Slievaneena Sketch Map
Slieveaneenagh the Rev. E. French, P.P. Moycullen
Slievaneena Thos. Martin, Esq., M.P.
Sleaveaneny Down Survey name
Slievaneena Tithe Applotment Books
Sliabh an Aonaigh – Slieveaneena in Maigh Cuilinn a Muintir – Cumann Staire Ruaidhrí Uí
Fhlaitheartaigh and Logainm.ie.
People say that the name means ‘hill of the fair.’ However, the translation according to P. W. Joyce:
Sliabh-an-fhiona,means mountain of the wine. Where smuggled wine was concealed. O’Donoovan gives
the same meaning and local historian, Mattie Lydon, told me it means the mountain of the wine.
Whatever about wine the area was once famous for Poitín making.
Places of Cultural/Historical Interest
The bogs, of Slieveaneena are home to a range of flora and fauna, including several varieties of moss as well as insect-eating plants, lichen, Furze, and some Rhododendron. Loch Shliabh an
Aonaigh/Slieveaneena Lough is unique with two outflows, one runs into the Boliska river basin (onto Spiddal) and the other eastward into Lough Corrib.
Field and other local names:
None to hand
Land Ownership and Tenants
Down Survey 1656-1658 – SLIEVEANEENA
The Down Survey was a cadastral survey of Ireland carried out by English scientist William Petty 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.
The Down Survey 1641 (pre-Cromwell) states that the owner was Thomas Lynch (Catholic). The Down Survey Map 1670 (post-Cromwell) states that ownership of the lands had changed and now belonged to Anthony French (Catholic). It showed unprofitable land, 222 plantation acres, profitable land 22 acres and forfeited 22 plantation acres.
Tithe Applotment Books (1828) – Recorded as Knockalee instead of Knockatee
The first available record of households is the Tithe Applotment Books. The following households are shown for Knockatee (Slieveaneena): Michael Clancy, John Russell. Martin Keady, Pat Keady and Michl Keady. The landlord was – Directors of the Law Life Assurance Co.
NB – Local man John Keady told me that Slieveaneena was also known as Knockatee, which is the name of a local hill.
Land Valuation Records
The Valuations are only available at the Valuation Office in Dublin.
Census Information
Blake Census – The Blake Census was the work of Francis Xavier Blake, the Parish priest in Moycullen between 1792 and 1825. The data for this townland is included in ‘Mountain’ area records.
1841 to 1891- The only records available for the period between 1841 and 1891 are the total number of houses and population.
Year |
Houses |
Population |
Blake 1792-1825 |
Included in mountain area |
|
1841 |
20 |
127 |
1851 |
18 |
111 |
1861 |
20 |
108 |
1871 |
18 |
109 |
1881 |
20 |
127 |
1891 |
19 |
137 |
1901 |
24 |
133 |
1911 |
23 |
128 |
Summary data for Griffith’s Valuation ,1901 and 1911 Census are shown below:
Griffith’s Valuation (1855) – Heads of Household (15 Households)
| No. | Head of Household |
|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Kyne |
| 2 | Michael Lydon |
| 3 | Mary Lydon |
| 4 | Patrick Lydon |
| 5 | Sarah Faherty |
| 6 | James Connor |
| 7 | Martin Carr |
| 8 | Bartholomew Carr |
| 9 | John Carr |
| 10 | John Russell |
| 11 | Francis Conneely |
| 12 | Mary Keady |
| 13 | Bridget Russell |
| 14 | Sally Barrett |
| 15 | Michael Lydon |
1901 Census (Slieveaneena) 24 Households / 133 People
The households in Tamhnachabeaga and Tulach na nUan were likely included with Slieveaneena.
There were 24 households in Slieveaneena in 1901 and 133 inhabitants. The heads of households are listed below. All occupants were farmers and Roman Catholics except those who were shown as labourer. All the adults could speak Irish and English. All the dwellings had walls of stone, brick or concrete and a thatched roof.
| No. | Head of Household | No. of People |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Margaret Barrett | 6 |
| 2 | Martin Barrett | 5 |
| 3 | Martin Lydon | 2 |
| 4 | Patrick Lydon | 3 |
| 5 | James Connor | – |
| 6 | Michael Carr | 7 |
| 7 | Michael Carr (2nd) | 2 |
| 8 | Mark Carr | 7 |
| 9 | John Conneely | 5 |
| 10 | Thomas Connor | 3 |
| 11 | Matthew Connor | 10 |
| 12 | Hugh Connor | 10 |
| 13 | Mary Faherty | 2 |
| 14 | William Faherty | 8 |
| 15 | Julia Fahy | 5 |
| 16 | John Keady | 5 |
| 17 | Bartley Keady | 6 |
| 18 | Martin Keady | 8 |
| 19 | Patrick Keady | 4 |
| 20 | Mark Keady | 5 |
| 21 | Patrick Keady (2nd) | 7 |
| 22 | John Keady Pat | 7 |
| 23 | Mathias Lydon | 7 |
| 24 | Martin Thornton | 5 |
1911 Census – 23 Households / 134 People
It is likely that the households in Tamhnachabeaga and Tulach na nUan were included with Slieveaneena Townland.
There were 23 households in Slieveaneena in 1911 and 128 inhabitants. The heads of households are listed below. All occupants were farmers and Roman Catholics. All the adults could speak Irish and English. All the dwellings had walls of stone, brick or concrete and a thatched roof
| No. | Head of Household | No. of People |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Barrett | 8 |
| 2 | Margaret Barrett | 3 |
| 3 | Martin Barrett | 9 |
| 4 | Mark Carr | 8 |
| 5 | Mick Carr | 2 |
| 6 | Mark Carr (2nd) | 7 |
| 7 | Moore Connor | 7 |
| 8 | Thomas Connor | 5 |
| 9 | Matt Connor | 8 |
| 10 | William Faherty | 8 |
| 11 | Mary Faherty | 3 |
| 12 | Pat Keady | 12 |
| 13 | Maria Keady | 4 |
| 14 | Mark Keady | 6 |
| 15 | Margaret Keady | 2 |
| 16 | Martin Keady | 6 |
| 17 | Bartley Keady | 4 |
| 18 | John Keady | 10 |
| 19 | Matt Lydon | 5 |
| 20 | Patrick Lydon | 3 |
| 21 | Patrick Lydon Junior | 1 |
| 22 | Thomas Naughton | 3 |
| 23 | Martin Thornton | 4 |
People of Slieveaneena
The landholders of Slieveaneena leased their small holding from various landlords until 1903, when they got absolute ownership of their holdings. The traditional way of life existed from the famine years well into the 1960’s. Over this time rural life changed extraordinarily little.
Up until the 1980s they sowed potatoes, vegetables and corn and reared beef, pork, and poultry for the local markets. They made butter for sale and raised hens and sold the eggs.
Fair days for Slieveaneena people were held in Spiddal and in the Fair Green Galway for cattle, sheep and horses and a pig fair was held in the Fair Green, Moycullen.
Today, the farm family members combine off-farm work with part-time farming, including saving
enough turf for their own needs.
Notable Slieveaneena People
Information is to be added later.
Pastimes
The locals fished for trout in the lakes in the area. They would visit each other’s houses in the evening and chat and play cards. The young lads played football on Sunday evenings. The ladies knitted Aran sweaters; they picked black berries to make Jam.
Photo Album to be supplied
3 photos in Geograph
References
(1) https://www.townlands.ie
(2) Google Maps Route Planner
(3) The Geological Heritage of County Galway – Report of Gortgar Drumlins
(4) Place names of Galway Galwaylibrary.ie/place, O’Donovan’s field name books:
(5) www.logainm.ie The Placenames Database of Ireland was created in collaboration with The
Placenames Branch (Department of Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht)
(6) Maigh Cuilinn a Muintir – Cumann Staire Ruaidhrí Uí Fhlaitheartaigh
(7) Maigh Cuilinn a Táisc agus a Tuairisc – Pádraic Breathnach
(8) Blake Census
(9) Down Survey 1656-1658, – http://downsurvey.tcd.ie › down-survey-maps
(10)Tithe Applotment Books – http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie ›
(11) http://www.askaboutireland.ie › griffith -valuation
(12) Land Valuations Records, Valuation Office, Abbey Street Dublin
(13) Blake Census – moycullen.galwaycommunityheritage.org
(14) 1841-1891 Census +gures www.histpop.org
(15) Census of Ireland 1901/1911 National
Archivescensus.nationalarchives.ie/help/history
(16) Prompt list – https://moycullen.galwaycommunityheritage.org
(17)General information and Place Names, John Keady , Paula Lydon, Mattie Lydon
WMcD 09/04/2025
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