Pilkingtons and Keanes of Gower Hall during the Great Famine
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:04 pm
Gower Hall is in the townland of Gower North in Kilmacduane civil parish, north east of Kilrush. I have been told that during the famine it was used as a fever hospital and am looking for more details of this.
According to Hugh Weir's Houses of Clare (p.141), Gower Hall was owned by Richard Pilkington by 1805, but was the address of Francis Nathaniel Keane J.P. by 1846. Francis Keane was the occupier in Griffith's Valuation (20 Aug 1855), by when Richard Pilkington was living in a much smaller house in Gower South (the Rateable Annual Valuations of the two houses were 12 pounds and 2 pounds respectively). Both were tenants of Henry S. Burton.
It appears that Francis Keane may have moved from Gower Hall to Hermitage (Cloghlea townland, Drumcliffe civil parish) around 1857. There is an inscription in Kilrush Churchyard to his son, "Christopher Marret Keane of Gower Hall A. B and G.M Queens University Ireland died 17th day of March 1857 aged 26 years". GO MS 108: 171-172 is a copy of confirmation of arms to descendants of Charles Keane of Corbally, & to his grandson Francis Nicholas [sic] Keane of Hermitage, 25 Apr 1857.
Fr. Michael Quinlivan rented Gower Hall as a parochial house, probably in 1858, the year in which he became Parish Priest of Cooraclare parish.
The Kilrush Church of Ireland burial register lists Richard Pilkington, Gower, 3rd July 1863, aged 93.
Richard Pilkington's brother Thomas Pilkington was married to Francis Nathaniel Keane's sister Anne Keane.
I wonder if Katrina Vincent or anyone else out there has more details of the use and occupiers of Gower Hall during the famine years.
According to Hugh Weir's Houses of Clare (p.141), Gower Hall was owned by Richard Pilkington by 1805, but was the address of Francis Nathaniel Keane J.P. by 1846. Francis Keane was the occupier in Griffith's Valuation (20 Aug 1855), by when Richard Pilkington was living in a much smaller house in Gower South (the Rateable Annual Valuations of the two houses were 12 pounds and 2 pounds respectively). Both were tenants of Henry S. Burton.
It appears that Francis Keane may have moved from Gower Hall to Hermitage (Cloghlea townland, Drumcliffe civil parish) around 1857. There is an inscription in Kilrush Churchyard to his son, "Christopher Marret Keane of Gower Hall A. B and G.M Queens University Ireland died 17th day of March 1857 aged 26 years". GO MS 108: 171-172 is a copy of confirmation of arms to descendants of Charles Keane of Corbally, & to his grandson Francis Nicholas [sic] Keane of Hermitage, 25 Apr 1857.
Fr. Michael Quinlivan rented Gower Hall as a parochial house, probably in 1858, the year in which he became Parish Priest of Cooraclare parish.
The Kilrush Church of Ireland burial register lists Richard Pilkington, Gower, 3rd July 1863, aged 93.
Richard Pilkington's brother Thomas Pilkington was married to Francis Nathaniel Keane's sister Anne Keane.
I wonder if Katrina Vincent or anyone else out there has more details of the use and occupiers of Gower Hall during the famine years.