Danganbeg Daingean Beag, “small fastness”[1]

Location and Origin

The townland of Danganbeg is located in the southeast extremity of the parish, in the Barony of Tiaquin bordered on the north and west by the townlands of Slievegorm and Dangan Oughter, on the south and east by the parish of Abbeyknockmoy. According to O’Donovan’s Field Name Books 1830, early reference is made to ‘Dangan’ in Larkin’s County map of Galway 1819[1] and ‘Danganbeg’ is referred to also by the Boundary Survey Sketch Maps.[2] The survey also cites an authority source on the spelling of the townland as ‘Danganbeg’ supplied by Pat McGann (Bailiff).[3] The townland is described as the property of Lord Lorton, Sligo, containing 233 acres 2 roods 38 perches including about 5 acres of bog and 8 acres of plantation, with an annual valuation of £76 10s 0d.[4]

1841-1851 Census[5]

There were 136 people living in 21 houses in the townland of Danganbeg in 1841. By 1851, the population had declined to 72 people living in 12 houses. The area of land remained the same but the annual valuation decreased to £65 15s 0d.

Griffith’s Valuation 1855[6]

Michael J. Browne owned all of the land in the townland in 1855. Browne held 17 acres 1 rood 30 perches of plantation in fee for himself with an annual valuation of £2 0s 0d. Listed as occupiers in Danganbeg in 1855 were George Bolton, Patrick Mulry, Laurence Keighry, Bernard Kelly, Michael Nicholson, Laurence Donnelly, Walter Burke, Thomas Brennan, Patrick Donnelly, Patrick Higgins, Matthew Curly and John Donnelly, all of whom leased their plots of land from Michael J Browne.

1861-1881 Census[7]

In 1861 there were 51 people living in 12 houses in Danganbeg. The population increased to 73 people living in 14 houses in 1871. By 1881, there were 69 people living in 14 houses. The acreage of land remained the same with the annual valuation increasing to £75 5s 0d.

1891 Census[8]

There were 13 houses with a population of 66 in the townland in 1891.

Census 1901[9]

There were 3, 3rd class houses and 9, 2nd class houses, a total of 12 houses with 58 people living in Danganbeg in 1901. The heads of households were Mary Curley, Bridget Brannelly, Bridget Boyle, Patrick Kelly, John Mulry, Laurence Mulry, Patrick Mulry, Patrick Slammen, Thomas Nicholson, Martin Cleary and Michael Kenny. Also mentioned in the Kenny household was an aunt, Mary Connolly, a seamstress and single.

Boyle family

Bridget Boyle aged 60 years was a widow and she lived with her daughters Ellen aged 24, Julia aged 20, son Thomas aged 37, Martin aged 30, daughter-in-law Mary aged 23, grandson Martin aged 2 and granddaughter Delia, not yet one year old.

Curly family

Mary Curley aged 70 and a widow lived with her son John aged 33, daughter-in-law Margaret aged 25, and another son Michael, aged 27.

Bridget Brannelly

Bridget Brannelly aged 57, a widow, lived on her own.

Connolly/Kenny families

Mary Connolly aged 50 lived with her nephew Michael Kenny aged 52, his wife Honor aged 50, their daughter Kate aged 15 and son Patrick aged 10.

Kelly family

Patrick Kelly aged 66, lived with his wife, Mary aged 60 years.

Mulry family (1)

John Mulry aged 46, lived with his wife Ellen aged 39, their sons Michael aged 18 and John aged 11 years. They had 2 daughters, Kate aged 14 and Mary aged 7 also living with them.

Mulry family (2)

Patrick Mulry aged 55 lived with his wife Margaret aged 48. Their sons John aged 20, Lawrence aged 18, and daughters, Bridget aged 15, Margaret aged 13 and Kate, aged 9 lived with them.

Slammen family

Patrick Slammen aged 40 lived with his wife, Honor 33, daughters Catherine aged 5, Bridget aged 4 and Mary aged 1.  They had 1 son, Michael aged 3.

Nicholson family

Thomas Nicholson aged 40 and a widower, lived with his son Michael aged 16, Patrick aged 8, and Martin aged 2.  His daughters Mary 14, Ellen 12, Anne 5 and Catherine 1 also lived with him.

Cleary family

Martin Cleary aged 56 lived with his wife Bridget aged 54, sons Patrick aged 21, Martin aged 16, James aged 12 and John aged 29 who was married to Kate aged 22.

Mulry family (3)

Laurence Mulry aged 60 was married to Emily aged 58 and lived with their sons Timothy aged 22 and Laurence aged 20.

Roache/Dolan

Patrick Roache aged 60 was a widower and Mary Dolan aged 84, was listed as a lodger. Her occupation was listed as a Traveller. She was single and resided with him. She may, in her day, have been a lady that went from place to place and stayed in houses with people who knew her to arrive at certain times of the year. She would stay for some time and travel on to the next house. The householders were all listed as farmers.

1911 Census[10]

In the 1911 census, there were 62 people living in 10 houses in Danganbeg. This included the following heads of household: Lawrence Mulrey, Martin Cleary, Mary Curley, Bridget Brannelly, Michael Kenny, Bridget Boyle, John Mulry, Patrick Mulry, Michael Nicholson and Patrick Slamon. (surname spelled as Slammen in 1901 census).

Mulrey/Mulry family (1)

Lawrence Mulrey (spelled as Laurence Mulry in 1901 census) lived in a 2nd class house on land that he owned. He was aged 76 years and married to Emily aged 73 years. Their son Patrick aged 38, daughter-in-law Winifred aged 35, grandson Laurence aged 6 and Emily aged 1, lived with them.  Lawrence and Emily were married for 50 years. They had 11 children with 6 still living in 1911.  Patrick and Winifred were 7 years married and had 2 children.

Cleary/Connelly

Martin Cleary lived in a 2nd class house on land he owned. Martin was a widower aged 71 years. The Cleary house included a son John aged 45, daughter-in-law Kate aged 35, grandson Martin aged 9, granddaughter Bridget aged 7 and Thomas aged 6. Mary Connelly aged 15, was listed as a general servant and lived in the Cleary household. All of the Cleary household could read and write.

Curly family

Mary Curley lived in a 2nd class house on her own land. She was a widow aged 81 years. The Curley household included a son John aged 48, daughter-in-law Margaret aged 39, and granddaughters Margaret aged 9 and Sarah aged 4. Mary also had 4 grandsons; twins, Matthew and Patrick 8 years, Martin 7 years and John aged 2 years.

Bridget Brannelly

Bridget Brannelly lived in a 2nd class house.  She was a widow aged 72 years and lived on her own. She is listed in the census as being sick.

Kenny/Connolly

Michael Kenny lived in a 2nd class house on his own land. He was aged 56 and was married to Nora aged 60 years. Their son Patrick aged 21, lived with them as did Mary Connolly, an aunt, aged 57. They were married 24 years and had 6 children with 2 still living in 1911.

Boyle family

Bridget Boyle was a widow aged 73 years and she lived in a 3 roomed house with her son Thomas 55 years and single, also her other son Martin 45 who was married to Mary aged 34 years. They had 8 children: Martin aged 12, Delia aged 11, John aged 10, Michael aged 9, Ellen aged 7, Mary aged 5, Julia aged 3 and Margaret not yet a year old. Martin and Mary were married for 13 years, had 8 children with 8 still living in 1911.

Mulry family (2)

John Mulry aged 58, was a farmer and married.  He lived in a 3rd class house with 3 rooms and 2 windows to the front. His son Michael aged 28, and his daughter Mary 18, lived with him.

Mulrey famly (3)

Patrick Mulrey was a widower aged 70. He lived in a 2nd class house that had 3 windows to the front and 3 rooms. His son Patrick aged 40, daughter-in-law Celia aged 32, and his 2 grandchildren Mary aged 2 and Patrick aged 1, lived with him.

Nicholson/Treacy

Michael Nicholson aged 28 and single lived in a 3rd class house. Michael could not read or write. The rest of the family could do both. His sister, Ellen Treacy aged 23 and her daughter, Mary Ellen Treacy aged 2 are listed in the census. He lived with his sister Annie aged 17, his brother Martin aged 13, and his sister Catherine aged 11.

Slamon (Slammen) family

Patrick Slamon lived in a 2nd class house and it was the only house in the townland to have 4 windows to the front but still had 3 rooms. He was aged 55 and married to Nora aged 53. They had 4 daughters: Kate aged 15, Bridget aged 14, Mary aged 10 and Ellen aged 8. They also had 3 sons Michael aged 12, Matthew aged 7 and James aged 6. All of the family could read and write.  Patrick and Nora were married for 17 years, had 7 children with 7 still living in 1911.

Mapping Change[12]

The Ordnance Survey map (1837-1842) shows Danganbeg as a long, narrow-shaped townland. The main Roscommon/Galway road remains the same, running through the middle of the townland. The new road (New Line) at Derreen was built later and shows 2 roads leading to Danganbeg further along. They still exist today as entrances to the townland and leading on to Dangan Oughter. The main road leads northward to Horsleap crossroads.

Danganbeg school

According to local information, there was a school in the townland of Danganbeg. There is photographic evidence of the existence of the school. In later years, there was also a shop. The Mulry and Nicholson names that were mentioned in the Griffith’s Valuation 1855 still remain in the village today. It is understood that there were 5 Mulry families in Danganbeg at one time.[13]

 

 

[1] Galway County Library, O’Donovan Field Name Books’ (www.places.galwaylibrary.ie) (March 2012
[2] ibid
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
[5] 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, p.77 (March 2012)
[6] Ask about Ireland, ‘Griffith’s Valuation’ (http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index (March 2012)
[7] 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, and p.108. (March 2012)
[8] 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)
[9] The National Archives of Ireland, ‘Census Ireland 1901/1911’, (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/)
[10] ibid
[11] Central Statistics Office, (www.cso.ie/census/reports) (March 2012)

[12] Ordnance Survey Ireland, (www.osi.ie/publicviewer) (April 2012)
[13] Curran Family Danganbeg, Barnaderg, Tuam,  Co. Galway.

[1] Placenames Database of Ireland (www.logainm.ie)