Dangan Eighter

Location and origin

The townland of Dangan Eighter is located in the east central part of the Civil Parish of Killererin in the Barony of Tiaquin. It is bordered on the north and west by the Barony of Tiaquin, on the south by Dangan Oughtar and Polladooey and on the east by the parish of Moylough.

According to O’Donovan’s Field Name Books, 1830, early references to ‘Dangan Eighter’ are found in the Chancery Inquisitions of King James 1 (1603-1625). ‘Dengeneighter is also found in the Chancery Inquisitions of Elizabeth 1 (1558-1603) and Dangineoghter is found in the Chancery Inquisitions of Charles 1 (1625-1649)’[2]. The townland is described as being the property of Lord Lorton, of Sligo. It contained 431 acres including 90 acres of bog and rough ground. There was a trigonometrical station in the north end of this townland called Dangan 1,260 feet above the level of sea. Lord Lorton also owned land in Dangan Oughter, Danganbeg, Polladooey and Slievegorm. The total area in all these townlands was 1,302 acres, 0 roods and 20 perches[3].

1841-1851 Census[4]

There were 14 houses and 71 people living in Dangan Eighter in 1841. By 1851, there was a decrease in population with 64 people living in 11 houses. The total amount of land in Dangan Eighter during this time was 431 acres, 0 roods 21 perches with an annual valuation of £170 5s 0.

Griffith’s Valuation 1855[5]

There were 11 occupiers listed in Griffith’s Valuation in Dangan Eighter in 1855. All of the tenants leased their land from Michael J. Browne. Philip Ormsby leased 287 acres, 0 roods 36 perches and sublet a house, out-offices and 8 acres, 3 roods 17 perches to a Patrick Hession. Laurence Mulry had two leases, one from Michael J. Browne, with a house and offices on 8 acres and the second plot leased from Andrew Tarpy, consisting of 1 acre, 2 roods and 22 perches. The second largest plot leased containing a house and 37 acres, 3 roods, 27 perches of land was leased to Patrick Fleming from Michael J. Browne. Other tenants leased the remaining plots of land; they were John McDonagh, Andrew Tarpy, Edmond Fahy, Patrick Tarpy, Michael Fleming and George Gilligan. Michael J. Browne retained 21 acres, 2 roods, and 7 perches of bog for himself.

1861-1881 Census[6]

There were 12 houses with 70 tenants living in the townland of Dangan Eighter in 1861. By 1871, the population had decreased by 11 to 59 and the number of inhabited houses had decreased to 10. By 1881 the population had decreased to 46 and 8 houses. The total area of land remained the same with the same valuation.

1891 Census[7]

There were 8 houses and a population of 38 in the townland in 1891.

1901 Census[8]

There were 29 people and 4 head of households listed in Dangan Eighter in the 1901 census. The heads of family included Michael Fleming, Michael Connaughton, John Tighe and John Boyle all of whom lived in 2nd class houses.

Tighe family

John Tighe aged 90, lived with his wife Bridget, aged 80 years.  Their son, Michael, daughter-in-law Anne and their 5 grandchildren lived with them: Delia aged 7, John, aged 6, Martin, aged 4, Thomas, aged 3 and Patrick, aged 1 year old.

Connaughton family

Michael Connaughton aged 50, lived with his wife Ellen aged 35, their son John aged 6, William aged 4, Michael, aged 3 and Sarah not yet 1 year old. Bridget Connaughton aged 13 and listed as a domestic servant lived with them.

Boyle family

John Boyle aged 70 and head of household was a widower.  He lived with his son, Patrick aged 42, his daughter-in-law, Honor aged 45 and their sons John aged 11 and Patrick aged 9. They also had a daughter Delia aged 7 and twins, Honor and Mary aged 5 years.

Fleming/Rooney/Stead

Michael Fleming aged 36 and single, was head of household and lived with his sister, Ellen aged 32, a seamstress and single. His uncle, Thomas Fleming aged 80 years, Delia Rooney, his niece aged 15 and a farm servant named Thomas Stead aged 45 years, also lived in the household.

Oldest and youngest person in the townland in 1901

The oldest person living in the townland in 1901 was John Tighe aged 90 years. His wife Bridget was 81 years and the youngest person was their grandson Patrick aged 1 year.

Property and outbuildings

It is listed in this census that the landholder of the Tighe Household was Michael Tighe. All of the households owned a stable and all had a cowhouse, 3 had a calf house, 4 had a piggery, 2 had fowl houses, 3 had a barn and 2 had a shed. There was 1 uninhabited house owned by Patrick Fleming.

1911 Census[9]

There were 28 people listed in this townland in 1911. The heads of households were Michael Tighe aged 51, married to Anne aged 41. They had 10 children, Delia aged 17, John aged 16, Martin aged 14, Thomas aged 13, Patrick aged 11, Catherine aged 9, William aged 8, Michael aged 6, Peter aged 4, and Mary aged 2.

Connaughton family

Michael Connaughton was aged 60 and a widower. His children John aged 15, William aged 14, Mary aged 12, Sarah aged 10 and Michael aged 7 resided with him.

Boyle family

Patrick Boyle aged 50 lived with his second wife Mary aged 46. His children, Patrick aged 19, Delia aged 17 and the twins Mary and Norah aged 14 years also lived in the household.  (Note Honor’s name changed to Norah). Martin aged 1 (probably from the second marriage) also lived with them. It is listed that Patrick and Margaret were married 7 years and they had 2 children and only 1 survived.

Fleming/Thuite

Michael Fleming aged 46 years and single lived with his sister Margaret aged 40 years and also single. Michael Thuite aged 17 years was a ‘farm servant’ and lived with them.

Property and outbuildings

They all lived in 2nd class houses. Each house had a stable, cowhouse, piggery, fowl house and a barn and a shed. (Local information has it that this was the Fleming name that owned the present day Fahy’s public house and grocery shop in Killererin which would have been closed for some time and then bought by John Brannelly, opening it as a shop and public house after coming from America. This has now closed again this year 2015)[10]

1991-2006 Census[11]

There were 3 houses and 16 people living in Dangan Eighter in 1991. In 1996 there were 4 houses and 16 people living in the townland. By 2006, there were still 4 houses and a population of 16 people.

 

 

 

[1] Placenames Database of Ireland (www.logainm.ie) (June 2011)
[2] Galway County Library, ‘O’Donovan Field Name Books’ (www.places.galwaylibrary.ie) (June 2011)
[3] ibid
[4] ‘Table V11- Area, Offices and Farm Steadings and Population together with the Valuation of Each Parish, Townland and Township of the County of Galway in 1881’ (James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland, Galway, p77) (June 2011)
[5] Ask about Ireland, ‘Griffith’s Valuation’ (http://www.askabout ireland.ie/Griffith-valuation/index) (June 2011)
[6] ‘Table V11-Area, Out-offices and Farm Steadings and Population together with the Valuation of Each Parish, Townland and Township of the County of Galway in 1881’ (James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland, Galway, p108) (June 2011)
[7] Census of Ireland for the Year 1911[Province of Connaught, County of Galway] Area, Houses and Population, ‘Table VII-Area Houses Outbuildings-Buildings and Farm Steadings, and Population together with the Valuation of Each Poor Law Union, Dispensary District, Electoral Division, Townland in the County of Galway in 1911’ (Galway County Library, p101)
[8]The National Archives of Ireland, ‘Census Ireland 1901/1911’,

(http:// national archives.ie/search/) (June 2011)
[9]ibid
[10] Local Information (June 2011)
[11] Central Statistics Office, (www. cso.ie/census/reports) (June 2011)