Hi Murf
Thanks for that extra information. I wonder if there was much consternation among those Galway people in 1898 – not alone were they now Clare people, but they were also now in the province of Munster. These days, if there’s a mention of Co. Limerick getting part of Clare, the first thing that people think of (with shock and horror) is that Clare hurlers will be playing for Limerick.
As I’m sure you have noticed, Murf, you need go no further than the GenMap at the top of the Genealogy page to see the more compact outline of the old Clare, before the “armrest” (as I think of it) was added on. In his book,
Sliabh Aughty Ramble, Gerard Madden mentions the old boundary as having followed the course of the Bow river (for the most part): he says, “Bow river, abhann na booagh – the river of the secret – rises in the Pollagoona mountains and enters Lough Derg in Scarriff Bay. For centuries it was a natural boundary between Clare and Galway” (p 94). The river, as the boundary line, is also mentioned in the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland 1845: “and the Bow river rises in the interior at an altitude of upwards of 668 feet above sea-level, and trots and tumbles partly in the interior, but chiefly along the eastern boundary, down to Scariff bay.” (see the information on Moynoe parish:
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclar ... moynoe.htm). In all the maps the river is hidden in the boundary line, but I found this one:
https://mapcarta.com/18277770. Gerard Madden says that one of the traditions associated with the river has been preserved in a piece written for the Folklore in Schools Scheme of 1938. According to the storyteller, if you washed your hands in the river on Easter Sunday morning, they would be able to open any knot.
Murf, you say that you are researching the Bugler family who are chiefly in that part of the county. There was also a Dr. Bugler in Ennis in the early 20th century, and there was a Bugler’s Medical Hall in Abbey Street in Ennis that many people will remember. I don’t intend to interfere with your research, Murf, but I will just avail of this opportunity to post an obit that might be of interest to somebody else who is researching Buglers – it is an obit for Daniel McNamara, Catholic Curate, who died in 1937, and putting it here will make it searchable:
Late Rev. D. McNamara, P.P., Portroe – Clare Champion, Saturday, April 3rd, 1937.
The death of Very Rev. D. McNamara, P.P., which was briefly reported in our last issue, caused feelings of regret in many parishes in the diocese of Killaloe, where the deceased had ministered for close on forty years. A son of the late Mr. Matthew McNamara of Lisofin, Tulla, deceased was born there 65 years ago. He had a distinguished collegiate course in St. Flannan’s Ennis, whence he graduated to Maynooth and was ordained there on 21st June, 1896. After his ordination he ministered in Larne, in the Diocese of Down and Connor, for five years. He was then called to his native diocese and ministered as Curate in Crusheen, Kilmaley, Kilkishen, Clarecastle, Coolmeen and Killaloe. It was while in Killaloe he was promoted Parish Priest and appointed four years ago to the pastoral charge of Portroe in succession to Very Rev. T. Meehan, who had been transferred to Crusheen. In every parish where he ministered, the late Father McNamara endeared himself to the people by his saintly character. During his short ministration in Portroe he carried out much-needed improvements to the church there and beautified the church grounds and its surroundings. To commemorate the Holy Year, Father McNamara had erected on Loughten Hill overlooking the Shannon, a forty-foot high flood-lit cross, which, when illuminated, can be viewed from the counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Offaly. Though in indifferent health for some months, Father McNamara became seriously ill only a month before his death. He was conveyed to the Mater Hospital, Dublin, where his death took place. Deceased was a brother of the Rev. M. McNamara, C.C., Castleconnell, an uncle of Dr. H. Bugler, M.O., Ennis; of Sr. Mary Oliver, Convent of Mercy, Nenagh; and of Rev. Father Bugler, Goulburn, Australia, who recently paid him a visit.
The remains were removed by motor hearse from Dublin. When approaching Portroe, they were met by a very large cortege of priests and laity, who followed the remains to Portroe Church were they lay overnight. The clergy present on the arrival of the remains in the Church were the Venerable Archdeacon Slattery, P.P. V.G. Nenagh [a very long list of clergy here].
After High Mass the remains were removed for interment in the Church grounds, his lordship the Bishop and the other priests officiating.
The chief mourners were - Mr. Denis McNamara, Lisofin, Tulla (brother); Sr. M. Oliver, Convent, Nenagh; Miss Lily McNamara, Lisofin; Miss Mary McNamara, Tulla (nieces); Rev. M. Bugler, Australia; Dr. H. Bugler, Ennis, Mr. Dan Bugler, Redwood (nephews); Mr. T. Bugler (brother-in-law); Mr. Tom Byrnes, the Cunneen family, Kilmurry; Joe and Mrs. Doherty; Mrs Kiely, Bodyke (cousins); Miss Hastings, Thomas Neylan and family, Knockroe; Thomas Roche and family, Kells, Corofin; V. Rev. J. Roche, P.P., Kilmaley, etc.
Mass Cards, telegrams and letter of sympathy were received from – Miss Ryan, North Circular Road, Dublin; Rev. M. Ryan, U.C., Mullagh; Convents of Mercy Ennis, Birr and Killaloe; Miss Hastings, Mrs. M. Moynihan, Silvermines Road, and Mrs. Pearse, Bridgetown; Mr. P. Corbett, Killaloe; Roche family, Corofin; Mrs. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Frawley; Miss Neylon; Miss Brosnahan; Mary Boyle and Bridie Welsop; Dr. and Mrs. Murnane; Charles McGrath, Killaloe; John McGrath; Garry Kennedy; Joe and Mis Doherty; Mrs. Kiely; May and A. Cunneen, Kilmurry; May Crowley; Mrs. C. McGrath; Mrs. T. Ryan, Loughrea; Miss K. Roche, Loughrea.
Note about Mass Cards: in the 1930s Mass Cards were mentioned in obits as they were still something of a rarity (a couple I found from that time look more like certificates than cards) and were sent only by people who could afford them. The list of those who sent Mass cards sometimes shows someone who was not present at the funeral, so they can useful for researchers. I once found a family in the U.S., thanks to a list of Mass Cards.
Murf, I found the marriage that brought about that connection between the McNamaras and the Buglers (1898: John Bugler to Mary McNamara, Lissofin). The marriage took place in Limerick and I notice that quite a few Buglers choose to get married in Limerick around that time - it was the fashion. I notice that a Lizzie Bugler, who married James Madden in 1895, gives her address as Bow River, Co. Galway.
Sheila