Kilcolman Civil Parish Characteristics, Clanmorris Barony, County Mayo, Ireland

When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted for Kilcolman Civil Parish, Clanmorris Barony in 1856, there were 83 Townlands (if you don't include the 28 Townlands that were transferred from County Mayo to County Roscommon in the Local Government Act that took place in Ireland in 1898). These 28 Townlands are covered on the Kilcolman, Costello Barony Townland page that I have created. I will include more information on these Townlands and others that were transferred to Sligo and Galway as well in a future addition to the research aids section. When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted for Kilcolman Civil parish in 1856, there were two separate areas described: Kilcolman and Kilcolman (part of). They have used this category in other Civil Parishes like Kilbeagh where the "Kilbeagh (part of)" category covered 5 Townlands that were transferred to County Roscommon as well.

Kilcolman Civil Parish is part of Clanmorris Barony in County Mayo, and is included in Castlemore and Kilcolman Roman Catholic Parish. When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted in 1856 for Kilcolman Civil Parish, the Townland of Clare was the obvious hub of economic activity and the largest population center of the parish. There was a Workhouse, a Tolls and Customs of Fairs and Markets, a Roman Catholic Chapel on Chapel Lane, a Church on Church Street, a Schoolhouse and an Education society Schoolhouse, Female and Male National Schoolhouses, a Sessions House, Constabulary Barracks and a forge. James D. Browne was the primary Landlord represented in this Town. (Griffith, 1847-1864, Kilcolman). The section on Clare in "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," acknowledges that the Wesleyan Methodists had a place of worship in the Town of Claremorris as well (Lewis, 1837; 1984, p.64). (Perhaps this is the church noted on Church Street without a denomination associated with it in the Griffith's Valuation). Slater's National Commercial Directory of Ireland, 1846 described a "lately established dispensary" as well. (Slater, 1846, p. 116). I have created a specific page on the Market Town of Clare with a few more details than are given here. The Townlands of Murneen North and Ballyfarnagh have National Schoolhouses in addition to those listed above. In "A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," Samuel Lewis acknowledges 3 public schools and 9 private schools in this Civil Parish. (Lewis, 1837; 1984, p. 64).

Other commercial activity noted in Townlands of this parish were as follows: Cartronnacross, Cuilmore, Eskerlevalley and Gortnaraha had Corn Mills, Cuiltybo had a Mill, Claremount had a Gate Lodge, and Drumneen South and Lugatemple each had a Forge. Finally, Herd's Houses were present in the Townlands of Ballyglass, Ballykinava, Ballynabrehon North and South, Ballynastangford Upper, Bellfield, Castlegar, Clare, Cloonboy, Cloontooa, Cloonycollaran, Drumagh, Drumneen (Prendergast), Eskerlevalley, Garryredmond, Gortnaraha, Lisbaun, Murneen South, Rockfield and Tawnagh. This rather large number of Herd's Houses would seem to indicate that there was a fair amount of pasture/grazing area in this Civil Parish. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Kilcolman).

There were no "bog" areas designated in the Griffith's Valuation, but the following Lakes were noted: Lough Namannagh, Carrigeen Lough, Clare Lough and Mayfield Lough. Samuel Lewis described the land in Kilcolman Civil Parish, Clanmorris Barony, as "1/3 is arable, 1/4 pasture, and the remainder waste and bog." (Lewis, 1837; 1984, p. 64).

According to the book "A Various Country," Sir W. Parsons applied for and obtained a patent for a market and three fairs in 1622 for Claremorris (Togherclare or Clare), with seven fairs total by the early 19th century. (Gillespie, 1987, p. 86). When the Statistical Survey of Mayo was conducted in 1802, the Town of Clare had a market for grains (McParlan, 1802; 2007, p.37) and fairs were held on May 24 and June 22 (McParlan, 1802, 2007, p. 86). (This is 5 less than noted in the book "A Various Country." When Samuel Lewis conducted his first edition of his renowned "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," in 1837, he mentioned the Town of Clare as having "...3 additional fairs on August 17, September 27 and November 23." (Lewis, 1837; 2005, p. 336).

A Vast array of landlords were represented in Kilcolman Civil Parish Griffith's Valuation, but Lord Oranmore, Edward G Bell, James D. Browne and Sir Robert Blosse Bt were noted more than the rest. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Kilcolman). I found the following information on Kilcolman Landlords in Hussey De Burgh's compilation "The Landowners of Ireland (1878), which covers landlords holding more than 500 acres or having land valued at over 500 pounds. Lord Oranmore (Lord Oranmore and Browne; Geoffrey Dominick Augustus Frederick Guthrie, 2nd Baron) resided in Castle Macgarret, Claremorris, County Mayo and held 4,243 acres in County Mayo and 1,818 in County Westmeath. Edward G Bell held 1,636 acres in County Mayo. His "reps" are listed as residing in Castleconnel, County Limerick. James D Browne was listed as residing in London at 39 Rutland Gate; he held 3,629 acres in County Mayo. Finally, Sir Robert Blosse Bart is listed as residing at Athavallie House, Balla and held 17,555 acres in County Mayo. (De Burgh, 1878; 2007, p. 28, 56, 284, 354).

Of all the Civil Parishes that I have been researching thus far, this one is by far the most confusing with a large number of Townlands from Kilcolman being transferred to County Roscommon in 1898, and the parish being split between Clanmorris Barony and Costello Barony, County Mayo, Frenchpark, County Roscommon and Coolavin, County Sligo. (O'hara, 1982, p. 9). Because the surname mix I am researching (Brennan, Corcoran, Coffey and Geoghagan) are represented in both the County Mayo and County Roscommon portion of Kilcolmon, I have added incentive to research the County Roscommon border parish records as well.