Bunnahevelly Beg / Bun na hAibhle Beag
Compiled by Paul Greaney
Overview
Irish name: Bun na hAibhle Beag
English name: Bunnahevelly Beg
Meaning: the low ground of the apple tree
Area: 139 acres, 0 roods and 38 perches
Field names in this townland: None recorded.
Information from O’Donovan’s Field Name Books
Names: Bunahovilly, Bun na haible, Bunnahevellybeg (B. S. Sketch Map).
Description: Proprietor Jennings Esq. Part of which is tillage and the remainder rocky.
Situation: It is situated 1/2 mile East of Cahermorris House and North by Cahermorris. South by Glanreavagh. East by Bunahivanamore and West by Cahermorris.
Population Statistics
1841: 2 houses, 8 people (3 male, 5 female)
1851: 2 houses, 17 people (6 male, 11 female)
1861: 2 houses, 16 people (5 male, 11 female)
1871: 1 house, 5 people (3 male, 2 female)
1881: 1 house, 5 people (3 male, 2 female)
1891: 1 house, 7 people (3 male, 4 female)
1901: 1 house, 10 people (5 male, 5 female)
1911: 1 house, 10 people (5 male, 5 female)
2011: 9 houses (incl. 1 vacant), 34 people (17 male, 17 female)
1821 Tithe Applotment Books
The Tithe Applotment Books record Robert French Esq. as occupying two parcels consisting of 51 acres and 49 acres, respectively, in Bonahovelybeg. No tenants are recorded.
1840s Griffith’s House Books & 1855 Griffith’s Valuation
Griffith’s Valuation records one house in Bunnahevellybeg: Richard Sheridan held a house, offices, and the entire townland of 139 acres and 38 perches, from Benjamin Jennings. No entries appear in the 1840s version of the Valuation Office House Books.
1871-1901 Deaths
| Date | Townland | Name | Sex | Condition | Age | Occupation | Cause | Medical Attendant | Certified | Registered by | Link |
| 22/10/1877 | Bunnahevela | Sarah Burke | F | Widow | 70 years | Landholder’s widow | Debility | N | N | Pat Greany, PAD, Cahermorris | Link |
| 08/08/1885 | Bunahevelebeg | Michael Creaven | M | Married | 78 years | Herd | Senile decay, 3 months | N | N | Bridget Creaven, daughter, PAD | Link |
| 04/04/1897 | Bunnahevna | Infant Creaven | M | Bachelor | 1/2 hour | Herd’s child | Debility from birth | N | N | Mary Creaven, mother | Link |
| 02/02/1898 | Bunnahevilly | Anne Spelman | F | Widow | 79 years | Householder | Natural causes to wit rupture of a blood vessell | Y | Certificate received from James D. McDonagh, Coroner for Co. Galway. Inquest held 4th day February 1898 | Link |
1901 Census
The 1901 Census of Ireland records one house in Bunnahevellybeg: John Creaven (60), shepherd, not married; his brother Michael (50), shepherd, married; sister Bridget (40), not married; sister-in-law Margaret [née Maughan] (35), married; nephews Michael (13), Thomas (6), both scholars, and John (6 months); and nieces Mary (11), Honor (9), both scholars, and Bridget (3). John, the head of household, and Michael his brother could not read. The remainder of the household, excepting the younger children, could read and write.
The house was of the second class, with walls of stone, between two and four rooms, and three front windows. There were seven out-offices on the holding.
1911 Census
The 1911 Census of Ireland records one house in Bunnahevellybeg: Michael Creaven (58), herd, married; his wife Margaret [née Maughan] (47), married for 24 years, with 8 children born alive and 8 still living; and children Mary (21), Norah (19), Thomas (16), scholar, Bridget (12), scholar, John (10), scholar, David (8), scholar, Maggie (5), scholar, and Patrick (4). All were born in County Galway. The head of household could not read or write; the remaining members of the household, except for the two youngest children, could read and write. All could speak Irish and English, except for the youngest two children, who were recorded as speaking English only.
The house was of the second class, with walls of stone, between two and four rooms, and three front windows. The holding had six out-offices: a stable, cow-house, piggery, barn, turf-house, and cart-house.
Note: Information in squared brackets has been added by the author and does not appear in the original record.
