Know your Townland – Coolshamroge / Cúil Seamróg

This once highly populated townland has been called by various spellings of its English name since first recorded in the inquisitions in 1586. Sometimes it was found with East or West added. Its current official Irish translation derives from Cé, meaning quay, which belies explanation given the situation of the townland. The inquisitions in 1641 recorded it as ‘Ceab’ while John O’Donovan, in 1839, suggested Ceabhach/Céabhach meaning ‘a land producing marshy grass’, both of which make a lot more sense!

Today, we could count the number of families living here on two hands. The figures given for baptisms and past census give a totally different picture of what it harboured in the past when up to 26 families lived here.

88.6 hectares / 0.88km²/0.34 square miles/219 acres

This townland is situated both sides  of the road to Ennis having left the village.

Inchiquin Papers – extracts referencing Keevagh

13-14 June 1699. Lease and release by John Durey to Sir Donough O’Brien, 1st Bart. of 24 acres in Keevagh, parish of Quin, barony of Bunratty in consideration of £40.

In 1703 Sir Donough purchased from the Commissioners for Sale of Forfeited Estates the lands of Keevagh, Daganbrack, Creevagh, Cahercalla, Maddara and Kildrum, totaling 440 acres, formerly held by Nicholas Arthur, who was attained for treason on account of his adherence to James II.

Land transfers in Keevagh in 1641

Freeholders in 1821

Keevagh: Laurence Corbett, James Corbett, Patrick Cody, James Halloran.

Keevagh West: H. Rev. Fitzgerald (resident in Dublin).

The above List of Freeholders contains the names of landholders who were registered to vote in Keevagh in 1821. A freeholder was a man who owned his land outright (in fee) or who held it by lease which could be for one or more lives (for example, his own life or for the lives of other people named in the lease). A significant percentage of the population was included in freeholders’ lists in the time period covered by this list (1796-1820), when both Catholic and Protestant 40 shilling freeholders were qualified to vote. A 40 shilling freeholder held a freehold worth at least 40 shillings per annum above the rent, enabling the inclusion of substantial farmers in the voters’ list. In 1829 the franchise level was increased to 10 pounds (there were 20 shillings in a pound), thus barring the 40 shilling freeholders whom Daniel O’Connell had mobilized and consequently confining the vote to landlords.

Occupiers of land in Keevagh on 1st May 1825 – eligible for tithe payments

Keevagh East: John Massey, John Doolaghty, Widow McNamara, Tim McGrath, James McGrath, John Moylan.

Keevagh West: James Boland, Patt Hallaran, Michael Downes, Cody Denis, Lawrence Corbett.

1901 Census: Population 7; Households 2

John & Mary Burke, nephew Patrick Gallagher.

Patrick Hogan, niece Delia Hogan, grand nephews Patrick & Michael Hogan.

1911 Census: Population 7; Households 2

Thomas & Catherine Moylan, servants Mary O’Callahan, Matthew Moloney.

Bridget Hogan, sons Patrick & Michael Hogan.

1926 Census: Population 13; Households 2

Some Baptisms in Keevagh in 1800’s