What Mayo village of Breaffy was like in 1837

by Auld Stock

In the Lewis Survey of Breaffy, Castlebar, 1837, the author makes a number of interesting observations. Breaffy, he states, is bounded by a considerable river called the Minola.

This river is closer to Manulla than Breaffy.

Lewis says that because of Breaffy’s closeness to Castlebar, it was the scene of much plundering, skirmishing and looting after the French troops, under General Humbert, took over the county capital in 1798.

Breaffy, Lewis states, comprises of 5,000 statute acres; the land is partly under cultivation and partly under pasture.

There is a considerable extent of bog which could be reclaimed by drainage.

Lewis states on the estate of Major Blake, Fisher Hill, there is a fine quarry of stone which is fit for building of the first order.

Races were held during the months of August on a course within the parish.

The racing gentry and so-called toffs attended the races in large numbers and special tents were erected to provide food and drink for the racegoers. The ladies wore their best finery for the day.

The same thing happens at racing today and the most extravagant headwear is worn by some. Some things never change.

Of course it was only the rich who could afford expensive clothes in the 1830s.

This was a time of much poverty in Ireland and many young men had to emigrate to earn a living in the potato fields of England and Scotland. They were known as tatie hokers, a term despised by the Irish. Those emigrants were hard working and honest.

Nowadays, with the coming of Brexit, the potato pickers from Eastern Europe are banned from travelling to England and farmers, in some instance, are forced to let their potatoes rot in the ground.

Boris Johnson and his Tory tribe are authors of their own misfortune.

Mark my word, the time will come when England will be glad to rejoin the European Union.

However, back to Lewis and Breaffy in the 1830s.

The principal seats were Breaffy Lodge, the residence of Major Bowne, Windsor House, of Colonel McAlpine, Fisher Hall, of Major Blake, Hawthorn Lodge, of St. Claire O’Malley, and Rocklands, of J.C. Larminie, Esq.

Breaffy was a rectory in the diocese of Tuam in 1837. It contained a chapel but services were not conducted in the building at the time.

Lightford was described by Lewis as Lightfoot and a school in the area was supported by Mrs. O’Malley and J.C. Larminie, Esq. There was an attendance of 200 boys and girls in the school. There were the remains of an ancient abbey in the area at the time.

The Breaffy of today bears absolutely no resemblance to the Breaffy in 1837. A new church, modern school, large-scale housing, Breaffy House Hotel, GAA club, football amenities and other developments have completely changed the landscape of Breaffy in recent years.

Now that’s what I call progress.