Ballymacward

O Donovan’s Field Name Books 1838

Ballymacward translates to Baile ‘ac Bhaird in Irish (meaning Mac Ward’s town), and is located in the civil parish of Ballymacward, in a central part of the parish, bounded by Alloon Upper, Alloonbaun, Ballyvoneen and Mount Venture in the barony of Tiaquin, and by White Park, Carrana Lower, Carrana Proper and Cave in the barony of Kilconnel. It lies about 5 miles west of Ahascragh.

This townland is held by Lord Clancarty by deed for ever. The land is flat and dry of good quality all under cultivation. The houses and roads are in good repair. It contains a.r.p. The County Cess is £6. 3. 5.

Other forms of the name (with authority in brackets) include: Ballymacward  (Andrew Browne, Esq. , Bernard Browne, Esq., By. Sketch Map, Co. Alph. List,  Honble. W. Le. Poer Trench,  Larkin’s Co. Map, Willm. Woods, Esq.)  Balllimacward (Grand Jury Pamphlets), Ballimdward (Inq. Temp. Car. II), BallyMcWard (Inq. Temp. Jac. I).

The Tithe Applotment Books are also a vital source for genealogical research for the pre-Famine period, given the loss of the 1821-51 Census records. They were compiled between 1823 and 1837 in order to determine the amount which occupiers of agricultural holdings over one acre should pay in tithes to the Church of Ireland (the main Protestant church and the church established by the State until its dis-establishment in 1871).

There is a manuscript book for almost every civil (Church of Ireland) parish in the country giving the names of occupiers of each townland, the amount of land held and the sums to be paid in tithes. Because the tithes were levied on agricultural land, urban areas are not included. Unfortunately, the books provide only the names of heads of family, not other family members.

Twenty six pounds, four shillings and nine pence was the total tithe payable for Ballymacward in the period 1823 to 1837.

Griffiths Valuation

Griffiths Valuation was the first major valuation of property in Ireland. Richard Griffith oversaw the valuation and published it between 1847 and 1864. It is one of the most important surviving 19th century genealogical sources.
For Ballymacward town land, Griffiths Valuation states that the town land measured 223 acres, 1 Rood and 21 Perches. The Rateable Valuation of that land was 116 Pounds and 15 Shillings, and the value of the buildings there was 20 Pounds and 10 Shillings.
The occupiers of these lands at the time of valuation were: Thomas Woods, James Kenny, John Finn, Rev. Patrick Connellan, Daniel Morrissey, Stephen Donohue, and Anne Murray (Rev. James Seymour, Lessor).

1901 Census

The following families resided in Balllymacward townland in 1901 : Woods, Kenney, Kenny, Shea, Morriss, Donohue, and Mahon.

Thomas Woods (41) lived with his wife Elizabeth (41), their 4 daughters and 3 sons. The daughters names were Mary Jane (16), Annie (12), Gerty (8) and Catherine (5), while the sons were named George (14), Richard (10) and Robert (3).
The Census lists Thomas’ occupation as a farmer and Elizabeth as a housekeeper. Mary Jane was also a house keeper while the other children (except Robert (3)) were scholars.

The Woods family lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and 6 out offices adjacent to the house.

Patrick Kenney (68)  lived with his wife Maria (60), and their two daughters, Katie (27) and Margaret (22), as well as their son, Lawrence (23). The Census lists Patrick as a farmer, Lawrence as a farm labourer, and Maria and Katie as house keepers. All family members could read and write.

The Kenney family lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and  five out offices adjacent to the house. Patrick Kenney owned the land on which the house stood.

James Kenny (48)  lived with his wife Mary (45), a housekeeper, and their eight children. The Kennys had five daughters: Delia (22), Mary Anne (11), Margaret (9), Honoria (3), and Kathleen (6 months), as well as three sons; Thomas (20), James (15) and Michael (6).

The Census lists Thomas’ occupation as a carpenter, James as a farm labourer, and Delia as a housekeeper. It listed all the other children as scholars except Honoria and Kathleen.  James spoke both Irish and English, while all family members could read and write English except Honoria (3) and Kathleen (6 months).

The Kenny family lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and  five out offices adjacent to the house. James Kenny owned the land on which the house stood. A workshop also existed adjacent to the Kenny household.

Thomas Shea (26) lived with his sister Elizabeth (21). The Census listed Thomas’ occupation as a farmer and Elizabeth as a housekeeper. Both Thomas and Elizabeth could read and write English while the Census doesn’t state whether they could speak Irish.
The  Sheas lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and  five out offices adjacent to the house. Thomas Shea owned the land on which the house stood.

Anne Morrisey lived with her son Patrick (57).  The Census listed Anne’s occupation as a farmer and Patrick as a “Pensioner R.I.C.” Both could read and write English and both could speak Irish.

The  Morriseys lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and  four out offices adjacent to the house. Anne Morrisey owned the land on which the house stood.

Monica Donohue (80) lived with her three daughters, Maria (57), Bridget (40) and Monica (35). Monica was a farmer, while Bridget and Maria were housekeepers according to the 1901 Census.

The  Donohues lived in a second class house of stonewall construction, with 3 windows to the front and  four out offices adjacent to the house. Unlike most of the other houses in this town land, the Donohue house had a roof of slate, iron or tile. Monica Donohue owned the land on which the house stood.

George Kenney (60) lived with his wife Frances (43). The Census listed George’s occupation as a farmer and Frances’ as a housekeeper, while it listed their religious affiliation as “Church of Ireland”.  Both George and Frances could read and write English. Additionally, the Census listed Frances’ place of birth as “Kings County”.

The  Kenneys lived in a second class house (house #9) of stonewall construction and a roof of tile, slate or iron,  with 3 windows to the front and  four out offices adjacent to the house.

Patrick Mahon (50) lived with his wife Margaret (37) and their seven children.  The Mahons had three sons -Thomas (13), Patrick (11) and Edward (5), as well as four daughters – Honor (13),  Kate (9), Margaret (7) and Ann (3). All family members could read and write English except the two youngest children.

The Census lists Patrick’s occupation as a farmer and Margaret’s as a house keeper, while all of the Mahon children were scholars except the youngest two.

The  Mahons lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and  six out offices adjacent to the house. Patrick Mahon owned the land on which the house stood.

The 1901 Census of Ballymacward also lists a Storehouse (Building #7) owned by William Forde, as well as a Church of Ireland (Building #9).

1911 Census

Thomas Woods (51) lived with his wife Elizabeth (51), their 2 daughters and 3 sons. The daughters names were Gerty (8) and Catherine (5), while the sons were named Richard (20), Robert (12) and Albert (10).
The Census lists Thomas’ occupation as a farmer. Mary Jane was a house keeper while the other children (except Robert (3)) were scholars. The earlier 1901 Census shows that children listed then no longer live at this location.

The Woods family lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and 6 out offices adjacent to the house.

John Reilly (48) lived with his wife Ellen (38). John was a farmer.

The Reilly family lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front and 3 out offices adjacent to the house. John Reilly owned the site on which his house stood.

Patrick Kenny (83) lived with his wife Maria (74), their two daughters Katie Agnes (37) and Margaret(34),  as well as a son Laurence (36). The Census lists Patrick’s occupation as a farmer and indicates that all family members could read and write English.

The Kenny family lived in a second class house (house #3) of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front as well as 4 out offices adjacent to the house – a stable, a cow house, a barn and a workshop. Patrick Kenny owned the site on which his house stood.

James Kenny (57), a carpenter,  lived with his wife Mary (54) and their seven children.  Their sons were Thomas (29), James (25) and Michael (16), as well as daughters Mary Anne (21), Margaret (19), Nora (12) and Katherine (10). Sons Thomas and James were also carpenters.  Martin Tyrell (67), a brother in law and an agricultural labourer also lived with the Kenny Family.  All family members could read and write English but they did not speak Irish.

The Kenny family lived in a second class house  of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front as well as 4 out offices adjacent to the house – (house #4) a stable, a cow house, a barn and a workshop. James Kenny owned the site on which his house stood.

Patrick Morrissy (66) lived alone. He was a farmer.
Patrick lived in a second class house of stonewall and thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front as well as 2 out  offices adjacent to the house – a cow house and a piggery. He owned the site on which his house stood.

Daniel Kelly (50), a farmer,  lived with his wife, Bridget (48), as well as Bridgit’s sister, Monica Donohue (47).

The Kellys and Monica Donohue lived in a second class house of stonewall construction and a roof of tile, slate or iron, with 3 windows to the front as well as 1 out  office adjacent to the house – a shed. Daniel Kelly owned the site on which his house stood.

Patrick Mahon (62) lived with his wife Margaret (46) and their four children. Daughters Annie (12) and Cathleen (7) were scholars, while sons Thomas (23) and Patrick (21) were listed as farmer’s sons in the Census. All family members could read and write.
The Mahons lived in a second class house of thatched roof construction, with 3 windows to the front as well as 3 out  offices adjacent to the house – a stable, a barn and a cow house. Patrick Mahon owned the site on which his house stood.

The Census also lists another building in Ballymacward – an “Irish Church” (Building #9).

Ballymacward Bridge

National Monuments Service

The National Monuments Service of Ireland includes two items of significance in the townland of Ballymacward –  the church site (GA 073 – 16001) and old graveyard(GA 073 – 16002)  located adjacent to the road (R359) between the current Catholic church and current graveyard between Ballymacward and Woodlawn. However, the National Monuments Service has not yet uploaded the detail on these two items of archaeological significance.  The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, The Custom House, Dublin 1 D01W6XO can provide further archaeological information.