Oughterard:TheLocalLandlords

TheparishofOughterardanditsvicinitywasownedbyasmallnumberoflandlords.Theoldest,theO'Flahertys,hadbeenintheareasincethemiddleofthe13thcentury.Thelargest,theMartins,hadbeentheresincethemiddleofthe17thcentury.

Others,theFrenchSt.Georges,HodgsonsandtheDoigscamelater,thelattertwotobuyoutthelandofthoselandlordswhohadbecomebankruptduringtheFamine.

TheestatesandtownlandsownedbythelandlordsandtheheadtenantswhooccupiedthemaregivenintheGriffithValuationfortheparishofKilcummin,1855.

ThelandlordsofOughterardbeforetheFaminewereallresident.TheO'Flahertys,theMartinsofRossandBallinahinchandtheSt.GeorgeswereoriginallyCatholicbutconformedtotheProtestantorStatechurchduringthePenalLawsofthe18thcenturyinordertoholdontotheirestates.

Thechieflandlordsoftheparishinthe19thcenturywerethefollowing:

ThomasB.Martin-BallinahinchCastleRichardMartin-Clareville,Oughterard.200,000acres.HenryHodgson-CurrarevaghHouse,OughterardandMerlinPark,Galway.17,064acres.ChristopherSt.GorgeandArthurFrenchSt.George-ClarevilleLodge,OughterardandTyroneHouse,Kilcolgan.15,777acres.JohnP.Nolan-Ballinderry,TuamandPortacarron,Oughterard.6,886acres.RobertMartin-RossHouse.5,767acres.TrusteesofRobertMartin,Jnr.1,789acres.ThomasH.O'FlahertieandG.F.O'Flahertie-Lemonfield,Oughterard.4,500acres.EdmundO'Flaherty-Gurtrevagh,Oughterard.2,091acres.

ColonelJohnDoigandHelenDoig-Clare,Oughterard.1,445acres.GeorgeCottingham-Corribview,Oughterard.1,140acres.JamesE.Jackson-Kilaguile,Rosscahill.1,062acres.

AftertheFaminethefollowinglandlordsbecameownersofthelargeMartinestateofalmost200,000acres:

TheLawLifeInsuranceSociety-London.Absenteelandlords(1852-1872).190,000acres.RichardBerridgeandRichardBerridgeJunior-BallinahinchCastle(1872-1915).160,000acres.

TherewereothersmallerlandlordsandmiddlemenbetweentheheadlandlordandthetenantsinOughterardanditsvicinity:

WilliamD.Griffith–GlanJamesO'Hara–MoyvoonGeorgeThomas-ArdandArdnasallaJ.Sparrow-GalwayandArdTheRegans–RusheenyEdwardArcher-AgentoftheLawLifeSociety

TheMartins

ThomasBarnwellMartin-BallinahinchCastle

RichardMartin-Clareville,Oughterard

TheMartinfamilyfirstcametoIrelandwiththeNormans,possiblywithStrongbowin1169.TheysettledinGalwayintheearly13thcenturyasoneoftheGalwaymerchantfamiliescalledtheTribesofGalway.AftertheCromwellianconfiscationsofthemid-17thcentury,theybecameownersoflargeareasofConnemaraorIar-Chonnacht,whichhadformerlybeenownedbytheO'Flahertys.

In1698,‘NimbleDick’Martin,thefounderoftheBallinahinchbranchofthefamily,wasconfirmedinthepossessionofhisConnemaraestate,knownastheManorofClaremount,byKingWilliamIII.ThisgrantorpatentledtothefoundingofthetownofOughterard.TheearlygenerationsoftheMartinslivedatDangan,nearGalwaycityandatBirchHallontheshoresofLoughCorrib.

Mostofthelandoftheestateofabout200,000acresconsistedofbog,mountainandlake.ItextendedfromoutsideGalwaytoBallinahinchandalongthecoasttoClifdeninConnemara.Itconsistedof93,000acresinthebaronyofMoycullenandalargenumberoftownlandsintheparishofOughterard.

RichardMartin(1754-1834),knownas‘HumanityDick’,anotedMPintheIrishandUKparliaments,foundedtheSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsin1824andwasfamousforhisskillasaduelist.WhenRichardinheritedtheestateonthedeathofhisfatherRobertin1794,thereweredebtsofbetween£20,000and£30,000onit.Theestatebroughtin£10,000ayearinrents,kelpandfisheries.Hisextravagantlifestyle,lavishhospitalityandpoorestatemanagementincreasedhisdebts.

TheMartinswereregardedasgoodlandlords,popularandgeneroustotheirtenants.Nowidowwaseveraskedforrentandevictionsnevertookplacethere.Rentwasoftenacceptedinkind

i.e.labour,turfetc.ratherthancash,accordingtothebiographerofRichardMartin.ButtheMartinsdidnotimprovetheestateortheconditionoftheirtenantstoanygreatextent.

EdwardWakefield,anagriculturist,wrotein1808thatRichardMartinwasthelargestlandownerinIrelandandBritainandwasaconstantresidentonhisestate,but"hisestateremainsinastateofnatureandexhibitseverymarkofthemostwretchedcultivationorrathernocultivationatall."

AwitnesswhogaveevidencetothePoorInquiryfortheparishofKilcummin1835-36statedthatuptotheyear1825,Mr.MartinsupportedmostofthepoorofthetownofOughterardbutafterthattimehedidnotresidethereandnowtheyhadnochanceofthatkind.

RichardMartinlosthisseatintheWestminsterparliamentin1826.In1829,hefledtoBoulogneinnorthernFrancetoescapehiscreditorsanddiedtherein1834.

ThomasBarnwellMartin(1776-1847),MPforGalway1834-47,inheritedtheheavydebtsofhisfather'sestate.Therewerechargesof£60,345ontheestatein1824.Headdedtohisdebtsbycontinuingtheextravagantlifestyleofhisfather.Buthewasabetterlandlordthanhisfather,residedpermanentlyatBallinahinch,anddevelopedthedistrictaroundbytreeplanting.

In1818,heobtainedapresentmentforaroadbetweenOughterardandClifden,whichranthroughhisestate.Thisroad,whichreplacedanoldbridlepath,wascompletedin1834andgaveemploymenttothepoorasareliefwork.

DuringtheFamine,theMartinsspentlargesumsinfoodandclothingforthepoorandgaveworktohundredsoflabourersontheirestate.ThomasB.diedoffever,caughtwhilevisitinghistenant,asaguardianintheClifdenworkhouseinApril1847.

BoththeTuamHeraldandtheGalwayVindicatorpraisedThomasB.Martinasalandlordintheirreportsonhisdeath.TheTuamHeraldof1stMay,1847,describedhimas"agoodlandlord,aconscientiousanduprightman."VioletMartinofRossHousewrotethat"ourkinsmanThomasMartinofBallinahinchfellvictimtothefaminefever.HewasburiedinGalway,40milesbyroadfromBallinahinch,andhisfuneralfollowedbyhistenantswastwohoursinpassingRossgate."

Thomas'onlydaughterandheir,MaryMartin(1815-50),PrincessofConnemara,inheritedaheavilyindebtedestate.Shemarriedhercousin,ArthurGonneBellMartin,in1847.Shewroteseveralnovels.Herbestknown,JuliaHoward,gaveanaccountoftheravagesoftheFamineintheWestofIreland.Bankrupt,shewenttoNewYorktobetterherpositionanddiedthereinpovertyinNovember1850.

TheestatewasmortgagedtotheLawLifeSocietyofLondon,absenteelandlords,whotookpossessionofitin1852.Outof200,000acres,theMartinswereunabletoretainasinglerood.JamesMartinofRossHouse,acousinandtrusteeoftheestate,toldaparliamentarycommitteeinApril1849that"theMartinestateof200,000acresisinastateofthemostdeplorabledestitution,five-eightsoftheestateiswasteandthepropertyisheavilychargedwithdebts."

Mr.andMrs.S.C.Hall,travelwriterswhovisitedBallinahinchCastlein1853,aftertheendoftheMartinfamily,wrotethat"itwasatBallinahinchCastlethattheboundlessandrecklesshospitalityoftheMartinssappedandeventuallydestroyedthemostextensivepropertyownedbyanuntitledgentlemaninEurope.Everyacreoflandhadpassedawayfromthefamily,beforethelastoftheracediedinabsolutepovertyinAmericaandamongstrangers,anheiressandaladyofgreatability,somethreeorfouryearsago."

HenryHodgson-CurrarevaghHouse,OughterardandMerlinPark,GalwayTheHodgsonfamilycametoIrelandfromWhitehaven,Cumberland,England.TheybecamemineownersinArklow,Co.WicklowbeforetheymovedtotheWestofIrelandinthemid-19thcentury.HenryHodgsonboughtanumberofestatesinCo.GalwayfromlandlordswhohadbecomeinsolventandhadtosellpartoftheirlandsaftertheFamine.TheseincludedG.F.O'FlahertieandC.St.GeorgeofOughterardandotherGalwaylandlords.

TheHodgsonsminedcopperandleadontheirestate,mainlyinGlannearLoughCorribintheparishofOughterardandHodgsonwasregardedasanimprovingandenterprisinglandlord.Whereheboughtland,hegaveemploymentandimprovedtheconditionofhistenantsinMerlinPark(marblequarries)andGlan,Oughterard.

HisseatatCurrarevaghHouse,Glan,wasbuiltin1842.HeownedeleventownlandsintheparishofKilcumminatthetimeoftheGriffithValuation(1855),someofthemsharedwithWilliamD.Griffith,anotherlandlordinGlan.In1876,heowned622acresinOughterardand17,064acresinMerlinPark,Galway.SirWilliamWildewrotein1864that"atGlannearthelakemarginisCurrarevagh,theseatofHenryHodgsonEsq.,theplantingonwhichisbeginningtogiveacivilizedlooktothebrownbogsalongthewater'sedge."

HodgsonhadamineinGlanandMaamwhichproducedcopperandnickelinthe1850s.MenandwomenworkedinthemineandthemineraloreandcopperwascarriedbyasteamertobesmeltedinGalwayandexportedabroad.In1853,asteamercalledtheEnterprise,ownedbytheHodgsons,carriedpassengersandcargobetweenGalwayandOughterard.Oughterardpierhadbeenbuiltin1852.

Mr.H.HodgsonandhissonsplayedanactiveroleinthedevelopmentofOughterard,itstourismandfisheries,inthe19thandearly20thcenturies.From1890-95,Mr.H.HodgsonwasVice-ChairmanoftheOughterardWorkhouseUnion.HenryandDudleyHodgsonregularlyattendedasguardiansoftheOughterardworkhouseandRuralDistrictCouncilmeetings.Henry,asJusticeofthePeace,attendedthefortnightlyPettyCourtsessionsatOughterard.

TheHodgsonswereactiveinthedevelopmentofthefisheriesandnavigationofLoughCorrib.AmongthestewardsoftheCorribRegattaatBaurisheenonthe7thAugust,1899,wereMr.HenryHodgsonandDudleyHodgson.HenryHodgsonwasthefirstsecretaryoftheCorribFisheriesAssociation,formedonJune1st,1898.By1906,theHodgsons,HenryandDudley,hadheldontotheirestateandtheislandsinLoughCorribintheruraldistrictofOughterard.Bythis

time,RichardBerridgeJuniorhadbegunthesaleofhisestateinOughterardandConnemaraandtheSt.GeorgeestateinOughterardhadbeensold.

FolkloreTheSchoolsFolkloreCollection(1937-38)forGlanschoolwaswritteninIrish.ItstatedthatMr.HudsonandGriffith(Fearamháin)werethelandlordsinGlanlongagoandtheirdescendantsaretherestill.Theyremainedthereduringtheirlifetimes.Theywerenottoohardonthepeopleandit'ssaidthatnottoomanyweredispossessedoftheirlands.ThosewhowereevictedwenttoEnglandorbuiltahouseupinthemountains.Therearealotofoldruinsofhousesupinthemountains.Itissaidthatitwasthebailiffsoragentswhoevictedthepeople.Theycameatnight,brokethedoorsandtookthestockandcattle.Therewasoftenfightsbetweentheagentsandthefarmers.

TheSt.GeorgesArthurFrenchSt.GeorgeandChristopherSt.George–TyroneHouse,KilcolganandClarevilleLodge,OughterardThisNorman-Frenchfamily(originallyDeFreynes)cametoGalwayintheearly15thcenturyandwereoneoftheGalwayTribes.JohnFrenchbecameMayorofGalwayin1538.TheFrenchfamilyacquiredestatesinCo.GalwayandConnaughtinthelate16thandearly17thcenturies.TheyconformedtotheStateorProtestantchurchinthe18thcenturytoholdontotheirestatesandenterparliament,publicserviceandtheprofessions,becauseofthePenalLaws.TheFrenchsadoptedthetitleSt.Georgein1774.TheirseatwasTyroneHouse,KilcolganinsouthGalway.ArthurFrenchSt.GeorgeownedKilcolganCastleinthe1830s.ThebranchofthefamilyinFrenchpark,Co.RoscommonproducedFieldMarshallSirJohnFrench,LordLieutenantofIrelandin1920.Inthe18thcentury,theFrenchshadanestateinPortacarron,twomileseastofOughterardtown.In1829,FrancisFrenchownedPortacarronandeightislandsonLoughCorrib.Intheearly19thcentury,theSt.GeorgesownedlargeestatesinthebaroniesofMoycullenandBallinahinch,Connemara.In1829,A.F.St.GeorgewaslandlordofthetownlandsofClare,Eighterard,Magheramore,Ard,Ardnasalla,???andeightislandsonLoughCorribintheparishofOughterard.HisseatwasClarevilleLodge.ThomasB.MartinhadsettledpermanentlyatBallinahinchCastleatthattime.ChristopherSt.George(1810-77),Arthur’sson,wasHighSheriffandMPforthecounty(1847-52).InSeptember1836,RobertGraham,aScottishlandlordandtravelerwhovisitedOughterard,saidthatthegreatbulkofthepropertyabouttheplacebelongedtoMr.C.St.GeorgeofTyroneHouse.In1844,A.F.St.Georgewasdescribedastheproprietorofthetown.Asurveyof1844-45statedthat“nearaseriesofrapidsisClareville,thelodgeofA.F.St.George,adjoiningOughterardonthewest,theproprietorofthetown.”AtthetimeoftheGriffithValuation(1855),C.St.GeorgewaslandlordofthetownlandsofCarrowmanagh,Clare,

Eighterard.PartofthetownofOughterard,MainStreetandpartofBarrackStreetwasownedbyC.St.GeorgeandtherestofthetownbyG.F.O’FlahertieofLemonfield.

TherewereheavydebtsandchargesontheSt.Georgeestateandheadvertisedpartofhisestateforsale,includingmostofthetownofOughterard,intheearly1850s.HenryHodgsonandColonelJohnDoigofOughterardboughtportionsoftheSt.GeorgeestateintheEncumberedEstatesCourt(1849-58),whichsoldbankruptorinsolventestates.In1878,theSt.Georgefamilyowned15,777acresvaluedat£4,533inCo.Galway.Bytheearly1900s,theSt.GeorgeestateinOughterardparishhadbeensold.

Mr.C.St.George,aProtestant,contributed£50forthebuildingofthenewCatholicchapelinOughterard,whichFr.J.W.Kirwanp.p.openedin1830.Later,hegaveasiteonhisestateforachapelandaschoolinGlan,andsitesforotherschoolsintheparish.Atthattime,Rev.A.DallaswasestablishingproselytisingIrishChurchMissionschoolsintheparish.TheGalwayMercuryof27thJuly,1850praisedMr.C.St.GeorgeforhisProtestantliberality,whichtheysaidshowedthatthemajorityoftheProtestantgentrydidnotsupportthe‘Jumpers’EvictionsTherewerethreenotoriouslandlordswhoevictedtenantsinCo.GalwayduringtheFamine:Mrs.Gerrard,Mountbellew;PatrickBlake,Tully,Spiddal;andC.St.George,TyroneHouseandOughterard.

Mr.C.St.GeorgewastheonlylandlordwhohadanestateinOughterardwhoevictedtenantsduringtheFamine.Mr.St.Georgeservednoticeofevictiononabout600ofhistenantsandawholesaleclearancetookplaceonhisestateinLettermoreandGarumnaintheparishofKilanninduringtheFaminein1844-48.TenantswerealsodrivenfromtwovillagesinOughterardparish,GortrevaghandCloosh,bySt.George’sagents.Itwassaidthattheyhadbeenejectedwithoutaragtocoverthem.AcorrespondentfortheGalwayMercurywroteinJune1848aboutthemiseryoccasionedbytheevictionofabout30families,averagingaboutfourtofivemembers,togetherwiththetumblingdownoftheircabinsandthedepopulationofthevillageofGortrevaghonSt.George’sestate.

C.St.Georgewasregardedasanimprovinglandlord,whoevictedtenantstoconsolidatehisestateandtogetridofsmallholderstocreatelargerfarms.Mr.St.GeorgedefendedhispositionwhenchargedwithevictionsasanMPintheHouseofCommonsinApril1848.Hesaidthathehadput£2,500intotheimprovementofhisestateinConnemara.HehadnotreceivedanyrentsandpaidanenormousPoorRate.Hepaid£50-60weeklytogiveemploymenttohistenants.Hesaid,“Ifeelindignantatbeingcalledabadlandlordortohavefailedinanyderelictionofmyduty.”

MajorMcKie,PoorLawInspectoroftheGalwayUnion,heldasworninquiryonFebruary14th,1848,ontheevictionsofMr.C.St.GeorgeandMr.PatrickBlakeofSpiddalintheGalwayUnion.Hesustainedthechargethatlarge-scaleevictionshadtakenplaceinsouthConnemaraandOughterardontheestateofMr.C.St.GeorgebyhisagentsattheheightoftheFamine.

Mr.C.St.GeorgediedatTyroneHouse,Kilcolgan,in1877.HisevictionsduringtheFaminewereforgottenbyhistenants.Athousandofthemwalkedbehindthecoffinallwearingmourningbandsandhatbands.

TheNolans

JohnP.Nolan–Ballinderry,TuamandPortacarron,Oughterard

MostoftheestateofColonelNolanwasinBallinderry,Tuam,buthehadasmallestateinPortacarron,Oughterard.FrancisFrenchownedthelandandestateatPortacarronintheearly19thcentury.SamuelLewis,inhisTopographicalDictionaryofIreland(1837),describedPortacarronofJ.NolanEsq.asoneoftheprincipalseatsintheparishofKilcummin.Inasurveyof1844-45,Mr.Nolan’sseatwasgivenasPortacarron,situatedsouthofOughterardandnearLoughCorrib.IntheGriffithValuationof1855,MarianneNolanownedPortacarronandsomeislandsonLoughCorrib.Itconsistedof233acreswith18tenantsontheestate.TheNolanfamilyalsoownedDerryeighter,whichconsistedof877acres.In1876,JohnP.Nolanhadanestateof6,866acres.

By1906,theNolansdidnotownanylandinOughterardruraldistrict.Inthatyear,MaryBrowneofGalwaywastheownerofPortacarronbeg,consistingof49acres.ThistownlandwasownedbyColonelAndersonin1855.AccordingtotheSchoolsFolkloreCollection(1937-38),theRegansofRusheeneyboughtPortacarronaftertheNolans.Theyweregoodlandlordsanddidnotevicttheirtenants.

BoatscarriedturftoGalwayfromPortacarroninthe19thcentury.Portacarroncontainsanearlyecclesiasticalsettlement,closetotheshoreofLoughCorrib,referredtobySirWilliamWildein1867asthechurchofPortacarronneartheedgeofthelake.TheenclosurecontainsachurchandtheruinsofanearlyChristianoratory.

ThePortacarronEvictionsTheworstevictionsaroundOughterardtookplaceatPortacarron,ownedbyJohnP.Nolan.Thewholetownlandwithitstenantswasevictedbetween1864and1866.Theyweregiven£50bythelocalpeopletostartanewlifeinsomeotherplace.

Capt.NolanstoodasaLiberalandHomeRulecandidateinan1872by-electioninCo.Galway.HewasopposedbyWilliamLePoerTrenchofBallinasloe,aConservativewhorepresentedthelandlordinterest.AmostseriousobjectionwasraisedagainstCapt.NolanbyFr.Dooley,aCatholicpriestinOughterard.Nolanwaschargedwithhavingevictedfourteenfamilies,consistingof90personsinall,fromhisestateinPortacarronfrom1864to1866.TwoofthemhadsincediedintheOughterard

workhouse.Fr.DooleypublishedafulllistofthenamesofthoseevictedintheGalwayVindicatoron15thFebruary,1872.

Capt.Nolanadmittedthesubstanceofthechargemadeagainsthim.Theonlywayhecouldgoforwardforelectionwastosubmithiscasetoanarbitrationprocess,ratherthandefendinghispositioninthecourts.ThearbitrationtookplaceatOughterardon29thMay,1872.It’sthreemembersweresympathetictothetenantsanddecidedthatthetenantsshouldberestoredtotheirlandsandgivencompensation.Capt.Nolanacceptedthisdecisionofthearbitrators,althoughnothinghadbeendoneforthetenantsinthemeantime.

Inthe1872electionwhichfollowed,NolaneasilydefeatedTrenchbutwasafterwardsunseatedbecauseofundueclericalinfluenceonhisside.Inthe1874election,Capt.NolanwaselectedasaHomeRuleMPforGalway,aswasMitchellHenryofKylemoreCastle,Connemara.

ThePortacarroncasehadcreatedaprecedent,asitwasthefirstcaseinpost-FamineIrelandthatalandlordwaspreparedtoabidebyadecisionofarbitrationsothatitwaslegallybindingonallconcerned.Thetenantswelcomedthedecision,astheywererestoredtotheiroriginalfarmsorreceivedcompensation.Landlordssawitasabetrayaloftheirposition,astheyfelttheywouldnotgetjusticeinfuturedisputes.

TheMartinsofRoss

RobertMartinandJamesMartin–RossHouse,Kilannin

TheMartinsofRosswereofthesamefamilyoriginallyastheircousinsofBallinahinchandcouldtracetheirorigintotheNormanconquestofIrelandinthe12thcentury.TheysettledinGalwayintheearly13thcenturyandbecamemillownersandoneoftheGalwaymerchantfamiliescalledtheTribes.TheywerethefirstoftheTribesofGalwaytoventureoutintothewildcountryofthenativeIrish.RobertMartin,whowasHighSheriffandMayorofGalway,boughtanestatefromtheO’FlahertysatRossin1590.

Hisgrandson,RobertMartin,HighSheriffofGalwayin1644,supportedthecauseofKingCharlesIagainstCromwellandParliamentinthemid-17thcentury.AtthecaptureofGalwayin1652,hewasdispossessedofhispropertyandhouseinthecitybytheCromwelliansandbuiltahouseatDangan,outsidethecity.Hereceivedagrantof2,909acresinthebaronyofMoycullenbyRoyalPatenton21stAugust,1677anddiedin1700.

TheMartinsofRossweretheseniorbranchofthefamily.Robert’sson,Richard‘NimbleDick’Martin,producedthejuniororBallinahinchbranchofthefamily.RobertMartin(d.1868)andhissonJames(1804-72)werethelandlordsatRossinthe19thcenturyandduringtheFamine.RobertJasperMartin(1846-1905),sonofJames,ownedtheestateuntilhisdeathin1905.

Thefamilyweremadefamousinthelate19thcenturybytheliteraryworksofViolet(Florence)Martin,whowroteunderthepennameMartinRoss,andhercousinEdithSommerville.TheywrotebooksabouttheAnglo-IrishviewofIrishlife,i.e.TheIrishR.M.storiesandTheRealCharlotteetc.

SirWilliamWildedescribedtheRossestatein1867.HewrotethatthenextobjectofnotealongthemainroadfromOughterardtoGalway“istheextensive,well-woodedandpicturesqueDemenseofRoss,thepropertyofJamesMartinEsq.,onthenorthernorleft-handside,withtheprettylakeancientlycalledLoughLonan,inanislandofwhichtherearestillsomevestigesoftheoldcastleofOhery.”

TheMartinsofRosswererelativelysmalllandlordscomparedtotheircousinsofBallinahinchandClareville,whohadavastestateof200,000acresinConnemara.RobertMartinowned5,767acres,valuedat£1,326in1876.MostoftheirlandwasintheparishofOughterard[at?]Callinamucketc.

TheMartinswereoriginallyCatholicandJacobiteandsupportedtheStuartcause.DuringthePenalLawsofthe18thcentury,theybecameProtestantbuttheyweretolerantoftheCatholicreligionastheylivedinanentirelyRomanCatholicdistrict.

RossHousewasburneddownin1740andwasrebuiltandreplacedbythepresentbuildingabout1777,“atallunlovelyblockofgreatsolidity”whichsuggestedtheideaofdefence,accordingtoVioletMartinofRoss.Itwithstoodthe‘NightoftheBigWind’,6thJanuary,1839,whenallthecabinsarounditweredestroyed.Mrs.J.M.Callwell,whowroteahistoryoftheMartinsofRoss,wrotethathergrandfatherNicholassaidthat“ifRossfellthatnight,nohouseinIrelandwouldstand”.RossHousewasagainburneddownin1932.

JamesMartinwasthefirstChairmanoftheOughterardWorkhouseUnionwhenitwasestablishedinOctober1849.TheMartinswereactiveinrelievingthemiseryanddestitutionofthelargenumberoftenantsontheirestateduringtheFamine.In1847,asoupkitchenwassetupatthegatesofRossHousetorelievetheirstarvingtenants.AccordingtoVioletMartin,“Impossibletofeed,impossibletoseeunfed.”

GoodrelationsexistedbetweentheMartinsofRoss,aslandlords,andtheirtenants.Arrearsofrentweregiventimetobetakenbytheboatloadofturforworkedoffbydaylabourandevictionswereunheardof.ThiswastheviewputforwardinIrishMemoriesbyE.SommervilleandVioletMartin.

TheMartinsincurredheavydebtsandneverreallyrecoveredfromtheeffectsoftheFaminebutmanagedtoholdontotheirestate.JamesMartinhadtogotoLondontoworkasajournalist“totideovertheeviltimes”,accordingtohisdaughterVioletMartin.

AfterthedeathofJamesMartinin1872,theMartinfamilyleftRossforDublinanddidnotreturnuntil1888.RobertJasperMartin,whohadinheritedtheestate,wenttoLondontoworkasajournalistandonlyreturnedtoRossHouseoccasionally.Whiletheywereabsent,anewagenttookchargeoftheestate.Hispolicyledtobitterness,discontentandevictionsoftenants.

About1875,allthetenantsofthetownlandofPorridgetown,whichbelongedtotheMartins,wereevictedfromtheirhomestothesideoftheroad.Theylivedinlittlehutsandcharitable

peoplegavethemfoodandlodgings.Fr.Coyne,p.p.ofKilannin,gotthembackintotheirhousesagain–hishousetothisdayiscalledLandLeagueHouse.

InJanuary1880,aprocessserverfromGalwayservednoticesofevictionon30familiesontheMartinestateinasingleday.HewasprotectedbyahundredconstabularyfromGalwayandaforceoflocalpolicefromOughterard.Alargecrowdgatheredtopreventtheservingoftheevictionnoticesbutfailedbecauseofthegreatforcesagainstthem.Someviolencebrokeout.

TheMartinsadvertisedthesaleoftheestateintheLandedEstatesCourtinMay1885.In1888,Violet(Florence)MartinreturnedtoRossHouseandtriedtopullitbackfromruinanddecayaftersixteenyearsofneglect.Afterthat,theMartinslivedastenantsontheestate.RobertJasperMartin,thelastowneroftheestate,diedin1905.VariousMartinslivedatRossuntil1914.VioletMartindiedin1915.Theestatewasdividedupamongthetenantsintheearly20thcentury.RossHousewassoldtoClaudChevassein1924.

TheO’Flaherties–Lemonfield,Oughterard

TheO’FlahertyswereanoldIrishfamilywhoruledoveralargeterritoryeastofLoughCorrib,i.e.thebaronyofClare,beforetheNormanconquestofConnaughtintheearly13thcentury.Inthemid-13thcentury,theyweredrivenwestwardacrossLoughCorribintotheareaknownasIarChonnacht,orthebaronyofMoycullen,bytheNormandeBurgos(Burkes).TheysooncontrolledthewholeofConnemara,whichtheyruledoverundisturbedforabout400years,from1250to1650.

Theybuiltstonefortressesinthenewterritoriestheyoccupied,themostnotablewasAughnanureCastlenearOughterard.Theyalsobuiltcastlesinthelate15thcenturyatMoycullenandalongtheseacoastatBunowen,BallinahinchandRenvyle.

TheO’FlahertysofLemonfieldweredescendedfromtheAughnanurebranchofthefamilyinadirectlinefromMurchadhNadTuadh,theirgreatestchieftaininthe16thcentury.

Duringthe17thcenturyCromwellianconfiscations,theO’Flahertys,whohadsidedwiththeking,weredispossessedofalltheirlands,whichweresoontakenoverbytheMartinsofBallinahinch,aNormanfamilyandoneoftheGalwayTribes.By1618,theirterritoryhadshrunkto500acressituatedintheparishofKilcumminor???whichwastheirancientinheritance.Inthe18thcentury,theO’FlahertiesconformedtotheProtestantorStatechurchtokeeptheirsmallestateundivided.

SirWilliamWildegaveadescriptionoftheseatoftheO’FlahertyswhenhevisitedOughterardin1867.Hewrote,“attheeasternextremityofthetownisLemonfield,theseatofG.F.O’FlahertieEsq.(whoseancestorsoccupiedsomuchofthisterritoryandperformedsonotableapartinthehistoryofWestConnaughtformanycenturies).Thehousestandsinaspaciouslawnreachingdowntothelakeandissurroundedbywell-growntimberandhighlycultivatedgardensandpleasuregrounds.”

AughnanureCastle,whichwasoccupiedbytheO’Flahertysfromthe16thtotheearly18thcenturies,wasdescribedas“acastleinruins”inlate18thand19thcenturyaccounts.

SirJohnO’Flaherty(1728-1808),wholivedatLemonfield,wasaJusticeofthePeaceandHighSheriffofGalwayin1800.Hediedin1808atLemonfield,aged82,andwasburiedintheadjoiningmortuarychapelofKilcummincemetery,likegenerationsofhisancestors.

TheO’FlahertyshadruledoveranareaonwhichthecityofGalwaynowstands,aswellasalargeareaeastofLoughCorrib,beforetheNormanconquestofConnaughtinthe13thcentury.TheywerethusenemiesofthecitizensofGalway,alltheNormanTribeswhohaddriventhemoutoftheirterritory,andmadefrequentattacksonthecityintheearlycenturies.Itislittlewonderthecitizensprayed“FromtheferociousO’Flahertys,OLorddeliverus”,whichwasinscribedonthewestgateofthecity.

WhentheyoungFrenchnoblemanDeLatoenagevisitedSirJohnO’FlahertyatLemonfieldin1796,hereceivedawarmandcharmingwelcomeandfoundhim“anythingbutferocious”.SirJohnprovidedhimwithahorsetotraveltoRichardMartinatBallinahinch,astherewasnoroad.

Capt.ThomasHenryO’Flahertie,

born1777,SirJohn’sson,andGeorge(G.F.)werethelandlordsatLemonfieldinthefirsthalfofthe19thcenturyandduringtheFamine.In1837,Capt.T.H.O’FlahertieEsq.,Lemonfield,wasdescribedasoneoftheprincipalseatsintheparishofKilcummin.By1855,theO’Flahertiesowned16townlandsinthevicinityofOughterardtown.PartofthetownwasownedbytheO’FlahertiesandtherestbySt.GeorgeofClarevilleLodge.TheO’FlahertiesownedthetollsandcustomsofthefairofthetownofOughterard.WiththedeathofThomasB.MartinofBallinahinchduringtheFamineinApril1849,theO’FlahertiesbecamethelandlordsofOughterard.

Duetodebts,partoftheirestateof4,500acreswassoldtoColonelJohnDoigandHenryHodgson,locallandlords,in1854.TheO’Flahertieshadareducedacreageof2,346acresin1864.Therentalontheestateincludedtheleadminesof

Glengola,fourmileswestofOughterard,andtheblackmarblequarrynearthetown.In1876,TheoboldO’FlahertieofLemonfieldwastheownerofanestateof2,340acres,valuedat£604-5s-0d,inthevicinityofOughterard.ByMarch1916,theO’FlahertieshadacceptedoffersfromtheCongestedDistrictsBoardforthesaleofpartoftheirestate.

ItdoesnotappearfromnewspaperreportsorotherrecordsthattheO’FlahertiesofLemonfieldevictedtenantsduringtheFamineorinthelater19thcentury.

WitnesseswhogaveevidencetothePoorInquiryof1835-36fortheparishofKilcumminstatedthatsomelocallandlordschargedexorbitantrentsforpoorqualitylandandthatsomeofthemwerecrueltowardstheirtenants.Dr.Kirwanp.p.,Oughterard,gaveevidencethatifthetenantsimprovedtheirlandorhouse,thelandlordswouldraisetherent.

Capt.T.H.O’Flahertiesaidthatintimesofdistress,landlordswouldgivereliefandprovisions

totenantsinneed,butstrictlyoncredit,tobepaidbackinaseparateaccountfromtherent,andthatlandlordsneverlostanythinginthattransaction.Hesaidtheresidentlandlordsgavesomeemployment;heemployedtentotwentyofhisowntenantswhoheldunderleasesof10shillingsanacre.

Inonerespect,theO’FlahertiesofLemonfieldwouldhavebeenunpopularwiththeCatholicsoftheparish.WhenDr.Kirwanwasappointedparishpriestin1827,hesaidthattherewasnohouseofworshipintheparishof10,000souls.Hebuiltabeautifulnewchurch,aparochialhouseandadispensaryforthedistrict.Someyearslater,Mr.G.F.O’Flahertiechallengedhisrighttotheleaseofthegroundonwhichthechurchwasbuilt,claimingitwashisown.Dr.Kirwaneventuallywonhiscase,withtheassistanceofT.B.Martin,andthechurchwasdedicatedandfinallyopenedin1837.

Inaddition,theO’FlahertiesgaveactiveassistancetotheproselytisingmovementoftheRev.A.DallasoftheIrishChurchMissionSociety,whowereactiveintheparishduringtheFamineandformanyyearsafterwards.TheyweretryingtoinducetheCatholicsoftheparish,ingreatdistressandhunger,tobecomeProtestant.TwoofthefourproselytisingschoolsoftheRev.A.DallasintheparishwereunderthecontrolofG.F.O’FlahertieofLemonfield,i.e.theschoolsatClareandGlengola.

TheO’FlahertiesplayedaprominentpartinthepubliclifeofthetownandparishofOughterardduringthe19thandearly20thcenturies.ThomasH.O’FlahertiewasChairmanofthelocalReliefCommitteeduringtheFaminein1846-47.Heworkedwithmanyothers,clergyandlaypeople,inprovidingreliefforthoseingreatestneed.GeorgeF.O’FlahertiebecameChairmanoftheOughterardWorkhouseUnionin1851.TheO’FlahertieswereactiveasofficersandguardiansoftheOughterardworkhousethroughoutthe19thcentury,i.e.George,Edmund,TheoboldandJack(JohnP.).

JackO’FlahertiewasVice-ChairmanoftheworkhouseUnionin1906.Fromthe1880s,hewasactiveinthedevelopmentofthetownandparish.Heregularlyattendedmeetingsasaworkhouseguardian,oftheRuralDistrictCouncil,schoolattendancemeetingsandactedasamagistrateinthefortnightlyPettyCourtsessions.HewasactiveinthedevelopmentofthefisheriesonLoughCorrib.HelivedatLemonfieldHouseanddiedinthe1930s,thelastmemberofthefamily.

TheoriginalterritoryoftheO’Flahertys,ontheeasternshoreofLoughCorrib,wasdescribedunderthenameHyBriúinSeolaandMuintirMurchadhawastheirancienttribalname.ThenamewasoriginallyspelledO’Flaherty,laterO’Flahertie,inold[pat?]asO’Flahertie.TheirmottowasFortunaFavetFortitus(Fortunefavoursthebrave).

EdmundO’Flaherty–Gortrevagh,Oughterard.2,091acres.

EdmundO’Flahertywasalandlordandinn-keeperbasedinGortrevaghtownland,Oughterard.HebelongedtotheRenvyleorWesternbranchoftheO’Flahertyclan.

Inthe18thcentury,theO’FlahertysheldlandsfromtheBlakesofRenvyle,baronyofBallinahinch,whichtheyhadpreviouslyowned.HenryBlake,oneoftheGalwayTribes,didnotrenewtheleaseintheearly19thcentury,ashedecidedtolivetherehimself.TheO’FlahertysmovedandboughtlandinOughterardandMoycullen.

TothesamebranchoftheO’FlahertysofRenvylebelongedAnthonyO’FlahertyofKnockbane,Moycullen,MPforGalwaycityfrom1847-59,whoplayedsuchanotablepartonbehalfofthepoorduringtheFamine.

EdmundO’FlahertyofGortrevaghremainedaCatholic,asdidAnthonyO’Flaherty,unliketheO’FlahertiesofLemonfield,whoconformedtotheProtestantorStatechurch.

ThebranchsettledatMoycullenalsoproducedthenoted17thcenturyhistorianRodericO’Flaherty(1629-1718),whowasreducedtopovertybytheWilliamiteconfiscationsofthelate17thcentury.

EdmundO’FlahertyhadbeenHighConstableforthebaronyofMoycullenfrom1824-29,whichhesaidenabledhimtocollectthefullamountoftithesandtaxesineverytownlandoftheparishofKilcummin.

UnderthenewPoorLawAct(1838),alloccupiersoflandhadtopayataxcalledthePoorRateforthesupportofthepoorintimesofdistress.ThishadbecomeaheavyburdenduringtheFamine,astheworkhousesbegantofill.O’FlahertyhadbeenPoorRatecollectorfortheparishofKilcumminbutresignedhispositionin1843,asthePoorRatehadbecomesounpopularanddifficulttocollect.Inthesameyear,therewasariotinOughterardandKilannininoppositiontothePoorRate,asthesmallfarmersandpeasantswereunabletopaytheRate.ThegovernmenthadtobringdownanoutsiderfromDublin,GeorgeMcDonald,toenforcethePoorRatewithconstabularyandmilitaryprotection,duringtheFamine.

In1855,EdmundO’FlahertyownedtwotownlandsintheparishofBallinakillandOmey,nearClifden,andwaslandlordofthetownlandsofGortrevaghandArdnasallaintheparishofOughterard.TheWillisfamilybecamethelaterownersofGortrevagh,wherethepresentOughterardGolfClubissituated.

ThomasColvilleScott,anEnglishmanwhovisitedOughterardinFebruary,1853,describedEdmundO’Flahertyas“apostmaster,inn-keeper,farmerandpapist.”

O’FlahertywaslandagentforChristopherSt.George,whoownedalargeestateinOughterardandsouthConnemara.InJune,1848,evictionstookplaceinthetownlandsofClooshandGortrevaghontheSt.Georgeestate.TheGalwayMercuryofJune,1848,wroteoftheevictionsof30families,thetumblingdownoftheirhousesandthedepopulationofthevillageofGortrevaghinOughterard.

In1864,EdmundO’FlahertywasatenantofCaptainO’Hara,alocallandlordinMoyvoon,whoownedAughnanureCastle.

SirWilliamWilde,aregularvisitortothearea,wrotein1867thatEdmundO’FlahertywasadescendantoftheMoycullenbranchofthefamilyandwasatthattimeutilisingtheCastleandmanorasadairyfarm.

O’FlahertybecameVice-ChairmanoftheOughterardworkhouseUnionwhenitwasestablishedinOctober,1849,andbecameitsChairmanin1875.

In1876,EdmundO’FlahertyJ.P.(JusticeofthePeace)owned2,091acres,valuedat£314.TheGalwayVindicatorofJanuary,1880,reportedthatMr.EdmundO’FlahertywastheonlylocallandlordintheparishwhowasnotanabsenteeatatimeofgreatdistressduringtheLandLeaguecrisis(1879-82).In1906,MaryD.WillisoccupiedGortrevagh,consistingof158acres.

ColonelJohnDoig–Clare,Oughterard

ColonelJohnDoigwasfromEdinburgh,ScotlandandhadbeeninvolvedintheBritishEastIndiaCompany.TheDoigscametoOughterardaroundthetimeoftheFamineandwerebasedinClaretownland.Theywerestillthereinthelate1930s.

ColonelJohnDoigbought2,153acresfor£5,040fromthesaleoftheSt.Georgeestateintheearly1850s.Itisnotclearwherethislandwas,asC.St.GeorgehadanestateindifferentpartsofConnemaraandinthebaronyofClare,northGalway.

In1855,JohnDoigowned1,445acresintheparishofOughterard,whichincludedthetownlandsofClare,Annakeelaun,Ard,MagheramoreandsomeislandsonLoughCorrib.TheselandswerepossessedbyArthurF.St.George,thefatherofC.St.George,inthe1820s.

ThehomeofJohnDoigandhisfamilywasoccupiedbyGeorgeCottingham,alocallandlord,in1855,whohelditfromJohnDoig.ItisnowaBedandBreakfast.

ColonelJohnDoigwasmemberoftheOughterardReliefCommitteein1862-3,atatimeofeconomicdistressandfoodshortagesintheparish.HewaspraisedforhiscontributionasalandlordtothepoorofOughterardbyFr.MichaelKavanaghp.p.(1852-64).HewasamagistrateandVice-ChairmanoftheOughterardworkhouseUnionin1862.HewasDeputyVice-ChairmanandaPoorLawguardianoftheworkhousefrom1858-70.AmedicalofficeroftheUnion,hediedin1871.

Hischildren,Helen,JohnandScropeDoig,inheritedhisestate.In1876,HelenDoig,Clare,owned125acres;JohnDoigJunior,Clare,owned391acres;ScropeDoig,India,owned929acres.ScropeDoigownedthetownlandofMagheramore,consistingof929acres,whichhestillheldin1906.

ScropeDoigtookanactivepartinthedevelopmentofthefisheriesonLoughCorribandthetourismofthetown.TheCorribFisheriesAssociationwasformedinGalwayonthe1stJanuary,1898toimprovetheanglingonLoughCorrib.ColonelScropeB.DoigwasSecretaryoftheAssociationfrom1900to1910.

Before1900,thenumberoftouristanglerswhovisitedOughterardwasverysmall.AtaspecialmeetingoftheAssociationintheAngler’sHotel,Oughterard,on23rdAugust,1907,ScropeDoigsaidthatthetouristanglershadincreasedverylargelyinrecentyears.Althoughtherewerethreehotelsinthetown,theydidnothavesufficientroomsforallthevisitors.Scropesaidtherewerenowoverahundredprofessionalfishermenwhovisitedannuallyandboththetownandtherailwayhadreapedgreatbenefitsasaresult.

FolkloreReportsfromtheSchoolFolklore

Collection(1937-38)fromtheconventschool,Oughterard,statedthatMr.DoigandJackO’FlahertywerethelandlordsofOughterard.Itwassaidthattheywerenotasbadlatelyastheywereinthebeginningbecausethepeoplelessenedtheirpower.Theyhadagentsandbailiffsunderthemworsethanthemselves,whoevictedpeople,someofwhomwentintotheworkhouse.Theylivedalifetimeinthisplace.

Intheoldtimes,thelandlordswereverycruelandtheyevictedsomepeopleeveniftheypaidtherent.ColonelDoigisstillalivebutJackO’Flahertyisdead.ThelandlordshadgreatpoweroverthepeoplebutthelandwaslatertakenfromthembytheLandCommission.

JamesE.Jackson–Kilaguile,RosscahillandKilannin

JamesEdwardJackson(1824-1907)wasthesonofRev.JamesE.Jackson,RectorofArdee,Co.LouthandlaterDeanofArmagh.HecamefromthenorthofIrelandandinAugust,1853,heboughtapropertyinthetownlandofKilaguilefromRobertMartinofnearbyRossHouse.HebuiltahouseatKilaguilenowknownasRossLakeHouseHotel,parishofKilannin,baronyofMoycullen.

HewasactiveinlocalaffairsasaJusticeofthePeace(J.P.)andanofficerandPoorLawguardianoftheOughterardworkhouseUnionfrom1875-1900,actingregularlyasitsChairman.InOctober1879,Jackson,asChairmanoftheSpecialPresentmentsessions,Oughterard,signedamemorialtotheLordLieutenant,withalistofusefulpublicworksforthepoor,i.e.arailwayfromGalwaytoClifden,thebridgingofKnockferrybetweenHeadfordandMoycullenandthereclamationofvasttractsofmountainlandinthebaronyofMoycullenetc.

JacksonwasagentforRobertMartinofnearbyRossHouse,whowasoftenabsentfromhisestateafter1872.In1876,JamesE.JacksonJ.P.,Kilaguile,Oughterard,wastheownerof1,062acresvaluedat£91.In1906,theyearbeforehedied,heheld1,053acresandamansionhouse

atKilaguile.In1886,hehadbeenagentforLordArdilaun(Guinness)ofCong,whowasownerofavastestate.

OnOctober22nd,1880,JacksongaveevidencetoaCommissionontheLandActs(Bessborough)attheRailwayHotelinGalway.Hewasexaminedonhispositionasalandlord,hisrelationswithhistenants,rentsetc.ThiswastheperiodoftheLandLeagueagitationwhenthetenantsunderleaderswerechallengingthelandlordsandrefusingtopayrents.Theevidenceisfromalandlord’sviewpoint.

Hesaidhewastheownerofland,farmedhisownlandandwasagentforCapt.MartinofRoss.ThetenantsinhisneighbourhoodnearLoughCorribweremostlysmallholdersofland,someofthemaslowas£2-10svaluationandsopoorthatiftheygottheplacefornothing(norent),theycouldnotliveonit.Ingeneral,therentwas40-50percentabovethePoorLawvaluationofthelandandhefelttherentchargedwasreasonable.SomeofhistenantswenttoEnglandandmoretoScotlandaslabourers;othersworkonthefarmsofneighbouringlandholders.

Mostofthetenantshadnotenoughlandtoliveon.Theytookconacrefromlargefarmersonwhich,ingeneral,theygrowpotatoesandsometurnips.Asarule,tenantsdidnotimprovetheirholdingsandlandlordsdonotencouragethemtoimprove.Sometimestheyreclaimedbogland,onwhichpotatoesgrowwell.

Fiveyearsago(i.e.1875),hedrainedalakeonthelandofwhichhewasagent.Asaresult,thetenantagreedtopay1shillinginthepoundofextrarent.Whenheaskedfortheaddedrent,theyrefusedtopayapenny.Heservedthemwithanoticeofevictionandtheygavein.Hehadbeendenouncedeversincebytheirpriest(Fr.Coyne)forhisharshconducttowardshistenantsbuthemerelyaskedforwhattheyagreedto.

Thetenantshadrefusedtopayanyrentthisyear(1880)unlesshereducedtherentby40-50percent,i.e.thePoorLawvaluation.Lastyear(1879),hegaveareductionofhalfayear’srent,i.e.a50percentreduction,astheywereverypoorandtheyneededit.Hetookproceedingsincourtagainsttwelvetenantswhorefusedtopayanyrentandtheyagreedtohistermsandsubmitted.

Thepeoplearewillingtopayafairrentbutontheirowntermsasvaluatorsandnotwhatthelandlordswant.Theydonotcultivateorfarmthelandastheyshould.Theyarelazyanddonothingduringthewinteruntilspring.Fortherestoftheyear,theygotofairs,markets,wakes,weddingsandfunerals,whereeveryoneattends.HehadcomefromthenorthofIrelandtwentyyearsago,wherethepeoplearemoreindustriousthanhere.

Hehadlaidoutthelargesumof£800duringthelasttwelveyearsforhousesforsmalltenantsandlabourersclosetohisownplace,i.e.labourer’scottages.Hehadasmuchdifficultyindealingwiththemasiftheywerepaying£50ayear.Onhisownproperty,hedidnotchargeforturfandtheycouldtakeasmuchastheycouldcutfortheirownuse.

WhenJacksonwasagentforLordArdilauninCongin1886,hesaidthatof600tenantsontheestate,theaveragerentwas£7-14sperannum.OnhisownestateinKilaguilein1880,hewascharging40-50percentabovethePoorLawvaluation.Rentvariesaccordingtofarmsizeandthequalityoftheland.Ifthevaluationoftheholdingwas£5perannum,thetenanthadtopayarentof£7or£7-10sperannumorfaceeviction.

RentswereexceedinglyhighinsomeplacesinGalwayin1880.AtaLandLeaguemeetinginNovember1879,therentrollofonepropertyintheparishofKilanninhadbeenraisedwithinthelastsixorsevenyearsbytheenormousamountofonehundredandfiftypercent.InfivetownlandsintheparishofMoycullen,therentwasmorethandoubledbetween1870-72and1879.

EvidenceofthewitnessesbeforetheBessboroughCommissionin1881saidthattheaveragerentofsmallholdings,manyofthemconsistingpartlyofbogandunreclaimedland,wasintheregionof£7peracreinCo.Mayo,DonegalandthewestofIreland,i.e.highrentsonsmallfarms.

TheLawLifeInsuranceSociety

ThomasB.Martin(1786-1847),MPforGalway,diedon23rdApril,1847.Hisonlydaughter,MaryMartin,inheritedtheestate,whichhadbecomebankrupt.Arrearsofrentontheestateamountedto£30,000inOctober1848.MaryMartin(1815-50)emigratedtoAmericaanddiedinNewYorkinNovember1850,pennilessandamongstrangers.

TheLawLifeSocietyofLondonbecamethemortgageesoftheestateofnearly200,000acres.Itcontained93,000acresandover100townlandsinthebaronyofMoycullen.On14thJuly,1852,theLawLifeSociety,themortgagees,tookpossessionoftheestateatthenominalsumof£186,000.Byanorderdated9thNovember,1853,themanorofClareorClaremountatOughterardwassoldtotheLawLifeSocietywithallitsmanorialrights,i.e.therighttoholdfairsandmarketsetc.,whichhadbeengrantedto‘NimbleDick’Martinin1698andwhichledtothefoundingofthetownofOughterard.Outofthevastestateof196,500acres,theMartinsdidnotgetasingleroodofground.

TheLawLifeSocietywasanabsenteefinancialcompany,basedinLondon.TheirlandagentsbasedinConnemarawereMr.GeorgeT.Robinsonandhisson,Henry.LordCampbell,alandlordinMoycullen,wasadirectorofthecompanyandEdwardArcheranagentinOughterard.Theyimmediatelyembarkedonawholesaleclearanceofthesmalltenantsofftheestateandraisedtherents.

TravelwriterswhovisitedOughterardandConnemaraintheimmediateaftermathoftheFaminegaveaccountsofthesewidespreadevictions.TheRev.S.G.Osborne,whovisitedtheareain1849-50,wrotethatfromGalwaytoOughterard,enroutetoClifden,thecountrywasdisfiguredbytheevidenceofevictionandthewretchedappearanceofverymanyofthepeople.Dr.JohnForbes,whovisitedthedistrictin1852,wroteinreferencetotheLawLifeSocietythat

“throughoutthewholedistrict,themarkofevictionanddepopulationweremoreextensiveandconspicuous”thanhehadseeninanyotherpartofIreland.

HenryCoulter,ajournalist,inhisbookTheWestofIreland(1861-62)gaveadetailedaccountoftheactivitiesoftheLawLifeSocietyinConnemara.Hewroteon12thDecember,1862,thatthedirectorsoftheLawcompanywerelandspeculatorsratherthanlandlords.Theyreceivedanannualrentof£10,000butnotashillingfounditswaybackfromthecompanytothedevelopmentofthedistrict.Thelandremainedundrained,unfencedandunimprovedinanyrespect.Theirsoleobject,hewrote,wastogetasmuchaspossiblefromthepropertyandtospendaslittleaspossibleinreturn.Intheearlyyears,theyhadraisedtherentstoanexorbitantrate.

Coulterwrotethat,in1862,arailwayhadbeenprojectedfromGalwaytoOughterardandtheresidentsweremostanxioustohaveitcarriedout.TheLawLifecompanyhadbeenaskedtosubscribetoit,asitwouldpassthrough,andbenefit,theirproperty,butthedirectorshadrefusedtosupportitonthegroundsthatitwouldnotpay.

SirWilliamWildewrotein1867thatthecompanyhadbroughtaboutnoimprovements,nodrainage,noreclamationandscarcelyanyplanting.Hecomplainedthatlittlehadbeendoneinthelasttwentyyearstoimprovetheconditionofthelandorthepeople,inspiteofthegreatwealthoftheSociety.

TheMartins,whohadruledoverthedistrictsincethemid-17thcentury,didnotevicttheirtenants,althoughtheywerenotlandimprovers.Theyruledoverthearealikeabsoluterulersorfeudalkingsbuttheywereindulgentandbenevolentlandlordstowardstheirtenants.RichardMartinsaidthattheKing’swrit(law)didnotrunbeyondhisgatelodgeatOughterardtohisthirty-mileavenuetoBallinahinchCastle.Atravelwriterinthemid-19thcenturywrotethat“ColonelMartin(HumanityDick)isquiteakinginhisimmensedomain”andthathe“wasthebestMartinthateverreigned.”

EvictionsThepolicyoftheLawLifeSocietywastolayouttheminimumofimprovementsontheestatewhiledistressingthetenantsbyPoorRatesandrents.In1850,thecompanyservednoticetoquitonbetween500and600tenants.On20thJune,1851,theyannouncedthatproceedingsofejectment(eviction)against600tenantshadtakenplace.Theirlandwaslettonewtenantswhowereselectedfromthebestoftheoldtenantsandwhocouldpaythehigherrents.

Theyproceededwithfurtherevictions,493inallin1851.Therentswentfrom£5to£25perannum,dependingonthesizeofthefarm.Theyraisedtherentsyearlyfrom1850anduseddriversandbailiffstoevictsmallholdersofland.TheGalwaynewspapersoftheearly1850sreferredtotheevictionsoftheLawLifeInsuranceSocietyas“wholesaleexterminationandasystemofdepopulationofConnemara.”GalwaycityanditsworkhousewasbeingswampedbytenantsdrivenoutofConnemarabytheagentsoftheLawLifeSociety.

EvictionsinOughterardFrancisB.Head,anEnglishtravelwriter,visitedOughterardin1852.Theheadconstableinformedhimthatfourorfivemonthsago,agreatmanyevictionshadtakenplaceintheneighbourhood,principallyontheMartinpropertyof170,000acres,whichhadbeenlatelypurchasedbytheLawLifeSociety.Hehadattendedalltheevictionsbuttherewasnoresistanceortroubleofanykind.Thosewholeftwentintotheworkhouse,toAmericaorEngland.TheMasteroftheOughterardworkhouseinformedhimthaton1stJanuarylast,thenumberofinmatesinthehousewas972,butthaton29thJune,inconsequenceofevictions,therewasnolessthan1,475inthehouse,ofwhom680hadsinceemigratedormanagedtofindemployment.Thatwouldindicateaverylargenumberofevictions,perhapsfourorfivehundred,andlarge-scaleemigrationaftertheFamine.

TheLawLifeAssuranceCompany

Mr.JusticeKeoghaddressedtheGrandJuryofCo.GalwayattheSummerAssizesof1869.Hesaid,“theLawLifeAssuranceCompany,gentlemen,isanabsenteewhocarryonthisbusinessinLondonandwhonevercometothiscountry.TheyaretheownersofvastestatesinthiscountyandinthecountyofMayo.Yettheyneverdisturbtheirreposebycontributingtothecomfort,orlookingtotheinterest,oftheirtenants.Thetermabsenteeisanodiousterm–apersonwhoderiveshisincomeinonecountrybutresidesinanother,wherehespendstheincome.Thecommonvoiceofmankindsaysthatthisisanevilandaninjustice;itpointstolandsimperfectlycultivated,labourersinadequatelyemployed,toruinedcottages,touneducatedchildren;anditproclaimsthatthesethingswouldnotbe,iftheproprietorresidedinhisestate.”

TheLandlordsofMoycullen

ThelandlordsofMoyculleninthe19thcenturyandduringtheFaminewere:

GeorgeE.Burke–Danesfield,Moycullen.2,480acres.PatrickBlake–SpiddalandTully.17,335acres.AnthonyO’FlahertyEsq.–KnockbaneHouse.1,522acres.

JohnA.Browne–Kircullen,Moycullen.590acres.FrancisComyn–DrimcongandSpiddal.J.KilkellyEsq.–Drimcong.A.W.BlakeEsq.–Furbough,Spiddal.

TherewereotherlandlordswhoownedlargeestatesinthesouthernpartoftheparishofKilcummin,OughterardandthebaronyofMoycullen.TheyresidedeitherinGalwaycityortheSpiddalarea,i.e.PatrickBlake,NicholasLynch,HenryComerford,J.S.LambertandMartinS.Kirwan.TheyownedlandinSpiddal,Rossaveal,Lettermullen,Carraroeetc.anddidnotaffectOughterardoritsneighbourhood.TheBlakes,KirwansandLynchswerelargelandownersanddescendantsoftheGalwaymerchantfamiliescalledtheTribesofGalway.

LordCampbell–Moycullen

LordCampbell(1779-1861)wasMPforEdinburghandaChiefJusticeinEngland.HebecameLordChancellorofIrelandin1841.HewasadirectoroftheLawLifeCompany,whohadboughttheMartinestate.HispurchaseofanestateaftertheFamineinMoycullenandBarnagavehim100,000acres.

ThomasColvilleScott,whosurveyedtheMartinestateforaprospectivebuyerin1853,wrote:

“WereachedMoycullenvillageonMarch3rd,1853.Intheimmediateneighbourhood,wesawapoorwidow,withherboy,shelteringinarooflesscabinbelongingtoLordCampbell,eveningwascoming,thegroundwascoveredwithsnow.Shemustinevitablyperishbymorning.Anofficerintheconstabularybarracksaidshewaswaitingtillherfurniturewastakentothehouseofaneighbourforshelterforthenight.IafterwardsheardthatLordCampbellwasclearingthewholeofhiswretchedlandofsquatters,allowingeachejectedtenantallarrearsofrentandtenshillingswhentheroofwaspulledofftheircottage.”

ColvilleScottsaidthatthiswasaharshbutnecessarymeasure.

LordCampbellengagedintheconsolidationoffarmsonhisestate,i.e.thecreationoflargefarmsbytheremovalofthesmalltenantholders.Thispracticewasengagedinbymanylandlords,aswhenthevaluationoftheholdingwaslessthan£4perannumthelandlordshadtopayhalforsometimesalloftheratesofthetenants.ManyofthesmalltenantsduringandaftertheFaminedidnotpayanyratesorrentbecausetheyweretoopoor.

TheGalwayAmericannewspaperofMay1862referredtoLordCampbellofMoycullenasabadlandlordwhoconsolidatedfarms,whichledtotheevictionoftenants,andwhowasindifferenttohistenants.InApril1852,LordCampbellevictednolessthan800personsinasingleweekonhisBarnapropertyandthehousesofthepoorpeoplewerefired.

TheBerridges–BallinahinchandOughterard

In1872,theformerMartinestatewasboughtbyRichardBerridge(1813-87),awealthyLondonbrewer,fromtheLawLifeAssuranceCompany.Hepaid£230,000forthepropertyatareducedacreageof160,000acres.ThesaleincludedthecastleofBallinahinchanditsfisheries.HeheldClaremountandthetollsforthefairsandmarketsofClareville,Oughterard.

TheLawLifeCompanyhadgainedfromtheproperty.Theyhadsold32,000acresfor£75,000and,from1860,theyweregetting£10,000inrentsperannum.

RichardBerridgewasthesonofCapt.FlorenceMcCarthy,formerlyfromCo.Cork,whohadmarriedaMissBerridge.Richard,whoadoptedhismother’sname,wasbornintheWestIndianislands.HereturnedtoEnglandandbecameinvolvedintheMeauxbrewingbusinessinLondon.HisseatasalandlordwasBallinahinchCastle,Connemara.

Hehadason,alsocalledRichard,whotookovertheestateafterhisfather’sdeath.HisseatwasBallinahinchCastleandScreebe,MaamCross.

In1878,RichardBerridgeofGreatRussellSt.,London,ownedthefollowingestates:

Galwaytown–254acresGalwaycounty–159,898acresMayocounty–9,985acresMiddlesexandKent–400acres

Total–171,117acresValuation-£8,742

BerridgewasthelargestterritoriallandownerinIrelandorBritain.HeownedalargenumberoftownlandsintheparishofOughterardanditsvicinity,amongthemthefollowing:Curraghduff,Camus,Glantrasna,Leam,Lettermore,Barrusheen,Claremount,Birch-Hall,Magherabeg,Oakfield,Killola,Thonewee,Srue,PorridgetownWest,Gortnagrough,Garrynaghry,Rushveala,ShanafeastinandislandsonLoughCorribetc.

TheGalwayVindicatorof10thJuly,1872,reportedthatMr.BerridgehadarrivedinGalwaytoseeforthefirsttimehisextensiveproperty.

Inthelasttwentyyears,Connemarahadbeendepopulatedbyclearances,evictionsandemigration.Livestockhadreplacedthetenants.Apparently,Berridgehadpurchasedtheestateforsporting,fishingandhuntingpurposes.Hehadbuiltanumberoffishinglodges,includingthoseatLoughInagh,FermoyleandScreebe.

TheterritoryBerridgehadacquiredinConnemarawaswildandbarren,consistingofbog,mountainandlake,withasmallportionofitarableland.Itcontainedalargenumberoftenants,wholivedonsmallfarmsandingreatpoverty.

SoonafterBerridgetookovertheestate,thelandagitationoftheLandLeaguebegan.Hewasanabsenteefromtheestateduringmostofthisperiodandhisestatewasmanagedbyhislandagent,GeorgeT.Robinson,andhissonHenry,whoresidedatBallinahinch.TheRobinsonswereunpopularaslandagentsandtheyengagedinlarge-scaleevictions,especiallyduringtheLandWarofthe1880s,whentenantsrefusedtopaytherents.

GeorgeRobinsonwasshotatmorethanoncebutsurvivedashewasarmour-plated.AjournalistfortheDailyNews,B.H.Beeker,wroteonthe9thNovember,1881,thatasheapproachedBallinahinchCastle,hesawMr.Robinson,agentofBerridge,inhiscarwithhisdriver.Hewasimmediatelyfollowedwiththeusualescortoftwoarmedmenwithdouble-barreledcarbines.

JamesHackTuke,aQuakerandphilanthropist,visitedOughterardanditsworkhouseinApril1880.HesaidthatMr.Berridgewasthelargestlandownerinthedistrict.Hewasnon-resident

and,asfarasheheard,doesnothingforhistenants.Thepreviousday,hehadtravelledthroughalargepartofhisneglectedestateintheOughterardUniondistrict.

WilliamE.Forster,ChiefSecretaryforIreland(1880-82),wascriticalofBerridgeasalandlord.HewroteinJanuary1882thathehadhopedthatareductioninrentswouldtakeplaceontheBerridgeestateinGalwaybutthetenantshadgotacruelbargainfromtheirlandlord.HesaidthatBerridgeseemedtobetheworsttypeofrack-rentinglandlord,astenantsweregenerallypoorandunabletopaytherents.Thisopinioncamefromamanwhobecameknownas‘BuckshotForster’,ashesubstitutedtheuseofbuckshotinsteadofbulletsfortheRoyalIrishConstabulary.

AlexanderInnesShand,anEnglishtraveler,visitedConnemarain1884.HewrotethatMr.Berridgehaddonelittletohisvastestatesinceheboughtitandwouldbeverywillingtoresellit.HehadrefurbishedBallinahinchCastlehandsomelybuthadneveroccupieditsincethelandtroublesbegan.Atthattime,onlyagamekeeperresidedinthehospitablehouseoftheMartins.

ArcherE.Martin,adescendantoftheMartinsofBallinahinch,mostofwhomhademigratedtoCanada,wrotefromWinnipegin1890thattheBerridgefamilywerestillinpossessionoftheMartinestate.Hesaid,“itwasalmostwhollyuncaredfor,neglectedandcursedfornearlyfortyyearsbytheiniquitousruleofanabsentee.”

EvidenceofMr.HenryRobinsontotheCowperLandCommission(5thNovember,1886)

HenryRobinson,agentofMr.Berridge,gaveevidencetothislandcommissioninNovember,1886.Hisevidencemustbetakenpurelyfromtheviewpointofalandagent.

Hesaidrentswereveryfairlypaidtillthen,whenthetenantswereinclinedtostoppayingrents,astheyexpectedtogetreductionsinrents.TheyhadaskedforareductionofrentsbuthehadnotofferedthemanyashesaidtherentswerefixedbylawundertheLandAct(1881).Thetenantswereabletopaytherentswhentherewasademandfortheirsmallcattleatthefairsandhesaidthepricesweresufficientin1886,ashehadattendedthefairs.Therentwaspaidfromthesaleoftheircattle;thepotatoeswereonlyfortheirownuse.

Theholdingswereverysmall,thegreaterpartwasbogland.Aboutsixacreswastheaverageofarablelandofeachtenant.

Therehadbeenmanyevictionsbutthetenantswentbackagainafterbeingevicted.CountyGalwayandConnemarainformertimeshadbeenveryquietandpeaceablebuttherewasnowagitationanddisturbanceanditwasdifficulttodealwiththetenants.Hisfatherhadbeenunderprotection,orderedbythegovernment.

HewasbasedinBallinahinchbutwaslandagentforthewholeareafromGalwayalongthelinetoOughterardandintoConnemara.HehadjustbeenappointedagentintheAranIslands,wheretheaveragerentwas£6ayear.

Rev.ThomasFlannery,p.p.ofCarnaandRecess,gaveevidencetothesamelandcommissionin1886.Hesaidtheaveragerentintheareawas£5to£10perannum.Therewasalargeclassofgrazierswhohad200-300acresandwhopaid£40perannuminrent.OnMr.Berridge’sestate,therehadbeennoreductionofrentasherefusedittothetenants,whichpressedveryheavilyonthem.

ThomasConroy,ofRosmuckintheOughterardUnion,alsogaveevidencetothecommission.Hesaidhehadneverseenthecountryinsuchadeplorablestateofdistress.Thetenantswereheavilyindebttoboththelandlordsandshopkeepers.Mr.Robinson,theagentofMr.Berridge,evicted404personsinthedistrictashorttimeago.

EvictionsnearOughterard:DeathofanOldManIn1875,GeorgeRobinson,agentofMr.Berridge,broughtanevictionorderagainstthetenantswhoseleaseshadexpired,nearOughterardandKilannin.Hesaidheintendednottoremovethem,buttorearrangetheirholdings.Thetenantswereaskedtosigncaretaker’sagreementsbutFr.Coyne,theparishpriest,hadtoldthemnottosignsuchagreements.Caretaker’sagreementsweretemporaryanddidnotgivethemtherighttobereadmittedtotheirhousesandland.

Astheyrefusedtosign,theSheriffandhisagentremovedthetenants,althoughtheirfurniturewasleftintheirhouses.WhentheSheriffleft,someofthetenantsbrokeintotheirhousesagain.Mr.Robinson,theagent,thenremovedthemasecondtime.Mr.GeorgeRobinson,theagent,wasaccompaniedbytheSheriffandMr.Jackson,J.P.(JusticeofthePeace).

WhentheywenttothehouseofJohnSullivanofGarrynaghry,Kilannin,herefusedtosignanycaretaker’sagreementandlefthishouseofhisownaccord.TheythenwenttotheotherhouseswhorefusedtosignanyagreementontheinstructionsofFr.Coyne.Theagentthentookpossessionofthehouses.

Afewhourslater,theyweretoldthatJohnSullivan,whoappearedtobeingoodhealthalthoughanoldmanofeighty-fiveyearsofage,hadsuddenlytakenillanddied,shortlyafterbeingevicted.WhentheyreturnedtoGarrynaghry,theyfoundthepriest,andamobofafewthousandmenandwomenhadgathered.Fr.CoynetoldMr.RobinsonandtheSheriffthattheoldmanhadbeenmurderedandthathewouldswearinformationbeforeamagistrateagainstthem.

Acoroner’sjuryheldaninquestthefollowingdayandstatedthattheoldmanhaddiedasaresultofroughhandlinginbeingputoutofhishouse.TheybroughtaverdictofmanslaughteragainstBerridge’sbailiff,BartleyMurphy.Thecoronerignoredtheverdictasimproper,asthedeadmanwasagedeighty-fiveandhadreceivednoilltreatmentfromMr.MurphyortheSheriff.Somejurymenrelatedthattheagent,Mr.Robinson,playedonthefeelingsofthedeadman’sson.

Oneaccountstatesthattheagent,Mr.Robinson,thenturnedonthepriest,Fr.Coyne,whogavehisconsenttosigningCaretaker’sagreementsandthetenantswerereadmittedtotheirhousesandlands.WhetherMr.Robinsonintendedtoevictthetenants,orrearrangetheirholdingswhentheirleaseshadexpired,itwasabadincidentasanoldmanhaddiedduringtheeviction.

RichardBerridgeJunior(1870-1941)Berridge’sson,alsocalledRichard,inheritedtheestateattheageofseventeen.Heappearstohavebeenabetterlandlordthanhisfather,whoshowedlittleinterestintheestateandwasanabsenteeforthemostpart.

Richardwasbornon21stApril,1870,educatedatOxfordandlivedpermanentlyatBallinahinchCastleandlateratScreebeLodge,MaamCross.HewasaJ.P.(JusticeofthePeace),andHighSheriffofGalwayin1894.HeservedasalieutenantinWorldWarIanddiedin1941.

Hisson,ColonelRobertLesleyBerridge,bornin1927,residedatScreebeLodge,MaamCross,Co.Galway.

RichardJuniorlivedinbettertimesthanhisfather,whoownedtheestateduringtheheightoftheLandWaragitation.Fromthe1890s,thetenantswerebuyingouttheirlandandbecomingownersunderthelandpurchaseActs(1881-1903).Hedidextensiveplanting,especiallyaroundBallinahinchCastle,whichgaveemploymentandimprovedthedistrict.

TheBerridgesfavouredtheGalwaytoClifdenrailway,whichopenedin1895andranfortwentymilesthroughtheirestate.ThisprojecthadbeenopposedbytheLawLifeSociety,whoownedtheestatebeforethem.

In1906,BerridgeheldClaremountandthetollsandcustomsofClarevillefairinOughterard.Bythen,mostofthetownlandsownedbyhimweresold,andboughtbyotherlocallandlordsinOughterard,i.e.HenryHodgsonandJohnDoig.

TheGalwayExpressreportedon25thSeptember,1909,thatsomeverysatisfactoryandsubstantialreductionshadbeenmadeinrentsforthetenantsoftheBerridgeestate,asaresultofaLandCommissionCourtheldinOughterard.ThebulkoftheBerridgeestatewastakenoverbytheCongestedDistrictsBoardon31stMarch,1915andsoldtothetenants.TheBerridgesretainedBallinahinchCastleandaDemenseof800acresuntil1924.In1925,theCastleandDemenseweresoldtoRanji,anIndiancricketerandsonofanIndianprince.TheBerridgestookupresidenceinScreebe,MaamCross.

GoodandBadLandlords

Notthatallthelandlordswerebadandunjustlyevictedtenants.Itissometimesdifficulttoquantifythenumbersofgoodorbad.

ManyofthenewlandlordswhoboughtoutestatesthathadbecomebankruptduringtheFaminepursuedapolicyofconsolidationoffarmsandevictedtenants.Numbersofthemhada

businessapproachandwantedtomakeaprofitfromthenewestatestheybought.ThechiefoffendersasregardsevictionsweretheKirwans,Carraroe;ThomasEyre,Galway;PatrickBlake,Tully,Spiddal;LordCampbell,Moycullen;C.St.George,KilcolganandOughterard;andtheLawLifeAssuranceCompanyofLondon.

TheLawLifeCompanyandRichardBerridgewereabsenteesandownedthelargestsingleestateinIrelandorBritain.

C.St.GeorgeofOughterardwasregardedasanimprovinglandlord,whoputmoneyintohisestateandemployedtenants,yetheevictedtenantsduringtheFamine.

TherewerealsogoodlandlordsinConnemaraduringandaftertheFamine,i.e.AnthonyO’Flaherty,Knockbane,Moycullen;HenryHodgson,OughterardandMerlinPark,Galway;MitchellHenry,KylemoreCastle;J.C.Lyons,Clifdenetc.Theseimprovedthelandbyreclamation,providedemploymentandbuiltcabinsfortheirtenants.

Rev.S.G.OsbornetraveledfromGalwaytoOughterardin1849.Hewrotethathecameuponanestatewhichformedanexceptiontoalmostanyhehadseen.ItwasthatofMr.A.O’FlahertyofKnockbane,MPforGalway.Notonlyallthelandsroundaboutitappearwellandclearlycultivated.Therewasunmistakableevidenceofpainstakingmanagement.Thecabinswereallinroofandrepair;thelittleholdingswellstockedandthepeopleunitedinthesameendeavour.Mr.A.O’FlahertywastheonlylandlordinthevicinityofOughterardwhobelievedintenantright.

FolkloreTheSchoolsFolkloreCollection(1937-38)gavemanyaccountsofthelocallandlords.

TheLandlordsAmanwasevictedinGarrynaghryandthesnowwasthickontheground.Thepoormandiedofthecold.

-MaryMcDonagh,CollinamuckSchool,Rosscahill.January,1938.

ThelandlordsinthisplacelongagoweretheMartinsandBerridge.TheMartinswerelandlordsofallthisplaceasfarbackasCashellongago.TheysoldthelandtoBerridgeandhewasthelandlordforalongtime.BerridgewasnottoohardonthepeoplebuttheMartinswerehardenoughonthem.BerridgeevictedMichaelO’ConnorfromhislandbackinGlanbuthelethiminagain.Thelandlordsgaveworktosomeofthepeoplebutthepeoplehadtodoeverythingthelandlordstoldthemtodo.

-UnaWalsh,Magherabeg.KilanninNationalSchool.

TheLandlordsCapt.MartinlivedinBallinahinch.HecouldwalkthroughhisownestatefromBallinahinchto

Galway.HesoldsomeofhisestatetoBerridge.ManyofthetownlandsaroundherebelongedtoBerridge.ThelandlordswereofEnglishstock.

-KillolaNationalSchool,Rosscahill

ThelandlordsofthisdistrictwereBerridge,HenryRobinson,ThomasKernandtheMartins.Theywereaboutfortyyearsinthisplace.Therentpeoplegavethemwerecattleandsomeoftheproduceoftheearth.TheycamefromEngland.BerridgelivedoutatScreebeandtheotherthreeinKilannin,nearOughterard.Berridgewasahard,graspingmaninregardtorentandwhenhedied,notmanyofhistenantsintheplacegrievedoverhisdeath.WhenBerridgedied,HenryRobinsonbecamethelandlordofthedistrictafterhim.Robinsonwasahardmanandheevictedmanypoortenantsfromtheirfarms.Thelandlordshadstrongcontroloverthetenants.

-RosmuckNationalSchool,BaronyofMoycullen

TheLandlordAlmostsixtyyearsago,thelandlordsevictedpeoplefromtheirhouses.TheMartinsofRosswerethelandlordsofPorridgetown.EveryoneinPorridgetownwasevictedfromtheirhouse,exceptMartinD’Arcy,whowastakingcareofthelandforthelandlords.Theywereoutonthesideoftheroadinlittlehouses.Someofthemwereoutafewmonthsandothersayearorso.Theparishpriestputthembackintotheirhousesagain.HishousewascalledLandLeagueHouse,asitwasmadeatthetimeoftheLandLeague.TheparishpriestmadeitandsometimeshereadMassthere.Thebailiffsusedcomeeverysixmonths,tryingtogettherentfromthepeople.

PeterWalshtoldit.

-MaryWalsh,Porridgetown

TheLandlordsTheMartinswerethelandlordslongago.TheyruledRosscahill,parishofKilanninandmanyothertownlands.JackO’FlahertywasthelandlordofOughterard,Glan,Magherabegandtheplacesaround.Thelandlordsusedgivethepeopletimetopaytherentandthusthepeoplehadnotabitterhatredofthemlongago.Sometimestheyevictedpeoplefromthepossessionoftheirlandandtheywenttotheworkhouseorthesideoftheroad.TheFlahertyshadthelandbeforetheMartinsandtheMartinsboughtthelandfromthem.Itwassaidthatthelandlordscollectedthetithesfromthepeople.MostoftheMartinswereintheBritisharmy.

PatrickLee,67.5yearsold,toldit.

-MaryLee,Eiscir,Rosscahill.

Landlord-TenantRelations

Conditionoftenants,dwellings,farmsize,rentsetc.inthefirsthalfofthe19thcentury.

ConditionofTenantsThebestaccountoflandlord-tenantrelationsetc.istobefoundintheDevonCommissiononIrishLand(lawandpractice)1843-44,whichtookplacebeforetheFamine.AshortmeetingoftheCommissiontookplaceinOughterardon10thAugust,1844,whichdealtwiththeMartinestate,thelargestintheparish.

ThePoorInquiry(1835-36)fortheparishofKilcummin,althoughprimarilyconcernedwiththeconditionofthepoorerclassesintheparish,givesagooddealofevidenceontheconditionofthetenantsandtheirrelationstothelocallandlords.

Thevastmajorityofthetenantsoftheparishweresmallholdersofland,i.e.smallfarmers,labourersandcottierswholivedingreatpovertyandatsubsistencelevelbeforetheFamine.IntheparishofOughterard,85percentofthepeoplewerechieflyengagedinagricultureand91percentdependedontheirownmanuallabourforaliving.Therestwereengagedinmanufacture,tradeandhandicrafts.EveninthetownofOughterard,50familiesoutofatotalof132wereengagedinagriculture,i.e.37percent.

Kilcumminparish,whichconsistedof108,791acresand142townlands,wasthelargestcivilparishinIreland.Thegreaterpartofthelandoftheparishwasbogandmountain.AlongthesouthshoreofLoughCorrib,ontheright-handsideoftheroadfromGalwaytoOughterard,alimestonearea,therewassomegoodarableland.Inthisarea,thepopulationdensitypersquaremilewasover400personsin1841.

Ingeneral,theoccupationofthetenantsoftheparishwasamixtureofcropcultivation(potatoesandgrain)andlivestock.Butthegreaterpartofthelandwasgivenovertopasture,i.e.cattleraising,especiallyinthemountaindistricts.

Thereweretwoseparatefairsintheparish,i.e.Clarevilleandthetown,eachheldfourtimesayear.

ThepopulationoftheparishofKilcumminin1841was10,106(rural).Thetown,givenforthefirsttime,had718inhabitants,i.e.anoverallpopulationof10,824fortheparish.LiketherestofIreland,thepopulationhadbeenincreasingfromthelate18thcentury,from8,099in1821totheabovementionedfigureof10,824in1841.

Almostallthetenantsintheparishweretenantsat-will.Theydependedonthegoodwillofthelandlordfromyeartoyearandthushadlittlesecurityoftenureorfreedomfromeviction.Therewereveryfewleases,i.e.afixedrentfor31yearsoralifetime.Capt.T.H.O’FlahertietoldthePoorInquiry(1835-36)thathehad40ofhisowntenantswhoheldunderleasesattherateof10shillingsanacre.Whentheleasesexpired,thelandlordsoftenevictedthetenants.Thelandlordhadthepowertoevictor‘turnout’thetenantifhefailedtopaytherentorwasinarrearsofrent.Hiscattlewouldbedriventothelocalpoundtobesoldatauctionandhewouldbeservedwithanoticeofeviction.In1844,Mr.Cromie,agentofT.B.Martin,wasbuildinganewpoundatOughterardandthetenantswerepaying1shillingtohimforthepound-keeper.

Thetwowitnesses,smalltenantsJohnSullivanandMichaelConnorofThoneweetownland,whogaveevidenceattheDevonCommissioninOughterardinAugust1844,heldtheirlandinpartnership.Theirrentwasraisedfrom£14-16sto£12-1sperannumandtheywereservedwithanevictionnoticebyMr.Cromie,landagentofT.B.MartinofBallinahinch.

ThelackofsecurityoftenurewasoneoftheseriousflawsoftheIrishlandsystem.Mr.HenryInglis,anEnglishtravelwriterwhovisitedOughterardin1834,wrotethattherewasacustomtoallowonehalf-year’srenttobeconstantlyinarrearsandinthiswayalltenantswereinthepowerofthelandlord.

HelyDutton,inhissurveyofCo.Galwayof1824,wrotethatalargeportionofCo.Galwaywaslettocottiertenantswithoutanyleaseandtheyallblamedthisuncertaintenureastheprincipalcauseforthenon-improvementoftheirfarmsandhouses.Therewasnoincentiveforimprovement.

Dr.Kirwanp.p.,whogaveevidencetothePoorInquiry(1835-36)fortheparishofKilcummin,saidthatitwasuselesstoadvisepeopletoimprovetheirlands.Theircommonreplywas,“ifweshowedthatweweregettingbetter,somuchwouldbeimmediatelyaddedtotherent;theagentwoulddrivehisgiguptothedoorandraisetherent.”

ThePoorInquiry1835-36ThisInquiry,tenyearsbeforetheFamine,fortheparishofKilcummin,gaveadetailedaccountofallaspectsofthelivesofthepoorerclasses,i.e.smallfarmers,labourersandcottiers,whowerethegreatmajorityintheparish.

Ingeneral,theInquiryshowedtheseclasseswerelivingontheverymarginsofsubsistence,housedinwretchedcabins,poorlyclothed,andoftengoingwithoutfood.Thedistresshadincreasedintheprevioustenyears,althoughnoonehaddiedfromdestitutioninthepreviousthreeyearsknowntothewitnesses.In1835,150familiesintheparishwereentirelysupportedbycharity.

Thepotatocropconstitutedthegreaterpartofthefoodofthepeasantrybuttheyalsohadoatmeal,fish,eggsandbuttermilkintheirdiet.Theclothingofthemenwasacoarsehomemadeclothcalledfrieze.Womenworeaflannelorcottondress,i.e.blueandredpetticoats.Menworeshoesbutwomenwentbarefoot.

WhenHenryInglisvisitedOughterardin1834,hewrotethatmanyweresomiserablyoffthattheparishpriestwasobligedtobecomesecurityforthepriceofalittlemealtopreventthemfromstarving.

DwellingsAccordingtothecensusof1841,halfofthepopulationofthebaronyofMoycullen(parishesofOughterard,KilanninandMoycullen)livedin4thclasshouses,i.e.single-roomcabinsmadeofstoneandwithoutwindows.

Thewallsofthecabinsofthepoorerclasseswerebuiltofstone,thatchedwithstraw,andinmanyinstanceshadnobedsteadsandmiserablebedding.AreporterfortheGalwayPacketnewspaper,whodescribedtheeffectsoftheFamineinOughterardinSeptember1852,statedthatthegreatestdestitutionprevailedamongthepeasantry.

Theyweregenerallylodgedinrudehutswhichofferednottheslightestprotectionagainsttheinclemencyoftheweather.“Sometimeswemayseeacabincomposedofsodsandstones,piledupagainstabankofearth,withheatherandrushesforthatchandafewboardsfastenedtogethertoserveasadoor.”Theable-bodiedlabourers,hesaid,wereforcedtoentertheworkhouseduringthewinterbecausefarmingoperationswerecompletelysuspended.

Dutton,inhissurveyofCo.Galwayin1824,wrote“thehabitationsofthelowerranks,withfewexceptions,werewretchedintheextreme.”Hehadoftenbeenatalosstoaccountforthecallousnessofmanylandlordsinthecounty,whocouldseearoundthemsuchmiserabledwellingsfortheirtenants,whilsttheirhorsesandhoundshadeveryattentionpaidtotheircomforts.Hesaidthatthegeneralideahehadheardexpressedwas,“WhatthedevildoIcarehowtheylive,solongastheycometoworkwhenIwantthemandpaymemyrent.”

EmploymentVeryfewofthelabourersorcottiers,alargeclass,hadconstantemploymentintheparish.OfathousandlabourersintheparishesofOughterardandKilanninin1835,aboutonehundredhadconstantemploymentfromthelargefarmersandlandlords,i.e.onetenth.Thegreatmajorityhadonlyoccasionalemployment,i.e.afewdaysaweekormonth.

Therateofwageswas6dto8dadaybeforetheFamine.Whileoutofwork,theyweremaintainedbytheproduceoftheirconacre,theirpotatoplots,smallfarmsandthepriceoftheirpigs.

WhenHenryCoulter,areporter,visitedOughterardin1862,hewrotethatthepopulationofthetownwasabout500,whichincludedalargeproportionofpoorlabouringmenwhoweresufferingfromwantoffuelandsoonfromascarcityoffood.

Thewomenwereengagedintheknittingofstockingsforsale.ThiswasastapleindustryinConnemarainthe19thcentury.Capt.T.H.O’FlahertieofLemonfieldtoldthePoorInquiry(1835)thatthewivesusedtofrequentlypaytherentbytheproduceoftheirknittingstockingsandspinningflax.Shewasconsideredabadwifewhocouldnotpayhalftherent.Anotherwitnesssaidthatin1835awomanmightearn2dor3dadayinknittingstockingsbutshecouldearnfourtimesthatbeforenow.Thisindustryappearedtobeonthedecline.

TenantAgreements–RentsUsually,rentwastobepaidtwiceayear,inMayandNovember(galedays).

Cromie,thelandagentoftheMartinestateinOughterardin1844,saidthattherentisnotdemandedforatleastfourmonths,oftensixmonths,afteritisdue.

Dutton,reportingonCo.Galwayin1824,saidthattheusualmodewastoleavehalfayear’srentinthetenant’shands,calledthe‘hanginggale’,andmanylandlordswereoftenobligedtotaketheirrentinsmallsumsasthetenantreceiveditatmarketsorfairs.

Somelandlords,i.e.theMartinsofRossandBallinahinch,acceptedgoods,turfordaylabourinlieuofrentfromthosewhocouldnotpaycash.ThiswasalsothecustomoftheBurkesofDanesfield,Moycullen.

AmountofRentalTheamountofrentalperannumdependedonthesizeofthefarmandthequalityoftheland,whetherarable,wasteorreclaimable.MuchofthelandinOughterardparishanditsvicinitywasbogandmountain.

HenryInglis,reportingonOughterardin1834,saidthatmostofthepeopleinitsimmediateneighbourhoodweresmallholdersofland,nottakenbytheacrebutinthe[lump?],forwhichtheypay£4to£8inrent.Thelabourersandcottierspaidlessthanthesmallfarmers.

InOughterardandKilanninparishesin1835,theusualrentforcabinswithlandwas£1to£2perannumand,withoutland,from10shillingsto£1ayear.AlongthesouthshoreofLoughCorrib,wherethelandwasmorearableandcultivated,15shillingsanacrewaschargedin1844.TheaveragerentonlandinCo.Galwaywas12s-1danacrein1844.

Inadditiontorents,tenantshadtopayGrandJurycess,ataxfortheupkeepoftheroads,andatitheforthesupportoftheProtestantclergy.After1838,therewastheaddedburdenofthePoorRate.AlloccupiersoflandhadtopaytheRateifthevaluationoftheirlandwasover£4perannum.TherateswereveryheavyduringtheFamine,forthesupportofthepoorintheworkhouses.

Itwasgenerallyacceptedatthetimethatrentswereunusuallyhigh,consideringtheconditionsofthepeople.ThegreatmajorityofthewitnessestotheDevonCommission(1843-44)agreedthattherentswereingeneraltoohighandthatmuchofthemiseryprevalentinIrelandarosefromthatfact.Ingeneral,therents,uptotheFaminein1845,werepaid.

Asizablenumberoflandlordsexploitedtheshortageoflandduetopopulationincrease,bygivingholdingsthathadfallenvacanttothehighestbidder.EvidencegiventothePoorInquiry(1835-36)showedexamplesofharshnessandcrueltybysomelocallandlordsinOughterard.Onewitness,Mr.Fox,saiditwascommontoallowatenanttoimproveatractofbogormountainoveranumberofyears.Thelandlordthenaddedtheimprovedfarmtohisownestateandputthetenantoutinanotherpartofthemountain,wherehemustpaythefullrentandnoothertermsweregivenhim.

Anotherwitness,ashopkeeper,Mr.JohnGeraghty,saidtherewaslittleornothingovertherentfortheholders:“Themeatandthemarrowgotothelandlordandthereisnothinglefttousbutthepickingofthebones.”Hesaidthatthefarmerscouldnotpaytomaintainaworkhouseas,

formiserable,weedy,stonyground,theywerepaying£3anacre,anditwasnotworththattoanyman.

RentsweregenerallypaidonmostestatesuptotheFamine.ManytenantswereunabletopayrentorratesduringtheFamine(1845-50).LocallandlordsJamesMartinofRossandC.St.George,Oughterard,complainedthatduringtheFamine,theirrentswerenotbeingpaidandthattheyweresaddledwithahugeloadofPoorRates.

JamesMartinofRossreportedtoaparliamentarycommitteeinMarch-April1849,thatof20,000tenantsontheMartinestateinBallinahinch,only900werepayingtenants,representingabout5,000persons,i.e.aboutaquarterofthetenantspaidtherents.

TypesofTenantsNotallthetenantsbelongedtothesameclass.Thereweredifferencesamongthefarmingclass,dependingonthesizeoftheirholdingandtheamountoflivestocktheyowned.Thereweresmallnumbersoflargefarmersandmiddlemen,whoheldundertheheadlandlords,andwholetlandstolabourersandcottiers.

ThosewhogaveevidencetothePoorInquiryfortheparishofKilcummin(1835-36)wereclassifiedasfarmer,smallholderandlabourer.Largeor‘comfortable’farmersdidexistbutthegeneralpovertyofthemassofthepopulationevenbeforetheFamineactedasasociallevelerofallclasses.

From1871,theCensusgavetheoccupationsofallmalesandfemalesunder20years,andfrom20yearsupwards,fortheOughterardcountydistrictorPoorLawUnion.Apartfromthefarmingclass,thegreatmajority,itgivesthenumbersofthemiddleandlower-middleclass,i.e.theprofessions:doctors,teachers,farmers,graziers(ofcattle),shopkeepers,pubowners,clergy,lawyers,police,engineers,civilservantsandcraftsmenofalltypes.

FarmSize

TheCensusof1841forCo.Galwaygavethefollowingfiguresonfarmsize:

1-5acres–27,9925-15acres–12,66315-20acres–2,030Over30acres–1,645

Sixty-threepercentinCo.Galwayweresmallholdersof1-5acresandtwenty-eightpercent5-15acres,accordingtotheDevonCommissiononIrishland(1843-44).

BeforetheFamine,therewasapracticebyfarmersofsubdividingtheirfarmamongtheirchildren,sothatthefarmunitsbecamesmalleranduneconomic.Landlordsgenerallydidnotinterferewiththisbadpractice.HelyDutton,writingofCo.Galwayin1824,saidthatitisaverygeneralcustomwithvillagetenantstogiveapartoftheirdivisionoflandasamarriageportion

withasonordaughter,andthissooftenrepeatedthatgroundsufficienttomaintainthemhasnotbeenhadbyanyoftheparties.

AftertheFamine,fortherestofthe19thcentury,farmsizeincreased,withadeclineofthissubdivisionoffarmsandthepolicyoflandlordstoconsolidatefarmsintolargereconomicunitsandgetridofsmallholdings.

Duttonwrotein1824thatthesizeoffarmsinCo.Galwayvariedinfinitely,fromoneacre(ifsuchcouldbecalledafarm)tothoseinthemountaindistrictsofmanyhundredacres,setbybulk.HewrotethatfarmsinConnemaraandthemountainbaronieswestofGalway,includingthebaronyofMoycullen,weregenerallyverylargeandsetbybulkrentof£50to£300ayear.Theywerechieflyoccupiedingrazingyoungcattle.Inotherareas,thefarmsweresmall.

SamuelLewiswrotein1837thatConnemaraisjustlyregardedasoneofthemostuncultivatedpartsofIreland,consistingofacontinuoustractofbogandmountain,thequantityofarablelandnotamountingtoonefiftiethofthewhole.HenryInglishadnotedin1834thatthepeopleinthevicinityofOughterardweresmallholdersofland,aviewheldbyCapt.O’Flahertie,ofLemonfield,oftheparishin1846.

DuringthefamineInpartsofOughterardparishandthebaronyofMoycullen,landwassometimesheldinpartnershiporincommon.Townlandscouldbeoccupiedbyanumberoftenantswhoheldlandincommon.

Thistypeofsettlement,whichexistedespeciallyinthesouthernpartofthebaronyofMoycullen,i.e.CoisFharraige,wastheoldRundalesystem,whichdatedtotheancientGaelicorBrehonsystemoflandtenure.Thelandwasoccupiedandfarmedonacommunalbasis.Themountainareawasusedasacommonpastureforcattlegrazing.ThefirsteditionoftheOrdnanceSurveymap(1837-42)showsexamplesoftheseRundalevillages,withclustersof15-20houses,nearthetownofOughterardinCreggandCanrower.

Mr.Cromie,landagentofT.B.MartinofBallinahinch,statedatOughterardinAugust1844thatallthetenantsinthemountaindistrictssenttheircattletomountaingrazingduringthesummermonths.Thetwotenants,JohnSullivanandMichaelConnorofThonewee,Oughterard,whohadbeenservedwithanevictionnoticebytheagentofMr.Martin,heldtheirfarmofelevenacresinpartnership.

EvictionsMostofthefollowinghasbeennotedundertheLocalLandlordsofOughterardsection.

LandlordswhoevictedduringtheFamine,i.e.C.St.George,OughterardandPatrickBlake,Spiddal,andothers,weredenouncedinthelocalnewspapersas‘exterminators’.

Asalreadynoted,ChristopherSt.Georgeevicted600tenantsfromGarumnaandLettermoreintheparishofKilannin,baronyofMoycullen,during1847-48.Heevictedtenantsfromtwo

townlandsinOughterard,i.e.ClooshandGurtrevagh,whichwasdepopulatedattheheightoftheFamine.

ItappearsthattherewerenotmanyevictionsinOughterardanditsvicinityintheyearsbeforetheFamine.TheMartinsofBallinahinch,RichardandT.B.Martin,werebyfarthegreatestlandlordsintheparishandthebaronyofMoycullenandtheyhadareputationasbenevolentlandlords,whodidnotevicttheirtenants.

However,thisappearstohavebeenchanging,asisclearfromtheevidencegivenbytwotenantsoftheMartinestateattheDevonCommissioninOughterardinAugust1844.

Mr.Cromie,thelandagentofT.B.MartinofBallinahinch,hadraisedtherentandevictedthem.Theysaidnobodyhadbeendisturbedtillthisagentcamebutnowapowerofpeopleweretobeejected(evicted)outoftheland,asmanyofthemwereinarrearsofrentorindebt.Cromiehadbeengoingabouttheland,dividingitoutandlayingarentonthedifferentparts.IfthetenantwasnotsatisfiedwiththerentCromiefixed,hecould‘turnout’,i.e.leave.

TherewasaconflictofevidencebetweenMr.Cromietheagentandthetenants.Mr.Cromiesaidheonlyevictedwhentheleasehadexpiredorthetenantwasmanyyearsinarrearsofrent.Hewouldacceptarrearsininstallmentsincertainsituationsratherthanevictthetenants.

Mr.HughKearney,ashopkeeperinClifden,gaveevidencetotheDevonCommissionon2ndAugust,1844.HesaidMr.Cromiewasanon-residentagentofT.B.MartinofBallinahinch.HesaidMr.CromiehadboughtagreatquantityofmealinGalwayandgaveitouttothepoortenantsataveryexorbitantprice.HethoughtthatitwasagreathardshipthattheagentofsuchamanasMr.Martinshouldbuymealatalowpriceandsellitatsuchanexorbitantpricetopoortenants.

TheLawLifeAssuranceCompany

Asalreadynoted,theLawLifeCompany,absenteelandlords,becamemortgageesofthebankruptMartinestatein1848anditsoutrightownersin1852.Theyraisedtherentsandbeganawholesaleevictionofthesmallertenants,replacingthembythosewhocouldpaytherent.

Theseevictionscontinuedforthenexttwentyyears.Theyweregettinganannualrentalof£10,000.ThesewereamongtheworstevictionsinthewholecountryaftertheFamine.

TravelwriterswhovisitedOughterardintheaftermathoftheFaminedescribedhowthecountrysideofConnemarawasdisfiguredbytheevictionsoftheLawLifeCompanyandLordCampbellofMoycullen,adirectorofthecompany,i.e.JohnForbes,S.G.Osborne,Mr.andMrs.S.C.Hallandothers.

InApril1850,nolessthan650evictiondecreeswereissuedbytheLawLifeSocietyagainstthetenantsofthelateT.B.Martin’sestate.In1851,400familieswereevictedand267housesleveled.

FrancisB.Head,anEnglishtraveler,describedtheevictionsthattookplaceinOughterardanditsneighbourhoodbytheLawLifeCompanyin1852,astoldtohimbytheHeadConstablethere.Thoseevictedwentintotheworkhouseandmanyofthemlateremigrated.TheMasteroftheworkhousetoldhimthattherewere972inmatesinthehouseon1stJanuary,1852,andthattherewerenolessthan1,475inthehouseon27thJune,asaresultoftheevictions.

TableofEvictions

Theevictionsfrom1851-80knowntotheconstabularyaregivenforeachcountyonanannualbasisintheparliamentaryrecordsandareregardedasreliable.TheyarelistedfortheWestRidingofGalway,whichincludedConnemara.

AgoodnumberofthoseevictionswerebytheLawLifeCompanyofLondonontheformerMartinestate.TheyownedalmosthalfofthelandinthebaroniesofMoycullenandBallinahinch.Smallnumbersoftenantswhowereevictedwerereadmittedtotheirownholding.

Therewerelarge-scaleevictionsintheearly1850s.Therewasthenadeclinebutevictionsincreasedfrom1878,withtheemergenceoftheLandLeagueagitation.

Theseareafewexamples:

GalwayWestRidingEvictions

Year Status Families Persons

1851 Evicted 1034 5172

Readmitted 327 1838

1852 Evicted 759 4058

Readmitted 174 1177

1853 Evicted 255 1412

Readmitted 8 49

1855 Evicted 185 930

Readmitted 6 33

1875 Evicted 113 607

Readmitted 11 59

1878 Evicted 192 1015

Readmitted 17 122

1880 Evicted 74 344

Readmitted 10 44

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