1901 Census Research for Lullymore, Co. Kildare

Lullymore Electoral Division Population Changes 1841 to 1901

The Electoral Division of Lullymore is similar in size to surrounding divisions, with 5,306 acres, but most of it is bog land, hence the small population. It was all owned by the Murphy family, Salesmasters at Smithfield market in Dublin and one of the wealthiest families in the country. 

Between 1841 and 1901 the population declined 47% from 165 residents to 87. The population has recovered to 201 residents in 2022 according to that census. 

Main Landlords in Lullymore in 1854

Griffith’s Valuation for this area in 1854 tell us the lands of Lullymore were all owned by James Murphy, the unmarried youngest son of John Murphy and his wife Frances Catherine Maria Johnson.

His grandfather, William Murphy (1771-1849) was a United Irishman that survived execution by fleeing to Lisbon. William was a businessman and political adviser and listed as a Salesmaster at Smithfield Dublin from 1795. William was so trusted by the United Irish Leadership as to be appointed to liaise between Lord Edward Fitzgerald and the local leaders in Co. Kildare. Later, he was one of Daniel O’Connell’s most loyal supporters, respected for his advice and financial acumen. O’Connell described him in 1844 as a man of “enormous wealth” through business and “long been a principal brains carrier of the Irish Whigs.”

William Murphy died in 1894 on September 2^nd at home, Mount Merrion House. His daughter Maria died the next day of cholera and his son Christopher died on September 5^th also from cholera. William left a fortune of £645k, the largest every fortune ever realized in Ireland up to then. His charitable bequests included £50 to poor residents in the townlands of Lullymore, Barnarane, and Shanavola.  

The youngest so was James, the landlord of all five townlands, who never married and worked with his father in the business at Smithfield. When his father died in 1849, his cousin William James Murphy joined him in the business but on his death, James closed the business in 1854. He was the last surviving son and died himself on January 7^th 1860 having devoted his life to private charity. Of his £150k estate, he left £50k to charity, including £8k to the Dominican Friars to finish their Dominick Street church, and £8k each to 3 hospitals, St. Vincent’s Hospital, The Royal Hospital Baggot Street and the Mater Hospital, Eccles Street. He also left £200 to each of his land stewards at Lullymore, Ballymaglasson and Kilbrew.

Surrounded by bog was Lullymore Island, where Lullymore Lodge was built in 1860. It had 17 rooms and was used by the Murphy family as a country retreat until the 1930’s. On the death of Major Brundell Murphy, the island was sold to the Land Commission.

No members of the Murphy family were present on Census night in 1901 and the sole occupants of the lodge that night were 23-year-old domestic servant Maria Mooney and her 17-year-old sister Margaret.    

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. 

McDermott was the most common surnames in Lullymore in 1901

There were 20 residents in the Lullymore ED with the surname McDermott in 1901. The were the only family in Derrybrennan, and there were three more McDermott families in Lullybeg, and Lullybeg East and West.

The 15 Fitzpatrick residents lived in two residences in Barnaran and Lullybeg. The 11 Jacob family residents lived in Lullybeg. The single household was headed by Thomas Jacob, his wife Margaret, and living with them were seven children, and a brother and sister of Thomas.

The eleven Dempsey residents livend in two home in East and West Lullybeg.  

Two Public Visitor Centres at Lullymore worth visiting

Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park is a social enterprise day visitor attraction located on a mineral island in the Bog of Allen between the villages of Rathangan and Allenwood in North West Kildare.

The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is located at Lullymore in the heart of the Bog of Allen and is run by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC).