Kilgill / Cill Ghill
Compiled by Paul Greaney
Overview
Irish name: Cill Ghill
English name: Kilgill
Meaning: church of the pledge
Area: 311 acres, 3 roods and 19 perches
Field names in this townland: An Turlach Buí, Na Páircíní.
Information from O’Donovan’s Field Name Books
Names: Kilgill, Cill ghil, Killgill, Kilkill, Cilghulla, Kilgil (B. S. Sketch Map), Kilgil (Cahill, Esq., Annaghdown), Killgale (County Book), Killgill (High Constable, 1838), Kilgill (Local), Kilguill (Rector of Annaghdown).
Description: Proprietor Michael Browne, Esq., Moyne. Nearly all under tillage. There is a quarry situate 2 chains N. of its Southern boundary. Also a small patch of dry heathy pasture; a bye road passes past of its Northern boundary.
Situation: Situate about 1 mile E. of Annaghdown Church. Bounded on the N. by Ardgaineen S. by Slievefin and Racoona. E. by Kilcahill Cloonagh and Carrowauruan and W. by Cartron.
Population Statistics
1841: 27 houses, 156 people (78 male, 78 female)
1851: 17 houses, 98 people (48 male, 50 female)
1861: 14 houses, 73 people (36 male, 37 female)
1871: 12 houses, 79 people (40 male, 39 female)
1881: 11 houses, 70 people (35 male, 35 female)
1891: 12 houses, 59 people (30 male, 29 female)
1901: 13 houses, 69 people (32 male, 37 female)
1911: 13 houses, 77 people (34 male, 43 female)
2011: 32 houses, 89 people (42 male, 47 female)
1821 Tithe Applotment Books
The Tithe Applotment Books record Flaherty, Hessian and partners as tenants of 132 acres of land, held from M. Browne Esq. A further 63 acres were occupied by Browne himself.
1840 Griffith’s House Books & 1855 Griffith’s Valuation
Griffith’s Valuation records six houses in Kilgill, occupied by Martin Cunningham, Michael Glinn, Ulick Burke, Margaret Flaherty, Michael Skerritt and Margaret Morris. Lands were also held by Patrick Joyce, Peter Grealy, and by the landlord, Michael Browne of Moyne. The 1840s house book for Kilgill records John Burke and Martin Flagherty (sic) as tenants in Kilgill, presumably the predecessors to Ulick Burke and Margaret Flaherty above, respectively.
Sale in Encumbered Estates Court, 1855
The townland of Kilgill was offered for sale by auction at the Land Judges Court on 4 December 1855, alongside the lands of Carrownrooaun and Cartron, as well as several other lots in counties Galway and Roscommon, all then in the possession of Michael Browne of Moyne. The lands of Kilgill were purchased by the Rev. Peter Daly of Galway Town described as a ‘ruthless landlord’ who ‘evicted tenants without mercy or compensation’. He would later be succeeded by Rev. Peter Dooley, before tenant purchases under the Land Acts in the early 1900s.
The following occupiers are recorded in the 1855 sale catalogue:
- Margaret Flaherty held 40 acres, 0 roods and 10 perches at an annual rent of £20. She was a tenant under the Court of Chancery for seven years, from 1 November 1852, or pending the cause of Greville against Browne.
- Margaret Morris held 2 acres, 0 roods and 7 perches at an annual rent of £1-16s-0d. She was a tenant under the Court of Chancery for seven years, from 29 September 1853, or pending the cause of Greville against Browne.
- Ulick Burke held 11 acres, 3 roods and 12 perches at an annual rent of £5-16s-0d. He was a tenant from year to year, with the tenancy determinable on 1 May each year.
- Michael Glynn held 11 acres, 3 roods and 12 perches at an annual rent of £5-16s-0d. He was a tenant from year to year, with the tenancy determinable on 1 May each year.
- Martin Cunningham held 26 acres, 0 roods and 8 perches at an annual rent of £13-4s-0d, with the tenancy held from year to year, determinable on 1 May each year.
Martin also held two further portions, each of 47 acres, 3 roods and 6 perches at an annual rent of £14-15s-0d and £24-0s-0d. Both portions were tenancies under the Court of Chancery for seven years, from 25 March 1852 and 25 March 1854 respectively, or pending the cause of Greville against Browne. - a. Patrick Joyce held 31 acres, 1 rood and 37 perches at an annual rent of £15-7s-6d. He was a tenant under the Court of Chancery for seven years, from 25 March 1853, or pending the cause of Greville against Browne.
b. Patrick Joyce also held a futher 15 acres, 2 roods and 38 perches at an annual rent of £7-13s-8d, with the tenancy under the Court of Chancery for seven years, from 25 March 1854, or pending the cause of Greville against Browne. - Patrick Flaherty held 23 acres, 2 roods and 22 perches at an annual rent of £11-12s-0d. He was a tenant under the Court of Chancery for seven years, from 25 March 1854, or pending the cause of Greville against Browne.
- Peter Greally held 17 acres, 0 roods and 25 perches at an annual rent of £8-8s-0d. He was a tenant under the Court of Chancery for seven years, from 25 March 1854, or pending the cause of Greville against Browne.
- An unset holding of 36 acres, 1 rood and 36 perches had an annual rent value of £13-1s-0d.
The Gale Days of tenancies 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 were 1 May and 1 November, while those for the remaining tenancies were 25 March (Lady Day) and 29 September (Michaelmas). 25 March and 29 September were two of the four Quarter Days.
1871-1901 Deaths
Date | Townland | Name | Sex | Condition | Age | Occupation | Cause | Medical Attendant | Certified | Registered by | Link |
02/01/1871 | Kilgill | Judy Flaherty | F | Spinster | 9 months | Labourer’s child | Emesis, 14 days | N | N | Pat Flaherty, PAD | Link |
15/04/1872 | Kilgill | Ulick Burke | M | Married | 70 years | Landholder | Jaundice, 9 weeks | N | N | Ellen Burke, PAD | Link |
16/03/1873 | Killgill | Martin Cunningham | M | Married | 76 years | Landholder | Gravel, 10 years | N | N | Bridget Cunningham, PAD | Link |
11/02/1874 | Kilgill | Margaret Flaherty | F | Widow | 62 years | Landholder’s widow | Debility, 4 months | N | N | Patrick Flaherty, PAD | Link |
17/07/1874 | Kilgill | Kate Hession | F | Spinster | 15 years | Labourer’s daughter | Diarrhea, 5 days | N | N | Michael Glynn, PAD | Link |
24/10/1874 | Kilgill | Michael Farrell | M | Bachelor | 80 years | Labourer | Debility, 1 year | N | N | Patrick Flaherty, PAD | Link |
03/03/1877 | Kilgill | Honor Henaghan | F | Widow | 82 years | Labourer’s widow | Debility, 2 months | N | N | James Murphy, PAD, Kilgill | Link |
13/06/1877 | Kilgill | James Skeritt | M | Bachelor | 10 years | Landholder’s son | Pain in abdomen, 10 weeks | N | N | Martin Skerritt, PAD | Link |
25/12/1878 | Kilgill | Ellen Burke | F | Spinster | 24 years | Landholder’s daughter | Consumption, 6 months | N | N | Bridget Burke, PAD | Link |
03/05/1879 | Kilgill | Bryan Morriss | M | Married | 40 years | Landholder | Consumption, 2 years | N | N | Ellen Morriss, PAD | Link |
13/01/1881 | Kilgill | James Glynn | M | Married | 29 years | Labourer | Consumption, 9 months | N | N | Biddy Glynn, PAD | Link |
16/07/1883 | Kilgil | Julia Henihan | F | Spinster | 16 years | Landholder’s daughter | Phthisis, 6 months | Y | Kate Henihan, sister, PAD | Link | |
25/10/1884 | Kilgill | Mary Cunningham | F | Widow | 94 years | Widow of landholder | Senile decay, 12 months | N | N | Mary Cunningham, PAD | Link |
22/06/1886 | Kilgil | Michael Glynn | M | Married | 65 years | Landholder | Epitheleoma, 2 years | N | N | Peter Greany, PAD, Cahermorriss | Link |
20/06.1887 | Kilgill | James Flaherty | M | Bachelor | 53 years | Landholder | General debility, 6 months | N | N | Pat Flaherty, brother, PAD | Link |
20/12/1887 | Kilgill | Mary Greany | F | Married | 45 years | Landholder’s wife | Obstruction of the bowels, 3 days | N | N | Kate Greaney, PAD, Cahermorriss | Link |
01/04/1888 | Kilgill | Michael Skerritt | M | Married | 70 years | Landholder | General debility, 7 years | N | N | Mary Fahey, PAD, Cortoon | Link |
07/01/1891 | Kilgill | Thomas Hoare | M | Married | 74 years | Labourer | General debility, 4 weeks | N | N | Charles Nolan, PAD | Link |
02/07/1891 | Kilgill | Joseph Nolan | M | Bachelor | 2 months | Grocer’s infant | Convulsions, 6 days | N | N | Honor Skerritt, PAD | Link |
08/01/1894 | Kilgill | Bridget Glynn | F | Widow | 77 years | Landholder | Infleunza, 4 days | N | N | John Glynn, PAD | Link |
03/02/1894 | Kilgill | Catherine Burke | F | Widow | 71 years | Landholder | Debility, 2 years | N | N | John Fahy, PAD | Link |
08/04/1898 | Kilgill | Bridget Collins | F | Married | 79 years | Landholder | General debility, 2 years | N | N | Pat Collins, husband, PAD | Link |
20/06/1898 | Kilgill | Mary Flaherty | F | Married | 33 years | Landholder’s wife | Severe cough | N | N | Martin Flaherty, husband, PAD | Link |
1901 Census
The 1901 Census of Ireland records the following 13 houses in Kilgill:
- Martin Skerritt (50), farmer, his wife Norah (40) [née Gardiner, Coteenty], their children Delia (13), Maggie (11), Michael (9), John (7), (all scholars), Katie (5), Noney (3), Martin (1), and Martin’s mother Mary (70) [née Cunningham, Kilgill].
- Patrick Flaherty (70), farmer, his wife Mary (60) [née Reddington], their sons Martin (40), farmer, Robert (23), farmer’s son, daughter Julia (20), seamstress, and nieces Mary (5) and Bridget (3).
- Charles Nolan (35), carpenter, his wife Eliza (34) [née Hoare, Kilgill], daughter Mary (8), scholar, and mother-in-law Mary Hoare (75), grocer, widow.
- Mary Flaherty (60), farmer, and general servant Bridget Morris (25).
- Pat Skerritt (38), farmer, his wife Bridget (33) [née Hession, Kilgill], and children Michael (6), Mary (4), Martin (2), and Kate (11 months).
- Ellen Morris (63) [née Ruane], farmer, and children Margret (29), farmer’s daughter, Pat (32), and Michael (23), both farmer’s sons.
- Thomas Henighan (72), farmer, wife Kate (66) [née Laffey], and son Michael (24), farmer’s son.
- John Hession (39), farmer, his wife Margaret (35) [née Flaherty, Gortcloonmore], brother Patrick (38), farmer, children Mary (4), Martin (2), and Michael (4 months), father Martin (70), and mother Mary (65) [née Burke].
- Patrick Cunningham (44), farmer, his wife Mary (35) [née Duggan, Liscananaun], brother-in-law James Duggan (22), labourer, and first cousin Winifred Forde (12), scholar.
- John Burke (52), farmer his wife Mary Ellen (40) [née Joyce, Monroe], daughters Katie (5), Mary (3 months), and mother-in-law Mary Joyce (82) [née Glynn], widow.
- Michael Hession (39), farmer, his wife Bridget (40) [née Glynn, Kilgill], son Denis (5), daughter Bridget (3), brother-in-law Michael Glynn (50), labourer, and niece Delia Glynn (23), seamstress.
- Martin Cunningham (36), farmer, his wife Maggie (30) [née Mulryan, Kiltulla], sons Michael (9), John (7), scholars, and daughters Norah (5), scholar, and Margaret Mary (2).
- Michael Greaney (68), farmer, his daughter Nora (26), farmer’s daughter, and sons John (24) and Thomas (22), farmer’s sons.
All houses were of the second class with thatched roofs and three front windows, with the exception of one house which had two front windows and was of the third class. Each house had between 2 and 4 rooms, except for two which had 5 or 6 rooms each.
All inhabitants were recorded as having been born in County Galway, except for Eliza Nolan (house 3), who was born in America.
There were five residents of the townland who spoke only Irish: Martin Skerritt (50) and his mother Mary Skerritt (70) in house 1, Patrick Flaherty (70) and Mary Flaherty (70) in house 2, and Ellen Morris (63) in house 6.
1911 Census
The 1911 Census of Ireland records the same 13 households in Kilgill as outlined above in 1901.
- Charles Nolan (47), carpenter, his wife Elize (47) [née Hoare, Kilgill], daughters Mary (18) and Margaret (3), and mother-in-law Mary Hoare (90). Mary Hoare was recorded as deaf.
- Micheal Greaney (79), farmer, widower, his son John (34), farmer, daughter-in-law Mary (30) [née Murphy, Carheens], married for 6 years with 5 children; daughter Nora (28), grandchildren Mary (5), Delia (4), Micheal (2), Nora (1), and Katie (1 month), and farm servant Micheal Collins (20).
- Martin Cunningham (46), farmer, his wife Margaret (50) [née Mulryan, Kiltulla], sons Michael (19), John (18), both farmer’s sons, and daughter Margaret M. (11), scholar.
- John Burke (68), farmer, his wife Mary Ellen (52) [née Joyce, Monroe], and daughters Katie (15), and Mary (10), scholar.
- Michael Hession (48), farmer, his wife Bridget (52) [née Glynn, Kilgill], children Denis (15), farmer’s son, and Bridget (13), scholar, brother-in-law Michael Glynn (60), farm servant, and niece Delia Glynn (29).
- Patrick Cunningham (54), farmer, his wife Mary (46) [née Duggan, Liscananaun], married for 24 years, son-in-law James Duggan (32), daughter Maggie (28) [née Lawless, Ardgaineen], married for 7 years with 4 children; and grandsons-in-law Manus (6), scholar, James (4), Patrick (2), and Thomas (1) Duggan.
- Mary Hession (74) [née Burke], farmer, her son John (49), farmer’s son, daughter-in-law Maggie (49) [née Flaherty, Gortcloonmore], grandchildren Mary (14), Martin (12), Michael (10), James (8), Sarah (5), all scholars, and son Patrick (47), farmer’s son.
- Ellen Henighan (44) [née Coen], farmer, and daughter Mary (6).
- Ellen Morris (75) [née Ruane], farmer, her son Patrick (44), farmer’s son, daughter-in-law Maria (31) [née Kelly, Drumgriffin], and granddaughters Delia (3) and Ellen (1).
- Patrick Skerrit (50), farmer, his wife Bridget (44) [née Hession, Kilgill], and their children Michael (16), farmer’s son, Mary (14), Martin (12), Katie (10), and Bridget (6), all scholars.
- Mary Flaherty (72), farmer, and domestic servant Bridget Morris (40).
- Martin Flaherty (50), farmer, widower, his daughters Mary (15) and Bridget (13), both scholars, brother Patrick (36), farmer’s brother, and sister Julia (30).
Ten of the houses were of the second class, with thatched roofs, between 2 and 4 rooms and 3 front windows each. Two were of the third class, one of which had two front windows, and one which had no front windows.
All residents were recorded as being born in County Galway, except for Eliza Nolan in house 1, who was born in America.
One resident of the townland spoke only Irish: Ellen Morris (75) in house 9.
Note: Information in squared brackets has been added by the author and does not appear in the original record.