Hello
Whilst researching my McLean family, I came across this document (attached) in which Patrick McLean is leasing 27a in Belmullet Kilcommon County Mayo. 'He is the caretaker of the cutaway bog'.
What would this entail? Would it mean he had to take payments for turf?
I would appreciate any information
Kind regards
Karen Coatsworth.
A cutaway bog (in Irish, a lagphortach), is generally a formerly raised bog which was being harvested commercially but has essentially been used up. Nowadays, Bord na Móna, the national peat-harvesting company, owns a number of them, especially in central Ireland. Some have been turned into grasslands or forest land, but many are not suited for commercial or agricultural use, and are being converted for conservation uses, such as wetlands. Perhaps your ancestor was managing such an area for a landowner.
Karen,
To add to the Post by Kevin45sfl, in relation to land holdings where tenants did not pay the rent, the owner of the land had them evicted. In some cases, if the rent was paid at the time of the eviction the tenant was permitted to occupy the land as "Caretaker". This was a temporary arrangement until a more satisfactory one was arranged by the land owner. It did not confirm any "Rights" to the land on him.
In relation to Patrick McClean, he apparently had signed an agreement with the owner of the Bog which enabled him to farm it.
I attach a report from the Nation Newspaper of November 13th 1875 which gives an indication of the situation. Column 2
Regards,
Thanks Kevin45sfl and McCoy for your information.
Very interesting article from the newspaper McCoy, very difficult times.
Karen.