Attymass Civil Parish and the Incidence of the Gahagan (Goaghan, Goghan, Gaughan, Geoghegan) Surname in Griffith's Valuation

Attymass Civil Parish falls within Gallen Barony and is part of Attymass Roman Catholic Parish. When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted in 1856, there was one Roman Catholic Chapel that was fairly centrally located in the Townland of Kilgellia and only one Graveyard in the Townland of Bunnafinglas. The available Catholic Church records don't begin until 1874 and cover a very narrow date range (only to 1880). This was a relatively small Civil Parish with only 21 Townlands.

John Bingham applied for and obtained a patent to hold fairs in the Townland of Bunsinglass (listed as Bunnafinglas in Griffith's) as early as 1701. (Gillespie; Crawford, 1987, p. 86). When the Statistical Survey of County Mayo was conducted in 1802, Bunfinglafs (sic) was listed as having fairs on May 24, July 7, November 15 and December 15. (McParlan, 1802; 2007, p. 47-51). When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted there was a "Customs of Fairs" documented in the Townland of Bunnafinglas that sits on the River Moy. Other Townlands with items of commercial interest were Ardrass and Ballymore each with a Pound, Ballycong with two Tuckmills and Corrower with one Tuck Mill. The Townland of Mullaghawny had an Orchard, Corn Mill, Kiln and Forge, and Coradrishy had a Pound, Corn Mill and a Kiln. There was also a Herd's House in the Townland of Coradrishy and Farmhouses in the Townlands of Boyhollagh, Bunnafinglas and Derrynabaunshy. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Attymass).

As far as education goes, there was only one Schoolhouse noted in the Griffith's Valuation, in the Townland of Corrower. In addition to this, "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" described three Hedge Schools as well. (Lewis, 1837; 1984, p. 92)

The Griffith's Valuation noted numerous lakes dotting this Civil Parish, and "Bog" Parcels in the Townlands of Corrower and Mullaghawny. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Attymass). Samuel Lewis described Attymass as having "large tracts of wasteland, which are chiefly irreclaimable bog and mountain." (Lewis, 1837; 1984, p. 91).

There were a wide variety of landlords represented in Attymass Civil Parish, and the Townlands were fairly evenly distributed with no landlords dominating more than 2 or 3 Townlands. Hugh Brabazon was only dominant in one Townland, Roosky; and John Orme in Corradrishy, but these were two of the larger Townlands in the parish. Sir John Steele Bt, Elizabeth Cistis and Patrick C Hawley were dominant in three Townlands each, and Frances Lindsay, George Henry Moore and Edward Orme were represented in two.

The population of Attymass Civil Parish declined significantly during and after the peak famine years like many other Civil Parishes in County Mayo. In 1841, the population was 3,435, dropping to 2,431 in 1851. By the year 1911, there were on 2,077 people living in this area. Even more significant than these declines, by the year 1979 there were only 832 people living in Attymass Civil Parish, now that is a staggering drop from 3,435. (O'Hara, 1982, p. 7).

The Surnames Gaughan and Goaghan were both present in Attymass Civil Parish. Patrick Gaughan was documented in the Townland of Kilgellia and Michael and Thomas Gaughan were noted in the Townland of Trenoughter. Treanoughter and Kilgellia are located next to each other in the center of this parish.

The Goaghans are represented by the following: Honoria Goaghan held a parcel in Ballycong, Henry Goaghan, Francis, Michael and Patrick Goaghan held parcels in the Townland of Boyhollagh, William Goaghan held a parcel in Derrynabaunshy and Martin Goaghan occupied land and a cottage in the Townland of Derryvicneill. All of these Townlands are quite centrally located in this Civil Parish except for Derrynabaunshy that is in the southeastern tip and separated from the others by the Townland of Glendaduff.

There is one caveat to keep in mind when looking at these findings from the Griffith's Valuation: The Griffith's Valuation only includes the individuals (occupiers) who own, lease or rent a parcel. For instance it will list a householder but not the individuals who live with him. It was common in County Mayo for individuals to share parcels, particularly of land (The Rundale system of communal land sharing). Sometimes the whole town shared one parcel of land. Shared parcels may or may not be with related individuals. Just because an individual is a lone occupier of a parcel does not mean that he is living in (house) or tilling (garden) this parcel alone. He may have numerous family members living with him, but they will not be listed unless they actually lease or own the parcel. Occupiers who sublet their acreage of land or houses to others will be listed as landlords.

For helpful details on how to interpret the following records, please take a look at the page I created on "Deciphering Griffith's Valuation."

Townland Map Ref Number Occupier Landlord or his Rep Property Type Area in Acres, Roods and Perches - a-r-p Total Valuation in pounds, shillings and pence Shared with (other occupiers)
Ballycong 14b Goaghan, Honoria Orme, Edward Land, House and Offices 75-1-22 4-10-0 one other
Boyhollagh 25a Goaghan, Henry Howley, Patrick C Land, House and Office 27-0-0 2-15-0 one other
Boyhollagh 26 Goaghan, Henry same Land 21-3-0 2-0-0 one other
Boyhollagh 27 Goaghan, Henry same Land 99-0-0 0-2-0 9 others
Boyhollagh 28a Goaghan, Francis same Land, House and Office 188-0-0 2-12-0 Michael and Patrick Goaghan
Boyhollagh 28b Goaghan, Michael same Land and House same 2-10-0 Francis and Patrick Goaghan
Boyhollagh 28c Goaghan, Patrick same Land, House and Office same 2-13-0 Francis and Michael Goaghan
Derrynabaunshy 1a Goaghan, William Howley, Patrick C Land and House 180-3-22 3-10-0 4 others
Derryvicneill 1d Goaghan, Martin Orme, Edward Land and One Cottage 161-2-23 3-10-0 5 others
Kilgellia 1g Gaughan, Patrick Moore, George Henry Land and House 341-3-33 4-2-0 16 others
Treanoughter 1c Gaughan, Michael Steel Bart, Sir John Land, House and Offices 67-0-0 2-0-0 Thomas Gaughan and 3 others
Treanoughter 1d Gaughan, Thomas same Land, House and Office same 1-13-0 Michael Gaughan and 3 others

Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Attymass).