COOLAGH- Culach or Cuileach
Coolagh is a rural townland located in the parish of Moycullen, County Galway, nestled within the scenic landscape of the Connemara region in western Ireland. Characterised by its rolling hills, scattered farmsteads, and close-knit community, Coolagh reflects the traditional agricultural lifestyle that has shaped the area for generations. Historically, it was home to a number of farming families, many of whom are recorded in early 20th-century census data, offering a glimpse into the social fabric, language, and livelihoods of rural Galway in the early 1900s.
The Griffith’s Valuation for Coolagh presents a typical mid-19th century rural landholding structure in County Galway. The townland is predominantly under the ownership of Anthony O’Flaherty, who acts both as landlord and direct landholder. Six tenants—John Noone, Matthias Noone, James Acton, Patrick Walsh, William Conry, and Michael Dunne—each occupy modest holdings of house and land, with valuations ranging from £2 15s 0d to £3 13s 0d, indicating small-scale subsistence farming. O’Flaherty himself is recorded as owning a portion of land “in fee,” specifically a 5-acre parcel described as part plantation, and valued at £3 13s 0d. He also leases a separate holding of house and land (24 acres, 1 rood, 19 perches) to John Malia, valued at £3 0s 0d. with a total of 26-16-0.
Patrick Conroy, a 54-year-old farmer from County Galway, was the head of a household located at house number 1 in Coolagh, Slieveneena, Galway. He was married to his 50-year-old wife, Margaret Conroy. The household included their children: Michael, a 30-year-old farmer’s son who could not read, Katie, a 26-year-old farmer’s daughter who also could not read, Julia, a 20-year-old farmer’s daughter who was literate in both Irish and English, Margaret, an 18-year-old farmer’s daughter who could read and write, and Bridget, a 16-year-old scholar who was also literate. All members of the household were Roman Catholic and spoke both Irish and English, though the ability to read and write varied among the children.
Timothy Gavin, a 75-year-old farmer from County Galway, was the head of the household at house number 2 in Coolagh, Slieveneena, Galway. He was married to his 60-year-old wife, Winifred Gavin, who was listed as his daughter. Their children included Mary, a 30-year-old farmer’s daughter who could read and write in both Irish and English, and Sarah, a 22-year-old farmer’s daughter also literate in both languages. The household also included Mathias, a 15-year-old scholar who could read and write, as well as William, a 73-year-old farmer’s brother, and Patrick, a 60-year-old farmer’s brother. Both brothers could not read but were proficient in Irish and English. All members of the household were Roman Catholic.
James Noone, a 50-year-old wool weaver and farmer from County Galway, was the head of the household at house number 3 in Coolagh, Slieveneena, Galway. He was Roman Catholic, could read and write, and was proficient in both Irish and English. James was not married. The household also included Margaret Noone, a 47-year-old seamstress, though her relationship to James is not specified in the data provided.
In 1901, Michael Noone, a 51-year-old farmer from County Galway, was the head of the household at house number 4 in Coolagh, Slieveneena, Galway. He was married to Mary Noone, a 52-year-old farmer’s wife. Both Michael and Mary were Roman Catholic, could read and write, and were proficient in both Irish and English. The household included their seven children: John (27), Ned (22), Mathias (20), Bartley (18), Michael (13), and William (10). All the children, except for the youngest two (Michael and William), were farmers’ sons and could read and write, while Michael and William could only read. The family had no reported illnesses or additional details on their marital or childbearing history.
Matthias Noone, a 56-year-old farmer from County Galway, was the head of the household at house number 5 in Coolagh, Slieveneena, Galway. He was married to Mary Noone, aged 52, and both were Roman Catholic, literate, and proficient in both Irish and English. The family included their children: John (22), Mary (19), Martin (18), Bartly (13), and Bridget (10). All the children were either farmer’s sons or daughters and could read and write in both Irish and English. The household also had a lodger, Michael Walsh, a 56-year-old farm labourer who could not read but spoke Irish and English.
Coolagh, Slieveaneena, County Galway, the household at house number 1 was headed by Matthias Noone, a 68-year-old farmer who could read and spoke both Irish and English. His wife, Mary Noone, aged 67, was recorded as unable to read or write but also spoke both languages. The couple had been married and had seven children, five of whom were still living at the time. Living with them were three of their children: Martin, a 28-year-old labourer; Bartley, aged 23, also a labourer; and Brigid, aged 21, who had no recorded occupation. All three were single, literate, and bilingual. Also in the household were two relatives: Michael Walshe, a 70-year-old single labourer who was unable to read or write but spoke Irish and English, and Norah Murray, a 6-year-old girl, also bilingual but too young to read. The entire household identified as Roman Catholic.
James, aged 60, was a single farmer who could read and write and spoke both Irish and English. His sister Margaret, aged 59, also single, lived with him and similarly was literate and bilingual. Both were Roman Catholic and originally from County Galway.
The Gavin household in house number 3 in Coolagh, Slieveaneena, County Galway, was headed by 88-year-old Timothy Gavin continued to farm despite his age. He was married and lived with his 73-year-old wife Winifred. Both were Roman Catholic, unable to read, and spoke Irish and English. They had been married for 45 years and had seven children, six of whom were still living. Also in the house was their 25-year-old son Mathias, a farmer’s son who could read and spoke both Irish and English, and Timothy’s 85-year-old brother William, a retired farmer who was single, illiterate, and bilingual.
The head of the family was 70-year-old Maggie Conroy, a widowed Roman Catholic who could not read but spoke both Irish and English. Living with her were her son Michael, aged 35, a farmer’s son who was also illiterate and bilingual, and her 29-year-old daughter Kate, who similarly could not read but spoke Irish and English.
No Comments
Add a comment about this page