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Street Talk-An Tearmann Quin Community Garden & the ‘Pound’

The new community garden is a credit to our local Tidy Towns Committee and a great asset to the community. The background to how it came about through the work of people such as Frank Gordon has been well set out. In this post, we will go back a little further to discuss another previous use of this piece of ground.
Tithe Applotment books
The Tithe Applotment books provide a record of the titheable land in each Church of Ireland parish and were compiled in accordance with the Irish Tithe Composition Acts passed between 1823 and 1838.  They are useful as a census substitute as they contain a listing of rural taxpayers in the 1820s and 1830s. Tithes were the tax paid to the Established Church (Church of Ireland), calculated as one-tenth of the rateable value of one’s agricultural produce. Readers of our ‘Know Your Townland’ series of posts will be familiar with seeing this listing by townland. A parallel list called the ‘Tithe Defaulters’ list was drawn up following the outbreak of the Tithe Wars.
Tithe War 
On March 3rd 1831, the Tithe War began, mostly in Leinster and East Munster. The tithe, one-tenth of agricultural, or other produce, was owed to the minority Protestant Church of Ireland. In a country overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, with a substantial Presbyterian population as well, it was not only an unjustified theft of property but also a sectarian insult. Tenants, barely subsisting, were forced to fund the clergy of a church they did not attend.
The so-called Tithe War was never a conventional war. There were no pitched battles, no generals issuing grand proclamations. Instead, there were cattle drives, boycotts, ambushes, and sporadic killings.The conflict spread across most of Ireland for a decade, stopping only at the predominantly Protestant counties of northeast Ulster, where the religious arithmetic was different and the grievance less acute.
As non-payment increased during the 1830 and 1831, many Church of Ireland clergymen found themselves in serious financial conditions. The Dublin Government established the “Clergy Relief Fund 1831”, by statute in 1832, to alleviate their hardship. But clergymen could only claim for the arrears of 1831, on condition they followed a prescribed process. One consequence of this Act was that the Government then had the job of collecting the arrears of tithes in each parish rather than the clergymen.

 In Clare, this resistance was closely linked to wider agrarian disturbances, notably those led by the “Terry Alts” and “Lady Clare’s Boys,” who protested against oppressive rents, land clearances, and the tithe system. This resistance was not just passive. The Terry Alts, a secret society, and “Lady Clare’s Boys” (who often wore women’s clothes as a disguise) were active in resisting the enforcement of these payments, attacking tithe proctors (collectors), and intimidating those who cooperated with them.
In 1831, a special commission sat in Ennis to try “Whiteboy” offenses, resulting in 111 prisoners appearing, with 6 sentenced to death and most others transported. On April 11, 1831, a petition published in the Clare Journal on behalf of 150,000 tenants in Clare outlined their grievances, including the burden of the tithe and the “parish vestry cess” (local tax). The widespread refusal to pay led to the Tithe Rentcharge (Ireland) Act 1838, which effectively added the cost to the rent paid to landlords, ending the direct, violent confrontations of the “War”. The activities of the ‘Whiteboys’ was a major concern for the local Peace Commissioner and member of the Grand Jury, as noted in his memoirs ‘The Diaries of John Singleton’. It explains the large presence of RIC constables stationed within the wider parish of Quin at the time.

Rev James Hall, in his ‘Tour of East Clare’, 1812 noted:

“In every parish there is a pound-park, to which they take the cows, pigs, calves, and the like, of those who are in arrears for tithes. In eight days after the cattle have been in pound, if the owner do not come and relieve them, by paying the tithe and other expenses, the cow, or whatever it may be, is sold to the highest bidder; and the balance, if any, after paying what had been due, and all expenses, is given to the person to whom the animal, or thing, belonged. There is generally also a pound-park in the parish for the landholders; and middle-men, or receivers, do the same when there happens to be any arrear of rent.”

The ‘Pound’ for Quin was located on the site of the present community garden ‘An Tearmann’. It was captured in the first 6” OS map, which was published in 1842 but surveyed about 1839. This would have been at the height of the Tithe Wars and explains the existence of the ‘Pound’, at the time of the OS survey of Quin.

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.

 Census Records for Keevagh

1841 Census: Population 140; Households 26

1851 Census: Population 31; Households 4

1861 Census: Population 42; Households 6

1871 Census: Population 29; Households 7

1881 Census: Population 17; Households 4

1891 Census: Population 11; Households 3

 

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

Thomas Moylan Head Married English Only
Catherine Moylan Wife Married English Only
Mary A Moylan Daughter   English and Irish
Cecelia Moylan Daughter   English and Irish
Patricia Moylan Daughter   English and Irish
Kathleen Moylan Daughter   English and Irish
Francis Moylan Daughter   English Only
Anne Gregan Sister in Law Single English Only
Matilda Custy Servant Single English Only
John Burke Servant Single English Only
Bridget Hogan Head Widow English Only
Pat Hogan Son Single English Only
Michael Hogan Son Single English Only

Some Baptisms in Keevagh in 1800’s

Date Child’s Forename Father’s Surname Father Mother Sponsors
15.12.1844 Thomas (?) Michael McGrath Mary John Curtin, Margaret McGrath
05.04.1832 Margaret Boland James Flanagan Briget Briget Quigly
??.06.1837 Bridget Boland James Flanagan B. Michael and Briget Cody
31.01.1840 Mary Boland James Flanagan Bridget Bridget Boland
06.04.1843 Pat Boland James Flanagan Bidy Pat Boland, Bidy Boland
25.01.1827 Briget Boland Pat Flanagan Mary Denis Carly(?), Margaret Carley(?)
10.05.1829 Michael Boland Pat Flanagan Mary Briget Boland, Michael Kitchin
27.10.1831 Pat Boland Pat Flanagan Mary Nancy McNamara, Thomas Halloran
19.10.1843 Kity Boland Pat Flanagan Mary Pat Halloran, Bidy Flanagan
??.08.1838 James Boland Pat Flanagan Mary Michael Downs, Mrs. Boland, Janes
??.05.1836 Margaret Boland Pat Flannagan Mary Dennis and Briget Cody
18.04.1828 John Boland Patrick Flanagan Mary Denis Cody, Briget Corley
15.10.1844 Mary Boland Patt Flanigan Mary Bridget Cody
05.03.1847 Mary Boland Patt Flanigan Mary Mary Donohoe
07.09.1825 Catherine Brick John Halleran Mary James Boland
03.02.1822 Bridget Brick John Halloran Mary Patrick Cody, Sally Halloran
26.09.1816 Michael Brick John Halloran Mary John Halloran, Honora Boland
29.08.1817 Michael Brick John Halloran Mary John MacNamara
22.04.1828 John Brick(?) John Halloran Mary Anne Halloran
05.08.1830 James Bricke John Halloran Mary Michael McNamara, Hanagh Lawler
14.01.1844 Patt Coady John Donoughue Mary Patt Corbett, Sarah MacNamara
21.09.1842 Michael Coady(?) Denis Lawler Judy Pat Corbett, Bidy Corbett
11.04.1845 Susan Cody Dennis Lawler Hannah John Hennesy, Mary Clune
03.10.1848 John Cody Dennis Lawler Susan Margaret Cody
08.05.1842 Nancy Cody John Donohoe Mary Denis Coady, Bidy Coady
27.05.1846 John Cody John Donohoe Mary Lawrence Downes, Kate Downs
23.06.1850 Mary Cody John Donohoe Mary Patt Corbett, Margaret Cody
29.11.1816 (?) Cody Patrick Fraly Pat Boland, Betty Cody
23.06.1850 Mary Coffee James McGrath Mary Margaret McGrath
16.02.1855 Mary Coffey Michael McGrath Mary John McGrath, Mary Moylan
26.08.1830 Michael Coleman John Haneen Margaret Pat Halloran, Sally Halloran
04.10.1843 John Collins John Reddin Bridget Michael McGrath, Mary Doloughty
29.05.1844 Michael Corbet Pat Coady Margaret Thomas Corbet, Bridget Corbet
12.08.1817 Margaret Corbett James Halloran Honora Anne Corbett
28.11.1844 Bridget Corbett John Doloughty Mary Patt and Bridget Corbett
31.01.1849 Mary Corbett John Doloughty Mary Patt and Norry Corbett
15.03.1821 Nancy Corbett John Horan Margaret Patt Corbett, mary Corbett
21.02.1830 Margaret Corbett John Moran Margaret James Corbett, Briget Moylan
22.03.1817 Pat Corbett John Margaret James McNamara
??.06.1840 John Corbett Matt Harkins Mary Patt Doloughty, Anne Corbett
03.02.1848 Mary Corbett Matt Harkins Mary Patt Halloran, Bridget Corbett
24.01.1830 Pat Corbett Pat Cody Margaret Lawrence Corbett, Briget Corbett
26.12.1831 Briget Corbett Pat Cody Margaret Denis Cody, Briget Cody
??.01.1838 Laurence Corbett Patt Cody Margaret Laurence and Anne Corbett
25.10.1843 Norry Corbett Tom Shea Nanny Pat Corbett, Bidy Corbett
27.02.1853 Mary Corbett Tom Shea Anne Laurence and Margaret Corbett
05.06.1828 Briget Corry James Hehir Mary Thomas Moylan, Nancy Corry
05.06.1828 John Corry John Corry Betty Michael Henissy, Catherine Moylan
23.01.1837 Bridget Cremins Daniel McNamara Hannah Pat Hogan, Ellen McNamara
30.08.1823 John Doolaghty Tim Rochford Brigid Laurence Corbett
22.05.1823 Thomas Downes M Kitchen Catherine
22.05.1823 Mary Downes M Kitchen Catherine
06.07.1825 Anna(?) Downes Michael Chichin Catherine Pat Cody
08.04.1821 Ellen Downes Michael Kidson Catherine Patt Cody, Mary Frawley
08.10.1826 Martin Downs Michael Kitchin Catherine Pat Carley, Ellen Lawler
21.01.1830 Lawrence Downs Michael Kitchin Catherine Patrick Corbett, Catherine Lawler
04.01.1825 Patrick Fraley Patrick Patrick Henessy
06.09.1819 Judy Griffy James Cummin Johanna John Corbett
26.01.1835 Tim Halloran Pat Grady Bridget Pat Halloran, Bridget McDonnell
16.02.1836 Pat Halloran Pat Grady Bridget Michael McNamara, Nancy Halloran
01.05.1842 Bridget Halloran Patrick Grady Bridget Patrick Cody, Bridget Halloran
14.03.1846 Pegy Halloran Patrick Grady alias Birley(?) Nancy Michael Halloran, Margaret Grady
01.12.1838 Thomas Halloran Patt Grady Bridget Michael and Margaret Grady
10.03.1848 Thady Halloran Patt Grady Bridget Dennis Cody, Bridget McDonnel
??.07.1837 Mary Halloran Thomas Corbet Ann Pat Doloughty, Margaret Fraley
28.06.1835 Bridget Halloran Thomas Corbett Anne Michael Doolaghty
07.04.1839 Mary Halloran Thomas Corbett Ann James and Catherine Halloran
18.02.1841 Anne Halloran Thomas Corbett Anne James Lynch, Mary McNamara
06.01.1843 John Halloran Thomas Corbett Nancy Michael Corbett, Bidy Corbett
??.04.1839 Margaret Healy(Mealy?) Pat Cody Margaret Dennis Cody, Sally Russell
23.11.1845 Thomas Henry Luke Molony Mary Patt Hickey, Bridget Gorman
08.02.1829 Mary Hogan John Crow Sally Kitty(?) Gerin, David Moylan
08.03.1816 Pat Hogan Thomas Moylan Honor Hogan
18.01.1832 Nancy Kinavane Thomas Gerin Briget Nancy Corry, John Hogan
29.06.1845 John Lachford John Glynn Margaret Tom Heihir, Bridget Glynn
19.07.1816 Margaret Lyddy Patrick Halloran Mary Patrick Fahy, Cate MaGrath
12.05.1842 Mary Mac Michael Clune Mary James Mac, Mary MacNamara
11.03.1817 Pat MacNamara James Woulfe Mary James MacNamara
25.04.1833 Anne McGrath James (?)man Mary Margaret McGrath
07.12.1834 Thomas McGrath James Cremmins Mary John Hogan, Margaret McGrath
06.08.1829 Margaret McGrath James Crimens(?) Mary Honor McInerny, (?)
20.04.1818 Mary McGrath James Crimmin Mary Catherine Corry
04.10.1820 Martin McGrath James Crimmin Mary Martin MaGrath
29.04.1832 Catherine McGrath James Crimmin Mary Nancy Corbett, David Moylan
20.08.1826 Michael McGrath James Crimmin(?) Mary Catherine Moylan
??.04.1837 Patt McGrath James Crimmins Mary Anne Corbett
01.06.1817 Brigid McGrath James Crummin Mary Catherine McGrath
01.05.1838 John McGrath James Mary Thomas Moylan, Anne Corry
09.04.1824 McGrath(?) MaGrath Cate
19.12.1821 Thomas McInerny John McGrath Margaret David Moylan, Catherine McGrath
12.04.1841 John McMahon Michael Giddam Peggy Michael and Mary Cumins(Crimins?)
03.09.1845 Daniel McNamara Bat Gannesy(?) Susan Susan Lawler
19.12.1821 Thomas McNamara John Meere Nancy Patt Meere, Nancy McNamara
26.10.1823 Ellen McNamara John Quillinan Bridget James McNamara
11.09.1828 Margaret McNamara Mathew Glen Margaret Ellen Coleman, Edmund Hogan
06.03.1822 Mary McNamara Mathew Glin Margaret John McNamara, Mary Moylan
07.01.1840 Thady McNamara Michael Cluin Mary Patt Clune, Mary Doloughty
15.03.1845 Patt McNamara Michael Clune Mary Catherine McNamara
27.08.1848 Michael McNamara Michael Clune Mary Tom O’Brien, Mary Cain
29.05.1836 Anne McNamara Thomas Clanchy Ellen Pat Doolaghty, Bridget Corbett
01.09.1839 Mary McNamara Thomas Clancy Ellen James and Mary McNamara
03.03.1834 Patrick McNamara Tom Clancy Ellen Thady McNamara, Mary McNamara
31.01.1835 James McNamara Tom Clancy Ellen Pat and Anne Halloran
14.12.1839 Catherine Moylan David Moylan Anne Bridget Hogan
23.03.1837 Honora Moylan David Reddan Anne Margaret Moylan
??.12.1837 Briget O’Gorman Daniel Neylon Mary Judith Frawley
26.04.1854 Michael Slattery Michael Moylan Maria William Moylan, Margaret Slattery
07.10.1839 Mary Walsh John Freeman Bridget Michael and Mary Hehir
02.05.1857 Margaret Coffee Michael McGrath Mary Bridget Crimmins
21.04.1861 John Coffee Michael McGrath Mary Patt McGrath, Mary McGrath
??.02.1825 Mary Coffy Michael McGrath Mary John McGrath, Sally Moylan
06.03.1878 Margaret Connely Michael Faul Mary Bridget Moylan
15.08.1858 Thomas Corbett Thomas Shea Anne Laurence Corbett, Margaret Corbett
09.03.1862 Hugh Hogan Hugh Daffy Bridget Patt Hogan, Ellen Finucane
27.12.1859 Margaret Hogan Thomas Haneen Mary Edmund Burke, Margaret Haneen
22.04.1855 Thomas Rochford John Clancy Margaret Margaret Ma(?)
31.01.1872 Bridget Russell Pat Coffey Anne Michael Clune, Bridget Russell
01.05.1873 Mary Russell Patt Coffee Anne Mary Russell
15.08.1856 Thomas Slattery Michael Moylan Mary Daniel Hayes, Bridget Slattery
22.09.1861 Johanna Slattery Michael Moylan Mary Thomas Dolertny, Margaret Taylor
20.07.1864 John Slattery Michael Moylan Mary Thomas Crowe, Margaret Slattery