Eviction of Thomas McHugh

My great grandfather Thomas McHugh, Mullaghmore, Moylough once lived in the townland of Carrownacregg West. I had heard stories about his eviction from his home in Carrownacregg. No historic evidence of this is likely to be found so the story of his eviction is confined to folklore.

Thomas McHugh (born c 1831) is shown in Griffith Valuation to have 7 acres of land in Carrownacregg West and a house under construction. He married Mary Fahy, a neighbour’s daughter in 1861. He worked as a gardener in Carrownacregg house, a herd’s house owned by Christopher Bellew and leased along with land to James Brown. The story goes that one evening he took home a head of cabbage from the garden of the big house. Subsequently Mr Brown found out and duly evicted Thomas and his family from their home. His house became the home of the Clarke family whom had previously lived in Mullaghmore East where the Carrick family live today. Land Valuation records show the McHugh family moving only a few hundred yards away living in Ballinruane Townland, on 3 acres 3 roods and 1 perch, previously occupied by a Hugh Laheen. Thomas and his family soon moved again to his final home in Mullaghmore South where after his wife died he remarried Biddy Gormally nee Lally a widow with a young family.