This photograph by Robert French shows a view of Ennistymon town from a height in the townland of Ardnaculla North (before the New Line was built).
In the foreground, we can see a row of cottages that once stood on "Moga's Lane" which was a local nickname for "the Lane off Bogberry Street" (now Bogbere Avenue). In the immediate foreground, you can see wire fencing following the line of the Ennistymon railroad (which ran right behind these houses).
In 1845, at the time of the Ordnance Survey, these buildings were all extant and had probably been there a long time. The two white-washed cottages to the left, with front-doors facing the camera, were located on the opposite side of the lane. Recorded as "cabins", the occupants were not named, however, within a decade Griffith's Valuation records most of them.
In 1855, at the time of Griffith's Valuation, "the lane off Bogbrry Street" was home to the following: (RtoL)
#1 Andrew Gardiner (1787-1865) facing the camera on the far right
# 2 Catherine Ahern (1781-1864), facing the camera
3 unoccupied; (hidden from view)
#4 Honoria Stapleton (1796-1867) freeholder; (see James Stapleton 1820) small slated house
#5 Thomas Reilly aka Tommy & Mary O'Reilly; long thatch house
#6 Susan Quirke; (see Tim Quirk 1820) small thatch house
#7 Simon O'Loughlin Sr & wife Mary O'Loughlin (1830-c1902) ; (Simon O'Loughlin Jr. of Glann 1887-1926 was his grandson) thatch house sub-let from McNamara
#8 was the "office" or farm out-building seen here rear of Pat McNamara's larger house situated perpendicularly at the end of this row (on Bogberry Street).
By the time this photo was taken in 1890, many of the original occupants had passed away.
In the Census of 1901 and 1911, the houses on Moga's Lane were recorded under "Bogberry Street, Ennistymon".
During the early 20th century some of the occupiers of Moga's Lane [mapped by Clare Library] included:
38. Mrs. Neville, Bridgie (Rod) O’Loughlin.
39. Patie and Bridgie McNamara.
40. John O’Brien and Family.
41. Keady Neville.
42. The Sherlock Family and Bridgie Lug.
43. Mikey and Mary Gorman.
44. Mike “The Dane” McMahon.
45. Mickey and Molly Fitzgibbon.
46. Mick Marrinan, before that Paddy Marrinan, and before that Micko “Pither” Finneral.
47. First House over the Railway Bridge on the left hand side was the home of Pete and Lena McNamara and family and before that, Pete’s grandparents.
48. Paddy and Peggy O’Loughlin and family and before that Tom Neville and family.
49. Stephen and Katie Molloy and family before that, Slant McDonagh (The Boxer).
All these houses on Moga's Lane are now demolished.
[Research by Rua Mac Diarmada]
References
NLI Lawrence Collection: Ennistymon | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE | |
OS Survey 1845: Bogberry Lane | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE | |
Griffith's 1855: Lane off Bogberry Sr | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE | |
Census 1901: Ardnaculla North | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE | |
Census 1901: Bogberry Street | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE | |
Residents of Bogberry Street [Clare Library] | Ireland | VIEW SOURCE |