1901 Census Research for Kilmeage South, Co. Kildare

Kilmeage South Electoral Division Population Changes 1841 to 1901

The Electoral Division of Kilmeage South consists of 15 townlands and 4,356 acres, the largest being the townlands of Coolaght (584a.), Kilmeage (571a.), Ballyteige South (541a.) and Lowtown (533a.).

Two of the smallest townlands in the country, Grangeclare Little with seven acres and Kilmeage Little with six acres, are also located in this division. 

The village of Kilmeage was the main population centre in 1901, with 128 residents, only 10% less than in 1841. But in 1841 Ballyteige South (226), Grangeclare West (195), Lowtown (163), Grangeclare East (156) and Ballintine (152), all had populations greater than the 142 residents living in Kilmeage. The Grand Canal marked the northern boundary of Ballyteige South and Grangeclare West, and houses were plentiful along its banks. The arrival of the railroads proved detrimental to canal transportation and would have accelerated the population decline in the adjacent townlands.

Main Landlords in Kilmeage South in 1854

Griffith’s Valuations tell us that the main landlord in this area around 1854 was Sir Gerald G. Aylmer (1798-1878) 8th Baronet of Donadea. The Aylmer’s were a wealthy Anglo-Irish landowning family whose Donadea Baronetage was created in 1622. They were active participants in the conflicts, from 1641 to 1798, and supported James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 but managed to retain their lands under the Treaty of Limerick. They built, and rebuilt Donadea Castle nearby, which is now within Donadea Forest Park.

Sir Gerald Aylmer was enthusiastic about architecture, and he rebuilt Ballyteige Castle, constructed Aylmer’s Folly on the Hill of Allen and did much to develop Kilmeage village. 

The main landlords and their largest sub tenants were:

1. Ballintine: Sir Gerald Aylmer to Rev. John Pim, John Tiernan and Patrick Ryan;
2. Ballintine: Denis Healy to Thomas Burne;
3. Ballyteige South: Sir G. Alymer to Peter Healy, Christopher Farrell, Michael Somers, Edward Payne, and William Flynn;
4. Cloncumber: Sir G. Aylmer held much of this himself but also leased lands to Thomas Hynes;
5. Grangeclare East and West: William Richardson to John Lazenby in the West and to Thomas Carter, Patrick Norton, James Carter, and Richard Price in the East;
6. Killeagh: Rev. Thomas Smyth to himself, and to Thomas Farrell and Edward Devine;
7. Kilmeage: Sir G Aylmer to Peter Nowlan, Rev. Arthur J. Preston, Stephen Hasham, Matthew Lazenby, and John Healy;
8. Kilmeage Little: Peter Nowlan to John Hogarty;
9. Littletown and Lowtown: Sir G. Aylmer to James Quinn in Littletown and Thomas Herbert, Lawrence Cribben, Margaret Cribben, and Marcella Cribben in Lowtown;
10. Newpark: Rev. John Pim retained this himself. 

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 60% between 1841 and 1901.

The population decrease of 60% between 1841 and 1901 was similar to surrounding areas except Kilmeage North, which only declined by 26%. There were 242 houses in 1841 housing 1,477 residents, an average of 6.1 people per house. By 1901 only 122 houses were occupied, housing just 595 residents, an average of 4.9 per household.

During the famine decade, the population declined by 269 (18%) between 1841 and 1851, and the decline continued for the next 20 years before the decline slowed down in the 1870’s to 7%, or six people per year for 10 years. The decline accelerated again in the 1880’s to 20% or 168 residents to 660, before slowing again in the 1890’s. 

Grangeclare Little and Kilmeage Little were completely depopulated by 1861 and 1881 respectively, and Grangeclare East lost 82% of its population. Even Kilmeage with its village lost 10% by 1901 having increased briefly in the 1850’s.

Carter was the most common surname in Kilmeage South in 1901

There were thirty one residents in the Kilmeage South ED with the surname Carter in 1901, followed by Dunne with twenty-two, Farrell with seventeen, and Murphy and Herbert with fourteen each.