1808 life in Clare, detailed by report writer Hely Dutton

[smcarberry]

Statistical Survey of the County of Clare
By Hely Dutton, 1808
online version:
http://www.archive.org/stream/statistic ... 0/mode/1up
other formats:
http://www.archive.org/details/statisti ... 09socigoog

This long, discursive report refers to some similar earlier surveys and treats primarily the industries of Clare, with very opinionated expressions of improvements to be made. The writer attributed Clare's deficiencies to the absentee landlords and a system which penalized rather than facilitated improvements by tenants. His criticism extends to naming individual dastardly Clare middlemen (estate agents). In one instance he identifies some good guys and cautions that Francis Crowe of Nutfield is not to be confused with a Crowe who was agent for the Earl of Egremont. Such references certainly liven up an exhausting account of economic findings.

For our usual historical and genealogical purposes, here are some relevant observations:

People of old age: footnote 35: Hagarty age 107 near Moy; Rumsey of Kilrush; Fr. M'Curtin, age 100.

Extent of civil parishes in 1808, note 38:
Tullagh adjoins Co. Galway
Bunratty starts at Tubber (Galway), runs through through Clare's center, skirts the city of Limerick

Placename origins:
Inchiquin is derived from Innish O Quinn and was formerly called Tullogh O'Dea
Tradree is derived from "terre de roi" [the king's land], referring to Brian Boroimhe [Boru]

Onions as a prime crop of Ennis, exported to other counties - note 75

Non-resident landlords, named - note 274

Locations of mills around the county, p. 300

Extent of daily conversation in Irish, in Clare - p. 303

List of Clare men receiving Dublin Society planting premiums, p. 311

Old spellings of current civil parishes, p. 354

Resident Church of Ireland clergy, p. 383

Proclamation of Clare's hospitality as the best in Ireland, p. 394

Clare women always walk behind their men, p. 399


posted by Sharon Carberry USA

[Paddy Casey]

Thanks for this, Sharon.

See also http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... survey.htm

Paddy