1901 Census Research for Cloncurry, Co. Kildare

Cloncurry Electoral Division

The Electoral Division of Cloncurry consists of 10 townlands ranging in size from 39 acres in Blakestown to 1,450 acres at Cappanargid. It is sparsely populated with only 258 residents present on Census night, March 31^st 1901, an average of 1 person for every 16 acres or one household for every 57 acres. Between 1841 and 1901 the population declined 75% from 1,034 residents to 258. The population in 2022 has now recovered to 490 residents according to that census. 

There are two Cloncurry areas in north Kildare and this location is in the barony of East Offaly. This Cloncurry, or Cluain Conaire in Irish, is named after Maoldubh, a great saint whos feast day was December 18th. The other Cloncurry is in the parish of Kilcock.

This area is just east of Rathangan and the Grand Canal passes through it since its construction in the 1780’s. During the Famine, reports were made to Dublin Castle that boats on the Grand Canal were raided by the starving populace.

Main Landlords in the 1854

Griffith’s Valuations tell us that the main landlords in this area around 1854 was the 10th Viscount Valentia, Arthur Annesley in Cappanargid.

Excellent Book published on Farming and Society since 1700 in the barony of Carbury

At the end of 2024, as part of the Maynooth Studies in Local History, The Four Court Press has published an excellent book on this part of Co. Kildare that is worth purchasing. The title is “Farming and society since 1700 in the barony of Carbury, Co. Kildare, by Lesley Whiteside. Detailed farm records from the likes of the Holt family were used when researching this local study, and the book can be purchased from the publisher at this link. 

Population Decreased by 75% between 1841 and 1901.

The population decrease of 75% between 1841 and 1901 is one of the higest for rural Kildare. There were 185 houses in 1841 housing 1,034 residents, an average of 5.6 people per house. By 1901 only 71 houses were occupied, housing just 258 residents, an average of 3.6 per household.

During the famine decade, the population declined by 279 (27%) between 1841 and 1851, but it fell another 30% to 529 residents by 1861. For the next twenty years the population remained relatively steady before it started to decline again by 28% in the 1880’s and by 24% in the 1890’s. 

Nobody was living in the townland of Blakestown in 1901 and the eight people resident in the Gore and Dunne homes in 1901 were the only two left in Drinnanstown South, down 91% from 89 in 1841.  

Cullen was the most common surname in Cloncurry in 1901

Cullen was the most common surname in 1901 with 14 residents, followed by Kelly (10), then 9 each for Broughall, Sexton, Dunne, and Heffernan. There were three Cullen households in Bostoncommon, one of which seems to have returned from England at some stage, for their 12 year old daughter Marianne was born in Wigan, Lancashire.  The Watson family of Feighcullen were the only Church of Ireland family present in 1901.