Muckrush / Mucrois
Compiled by Paul Greaney
Overview
Irish name: Mucrois
Irish pronunciation:
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
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.
1871-1973 Deaths
Date | Townland | Name | Sex | Condition | Age | Occupation | Cause | Medical Attendant | Certified | Registered by | Link |
06/01/1871 | Muckruss | Bridget Finerty | F | Widow | 72 years | Peasant | Suffocative bronchitis, two weeks | N | N | Patrick Finerty, occupier | Link |
24/12/1875 | Muckrush | Michael Elwood | M | Bachelor | 4 years | Child of a labourer | Hyydrocephalus, 3 months | N | N | Honor Elwood, PAD | Link |
27/02/1879 | Muckrush | Bridget Fenaghty | F | Spinster | 16 years | Peasant | Heart disease, 2 years | N | N | Stephen Ruane, PAD, Rinnahaurna | Link |
02/12/1889 | Muckruss | Patrick Fenaghty | M | Married | 70 years | Farmer | Pains in the bones, 6 weeks | N | N | John Fenaghty, son, PAD | Link |
02/01/1893 | Muckruss | Honor Elwood | F | Widow | 93 years | Peasant | Weakness, 3 weeks | N | N | Mary Elwood, granddaughter, PAD | Link |
16/12/1894 | Muckrush | John Finerty | M | Married | 29 years | Farmer | Paralytic stroke, 1 month | N | N | Pat Finerty, brother, PAD | Link |
02/02/1896 | Muckrush | Thomas Farragher | M | Widower | 72 years | Farmer | Complaining of weakness and debility, 3 months | N | N | Michael Farragher, son, PAD | Link |
01/02/1900 | Muckrush | Ellen Elwood | F | Married | 65 years | Wife of farmer | Chronic bronchitis, 10 years | N | N | William Elwood, son, PAD | Link |
27/02/1903 | Muckrush | Julia Forde | F | Married | 65 years | Wife of farmer | Influenza, 3 weeks | N | N | Bridget Forde, daughter, PAD | Link |
02/04/1907 | Muckrush | Honor Finnerty | F | Widow | 77 years | Widow of farmer | Debility, 1 month | N | N | Patt Finnerty, son, PAD | Link |
04/09/1910 | Muckrush | Winifred Farragher | F | Widow | 73 years | Widow of farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | Michael Farragher, son, PAD | Link |
10/11/1912 | Muckrush | William Kyne | M | Bachelor | 1 month | Son of farmer | Acute bronchitis, 7 days | Y | John Kyne, father of deceased | Link | |
01/09/1913 | Muckrush | John Forde | M | Widower | 87 years | Farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | William Forde, son of deceased, PAD | Link |
24/03/1918 | Muckrush | James Elwood | M | Widower | 79 years | Farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | John Kyne, nephew of deceased, PAD | Link |
15/10/1920 | Muckrush | Bartly Elwood | M | Widower | 78 years | Farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | William Elwood, son of deceased, PAD | Link |
02/07/1921 | Muckrush | Michael Farragher | M | Bachelor | 60 years | Farmer | Pernicious anaemia, 1 year, cardiac failure, 3 months | Y | Thomas Killilea, nephew of deceased, PAD | Link | |
16/09/1924 | Muckrush | Delia Feenaghty | F | Married | 35 years | Wife of farmer | Died one hour after childbirth | N | N | Patrick Feenaghty, widower of deceased, PAD | Link |
21/03/1927 | Muckrush | Peter Forde | M | Bachelor | 55 years | Son of a farmer | Influenza | N | N | Margaret Forde, sister, PAD | Link |
19/03/1929 | Muckrush | Ellen Elwood | M | Widow | 88 years | Widow of a farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | John Coyne, PAD | Link |
12/05/1933 | Muckrush | Patrick Forde | M | Bachelor | 60 years | Farmer | Gastric carcinoma, 3 months, asthenia, cardiac failure, 5 days | Y | Margaret Forde, sister of deceased, PAD | Link | |
10/05/1940 | Muckrush | John Elwood | M | Bachelor | 71 years | Farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | William Elwood, brother of deceased, PAD | Link |
04/05/1942 | Muckrush | Thomas Forde | M | Bachelor | 66 years | Farmer | Debility, cardiac failure | N | N | Thomas Fahy, cousin of deceased, PAD, Barana | Link |
17/12/1945 | Muckrush | William Forde | M | Bachelor | 83 years | Farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | Thomas Fahy, cousin of dececased, PAD | Link |
25/03/1947 | Muckrush | Patrick Finnerty | M | Widower | 80 years | Farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | Patrick Finnerty, son of deceased, PAD | Link |
28/11/1947 | Muckrush | Nora Teresa Farragher | F | Spinster | 6 weeks | Farmer’s daughter | Debility from birth | N | N | Mary Farragher, mother of deceased, PAD | Link |
28/11/1947 | Muckruss | Nora Theresa Farragher | F | Spinster | 6 weeks | Infant | Convulsions and coma | Y | Certificate of P.M. received from M.J. Allen, Coroner for West Galway, P.M. Exam held 28th Nov 1947 | Link | |
09/01/1953 | Muckrush | Bridget Farragher | F | Spinster | 83 years | Housekeeper | Coronary thrombosis and acute cardiac failure | Y | Certificate of P.M. received from W.B. Allen, deputy coroner for West Galway, P.M. exam held 9th Jan 1953 | Link | |
15/02/1953 | Muckrush | Mary Kyne | F | Married | 79 years | Housewife | Coma, hypertension | Y | Julia Divilly, daughter of deceased, PAD | Link | |
18/05/1953 | Muckrush | Thomas Kelly | M | Bachelor | 82 years | Farmer | Old age and debility | N | N | Mrs Julia Devilly, niece of deceased, PAD | Link |
14/10/1955 | Muckrush | John Kyne | M | Widower | 83 years | Farmer | Acute bronchitis, cardiac failure | Y | Julia Divilly, daughter of deceased, PAD | Link | |
29/02/1956 | Muckrush | Ellen Joyce | F | Widow | 90 years | Widow of a farmer | Probably disease of the heart | N | N | Bridget Finnerty, PAD | Link |
18/12/1958 | Muckrush | Mary Elwood | F | Single | 87 years | Housekeeper | Probably disease of the heart | N | N | Lawrence Forde, nephew of deceased, PAD | Link |
1901 Census
Each holding was occupied by the same family in 1901 as in Griffith’s Valuation of 1855.
- Winifred Farragher [née Moran; widow of Thomas], lived with her sons Michael and William, daughter Bridget, grandson Thomas Killilea, and servant Patrick Hynes.
- Honor Finnerty [née Ruane; widow of Patrick, son of Thomas], lived with her son Patrick.
- James Elwood [son of James], lived with his wife Ellen [née Silke], and her nephew John Kyne.
- John Forde [son of William], lived with his wife Julia [née Newell] and their children William, Peter, Ellen, Margaret, Patrick, Thomas, and Bridget.
- 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.
- Patrick Finnerty, his wife Delia [née Newell], married for 7 years, their daughter Norah, and Delia’s sister Julia Newell.
- Michael Farragher, his sister Bridget, and servant Patrick Farragher.
- John Forde, by now a widower, and his children William, Peter, Patrick, Margaret, Thomas, and Delia.
- 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.
- 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.
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.