Ballyvaughan

Ballyvaughan, in the old parish of Drumcreehy, takes its name from BAILE UA BHEACHAIN, O’Beahan’s or O’Vaughan’s residence. The old castle of Ballyvaughan stood on the very edge of the harbour. It was always an O’Loghlen stronghold, except for a short time during the sixteenth century when it was held by the O’Briens. Apparently, in 1540 a stolen cow was located here, resulting in heavy penalties being paid by the O’Loghlens. The fines included cattle, goats and sheep, as well as losing the town of Ballyvaughan. In 1569 it was attacked and taken by Sir Henry Sydney’s forces but somehow the O’Loghlens survived within their old territories. By 1840 the castle was a ruin but its foundations can still be seen today on a spur of land opposite the Rent an Irish Cottage scheme.

Before the present village grew, a late medieval settlement seems to have existed here on this semi-promontory around the cottages. Westropp, in 1900, wrote "three small forts and a much levelled ring of a great Caher lie near the quay". This was shown on the Ordnance Survey map as a moated rectangular site. A small ring fort survives behind the end cottages and a preservation order has been placed on the surrounding fields.

Ballyvaughan PierIn the early years of the nineteenth century the Quays established Ballyvaughan as a fishing village. Three of the old piers lying north and north-east of Dr. O’ Dea’s Clareville House were built by the inhabitants of the village. At high tide they are virtually unusable as they are generally covered by several feet of water. This factor probably led the Fishery Board to erect a new quay in 1829. By 1831 the village contained 23 houses and by 1837 some of the inhabitants were engaged in the herring fishery which was then carried on successfully on this coast. By 1837 the inhabitants were looking for a new quay to "add to the prosperity of the place, as, independently of the fishery turf is landed here in great quantities from Connemara for the supply of the neighbouring country." They must have got it as the pier beyond the Irish Cottages is still referred to as the "New Pier". The road into it was built strictly for that purpose whereas all the other piers, including a few to the west between it and the site of Harbourhill House, were more readily accessible from the existing roadway network.

The village had a population of 235, living in 35 houses, by 1841. The quay was vital to Ballyvaughan’s existence. Most supplies came from Galway and the inhabitants exported all their grain, bacon and vegtables. For a while Ballyvaughan was the official capital of north-west Clare. It had its own workhouse, coastguard station and a large police barracks. McNamara’s Hotel on the shore featured in many nineteenth century guide books. A herring fishery and oyster bed were operating successfully. However, as early as 1804, Dutton mentions in his writings that the oysters had become scarce for want of stocking the bed.

As the roads improved and the piers deteriorated Ballyvaughan lost its importance as a fishing port. Today the piers are used mainly for pleasure craft and for charters to Galway or the islands.

The old national school of 1854 has recently been restored and was officially opened as a community hall by President Mary Robinson in 1992. Nearby is a low cut - stone building which served as an auxiliary workhouse during Famine times. It later became the dispensary and medical committee rooms.

The present Catholic church was built around 1860 and a small Church of Ireland church was erected on the Kinvara side of the village. When the latter church closed it was dismantled and brought to Noughaval where it was re-erected as a Catholic church and re-dedicated in 1943.

Till we meet,
Slan agus beannacht!