Ballinlough

Ballinlough in Irish “Baile an Locha” means townland of the lake. In the electoral division of Ballynagar it is 200.27 acres or 81.05 hectares in size.

Ballinlough borders Commons West, Loughpark, Rosseeshal, Slatefield and Tulla.

What we recorded

Placenames

9 (2 Irish-origin)

By type

• 5 field
• 2 island or archipelago
• 1 hill or hills
• 1 lake or lakes

Houses

5

Buildings

1

Map

Placenames

Houses

Buildings

Population

In the 1841 census there were 152 people and 30 houses and in the 1851 census there were 78 people and 16 houses. The 1847-64 Griffith’s Valuation recorded 8 houses and 8 landholders and the 1840 maps indicates up to 39 houses or outbuildings. In the 1901 census there were 6 residences and 26 inhabitants and in the 1911 census there were 7 residences and 31 inhabitants.

Land and Household Records

Landholders and heads of household recorded in the Tithe Applotment Books, Griffith’s Valuation, and the 1901, 1911 and 1926 censuses.

About the Townland

A central feature of this townland is the 51 acre Ballinlough lake of which 20 acres are in this townland, 15 acres in Loughpark townland, 9 in Slatefield and 7 in Rosseeshal. It had 4 islands (possibly 6) of which 3 were Crannogs (man made islands), generally dating from the early medieval period. A deep lake with good fishing, in 1890 a bog slide from the Sliabh Aughty uplands travelled down the course of the Moyglass river for over a week totally covering the lake in a peaty substance leaving it in a swamp like state ever since, covered in trees and vegetation with a stream running through it.

Ballinlough was recorded in the 19^th century as having a mill and a forge and there is a ringfort recorded in the west of the townland.

Michael Duane

Michael Duane also known as ‘Michil’ was born in Ballinlough in 1883 one of 8 children, 5 sisters and 3 brothers. All but one brother Pat, emigrated. Michael and his brother Joseph emigrated to England in the early 20^th century. Michael became a cyclist of note and won many races while there, including a road race in Grimsby in 1907.

He returned to Ireland some years later and lived in Knockmoyle townland. Married to Margaret nee Mullavin, she was from Co. Westmeath and a schoolteacher in Drim National School. Margaret died in 1964 and Michael died in 1973 and both are buried in Ballinakill cemetery. Joseph enlisted with the Royal Sussex Regiment of the British Army and was killed in action in France on the 9^th of August 1915. He is buried in Cambrin Churchyard Cemetery in north eastern France. John Duane, nephew of Michael lived in Ballinlough and was also a keen cyclist and had a bicycle that belonged to his uncle for many years. Another nephew Brendan, a Garda stationed in Kevin Street Dublin was very involved in rowing and later coaching in the Garda rowing club in Islandbridge, Dublin. He was one of the main coaches to the Irish rowing team at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow which included a win in the Petite final for one of the teams. In the 2000s Brendan received a presentation from President Mary McAleese at a Sports Banquet in Dublin.

Many thanks to Michael Neville (Ballinlough) for information and Chrissie Duane (Knockmoyle) for pictures.