The Gahagan (Goaghan, Geoghegan, Goghan, Gaughan) Surname in Kilcolman Civil Parish, Costello Barony Griffith's Valuation, County Mayo Ireland that was Later Transferred to County Roscommon

When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted in Kilcolman Civil Parish, Costello Barony in 1856, it was still part of County Mayo. This was one of the border areas that was later transferred to County Roscommon in 1898 under a "Local Government Act." All 28 Townlands in Kilcolman Civil Parish, Costello Barony became part of County Roscommon in this transfer.

The Griffith's Valuation for Kilcolman Civil Parish in Costello Barony showed Roman Catholic Chapels in the Townland of Creggan, and two in the Town of Ballaghaderreen that is part of the Townland of Ballaghaderreen on Chapel Lane and Pound Street. There was also a Church of undocumented affiliaton on Chapel Lane in Ballaghaderreen. Graveyards were noted in the Townlands of Ballyoughter, Creggan and Hawksford and in the Town of Ballaghaderreen that is part of Ballaghaderreen Townland on Chapel Lane. (Griffith, 1 847-1864; 2003, Kilcolman (Costello Barony).

As far as education goes, the only schools I found were a Board of Education Schoolhouse in the Townland of Ballaghaderreen and a Board of Education Female National Schoolhouse on Chapel Lane in the Town of Ballaghadereen. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Kilcolman (Costello Barony).

The Town of Ballaghaderreen (part of the Townland of Ballaghaderreen) was clearly the hub of economic activity in this Civil Parish. This Town was one of 11 Major Market Towns in County Mayo in the mid 19th Century. I have done a specific page on Ballaghaderreen, and its geographical location is noted on my County Mayo Major Market Towns Map. The Townland of Ballaghaderreen had several plantations, as did several other Townlands in this Civil Parish such as Cloonmeen, Fallsollus, Toobrackan and Tullaghanrock. The Town of Ballaghaderreen also had a Petty Sessions House and Market House on Market Street, a Constabulary Barracks and Revenue Police Barracks on Longford Road, a Dispensary operated by the Board of Guardians of Swineford Union and a pound on Pound Street and Creanage Tolls and a Board of Ordinance Military Barracks on Chapel Lane. Numerous Towns were listed as being a part of Cloonoumney such as Ballyoughter (Brehany), Ballyoughter, Derrachroma, Derreen, Derrynacartha Upper, Derrynacartha Lower, Parkroe, Derrynasleeve and Bank. The only commercial activity in these towns was a forge in Derrynacartha Upper and a Corn Mill and Kiln in Parkroe. The Townland of Creggan had a Corn Mill and Kiln, Hawksford had a Corn Mill, and Toobrackan had two Corn Mills and a Kiln. Herd's Houses were present in the Townlands of Ballaghaderreen and Kilcolman. (Griffiths, 1847-1864; 2003, Kilcolman pt of).

According to the Book "A Various Country, Essays in Mayo History," Viscount Dillon applied for and obtained a patent in 1786 to hold 8 fairs in the Townland of Ballaghaderreen (Gillespie, 1987, p. 84). This number had dropped to 7 by the time the Statistical Survey of Mayo was conducted in 1802. According to this survey fairs were held on February 2, May 1, June 24, August 2, September 8, November 1 and December 22. (McParlan, 1802, p. 47-51). There were two other facts that I found to be of interest regarding Ballaghaderreen in this survey: Balladerrin (as it was spelled in the survey) had a market for grain, and it had one of only two dairies in the county at the time. A Mr. Plunkett owned the dairy.

The River Lung runs through part of the Townland of Creggan (there were also several bog parcels here) and the Townland of Tullyhanrock).

Arthur Robert Costello was the primary landlord in 16 Townlands, Viscount Dillon in 11 (however he dominates the Town of Ballaghaderreen which is large) and Jane Elizabeth Pugh in 1. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Kilcolman part of ).

I was able to obtain information on these three primary landlords of Kilcolman Civil Parish, Costello Barony from Hussey De Burgh's compilation on "The Landowners of Ireland" (1878). This publication lists landlords in Ireland that held over 500 acres or land valued at over 500 pounds. Arthur Robert Costello was listed as residing at Edmondstown, Ballaghaderin, County Mayo. He held 7,513 acres in County Mayo and 1,038 acres in County Roscommon. Viscount Dillon (Theobald Dominick Geoffrey Dillon-Lee, the 14th Viscount) has his residence in Ireland at Lough Glynn House, Castlerea County Roscommon. He held 83,749 acres in County Mayo, 5,435 acres in County Roscommon and 136 acres in County Westmeath. Jane Elizabeth Pugh who only dominated one Townland in this portion of Kilcolman Civil Parish held 621 acres in County Mayo and her residence was listed as County Sligo. (De Burgh, 1878; 2007, p. 102, 129, 376).

Two different variations of the Gahagan Surname were present in Kilcolman Civil Parish, Costello Barony when the Griffith's Valuation was conducted in 1856. In the Townland of Ballaghaderreen, George Geoghegan held two different parcels. In the Town of Ballaghaderreen that was part of this Townland, George Gahagan was a Landlord for both John Crofton and Andrew Kenny on Main Street, George Gahagan held parcel number 59- 73 on Longford Road and a George Gahagan held a parcel in the Townland of Kilcolman as well.

Regarding my Family search for the Brennan, Corcoran, Coffey and Gahagan connection, it is interesting to note that there is a Michael Coffey with the parcel number 90 next to Michael Brennan(89) in the Town of Ballaghaderreen, a George Gahagan acting as a Landlord for John Crofton on Main Street,there is also a George Gahagan occupying parcel 73 on Longford Road in the same Town, and a Mary Coffey plot 119. James Brennan serves as a landlord for James Donohoe in parcel 132 next to his. There are Coffeys, Brennans and Gahagans (and its assorted variations) throughout Kilcolman Civil Parish. Unfortunately there were no Corcorans documented in either Kilcolman Civil Parish or Castlemore Civil Parish (both of which were later transferred to County Roscommon. There were also many Freynes in Kilcolman Civil Parish, an uncommon Surname in Ireland that we know traveled with my Irish Great Grandparents from at least New York.

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, Rood and Perches - a-r-p Total Valuation in pounds, shillings and pence Shared with (other occupiers)
Ballaghaderreen 35a Geoghegan, George Peyton, Patrick Land 0-0-30 0-4-0 none
Ballaghaderreen 46 Geoghegan, George Dillon, Viscount Land 4-2-24 5-0-0 none
Ballaghaderreen, town of Ballaghaderreen on Longford Road 59-54 Crofton, John Gahagan, George House, Office, Yard, Garden 0-0-5 4-5-0 none
Ballaghaderreen, town of Ballaghaderreen on Longford Road 59-55 Kenny, Andrew Gahagan, George House, Offices, Yard and Garden 0-0-15 4-5-0 none
Ballaghaderreen, town of Ballaghaderreen on Longford Road 59-73 Gahagan, George Peyton, Patrick House, Office and Yard   6-10-0 none
Kilcolman 32 Gahagan, George Peyton, Patrick Land 2-2-36 2-5-0 none

Griffith, 2847-1864; 2003, Kilcolman part of ).