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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Galway => Topic started by: Kerrill on Thursday 29 August 19 11:02 BST (UK)
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Hi All,
my ancestor John Mitchell born 21 june 1880 in Clooncah, Galway is in the 1901 census as being a Farmer and Railway Employee, is there anyone who could help me with the Railway side of things. I am not sure how much info there would be on his employment with the railway company but it would be nice to find out as much as possible.
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Probably an employee of the Midland Great Western Railway?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Great_Western_Railway
Looks like the Dublin-Westport line ran close to Clooncah, with stations at Castlerea and Donamon.
You could try IrishRailArchives?
http://irishrailarchives.ie/index.php/archives/genealogy/
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Thanks very much KGarrad will try that. :D
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There are a few places with records but they are scarce and not online
http://irishrailarchives.ie/
This is the records society - they also have a facebook page
apologies KGarrad I didn't see the same link there!
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Probably an employee of the Midland Great Western Railway?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Great_Western_Railway
Looks like the Dublin-Westport line ran close to Clooncah, with stations at Castlerea and Donamon.
This is Clooncah, Co. Roscommon
Clooncah, Co. Galway was near Attymon
Attymon station was built c1890 LINK (http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=GA®no=30408504)
The line to Loughrea opened in 1890
He may have been involved in the laying of the permanent way before the line opened
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my ancestor John Mitchell born 21 june 1880 in Clooncah, Galway is in the 1901 census as being a Farmer and Railway Employee,
Can you paste a link to this 1901 census entry. Thanks.
KG
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Probably an employee of the Midland Great Western Railway?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Great_Western_Railway
Looks like the Dublin-Westport line ran close to Clooncah, with stations at Castlerea and Donamon.
This is Clooncah, Co. Roscommon
Clooncah, Co. Galway was near Attymon
Attymon station was built c1890 LINK (http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?type=record&county=GA®no=30408504)
The line to Loughrea opened in 1890
He may have been involved in the laying of the permanent way before the line opened
I bow to your superior knowledge! ;D
However, in my defence, Google Earth located "Clooncah, Co. Galway" just inside the county boundary, but very close to Co. Roscommon; and close to the 2 stations I mentioned before.
It's across the border from Kiltrasna, where the railway line runs through?
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several townlands named Clooncah in Mayo (1), Galway (x2) and Roscommon (x4) (https://www.logainm.ie/en/s?txt=clooncah&str=on)
believe the one referred to here is the one in Killimordaly parish between Ballinasloe and Athenry (https://www.logainm.ie/en/s?txt=clooncah&str=on), and close to Attymon
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believe the one referred to here is the one in Killimordaly parish between Ballinasloe and Athenry (https://www.logainm.ie/en/s?txt=clooncah&str=on), and close to Attymon
Attymon station just to the west of Clooncah townland.
https://www.townlands.ie/galway/kilconnell/killimordaly/killimor/clooncah/
KG
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1901 census ?
John Mitchell age 27, Railway Man (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Ballinasloe_Rural/Kilclooney/1366782/)
age is a little off, mother is a widow, but correct name
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Kilcloony is basically half of Ballinasloe
https://www.logainm.ie/en/942
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1901 census ?
John Mitchell age 27, Railway Man (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Ballinasloe_Rural/Kilclooney/1366782/)
age is a little off, mother is a widow, but correct name
No, I don't think so. The age is not right.
John born at Cloncah(sic) on the 21st June 1880, according to the OP.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1880/02858/2047351.pdf
If the OP can link his 1901 census then it can be proved or disproved. ;D
KG
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a better match in 1901 (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Killimor/Clooncak/1386149/), townland misspelt as Clooncak. John is shown as Farmer's Son - no mention of railway for him, his father Thomas is Farmer & Railway employee
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a better match in 1901 (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Galway/Killimor/Clooncak/1386149/), townland misspelt as Clooncak. John is shown as Farmer's Son - no mention of railway for him, his father Thomas is Farmer & Railway employee
Exactly!! ;D
Siblings Michael, Henry, Thomas and Margaret all born at Clooncah.
KG
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This is the Mitchell family in 1911. Seven children born, seven still living.
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Galway/Killimor/Clooncah/463162/
KG
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So Sorry everyone I meant Thomas, but the question is where could I find any info about his work on the railway, is there any surviving records from the railway company he would have worked for.
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In answer to the question - there are very few records remaining and they are not all documented
The Irish Railway Records Society is the best place to start to see if anyone has records
Thomas could have been a casual or seasonal railway worker as he states farmer first but this is just an educated thought. Was the railway work referred to on the birth records of his children? this would show if he gave it a high priority.
The rural railway workers were, in the main, the Station Master, Booking Office Clerks and Porters who would have been full time employees and shown as such; with more employees that walked the lines for faults, fixed/built the lines, and other ad hoc work.
Engineers, Accountants and professional employees were located in terminal towns and cities
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There is a book that may be of use
Baronial Lines Of The Midland Great Western Railway by P. O’Cuimin
It was published in 1972 ISBN 901552-00-3
It includes the Loughrea & Attymon Light Railway (1890-1924) describing the lines, services and stocks and also refers to personalities and personnel
It may be available from libraries; I can't guarantee it will hold more information
Also of interest may be, the gauge lines that were run by the Midlands Great Western Railway between Loughrea and Attymon and the Ballinrobe and Claremorris Railway were called The Ballfour lines.
The National University of Ireland Galway is the home of the Ballfour Album, which is housed in the James Hardiman Library. The Ballfour Album deplicits images of the Ballfour lines which were run by the Midlands Great Western Railway. It is a database which was originally created in 1893. It was created by the Belfast photographer Robert John Walsh.
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Was the railway work referred to on the birth records of his children? this would show if he gave it a high priority.
At the birth of his last child, Margaret, he was still referred to as a farmer. His wife Bridget was the informant.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1888/02512/1931339.pdf
KG
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Yes, on all the childrens birth certs he is down as a farmer, thanks to all of you for your inputs, will try and get hold of the book you mentioned today.
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Just a general and possibly obvious comment. In rural areas dependent on the position held, eg rural crossing keeper it was by no means uncommon even into the 1970s for the crossing keepers cottage to come with a great deal of land, indeed a virtual small holding. I have known that many people in rural Lincolnshire have been virtually full time farmers, their railway duties consisting of opening the crossing gates a few times a week. I would expect similar circumstances in Ireland as it is a much less urbanised country that England.
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It’s a good point Redroger. Gatekeepers in Ireland still have a house in some areas. However as they tended to be on the payroll and used this title as their main work
1901 census. Gatekeepers Galway Link (http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?searchMoreVisible=&census_year=1901&surname=&firstname=&county19011911=Galway&county1821=&county1831=&county1841=&county1851=&parish=&ward=&barony=&townland=&houseNumber=&ded=&age=&sex=&search=Search&ageInMonths=&relationToHead=&religion=&education=&occupation=Gatekeeper&marriageStatus=&yearsMarried=&birthplace=&nativeCountry=&language=&deafdumb=&causeOfDeath=&yearOfDeath=&familiesNumber=&malesNumber=&femalesNumber=&maleServNumber=&femaleServNumber=&estChurchNumber=&romanCatNumber=&presbNumber=&protNumber=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=)
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His address on the census could well confirm my thoughts or otherwise demolish the theory.
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The house still stands today, it's not a railway house. Thanks for the input though.
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The house still stands today, it's not a railway house.
Where is the house in Clooncah townland - is it north or south of the railway line? Is it near Clooncah House?
KG
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Map of house