephen’s Green South, Dublin. The property was all let to tenants under lease. (The amount of rent payable per year is not specified). The soil consisted of some steep rough heath pasture mountain with some coarse mixed pasture at the valley; some tillage and arable mountain. Middling crops of oats were produced, but potatoes not so good. The Co. Cess of 11¼d was paid per acre for 31 acres. Currarevagh is a village in two clusters under one name.
Situation: It is a central townland bounded on the north by Loughnafooey; on the west by Gowlaun and Griggins; to the south by Cammanagh and Lecarrow and on the east by Lecarrow and Kangarrow (sic). It is in the barony of Ross in County Galway.
Griffith’s Valuation1849: Currarevagh can be found on Ordnance Survey Sheet 12 & 25. According to Griffith’s Valuation it had an area of 813 acres, 1 rood and 2 perches. The land value at the time was £29.14.8.
The Provost and Fellows of Trinity College Dublin (T.C.D.) were the immediate lessors of a plot that contained 813 acres, 2 roods and 34 perches of land. Plot 1 was held in two divisions; (a) and (b)
(a): was occupied by three tenants; Peter Malia, Thomas Malia and Michael Walsh and they had an equal share in a herd’s house and land. The land had a ratable annual valuation of £19 and the herd’s house had an annual valuation of 10 shillings. Each of the three tenants paid a total annual rent of £6 and 10 shillings.
(b): Richard Joyce had the lease of a house, office and land. The land had an annual valuation of £9 and 10 shillings and the buildings had an annual valuation of 10 shillings. Richard’s total annual rent was £10. All rents were paid to Trinity College Dublin.
1901 Census: Constable John Phelan the enumerator collected the census return for Currerevagh (sic) on the 1st April 1901. There were eight 3rd class private dwellings with perishable roofs that were most likely thatch. Forty eight people lived in the townland; twenty eight males and twenty females. All were Roman Catholic and were born in Co. Galway. Farming, shepherding and agricultural labour were the general occupations.
No 1: Richard Joyce (60) a farmer was a widower and he lived here with his two children; John (22) a farmer’s son and Ellen (20) a farmer’s daughter. All were born in Co. Galway; they could read and write and were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with two windows in front and three people occupied two rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the property.
No 2: Thomas Joyce (32) an agricultural labourer, his wife Anne (32) and their five children were the occupants of this house. Michael (13), Thomas (11), Mary (9) and Martin (5) were scholars and Patrick was (3) years old. The parents and three eldest scholars could read and write and Martin could read. Thomas and his wife spoke Irish only; Michael and Thomas junior were bilingual. The house had one window to the front and the family of seven occupied one room. There were no outbuildings on the premises and Richard Joyce was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
No 3: James Jennings (30) an agricultural labourer, and his wife Bridget (28) lived here with their five children. Michael (11), Martin (10), Ellen (8) and Mary (6) were scholars, and Bridget was (4) years old. James and his wife could not read and they spoke Irish only. Michael and Martin could read and write; Ellen and Mary could read; Ellen and her brothers were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and the family of seven occupied one room. There was a cow house on the holding. Richard Joyce was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
No 4: Margaret Joyce (50) a widow was the occupant of this house and farming was her livelihood. Margaret was bilingual and she could read and write. The house had two windows to the front and she had two rooms. She had a cow house on the property.
No 5: Thomas Joyce (70) and his wife Catherine (72) lived here with their son Thomas (30), his wife Bridget (32) and their six children. Mary (9), John (8) and Patrick (7) were scholars; Kate was (4) Thomas (2) and the infant Bridget (3) months old. Farming was the family occupation. Thomas and Catherine could not read; he was bilingual while she spoke Irish only. Thomas Junior and his wife could read and write and they too spoke Irish only. The three scholars could read and write. The house was 3rd class with two windows in front and ten people occupied two rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the premises.
No 6: Thomas Joyce (James) (30) an agricultural labourer and his wife Winifred (28) had four children in 1901. John (12), Mary (8) and Tom (5) were scholars and Bridget was (2) years old. Winifred was born in Co. Mayo; the others were born in Co. Galway. Thomas, his wife and son John could read and write and all the family spoke Irish and English. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and the couple and their four children occupied one room. There were no out buildings on the property.
No 7: William O’Brien (50) was a shepherd. He lived here with his wife Maria Anne (46), Michael (19) a shepherd’s son, and scholars Thomas (17) and Maggie (15). William could not read; Maria Anne and the children could read and write and all were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with one window to the front and five people occupied one room. They had a cow house on the holding. Patrick O’Malley was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
No 8: John Walsh (40) a shepherd, his wife Bridget (39), their six sons and one daughter were the occupants of this house. Thomas (20), Martin (19) and Michael (17) were shepherd’s sons; John (15), Bridget (12), Patrick (11) and Richard (7) were scholars. John and his wife could not read and they spoke Irish only; their children could read and write and all but young Richard were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with one window in front and the family of nine occupied two rooms. They had a cow house on the premises.
1911 Census: Constable Patrick Henaghan (sic) enumerated the census for Currareevagh (sic) on the 13th April 1911. Form B.1. House and Buildings Return show there were eight private houses; seven were inhabited one was vacant; all had perishable roofs. Two had been upgraded to 2nd class and five were 3rd class dwellings. Forty people were resident in the townland; seventeen males and twenty three females, all were Roman Catholic. Winifred Joyce was born in Co. Mayo; the others were born in County Galway.
Ten years on, the census was expanded to include the following: Particulars as to Marriage / completed years the present marriage has lasted / children born alive to present marriage and children still living. It reveals that many families experienced the loss of one or more children. Overcrowding and lack of facilities must have presented huge struggles.
No 1: Bridget Walsh (56) was married for thirty four years and she had twelve children; eight were still living. Thomas (32) a single man and Pat (17) were agricultural labourers and Richard (15) was a scholar. Bridget and her sons could read and write and were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and four people occupied three rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the holding. Michael Walsh, Kilmilkin (sic) was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
No 2: Winifred Joyce (40) born in Co. Mayo, was married for twenty years and she had eleven children; seven were still living. Thomas (15), Bridget (12), James (9), Kate (6) and Maggie (5) were scholars. Winifred and Bridget could read and write and were bilingual; Thomas could not read but was bilingual and James could read. The house was 3rd class with two windows in front and the mother and her five children occupied two rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the property.
No 3: Anne Joyce (43) was married for twenty four years and she had seven children. Martin (15), Patrick (11), Bridget (8) and Sarah (5) were scholars. Anne, Patrick and Bridget could read and write; Martin and Sarah could not read; all were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with two windows to the front and five people occupied two rooms. There were no outbuildings on the premises. Thomas Joyce (Richard) was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
No 4: John Joyce (34) a farmer was head of this household. His aunt Catherine Sullivan (68) was married for forty-two years and had no children. His other aunt Margaret Joyce (65) was a single woman. Patrick Joyce (82) a widower, was a boarder. John could read and write; the others could not read. Margaret and Patrick spoke Irish only; John and Catherine were bilingual. The house was 2nd class with three windows in front and four people occupied three rooms. They had a cow house on the property.
No 5: Thomas Joyce (Richard) (81) was a widower and farming was the family occupation. His daughter in law Bridget (46) was married for twenty one years and she had eight children; seven were still living. John (19) and Pat (17) were farmer’s sons; Kate (14), Thomas (12), Bridget (10) and Ellen (7) were scholars. Thomas, Bridget senior and Ellen could not read; the others could read and write and all spoke Irish and English. The house was 3rd class with two windows to the front and eight people occupied two rooms. Two outbuildings contained a cow house and a piggery.
No 6: Michael O’Brien (29) and his wife Bridget (29) were married for nine years and they had five children; four were still living. Michael (7), Bridget (6) and Mary (4) were scholars and Julia was (1) year old. The couple and their son Michael could read and write and were bilingual. Young Bridget could read and she too spoke Irish and English. The house was 3rd class with one window to the front and the family of six occupied two rooms. They had a cow house and a piggery on the holding. Pat O’Malley was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
No 7: Nappy Joyce (80) a widow was married for 40 year and she had three children; two were still living. Her daughter Bridget Jennings (40) also a widow was married for twenty three years and had six children; five were recorded. Martin (20) and Thomas (16) were farmer’s sons, Mary (18) had no occupation listed; Bridget (14) and Ellen (12) were scholars. Nappy could not read and she spoke Irish only; Bridget and her children could read and write and were bilingual. The house was 3rd class with one window to the front and seven people occupied one room. They had a cow house on the premises.
No 8: Was listed as uninhabited. Margaret Joyce was the name of the landholder where the house was situated.
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