Muckrush / Mucrois

Compiled by Paul Greaney

Overview

Irish name: Mucrois

Irish pronunciation:

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English name: Muckrush

Meaning: pig headland

Area: 303 acres and 2 perches

Field names in this townland: Corrach (wet bog/marsh); Eascaigh (wet, swampy ground); Garraí Glan, Tuairín Ard (a bleaching field), Páirc na Ráibe (ráib is rapeseed), Páirc a’ Mhaoinse, Páircín Brandaí,  Minín (meaning a small, smooth place or small bog), Léine, Treór.

Rabbit Island (Oileán na gCoiníní) and Muckrush Island (Oileán na gCiúróg, the island of the fish baskets) form part of the farms in this townland.

Architectural Information

The village of Muckrush existed as a clachan or cluster of five thatched cottages throughout most of the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century. Of these five houses, one stands in its original condition and is listed in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as ‘a very rare, intact, example of the region’s vernacular houses‘.  It consists of a detached four-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c. 1800, with a later flat-roofed addition to the rear. The pitched thatched roof is of reed with a raised scolloped ridge. The external walls are constructed from large blocks of stone and are whitewashed. The original small square-headed window openings are retained with two-over-two pane windows. Outbuildings are attached to the east gable. According to the inventory, the house’s setting, ‘directly on the roadside, is somewhat unusual, and the building is the most intact of the structures in the vernacular cluster of Muckrush‘.

Information from O’Donovan’s Field Name Books

Names: Muckrush, Muc Rois, Muckrush (B. S. Sketch Book), Muckrish (Barony Map), Muckrush (County Map), Muckrish (High Constable, 1838), Muckurus (Inq. Temp. Iac. I.), Mucrush (Local), Muckrish (Rector of Annaghdown).

Description: Proprietor Staunton Esq. Part of which under tillage to the West side and the remainder bog. A river runs to south end which forms the boundary; there is also a ? 9 chains south of this townland. Has its name from being the place where pigs were drowned.

Situation: It is situated 4½ miles south-west of Annaghdown Church [of Ireland]. Bounded on the north by Shankill, on the west by Lough Corrib, and on the east by Barranny.

Population Statistics

1841: 6 houses, 35 people (18 male, 17 female)

1851: 5 houses, 36 people (19 male, 17 female)

1861: 6 houses, 31 people (17 male, 14 female)

1871: 5 houses, 36 people (18 male, 18 female)

1881: 5 houses, 37 people (18 male, 19 female)

1891: 5 houses, 32 people (16 male, 16 female)

1901: 5 houses, 25 people (16 male, 9 female)

1911: 5 houses, 23 people (13 male, 10 female)

2011: 8 houses (3 vacant), 11 people (6 male, 5 female)

It remains unclear who occupied the sixth house in 1841 and 1861.

1821 Tithe Applotment Books

The Tithe Applotment Books record William Forde, M. Moylan, and partners as tenants of 72 acres in Muckrush.

1840 Griffith’s House Books & 1855 Griffith’s Valuation

Muckrush entries in Griffith's Valuation (1855)
Muckrush entries in Griffith’s Valuation (1855)

Griffith’s Valuation shows that Muckrush was held under the Rundale system, with a two-fifths share held by William Forde, one-fifth each by Thomas Farragher and Thomas Finnerty, and one-tenth shares held by James Elwood and John Elwood. The 1840s house book for Muckrush records Patrick Farragher as predecessor to Thomas; they were brothers, and Patrick died in October 1845.

Sale in Encumbered Estates Court, 1879

The townland of Muckrush was offered for sale by auction at the Land Judges Court on 25 November 1879, alongside the lands of Ballylee, Barranny, Shankill, and Woodpark, all then in the possession of Mary Hall and several others. Ballylee, Woodpark, and part of Barranny were purchased by Peter Newell of Woodpark, and Muckrush and Shankill were eventually purchased by John Byrne.

The accompanying sale catalogue records John Forde as occupier of 96 acres, 0 roods and 29 perches in Muckrush, together with 6 acres, 3 roods, and 15 perches on Rabbit Island and a further 1 acre, 28 perches, all at a combined annual rent of £24-17s-6d, held under a lease dated 25 July 1856 between Elizabeth Woodcock and others to William Forde for the term of 31 years. The rent included £4-17s-6d annual drainage rent charged on the holding by the Commissioners of Public Works by deed poll on 23 March 1860.

The remaining lands of Muckrush, at a yearly rent of £37-6s-6d, were held by Thomas Faragher (sic.), who held 76 acres, 4 roods, and 1 perch, Patrick Feenaghty (sic.), who held 74 acres, 3 roods, and 13 perches (at Ballybeg Island), James Elwood, who held 8 acres, 3 roods, and 7 perches, and Bartholomew Elwood, who held 5 acres, 3 roods, and 34 perches. A further 7 acres, 3 roods, and 31 perches at Rabbit Island were held jointly by Bartholomew Elwood and James Elwood. All of the foregoing was held under a lease dated 25 November 1856 between Elizabeth Woodcock and others, and Thomas Faragher and others for 31 years. The rent included £7-6s-6d annual drainage rent charged on the holding by the Commissioners of Public Works by deed poll on 23 March 1860.

Layout of Muckrush village, from the Land Judges sale catalogue, 1879
Layout of Muckrush village, from the Land Judges sale catalogue, 1879

1871-1973 Deaths

DateTownlandNameSexConditionAgeOccupationCauseMedical AttendantCertifiedRegistered byLink
06/01/1871MuckrussBridget FinertyFWidow72 yearsPeasantSuffocative bronchitis, two weeksNNPatrick Finerty, occupierLink
24/12/1875MuckrushMichael ElwoodMBachelor4 yearsChild of a labourerHyydrocephalus, 3 monthsNNHonor Elwood, PADLink
27/02/1879MuckrushBridget FenaghtyFSpinster16 yearsPeasantHeart disease, 2 yearsNNStephen Ruane, PAD, RinnahaurnaLink
02/12/1889MuckrussPatrick FenaghtyMMarried70 yearsFarmerPains in the bones, 6 weeksNNJohn Fenaghty, son, PADLink
02/01/1893MuckrussHonor ElwoodFWidow93 yearsPeasantWeakness, 3 weeksNNMary Elwood, granddaughter, PADLink
16/12/1894MuckrushJohn FinertyMMarried29 yearsFarmerParalytic stroke, 1 monthNNPat Finerty, brother, PADLink
02/02/1896MuckrushThomas FarragherMWidower72 yearsFarmerComplaining of weakness and debility, 3 monthsNNMichael Farragher, son, PADLink
01/02/1900MuckrushEllen ElwoodFMarried65 yearsWife of farmerChronic bronchitis, 10 yearsNNWilliam Elwood, son, PADLink
27/02/1903MuckrushJulia FordeFMarried65 yearsWife of farmerInfluenza, 3 weeksNNBridget Forde, daughter, PADLink
02/04/1907MuckrushHonor FinnertyFWidow77 yearsWidow of farmerDebility, 1 monthNNPatt Finnerty, son, PADLink
04/09/1910MuckrushWinifred FarragherFWidow73 yearsWidow of farmerOld age and debilityNNMichael Farragher, son, PADLink
10/11/1912MuckrushWilliam KyneMBachelor1 monthSon of farmerAcute bronchitis, 7 daysYJohn Kyne, father of deceasedLink
01/09/1913MuckrushJohn FordeMWidower87 yearsFarmerOld age and debilityNNWilliam Forde, son of deceased, PADLink
24/03/1918MuckrushJames ElwoodMWidower79 yearsFarmerOld age and debilityNNJohn Kyne, nephew of deceased, PADLink
15/10/1920MuckrushBartly ElwoodMWidower78 yearsFarmerOld age and debilityNNWilliam Elwood, son of deceased, PADLink
02/07/1921MuckrushMichael FarragherMBachelor60 yearsFarmerPernicious anaemia, 1 year, cardiac failure, 3 monthsYThomas Killilea, nephew of deceased, PADLink
16/09/1924MuckrushDelia FeenaghtyFMarried35 yearsWife of farmerDied one hour after childbirthNNPatrick Feenaghty, widower of deceased, PADLink
21/03/1927MuckrushPeter FordeMBachelor55 yearsSon of a farmerInfluenzaNNMargaret Forde, sister, PADLink
19/03/1929MuckrushEllen ElwoodMWidow88 yearsWidow of a farmerOld age and debilityNNJohn Coyne, PADLink
12/05/1933MuckrushPatrick FordeMBachelor60 yearsFarmerGastric carcinoma, 3 months, asthenia, cardiac failure, 5 daysYMargaret Forde, sister of deceased, PADLink
10/05/1940MuckrushJohn ElwoodMBachelor71 yearsFarmerOld age and debilityNNWilliam Elwood, brother of deceased, PADLink
04/05/1942MuckrushThomas FordeMBachelor66 yearsFarmerDebility, cardiac failureNNThomas Fahy, cousin of deceased, PAD, BaranaLink
17/12/1945MuckrushWilliam FordeMBachelor83 yearsFarmerOld age and debilityNNThomas Fahy, cousin of dececased, PADLink
25/03/1947MuckrushPatrick FinnertyMWidower80 yearsFarmerOld age and debilityNNPatrick Finnerty, son of deceased, PADLink
28/11/1947MuckrushNora Teresa FarragherFSpinster6 weeksFarmer’s daughterDebility from birthNNMary Farragher, mother of deceased, PADLink
28/11/1947MuckrussNora Theresa FarragherFSpinster6 weeksInfantConvulsions and comaYCertificate of P.M. received from M.J. Allen, Coroner for West Galway, P.M. Exam held 28th Nov 1947Link
09/01/1953MuckrushBridget FarragherFSpinster83 yearsHousekeeperCoronary thrombosis and acute cardiac failureYCertificate of P.M. received from W.B. Allen, deputy coroner for West Galway, P.M. exam held 9th Jan 1953Link
15/02/1953MuckrushMary KyneFMarried79 yearsHousewifeComa, hypertensionYJulia Divilly, daughter of deceased, PADLink
18/05/1953MuckrushThomas KellyMBachelor82 yearsFarmerOld age and debilityNNMrs Julia Devilly, niece of deceased, PADLink
14/10/1955MuckrushJohn KyneMWidower83 yearsFarmerAcute bronchitis, cardiac failureYJulia Divilly, daughter of deceased, PADLink
29/02/1956MuckrushEllen JoyceFWidow90 yearsWidow of a farmerProbably disease of the heartNNBridget Finnerty, PADLink
18/12/1958MuckrushMary ElwoodFSingle87 yearsHousekeeperProbably disease of the heartNNLawrence Forde, nephew of deceased, PADLink
Deaths in Muckrush, 1871-1973

1901 Census

Each holding was occupied by the same family in 1901 as in Griffith’s Valuation of 1855.

  1. Winifred Farragher [née Moran; widow of Thomas], lived with her sons Michael and William, daughter Bridget, grandson Thomas Killilea, and servant Patrick Hynes.
  2. Honor Finnerty [née Ruane; widow of Patrick, son of Thomas], lived with her son Patrick.
  3. James Elwood [son of James], lived with his wife Ellen [née Silke], and her nephew John Kyne.
  4. John Forde [son of William], lived with his wife Julia [née Newell] and their children William, Peter, Ellen, Margaret, Patrick, Thomas, and Bridget.
  5. Bartholomew Elwood [son of John], a widower, lived with his children John, Mary & William, and brother-in-law Charles Forde.

All five houses were of the second class, with stone walls, thatched roofs, three front windows each, and comprising between two and four rooms each. Each also had a stable, cow house, piggery, barn, and cart house, and four had a calf house.

1911 Census

We find the same five households in the 1911 Census.

  1. Patrick Finnerty, his wife Delia [née Newell], married for 7 years, their daughter Norah, and Delia’s sister Julia Newell.
  2. Michael Farragher, his sister Bridget, and servant Patrick Farragher.
  3. John Forde, by now a widower, and his children William, Peter, Patrick, Margaret, Thomas, and Delia.
  4. James Elwood, his wife Ellen [née Silke], married for 38 years, her nephew John Kyne, and his wife Mary [née Kilkelly], married for 1 year.
  5. Bartholomew Elwood, a widower, and his children John, Mary, William, and Bridget.

Each house was of the second class, with stone walls, thatched roofs, three front windows in each, and comprising between two and four rooms each. Each had a stable, cow house, piggery, barn, and shed, two had a fowl house, and two had a potato house.

Note: Information in squared brackets has been added by the author and does not appear in the original record.

Thanks to Mary Creaven and Ann Greaney for their assistance in compiling this information, and to Evelyn Stevens for assistance in interpreting field names.

Muckrush / Mucrois

One thought on “Muckrush / Mucrois

  • January 27, 2019 at 2:35 pm
    Permalink

    Most interesting to read all those surnames and properties; the majority still with us. Recent surveys will show some changes and additions. Go raibh míle maith agat.

    Reply

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