Balrobuckmore / Baile Robac Mór

Balrobuck More / Baile Robac Mór

Compiled by Gerry Morgan

Overview

Irish name: Baile Robac Mór

English name: Balrobuck More

Meaning: The large town(land) of Roboc.  Robac is a personal name:  Rob (pet form of Robert) +” -ac”, diminutive suffix common amongst the Anglo-Normans.  Possibly named after Sir Robuck Lynch.

Area: 250 acres, 3 roods and 31 perches.

Field Names: None yet recorded.

Information from O’Donovan’s Field Name Books

Other names:  Balrobuck. Baile Roboc – Roboc’s town, Robucks Town, Balrobuck, Balrubbuckmore (B. S. Sketch Map), Ballarubbagh, straggled village (B. S. Sketch Map), Ballrubbagh (Barony Map), Ballyrobuck after Robuck Lynch (Cahill Esq., Annaghdown), Ballyrobuck after Robuck Lynch (Cahill Esq., Annaghdown), Ballerobuck (County Book), Ballyroebuck (County Book), Ballerobuck (County Book), Ballyroebuck (County Book), Ballrubbagh (County Map), Balrubuck in the whole (High Constable 1838), Ballyrobug (Inq. Temp. Eliz.), Balrobuck (Inq. Temp. Inc. I), Balrubbughbeg (Local), Balrubbuck (Local), Ballrubbugh (Local), Balroubuckmore (Rector of Annaghdown), Balroubuckbeg (Rector of Annaghdown).

Description: H. Blake Esq., Loughrea, proprietor. All under tillage except about 9 acres subject to Winter floods.

Situation: It is situated 1/2 mile N. W. of Currandulla Chapel. Bounded N. by Balrobuckbeg. South by Currandulla. East by Turloughgorriv. West by Grange.

Information from National Inventory of Archtectural Heritage

1. Thatched Cottage:  “Detached four-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c.1800, having late twentieth-century extension to rear. Pitched thatched roof with exposed scollops and decorative knotting, and low rendered chimneystack. Rendered walls with rendered plinth, eaves course and parallel quoins. Square-headed window openings with decorative render surrounds, painted sills and replacement uPVC windows. Square-headed doorway with raised render reveal and glazed panelled timber door. Set parallel to road with rendered wall to front yard having rendered piers and with decorative wrought-iron garden gate. Single-storey outbuilding to east with pitched corrugated-iron roof and painted random rubble stone walls.”

2. Thatched Cottage: “Detached four-bay single-storey vernacular house, built c.1800, with dormer attic, and having flat-roof entrance porch, and late twentieth-century monopitch extension to rear. Pitched thatched roof with decorative knotting to ridge, low rendered chimneystack and rendered stone copings. Rendered walls with rendered plinth and parallel quoins and eaves course to front. Square-headed window openings with raised render reveals and replacement timber windows and glazed timber panelled door. Set parallel to road with garden to front having rendered boundary wall and piers, and metal garden gate to pathway. Single-storey outbuilding to rear with random rubble walls.”

Down Survey (1670)

Name:  Balrobucke

1651 Owners(s): Lynch, Sir Roebuck (Catholic)

1670 Owner(s): O’Neil, John (Catholic)

County: Galway; Barony: Clare; Parish: Annaghdoon

Population Statistics

Population Statistics

1841: 25 houses, 159 people (81 male, 78 female)

1851: 22 houses (incl. 2 uninhabited), 125 people (60 male, 65 female)

1861: 17 houses, 108 people (57 male, 51 female)

1871: 17 houses, 106 people (53 male, 53 female)

1881: 19 houses, 106 people (55 male, 51 female)

1891: 20 houses (incl. 1 uninhabited), 89 people (44 male, 45 female)

1901: 17 houses (incl. 1 uninhabited), 84 people (41 male, 43 female)

1911: 17 houses, 75 people (40 male, 35 female)

2011: 39 houses (incl. 6 vacant), 98 people (47 male, 51 female)

1821 Tithe Applotment Books

The Tithe Applotment Books record Blake Esq. as the proprietor of Balrubboemore.  It lists Mr. John Cavenagh as a tenant with 110 acres and a levy of £6 16s 6d.  It also lists Pat Deveney & John Killilea with 50 acres; and Edw King & Partners with 1 + 82 acres and also with 7 acres of cutaway bog.  Their total levy was £8 1s 1d.  The levy was divided between Rev. R. Marley and J Kirwan Esq. (Landlord.)

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

In 1855 Griffith’s Valuation, the following 15 people rented houses and land (all the land in Balrobuckmore was in this commonage) from the Trustees of Dominick Skerritt:  John Gilmore, Michael Ford, William Gooly, Wm. Shaughnessy, Michael Gooly, John Gooly, Thomas Kavanagh, Patrick Burke, Michael Burke, Bridget Grealy, Honoria Burke, Bridget Craven, Edward King, John Killilea and Peter Devany.  In addition, Timothy Newell rented a house from John Killilea and partners.  Presumably, these are the tenants of the commonage.

The 1853 Field Books record that Mary Craven also rented a house in Balrobuckmore.

1871-1901 Deaths

Date	Townland	Name	Sex	Condition	Age	Occupation	Cause	Medical Attendant	Certified	Registered by	Link
29/03/1872	Balrobuckmore	Michael Forde	M	Married	82 years	Landholder	Debility, 2 years	N	N	Martin Forde, PAD	Link
05/08/1872	Balrobuckmore	Thomas Grealy	M	Bachelor	15 months	Landholder’s son	Scarlatina, 3 weeks	N	N	Mary Grealy, PAD	Link
04/02/1873	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Cavanagh	F	Married	22 years	Landholder’s wife	Cold after delivery, 10 days	N	N	Stephen Forde, PAD	Link
16/02/1873	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Newal	F	Spinster	15 hours	Blacksmith’s daughter	Debility, 15 hours	N	N	Bridget Newel, PAD	Link
22/06/1873	Balrobuck More	Peter Deviney	M	Married	50 years	Landholder	Heart disease, 2 days	N	N	Mary Goaley, PAD	Link
20/12/1873	Balrobuckmore	Honor Burke	F	Spinster	15 months	Landholder	Weakness, 14 days	N	N	Bridget Burke, PAD	Link
25/07/1874	Balrobuck More	Bridget Newel	F	Married	26 years	Smith’s wife	Hemorrhage after labour, 15 minutes	N	N	Mary Goaley, PAD	Link
11/12/1874	Balrobuck More	Honor Flaherty	F	Widow	50 years	Landholder’s widow	Heart disease, 1 month		Y	Patt Burke, PAD	Link
06/02/1875	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Newell	F	Spinster	4 months	Smith’s daughter	Debility, 10 days	N	N	Michael Newell, PAD	Link
13/04/1877	Balrobuckmore	Thomas Kavanagh	M	Widower	100 years	Landholder	Old age and debility, 12 months	N	N	Thomas Kavanagh, PAD	Link
09/07/1878	Balrobuckmore	Mary Goley	F	Widow	80 years	Landholder’s widow	Old age	N	N	Mary Goley, PAD, Balrobuckbeg	Link
31/07/1878	Balrobuckmore	Margaret Kavanagh	F	Spinster	2 months	Landholder’s daughter	Whooping cough, 5 days	N	N	Mary Kavanagh, PAD	Link
19/02/1879	Balrobuckmore	Patrick Forde	M	Widower	80 years	Labourer	Old age	N	N	Margaret Ford, PAD	Link
31/12/1879	Balrobuckmore	Winifred Ford	F	Spinster	22 years	Landholder’s daughter	Scrofula, 1 year	N	N	Darby Forde, having a knowledge of the circumstances of the death	Link
14/02/1880	Balrobuckmore	Francis Killalea	M	Married	60 years	Farmer	Lung disease, 3 weeks	N	N	Julia Wynne, PAD	Link
19/03/1880	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Greally	F	Widow	76 years	Landholder	Jaundice, 8 weeks	N	N	Mary Greally, PAD	Link
31/12/1879	Balrobuckmore	Winifred Ford	F	Spinster	22 years	Landholder’s daughter	Scrofula, 1 year	N	N	Patt Ford, PAD	Link
21/07/1881	Balrobuckmore	Patrick Burke	M	Married	72 years	Landholder	Weakness and old age	N	N	Peter Burke, son, PAD	Link
21/08/1883	Balrobuckmore	Timothy Newel	M	Widower	85 years	Blacksmith	Senile decay, 12 months	N	N	Julia Newel, daughter-in-law, PAD	Link
12/03/1884	Balrobuckmore	Mary Goaley	F	Married	50 years	Landholder’s wife	Obstruction of bowels, 12 days		Y	James Goaley, son, PAD	Link
05/12/1886	Balrobuckmore	John Spelman	M	Married	68 years	Landholder	General debility, 7 days	N	N	John Creaven, PAD	Link
02/03/1887	Balrobuckmore	John Forde	M	Bachelor	2 years	Landholder’s infant	Croup, 5 days	N	N	Martin Forde, father, PAD	Link
10/05/1888	Balrobuckmore	Winifred Winn	F	Widow	80 years	Landholder’s widow	General debility, 6 months	N	N	Winnie Killilea, PAD	Link
15/03/1889	Balrobuckmore	Mary Flaherty	F	Widow	84 years	Landholder	Senile decay, 9 weeks	N	N	John Flaherty, son, PAD	Link
10/04/1889	Balrobuckmore	Michael Golding	M	Married	80 years	Landholder	Senile decay, 2 years	N	N	Kate Golding, wife, PAD	Link
21/11/1889	Balrobuckmore	John Flaherty	M	Married	50 years	Landh	Consumption, 10 months	N	N	James Flaherty, brother, PAD, Mausrevagh	Link
18/04/1890	Balrobuckmore	Michael Cavanagh	M	Bachelor	60 years	Landholder	General debility, 5 years	N	N	Stephen Forde, PAD	Link
04/04/1890	Balrobuckmore	Margaret Forde	F	Widow	82 years	Landholder’s widow	General debility, 6 months	N	N	Stephen Forde, son, PAD	Link
28/04/1890	Balrobuckmore	Mary Forde	F	Widow	82 years	Landholder’s widow	General debility, 6 months	N	N	Stephen Forde, PAD	Link
15/06/1890	Balrobuckmore	Anne Flaherty	F	Widow	45 years	Landholder	Pneumonia, 3 weeks		Y	Bridget Forde, PAD	Link
16/09/1890	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Greally	F	Spinster	62 years	Landholder’s daughter	General debility, 2 months	N	N	Mary Greally, aunt, PAD	Link
14/03/1892	Balrobuckmore	Margaret Shaughnessy	F	Married	66 years	Landholder’s wife	Chronic bronchitis, 6 months	N	N	William Shaughnessy, husband, PAD	Link
01/06/1893	Balrobuckmore	James Golding	M	Bachelor	10 days	Landholder’s infant	Whooping cough, 4 days	N	N	Mary Golding, mother, PAD	Link
12/07/1893	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Deviny	F	Widow	65 years	Landholder’s widow	Debility, 4 years	N	N	Catherine Diviny, daughter, PAD	Link
20/12/1893	Balrobuckmore	Mary Gilmore	F	Widow	65 years	Landholder	Debility, 4 years	N	N	Philip Holleran, PAD, Glanrevaugh	Link
03/04/1894	Balrobuckmore	Michael Gilmore	M	Bachelor	31 years	Landholder	Consumption, 6 months		Y	Michael Gilmore, PAD, Glanrevaugh	Link
12/02/1895	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Forde	F	Married	45 years	Landholder’s wife	Puerperal peritonitis, 6 days		Y	Kate Greaney, PAD, Cahermorriss	Link
14/02/1895	Balrobuckmore	Winifred Forde	F	Spinster	10 days	Landholder’s infant	Debility from birth	N	N	Mary Goally, PAD	Link
26/02/1895	Balrobuckmore	Mary Shaughnessy	F	Married	34 years	Landholder’s wife	Puerperal fever, 5 days		Y	Michael Shaughnessy, PAD	Link
02/09/1895	Balrobuckmore	William Goally	M	Married	70 years	Labourer	General debility, 7 months	N	N	Mary Goally, PAD	Link
15/07/1896	Balrobuckmore	Kate Goally	F	Widow	80 years	Landholder’s widow	General debility, 5 months	N	N	Thomas Goally, PAD	Link
24/10/1896	Balrobuckmore	Margaret Gilmore	F	Spinster	74 years	Housekeeper	General debility, 7 days	N	N	Margaret Gilmore, PAD	Link
17/03/1897	Balrobuckmore	Michael Shaughnessy	M	Widower	71 years	Landholder	General debility, 6 months	N	N	Mary Shaughnessy, PAD	Link
25/04/1897	Balrobuckmore	Margaret Goaly	F	Spinster	50 years	Housekeeper	General debility, 5 years	N	N	James Greany, PAD, Cahermorriss	Link
28/08/1897	Balrobuckmore	John Goaly	M	Bachelor	3.5 years	Landholder’s child	Pneumonia, 7 days		Y	William Goally, father, PAD	Link
09/06/1898	Balrobuckmore	John King	M	Widower	70 years	Landholder	General debility, 1 year	N	N	Mary King, daughter, PAD	Link
22/12/1898	Balrobuckmore	Thomas Goaly	M	Bachelor	1.5 years	Landholder’s child	Convulsions, 1 week	N	N	Thomas Goaly, father, PAD	Link
04/01/1899	Balrobuckmore	Mary Goaly	F	Married	32 years	Wife of landholder	Puerperal pyemia, 1 month, 14 days		Y	John Goaly, PAD	Link
12/02/1899	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Spelman	F	Widow	88 years	Widow of landholder	General debility, 2 years	N	N	John Creaven, son-in-law, PAD	Link
13/01/1899	Balrobuckmore	Bridget Burke	F	Married	58 years	Wife of landholder	Acute bronchitis, 7 days		Y	John Burke, husband, PAD	Link
19/04/1900	Balrobuckmore	Mary Devilly	F	Married	65 years	Wife of farmer	Chronic Bright’s disease, 3 years, acute bronchitis, 14 days		Y	John Devilly, husband, PAD	Link
02/01/1901	Balrobuckmore	Mary Burke	F	Widow	88 years	Widow of landholder	General debility	N	N	Peter Burke, PAD	Link

1901 Census

The 1901 Census of Ireland records the following 84 individuals living in 16 households in Balrobuck More.  There was also 1 vacant house.

1. Michael Newell (60), a blacksmith, lived with his [second] wife Julia (55) [neé Egan, Clydagh; married 1881 in Kilursa]; son, Timothy (24) and daughters Hanor (25) and Margaret (23). [Records suggest Michael’s first wife was Bridget Goley from son Timothy’s Birth Record, 25 July 1874]
2. Thomas King (58) lived with his wife, Margaret (Peggy) (60) [neé Cavanagh, married 1860], son, Ned (28), daughters, Honor (26), Margaret (24) and granddaughter, Margaret King (2) [daughter of Thomas King and Mary Forde, Carrowbeg].
3. Mary Killelea (60) [neé Wynne, widow of Francis Killilea], widow, spoke Irish only; lived with her son Martin (23), daughters, Winnie (25), Julia (20), sister, Julia Wynne (40) and grandson, Michael Wynne (7).
4. Bridget King (60) [neé Killilea; widow of John King; married 1862; d. 1898] lived with her sons, Patrick (25), Edward (23), Michael (20) and daughter, Mary (19).
5. John Creaven (55) lived with his wife, Mary (60) [neé Ford] who spoke Irish only; daughter, Bridget King (20) [married 1898], son-in-law, Patrick King (27) [from Balrobuckmore, son of Thomas King] and grandson, Patrick King (2).
6. Mary Greally (60)  [neé Melia, widow of William Greally], lived with sons, John (27), Thomas (20) and daughter, Mary (30).
7. John Burke (60) [son of Patrick] lived with his wife, Kate (40) [neé Deviney, Balrobuckmore; married 1900; father, Peter Deviney].
8. Not occupied.
9. John Kavanagh (67) [d. 1925], lived with his wife Winifred (64) [neé Lynch, married 1865, d. 1907], sons, Michael (25) and Patrick (22).
10. Margaret Diviny (50), married [husband Michael Diviny listed in 1911 census], lived with her brothers-in-law, James Diviny (36) and Peter Diviny (32).
11. William Goaley (71), a widower who spoke only Irish [wife, Mary Flaherty], lived with son, John (40) [first wife was Mary Burke, Cluide; married 1891 in Annaghdown; father, Michael Burke; b. abt 1867, d. 1899 after birth of son], daughter-in-law Ellen (40), she only spoke Irish, [neé Crowe, Baranna, John’s second wife; married 1900 in Annaghdown; father, Ned Crowe], and granddaughters, Mary (8) and Bridget (5).
12. James Goaley (60) [d. 1906] lived with his wife, Mary (45) [neé Devaney; d. bef 1906] and daughter, Bridget (22).
13. Thomas Goaley (45) [father, Michael] lived with his wife Mary (40) [neé Fitzpatrick, Balinfad; father, Michael Fitzpatrick; married 1881 in Turloughmore District], sons, Michael (17), Martin (16), Patrick (12), John (2), daughters Mary (15), Bridget (11), Kate (9), Margaret (6) and Honor (2 months).
14. Michael Shaughnessy (40) [first wife, Mary Maloney, Angliham (aka Gortacallow, near Menlo); father John Maloney; b. abt 1861; married in Castlegar 1891; d. 1895 after birth of son] lived with his [second] wife, Bridget (40) [neé Cavanagh, Winterfield; married 1896; father, John Cavanagh], sons, Willie (8), Michael (6), Patrick (5), John (6 months) and daughter, Margaret (2).
15. Thomas Wm Goaley (40) [father, William Goaley] lived with his wife, Bridget (30) [neé Healy, Licannnanane; father, Martin Healy; married1893 in Lackagh], son William (1), daughters, Mary (6), Norah (5) and Delia (2).
16. Martin Forde (60), a widower [wife, Bridget Canavan; b. abt 1850, d, 1895], lived with son, Michael (12), daughters, Honor (22) and Kate (19).
17. Patrick Forde (45) lived with his wife, Bridget (35) [neé Tierney, Mausrevagh; father, Patrick Tierney; married 1887 in Headford District], sons, Michael (13), Patrick (11), John (7), daughters, Mary (9), Kate (4) and Winifred (2).

There were 12 second class houses and 4 third class houses listed in the 1901 census returns.  All houses had roofs made of thatch, wood or other perishable material and all had walls of stone, brick or concrete.  Twelve houses had 3 windows on the front, one had 2 windows and two had 1 window and one had no windows.  The unoccupied house was not described. 

1911 Census

There were 17 households with a total of 75 individuals in Balrobuck More recorded in the 1911 Census of Ireland.

1. Bridget King (70) [house 4 in 1901; married 40 years; 8 children born, 7 living] a widow, lived with her sons, John (34), Patrick (31), Edmund (27), Michael (22) and daughter, Mary (25).
2. Michael Newell (mistranscribed as Lewell) (73) [house 1 in 1911], a blacksmith, lived with his wife Julia (73), 30 years married with 3 children born, 3 living [children probably from Michael’s first marriage – see 1901 census detail].
3. Thomas Goaley (60) [house 15 in 1901] lived with his wife, Bridget (40), 20 years married, 6 children born, 5 living; son, Willie (12), daughters, Norah (15) and Delia (13).
4. Pat Cavanagh (32) [probably house 9 in 1901] lived with his wife Julia (33) [possibly neé Wynne from detail in son Michael’s birth record in 1914, but also possibly neé Killilea, (from a marriage record, 1909, without detail who lived in house 3 in 1901)]; 2 years married, no children; and Julia Wynne (69), a boarder [unmarried, also possibly lived in house 3 in 1901].
5. Michael Diviny (62) [house 10 in 1901; he was not present in 1901] lived with wife Margaret (65), 32 years married; no children, brothers, Peter (45), James (47) and sister, Winnie (30).
6. Pat Forde (64) [house 17 in 1901] lived with his wife Bridget (60), 24 years married; 6 children born, 6 living, sons, Michael (23), Patrick (21), John (17), daughters, Mary (19), Katie (14) and Winniefred (12).
7. Michael Shaughnessy (50) [house 14 in 1901] lived with his wife, Bridget (45), 15 years married; 3 children born, 3 living [possibly refers to children of second marriage only], sons, Willie (19), Michael(17) and Pat (16). 
8. Martin Forde (76) [house 16 in 1901], a widower, lived with son, Michael (23) and daughter Honoria (35).
9. John Burke (65) [house 7 in 1901] lived with his wife, Catherine (56) [12 years married; no children].
10. John Cavanagh (77) [house 9 in 1901], now a widower, lived with his son, Michael (32).
11. William Goaly (81) [house 11 in 1901], a widower, lived with his son, John (51), daughter-in-law, Ellen (51) [20 years married; 5 children born, 4 living], granddaughters, Mary (18) and Bridget (15).
12. Patrick Finnerty (38) [Oldtown, son of Patrick Finnerty; wife lived in house 12 in 1901] lived with his wife, Bridget (35) [neé Goaley, Balrobuckmore; father James Goaley; married 1902 in Annaghdown], 10 years married; 4 children born, 4 living.
13. Thomas Goaley (55) [house 13 in 1901] lived with his wife, Mary (54), 30 years married; 9 children born, 9 living; sons, Martin (27), John (11), Tommy (7), daughters, Mary (25), Katie (19), Maggie (17), Nora (9).
14. Mary Grealy (72) [house 6 in 1901], married 42 years; 5 children born, 3 living; a widow, lived with son, John (38) and daughter, Mary (40).
15. John Creaven (66) [house 5 in 1901] lived with his wife, Mary (74), married 30 years; 1 child born, 1 living; only spoke Irish; daughter, Bridget King (30), 13 years married, 5 children born, 5 living; son-in-law, Patt King (38), grandsons, Patrick King (12), Thos King (10), John King (9?), Michael King (?), and granddaughter, Bridget King (1).
16. Margaret King (75) [house 2 in 1901], married 35 years; 8 children born, 8 living; now a widow, lived with her son, Edward (29), daughters, Honor (30) and Maggie (26).
17. Thomas Devilly (46) [listed in house 1 in Balrobuck Beg in 1901, possibly a location error] lived with his wife, Mary (38) [neé Flaherty], 10 years married; no children.

There were 13 second class houses and 4 third class houses listed in the 1911 census returns.  All houses had roofs made of thatch, wood or other perishable material and all had walls of stone, brick or concrete.  Four houses had 4 windows on the front, nine had 3 windows and four had 2 windows.  There were 15 stables, 16 cow houses, 15 piggeries, 13 barns, 3 turf houses, 1 forge and 9 cart houses.

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