placenamesCloghbrack
An Chloch Bhreac
Records of Cloghbrack Lower reveal a farming settlement with teachers and blacksmiths; a recent school initiative shows the continuing importance of local education.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- An Chloch Bhreac · Irish · main form · validated name
- Cloghbrack · English · main form
Place & story
Mountain farms above Lough Mask
The 1838 field-name account described Cloghbrack Lower as mountain land with pasture, tillage, oats and potatoes. Its proprietors were the Earls of Leitrim and Charlemont, acting through agent James Fair. The account also noted that rain-swollen mountain streams joined into a river through the settlement before reaching Lough Mask. [2]
Blacksmiths and teachers
Tomas O Flatharta's study of the 1901 census identifies several livelihoods within the local farming community. In the Walsh household, Martin farmed and worked as a blacksmith, his brother William was also a blacksmith, and another brother, Thomas, taught in the national school. The household's outbuildings included a forge, placing skilled metalwork alongside agricultural work. [2]
Keeping the school in the community
In April 2023, Scoil Naomh Pádraig drew attention to falling pupil numbers with an unusual offer: a year of rent-free family accommodation intended to attract school-age children. The community-backed initiative involved the local co-operative and business ECC. Principal Gearóidín Uí Phiric described the school as a gathering place for courses, events and seasonal card games as well as education through Irish. [3]
Geographic information
- Place type
- Population centre
- County
- Galway
- Barony
- Ross
- Civil parish
- Ross
- Within
- Cloghbrack Lower
- Coordinates
- 53.55413, -9.44871 (approximate)
- Logainm ID
- 130943 ↗
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Cloghbrack. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Cloghbrack Lower — Joyce Country townland research · Tomas O Flatharta / Galway County Heritage Office
- School offers family chance to live rent free in beautiful Cloghbrack for a year, 13 April 2023 · Declan Varley, Galway Advertiser
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.