The cottage above was home to my grandfather. It is located in Rathnamaugh in Kilfian Parish. The family was originally from the townland of Tooreen in Crossmolina parish but as my great-grandparents aged, they moved here to live with their daughter, Margaret Lamond Gallagher and her husband Thomas. John Lamond lived until 1914 and his wife, Anne Ruane Lamond lived to 1823. John was in his eighties when he died and Ann, a few months short of ninety. They wee amazing people because they were both born before the famine and were adolescents during the worst of it. Somehow they survived, married in 1861 and were parents to twelve children. Three children apparently died at birth orshortly afterward. Five came to America and four remained in Ireland. The American branch seemed to follow the biblical advice "to be fruitful and multiply."
THE GREAT FAMINE
Ireland was no stranger to famine. In fact, in the early 1820's there was a famine in Mayo, just before the records for Ballina began. There had also been one late in the 18th century. Neither was of the biblical proportions that the Famine of the 1840's was.
The tragedy of the Famine was that it need not have occurred. Thanks to oppressive rents and tithes imposed by the British government through their representatives, the small Irish farmer was dependent upon the potato for his own food. These farmers grew other crops, including oats and wheat, and many had some livestock. Unfortunately, the fruits of their labors, even during the Famine, were sent off to market in England while the native population starved.
If a tenant could not make his rent, his cottage was "tumbled" and the family was sent out on the road. Their normally hospitable neighbors had to turn them away because they would meet the same fate if word got back to the landlord. Some families, unable to go on, set up a "scalp," which was composed of a ditch in the road with some thatching over it to keep out the rain.
In addition to the emaciation and dehydration that accompanied starvation, other illnesses ravaged the already weakened population. Cholera, typhhus and tuberculosis were rampant. These were also contributing factors in the estimated numbers of those who died during that time.
First hand accounts are heartbreaking. Whole villages lay empty; some houses still held the remains of their inhabitants, unburied because there was no one left to help. In some places, there are "famine graves," such as in the town of Killalla in North Mayo, where hundreds of people were buried en masse as sickness and starvation ravaged the population. There are reports of people who died with "green mouths," as they ate grass in attempt to nourish themselves. There are other stories of those who siphoned blood from the landlords' livestock, believing that it would build up their strength.
There was some belated help from the British government. There was "made work," building roads, for example, which would have been fine if the natives were in any physical condition to do any heavy work. Since the oats and wheat grown by farmers were sent off to England, the government imported yellow corn from the US to, at least temporarily, provide a staple. Those who were able to obtain it were sometimes sickened by it, and it was not really a viable substitute for the already bland diet to which the Irish were consigned.
The Quakers set up soup kitchens which helped. Some groups from the established church also helped in this way but the price one had to pay was to accept conversion to the Church of Ireland which most were unwilling to do. Those who did so were tagged with the unflattering nickame, "brothies."
The first crop failure was in 1845. The weather that summer was unseasonable, with extremely hot days and then heavy rain for weeks following. When it came time to harvest the potatoes, many were already rotten in the ground. Those that were salvageable soon turned black in storage. By 1846, the situation was critical, with thousands banished from their tenant farms and taking to the road. Others went to workhouses, where the crowded conditions encouraged the spread of sickness. Some landlords, who wanted to turn farm land into pastures, contracted to send their tenants to the United States or Canada on so-called coffin ships. The fact that any of them made the trans-Atlantic crossing was remarkable, and that any of the sick and emaciated passengers survived is nothing short of miraculous.
Many of the landless Irish flooded the British cities of Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and London. Some from southern Ireland traveled to Wales. Those who had the courage and were still healthy enough to work, left for a destination where they would be likely to find some kind of employment. For an estimated million Irish men and women, this was the United States.
For various reasons, there were also many who could not leave Ireland. There was, consequently, a huge internal migration such as had not been seen since the seventeenth century when the clan system collapsed and the Irish Earls left for continental Europe. Many formerly rural people were attracted to the cities. In Ballina, there was a workhouse. While most people would rather die than go there, after a time, there seemed to be no alternative. One reason for this reluctance was that the applicant had to have given up his holding in order to be accepted. Once a farmer was no longer able to manage his small acreage, this was the only alternative.
Since Ballina had at least two flour mills and a slaughterhouse, as well as other businesses, those who had been reduced to penury went there, hoping for a chance to work or for charitable aid. As the situation stabelized in the 1850's, new families from many different parts of Ireland settled in, living in Kilmoremoy Parish for generations, sometimes replacing, and sometimes living alongside the older inhabitants.
In examining the records from the Parish, I noticed the departure of some dominant families as well as the additions of names that were, in the past, associated with other parts of the country. I felt that it was necessary to print the list of additions to the parish, particularly because as the records become more recent, they may be more helpful to researchers.
POST - FAMINE PARISH ADDITIONS
Atkinson - of similar derivation as Atkins which is a diminutive of Adam. Atkinson is common in Ulster while Atkins is more usually found in Cork.
Barber - "le Barbier", an Anglo-Norman occupational name present in Dublin as early as the 13th century. Now it is most commonly found in Ulster.
Bohanon - a form of "Bohan" from the Irish buadhach, victorious. Bohan is the most common form in Connaught while Bohanon is usually found in County Clare.
Bournes - an Anglo-Norman name found in Ireland since the 16th century. Common variants are Burns, Byrne and Birrane.
Cafferky - Mac Eachmhoreaigh, horseman, in Gaelic; a common Mayo name which is often written as Cafferty in Donegal and Derry.
Cahill - Mac Caithil in Irish. Derives from a personal name meaning Charles. It is most commonly found in Donegal and Cavan.
Canavan - O'Ceanndubhain, originally a Galway sept, the Canavans were hereditary physicians to the O'Flaherty.
Casker - (Mac Ascaidh) Derives from a Norse personal name. Common to Counties Tyrone and Derry.
Coen - A synonym for Coyne in Connaught. Sometimes written as Cohen although it is not linguistically linked to the common Jewish name.
Coleman - (Written as Coalman in some records) Derives from a personal name meanning "dove." Although now numerous in all provinces, it is native to Sligo.
Collins - anglicized form of O'Coileain, whelp, which is also writen as Cullain or Cullane. The sept was originally from Cork but are numerous in Limerick today.
Conlon - O'Conallain, little hound in Irish; was originally Conellan and has been abbreviated to Conlon or Conlan.
Cooper - English occupational name meaning "barrell-maker." Recorded as early as the 16th century in Ireland.
Costello - Mac Oisdealbhaigh. Oisdealb was the name of the father of Anglo-Norman Gilbert de Nangle. The Costello family is an examply of the hibernicization of a Norman family as they absorbed the customs and cuture of the Irish. The Barony of Costello in Mayo was once their domain and is named for them.
Courtney - de Courtenai,a Norman name adapted as McCourt and Cournane. A James Courtney appears as a member of the Famine Commission that was established in County Armagh. The writer, Frank McCourt, wrote that his father was from Ulster, while his mother was from Limerick.
Cunningham - Common Scottish name brought to Ulster during the Plantation. Now widely dispersed throught the country.
Daley - (O'Dalaigh) A great name in Irish literature. Originally of Westmeath, the name is now much more common in Galway, Clare and Cork.
Dee - synonymous with O'Dea. Originally a Clare name but now common throughout the west.
Dempsey - (O'Diomasaigh, proud) O'Dempsey was one of the few chiefs who defeated Strongbow. The sept's resistance cost it dearly in lands and power. Its home was in Leix-Offally but is now numerous everywhere.
Devaney - O'Duibheannaigh , named for a place in Armagh. Mainly found in Donegal and connected counties.
Devers - O'Duibhidir - a combination of dubh (black) and an obsolete given name. This is a well-kknown Tirconnell sept. In Donegal, the name is Diver; in Mayo, it is Devers.
Devlin - Originally a leading Ulster sept. The name of a separate sept from Sligo has evolved into Dolan. The dominant sept originated in County Tyrone.
Doran - One of "The Seven Septs of Leix" and the great Brehon family of Leinster. The Irish form of the name is O'Deoradhain, which means "exiled person."
Doyle - O' Dubhgaill, black foreigner in Gaelic; the main sept was of Norse origin, arriving prior to the Anglo-Norman invasion. The name was most common in Counties Wexford and Roscommon.
Dunne - O'Duinn, O'Doinn; one of the most numerous names of the mmidland counties. An early form was O'Doyne, the Lord of Iregan.
Early - O'Maolmhoicherirghe or "early rising;" ann eccesiastical family of Breffney. Sometimes used as a synonym for Loughran.
Evans - usually a Welsh name but is occasionally an anglicized form of O'hEimhin which means "swift."
Flanelly - O'Flannghaile, ruddy valour; a Sligo sept which is often confused with Flannery.
Fergus - O'Fearghuis, vigorous man; there were two prominent septs. One was an important eccesiastical family of Leitrim and the other was a medical family that servved the O'Malley's.
Foley - O'Foghladha, plunderer; originally from South Munster.
Garvin - O'Gairbhain - rough; a southern family that migrated to Mayo. In some cases, it has become Garvey.
Gilboy - O'Giollabuidh, yellow; a name sometimes substituted for the Scottish clan name, Ogilve.
Gillard - the name of a French soldier left behind after the 1798 rebellion. He married into the Nary (Neary) family of Bonniconlon and his descendants include the famous "Rosary Priest," Father Patrick Peyton.
Gilleran - O'Giollarain, follower of St.Luaighrinn; common to County Roscommon.
Gordon - A Scottish surname first introduced into Ulster.
Grehan - O'Greachain, blind; found mainly in Connaught. Variations are Graham and Grayhan.
Hannan - O'hAnnain, warrior; most frequently found in Connaught.
Healey - O'hEilidhe, ingenious; Ballyhely in north Connaught is the seat of this sept.
Holmes - of Scottish origin; the name is numerous throughout Ireland.
Hope - Derives from the Old English hop, an enclosed valley. Froom the 14th to the 19th centuries it was primarily associated with Westmeath. It is common in all provinces today.
Jones - Most numerous surname in Wales and very common in England. It is also one of the most common names among the settlers in Ulster. It has been Gaelicized as Mac Seoin. (McShane)
Joyce - Seoigh; a Welsh family that was completely hibernicized. One of the "Tribes of Galway," they were instrumental in making Galway an important trading area. Their territory in western Galway is still called "Joyce's Country."
Keane - variation of the Ulster O'Cahan; sometimes it is a variation of the Munster O'Cein. Kane is a variation.
Keating - one of the earliest hibernicized Anglo-Norman names, written as Ceitinn. The family originally settled in Wexford but it is common in all counties today.
Kennedy - O'Cinneide, ugly head; Originally of East Clare with branches in Tipperary and Wexford. The Wexford branch are the forebearers of the American political dynasty.
Kerins - O'Ceirin, black or brown; the main sept is from north Connaught but the name is now more common in Counties Monaghan and Fermanagh.
Kilker - probably Kilgore, MacGiollaghairbh,rough; a northwest Ulster family.
Lavelle - O'Maolfhabhail, movement; a north Connaught sept. In Donegal, it has evolved into Fall or Melville.
Long - Numerous in Munster and Donegal; can be de Long, the English name Long, or a form of Langan.
Lynett - Lionoid, powerful Anglo-Norman family established in Mayo in the 13th century.
Lyons - Usually an English name but in Ireland it is usually an anglicized form of O'Laighin in Galway or O'Liathin of Cork.
Mangan - O'Mongain, hairy; There are three septs by this name; from North Connaught, Limerick and Tyrone. Sometimes written as Mongan.
Mayock- probably of the same Welsh origins as Maddock and Maddox; equivalent to the Irish O'Mhadoc of County Wexford.
McCann - Mac Cano, wolf cub, once a leading clan of Armagh.
McCormack - Mac Cormac, derives from the personal name, Cormac. The only recognized sept of this name is from the Fermanagh/Longford area.
McGarry - Magfhearadhaigh, manly; akin to the McHugh's of Leitrim and Roscommon.
McManus - Mac Maghnuis, in Ireland, originally from the Norse, but initially from the Latin, magnus or great. This is the main sept of the Maguires of Fermanagh and Roscommon.
McNallen - same as Nallen, but in the spoken Irish, the prefix is added.
McQuinnys - A variation of McWhinney, of Antrim; some sources believe it is derived rom MacSweeney.
Meade - Miagh; the name, now numerous in all provinces, an origin in Meath. Historically, it was a leading family of Cork.
Moore - A well-known English name that is often confused with the Irish O'Moor. Both names are numerous in Antrim and Dublin.
Mulderagh - O'Maolderig or "red Chief" in Irish. A Mayo name often changed to Redington, Reed and Rutledge.
Mullarkey - O'Maoilearcu, devotee of St. Earc.A Tirconnell that migrated to Galway and Mayo in the 17th century.
Mulligan - O' Maoilagain, bald in Irish. An importan sept of Donegal, much reduced since the Plantation of Ulster. Found primarily in Mayo and Monaghan.
Molowney (Maloney) - O'Maoldhomhnaigh, servant of the church; the most important septs are in Tipperary and Clare.
Mulrooney - O'Maolruanaidh; a once powerful sept subjugated by the Maguires. The name is found in small numbers in Fermanagh. In Galway, it is Molony.
Nealin - A variant of O'Neylin. A Clare name which gradually spread into Connaught.
Nealis - see Nealin.
Noone - O'Nuadhain; translated by one expert as "lamb" because of a similarity in pronunciation. The family is common in Dublin, where most families have representation, but their homeland is in Sligo, with numerous families in Galway and Mayo.
Reardon - O'Riordain; the earlier form, O' Riaghbhardain means royal bard. A Clare name.
Richards - one of the most numerous English names in Ulster.
Robinson - more recently introduced English name. Numerous in Mayo. The former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson is a native of Mayo.
Rooney - O'Ruanaidh; homeland is Ballyroney in County Down. In some cases, it is an abbreviated form of Mulrooney.
Scanlan - O'Scannlain, contention in Irish. Originally a Connaught name. However, numerous branches migrated to Clare in the last two hundred years.
Sexton - although an English name, it is also used as the anglicized form of O'Seasnain. One of the principle names of County Clare, with numerous families in the city of Limerick.
Shanley - Mac Seanlaoich, old hero in Irish a prominent family of Leinster, but now also numerous in Connaught.
Studders - An Anglo-Irish name common in Clare since the 16th century. It means "keeper of horses."
Swift - the English Swift family came to Ireland in the mid-17th century. Swift is also a translation of Foody.
Taylor, an English occupational name that has not be hibernicized. Common in all provinces.
Timony - O'Tiomanaidh, driver; Native to Donegal and nearby Tyrone, Fermanagh and Leitrim
Walter - common English name in Dublin and Ulster
Welles - English name now most common in Ulster. However, it was recorded in Cork as early as the 13th century.
