Cloonboo / Cluain Bú

Cloonboo / Cluain Bú

Compiled by Evelyn Stevens

Overview

Irish name: Cluain Bú

Irish pronunciation:

English name: Cloonboo

Meaning: pasture of the hyacinths

Cluain-bugha, meadow of the bugh or hyacinth plant, a sort of nagger with beautiful flowers of a blue or bluish-green colour, well known in Clare and Galway. Often mentioned in Irish writings : ” eyes the colour of the búgh-flower.” – from Joyce’s Field Names.

Area: 425 acres, 0 roods and 15 perches.

Information from O’Donovan’s Field Name Books

Other names: Cluain búgh, Clonboo, Clunboo

Description: Thomas Blake, Esq., Cregg Castle, Proprietor. All under tillage except portions of flooded ground to the South and East, a lake to the North end which divides Cloonboo and Mace townlands

Situation: It is situated 3 miles S. W. of Annaghdown Church. Bounded North by Mace. South by Adragool. East by Castlequarter and W. by Lissanoran.

Field Names

An Garraí Fada, Garraí na gCloch, Garraí na Feochana, Garraí Downey, Garraí Chicely, Túirín Lachach, Garraí Déideán, An Léine, Na Cregga, Gort Donn, Móin a’tSíáin.

Other Landmarks: Tobar a’ Bhaile, Tobar Downey.

Archaeological Information

Lake Dwelling (possible). In the middle of Lough Afoor. Marked on 3^rd ed. Of OS map (1934) as a small circular island (D c.20m). The site is not presently visible due to a rise in the water level.

Lake Dwelling (possible). A second possible lake dwelling marked on 3^rd ed of OS map (1934) (D c.25M) lies 100m to SW. The site is not presently visible due to a rise in the water level.

Population Statistics

1841: 35 houses, 231 people (127  male, 104 female)

1851: 24 (3 uninhabited) houses, 143 people (71 male, 72 female)

1861: 23 houses, 124 people (59 male, 65 female)

1871: 23 houses, 124 people, (60 male, 64 female)

1881: 25 houses, 133 people (71 male, 62 female)

1891: 19 houses (1 uninhabited),  110 people ( 57 male, 53 female)

1901: 19 houses, 99 people (53 male, 46 female)

1911: 19 houses (1 uninhabited), 91 people (47 male, 44 female)

2011: 102 houses (9 vacant), 265 people (137 male, 128 female)

1821 Tithe Applotment Books

The Tithe Applotment books for Cloonboo show the following names: Ths Blake, landlord, Mich and John Scully, Ths Hanneen, John and Michl Carr, Francis Allen, Ths Hennelly, Willm and Widow Scully, John Downey, Michl Downey and Widow Walsh, Ths Burke, Pat Maher, Michl Hanneen, John Walsh.

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

Griffith’s Valuation shows that Cloonboo had 20 households with 6 others holding land, all under the immediate lessor, Francis Blake.  Listed were: Michael Scully, John Hannan, John Scully, James Carr, Bridget Hanley, James Feenaghty, Martin Downey, Thomas Walsh, Thomas Burke, Patrick Moylan, Henry Allen, John Hannan, Jeremiah Hannan, Thomas Downey, Margaret Burke, Marg. Burke (Hessian), Martin Kavanagh, Cicilia Higgins, James Collins, Thomas Ward. Land only- Michael Leonard, John Leonard, William Leonard, Martin Hennelly, Margaret Neill and Margaret Burke.

 Cecilia Higgins is listed as Cecilia Hannan in the House Books.

1901 Census

The 1901 Census of Ireland records the following individuals living in 19 households in Cloonboo.

1. Hennelly, Ellen (72) lived with Martin (44), Thomas (36), Michael (34), John (30), and Kate Leonard (64), sister.
2. Molloy, John, lived with Bridget (56), Bridget (27) Patrick (22) Thomas (20), Celia (15), and William (12)
3. Scully, Owen (76) lived with Winnie (29), daughter, Michael (7), William (5), Owen (2), grandsons, and Edward Queeney (60), lodger.
4. Scully, John (68) lived with Kate (64), Patrick (32), Thomas (22), John (19), Michael (17), Martin (13), Mary Murphy (11) grand-daughter, and Owen Casey (65) lodger
5. Carr, John (45) lived with Kate (42), Celia (12), Martin (10), James (8), Michael (5), and Julia (2).
6. Fahy, Martin (72), lived with Julia (55), and Elnor Ruane (40) servant.
7. Hynes, Denis (48) lived with Mary (44), John (19) Bartle (16), Patrick (14), Julia (12), and Maggie (6).
8. Hannon, James (64) lived with Celia (45), Thomas (20), Mary (19), Michael (17), and James (13).
9. Burke, John (63) lived with Bridget (63), Kate (30), and Darby (22).
10. Hannon, John (75) lived with Mary (52), and Michael (17) nephew.
11. Hannon, Michael (52) lived with Honor (48), Mary (16), John (14), Ellen (13), Patrick (12), Dermot (10), Norah (8), and Owen (7).
12. Moran, Bridget (68) lived with Patrick (27), Margaret (23), Honor (28), daughter-in-law, and Mary (2), granddaughter.
13. Burke, Mary (80) lived with Patrick (55), Honor (50), Thomas (24), grandson, Ellen (18), granddaughter, and Patrick (16) grandson.
14. Lenihan, Thomas (64), Kate (58), Bridget (23), Thomas (21) and Bridget Walsh (63), sister- in- law.
15. Downey, Honor (84) lived with Honor Gill (35) and Walter Gill (38) son-in-law.
16. Hennelly, Patrick (60) lived with John (23), Celia (20), and Honor (17).
17. Allen, Frank (40) lived with Julia (45) and Kate (16).
18. Allen, Patrick (32) lived with Margaret (32), Kate (32), Mary (3), and Nellie ( 6 months).
19. Allen, Julia (68).

One house was of the fourth class, six were of the third class, and ten were of the second class. All had stone walls, and all but two had thatched roofs. There was one public house – Martin Fahy’s.

1911 Census

There were 19 houses in Cloonboo in 1911, one of which was vacant.

1. Scully, Winefred (36) lived with Michael (17) and William (15).
2. Ní Mhaoildhia, Sean (67) lived with Bríghid (69), Bríghid (30), Pádhraic (28), Tomás (27), Síghle (23), and Liam (20).
3. Scully, Kate (69) lived with Patrick (50), Maggie (48), daughter-in-law, John (7), grandson, Thomas (5), grandson, and Mary (4) granddaughter.
4. Ailín, Padhraic (46) lived with Maighréad (45), Caitlín (16), Máire (13), Neillí (10), Seaghán (7), and Maighréad (4).
5. Hennelly, Patrick (75) lived with John (34).
6. was vacant, and was on the holding of Patrick Hennelly.
7. Allen, Francis (50) lived with Julia (60), Catherine Carr (27), daughter, Mary Carr (3), granddaughter, and Julia Allen (85) aunt.
8. Gill, Walter (48) lived with Honor (46).
9. Lenihan, Thomas (76) lived with Catherine (72), Thomas (32), Bridget (38), daughter–in- law, Mary (3), granddaughter, and John Joseph (2) grandson.
10. Burke, Patrick, (68) lived with Pat (26), and Honor (66), sister.
11. Moran, Patrick (40) lived with Norah (44), Mary (12), Patrick (9), Martin (7), and Francis (5).
12. Hannon, Michael (63) lived with Honor (61), John (25), Dermot (21), Owen (17), Ellen (23), and Norah (19).
13. Carr, John (60) lived wirh Catherine (50), Martin (20), James (18), Michael (16), Julia (11), and Patrick (6).
14. Hannon, Mary (70) lived with Michael (27), nephew.
15. Burke, John (74) lived with Bridget (74), Dermot (32), Ellen (28), daughter-in-law Mary (5), granddaughter, Peter (3), grandson, and Michael (1) grandson.
16. Ó Áinín, Seumas (70) lived with Susaile (65), Tomás (28), and Máire (26).
17. Regan, Bridget (30) lived with Mary Margt (5), Bridget (3), Gerty (2), Tom Fahy (88), uncle, and Bridget Crowe (16), domestic servant.
18. Hynes, Denis (60) lived with Mary (61), John (29), Julia (23), Maggie (18), and John Murray (39), servant.
19. Hennelly, Ellen, (78) lived with Martin (55), Thomas (50), John (38), and Catherine Leonard (74), sister.

Five houses were of the third class, 12 were of the second class, all with stone walls, and all but 1 had thatched roofs. There was 1 public house, Bridget Regan’s.