Cloghvally- cloch Bhaile
Cloghvally is a small rural townland located in County Galway, Ireland. Like many areas in the region, it is characterized by its traditional farming landscape, with fields divided by stone walls and a strong connection to agricultural life. In the early 20th century, Cloghvally was home to a close-knit community, most of whom were involved in farming and related rural occupations. The townland reflects the typical social and economic patterns of rural Galway during this period, with a strong presence of the Irish language and Catholic faith among its inhabitants. Cloghvally is a part of a townland, Knockranny- Cnoc Raithnìghe.
In the Griffith’s Valuation for the townland of Knockranny, the principal lessor was James Kilkelly. The occupiers included Michael and Timothy Kyne, John Kyne (Peter), John Kyne (Tom) and William Maxwell, and Timothy Kyne (Pat). They held houses, offices, corn mills, land, and water. The total area of the holdings was 1,748 acres, 1 rood, and 14 perches, with a total land value of £100-9-0 and a building value of £3-15s-0, making the overall valuation £104-4s-0.
The Concannon family of Cloghvally townland was headed by Patrick Concannon, a 68-year-old farmer who was literate and spoke both Irish and English. His wife Julia, aged 64, also spoke both languages and could read. Their son Mark, 20 years old, worked as a farmer’s son and was likewise literate and bilingual. The Concannons exemplify the typical rural family structure of early 20th-century County Galway, with strong ties to farming and bilingualism being common features of daily life.
The Devaney family of Cloghvally townland was led by Patrick Devaney, a 65-year-old farmer who, despite being unable to read, spoke Irish fluently. His wife Sarah, who could read, spoke both Irish and English. Living with them were their adult children — Nicholas, Martin, Joseph, and Maria — all of whom were literate and worked on the family farm. The household also included their nephew John Folan, a 16-year-old scholar.
The Keady family of Cloghvally townland was headed by Michael Keady, a 64-year-old farmer, and his wife Kate. Both were Roman Catholic and primarily Irish-speaking, with neither able to read or write. Their son Thomas, also a farmer, lived with them alongside his wife Mary and their four young sons: Michael, John, Patrick, and Thomas. Literacy was limited among the younger generation as well, with the grandchildren noted as scholars but not yet literate. Additionally, Maria Mugan, an 8-year-old visitor, was recorded in the household. The family’s reliance on the Irish language and low literacy levels reflect broader patterns seen in rural Galway at the time.
The Kyne family, living in County Galway, was headed by 72-year-old Mary Kyne, a widow and farmer who was literate in both Irish and English. She lived with her daughter, 23-year-old Mary, who was also literate in both languages and unmarried. Mary’s son, James (44), was married and worked as a farmer’s son. His wife, Honor (29), was also literate in both Irish and English. The household also included two young grandchildren: Timothy (4) and Katie (2), neither of whom could read at the time.
The Kyne family, based in County Galway, was headed by 77-year-old Timothy Kyne, a farmer who could read and write in both Irish and English. His wife, Bridget (67), was a farmer’s wife and also literate in both languages. The couple had three children: Peter (32), Timothy (28), and Honoria (22). All the children were literate in both Irish and English and were unmarried.
The Kyne household in Cloghvally was headed by Martin Kyne, a 30-year-old unmarried farmer, living with his brother James, also a farmer, and his young niece Mary, who was a scholar at the time. They were joined by John Murphy, an 18-year-old farm servant, and Patrick Lydon, an 8-year-old nephew, who was also attending school. The family and their household members were Roman Catholic, born in County Galway, and spoke both Irish and English. Literacy levels were generally good, with the exception of the servant, John Murphy, who could not read.
The Concannon household was headed by Julia Concannon, a 74-year-old widow who spoke both Irish and English but could not read. Her son, Mark, aged 31, was a farmer who could read and write and was also fluent in both Irish and English. Mark was unmarried and continued to live with his mother.
The Devany household in Co Galway was headed by Patrick Devany, a farmer aged 83, and his wife Sarah, aged 72. Both were illiterate but spoke Irish. The couple had been married for 42 years and had eight children, with seven still living at the time of the census. Their son, Nicholas, aged 46, was the only member of the household who could read and write and was fluent in both Irish and English. He remained unmarried and continued to live with his elderly parents, contributing to the household.
The Gavin family of Cloghvally was led by William Gavin, a 41-year-old farmer, and his wife Honor, aged 37. Both were literate and spoke Irish and English. They had nine children in total, of whom four were living at the time of the census. Their young children—Delia (8), Patrick (6), Mary (4), and Maggie (2)—were all at home, with Delia and Patrick already attending school. In addition to the immediate family, a 17-year-old servant, John Barratt, also lived and worked on the farm. The Gavin household highlights the importance of family labour and hired help in sustaining rural farms in early 20th-century Galway.
The Keady family of Cloghvally was headed by Thomas Keady, aged 50, and his wife Mary, aged 45. Both were recorded as being unable to read, but they were bilingual in Irish and English. The couple had a large family, with eight children born and six still living at the time of the census. Their sons John (18) and Patrick (16) were working as labourers, while younger children such as Thomas (13), Mary (10), and Bridget (5) were attending school. Thomas’s elderly father, Michael Keady, aged 83 and a widower, also lived with the family.
The Kyne family, headed by 46-year-old Martin Kyne, a farmer from County Galway, spoke both Irish and English and was literate. His wife, Mary (36), was also literate and could communicate in Irish and English. Together, they had 10 children, with four living, including their sons John (9) and Michael (7), who were scholars and could read and write in English. Their younger children, Bridget (4) and Thomas (no age listed), were still too young to read. Additionally, the household included two servants: 60-year-old Thomas Concannon, a farm servant who could not read but spoke Irish, and 16-year-old Bridget Connor, a general servant who was literate and fluent in both Irish and English.
The Kyne family, headed by 42-year-old Tim Kyne, a farmer from County Galway, were fluent in both Irish and English and could read and write. Tim’s wife, Bridget (31), was also literate and could communicate in both languages. Together, they had five children, with four living. Their children included Tim M (2), Delia P (1), and Patk, all of whom were too young to read. The household also employed 22-year-old Peter Faherty as a servant. Peter, who was literate in both Irish and English, was unmarried.
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