County Mayo Surprise

Patty:

Have you developed a family tree and identified which surnames are from what county? Brady is likely Co. Cavan but the other surnames are found all over the country. If you have specific names you are researching in Mayo or any county, please provide specifics and our volunteers will try to assist you.

Roger McDonnell

Hi Roger, thank you for your reply. My Eagan family is from eastern County Galway in the areas of Kilreekil, Loughrea and Cappatagle. I have visited those towns and was able to gain additional information. They lived on the former Blake Plantatkon, which is now an equestrian center. My Larkin ancestor was from the former Kings' County, parish of Roscrea in an area called Coolieshill. His name was Thomas Larkin and if memory serves, his wife was Margaret and their children were Mary, Eliza and William(my ancestor). I would love to know Margaret's maiden name. My Smith and Murray ancestors, John Smith and Alice Murray were born in Cavan, (c. 1831 and 1834) born to Phillip and Catherine Murray and James and Ellen Smith. I learned this from our family Bible. I would like knowing Catherine and Ellen's maiden names. My biggest puzzle is Daniel Kenny, born in County Donegal. He had a daughter Sarah, my great grandmother. I do not know her mother's name nor any information on Daniel. Someone or more than one must have originally come from Mayo. I grew up in a predominantly Irish community a couple hours west of Chicago in a Mississippi River town. Our school mascot name was the "Fighting Irish." Our priests see Irish and our home and life in this community is what must've made Ireland so very familiar to me! 

*Our priests, that is, were of Irish ancestry, one of whom was born in Ireland. 

Hi Patty!

Do you have an approximate year of birth for William Larkin. I have found a couple William Larkin possibilities one in 1871 with a mother Margaret Ryan but he was in Lusmagh parish not Roscrea.

No luck finding a baptismal record for Alice Murray.

For John Smith, I found a May 29 1834 record in Cavan town RC parish father James Smith and mother Ellen Cullivan. Possibly this is your ancestor.

I did not find any records in Co. Donegal for a Sarah Kenny with father Daniel. I don't have Sarah's year of birth but finding any pre-1850 Church records in Donegal is very difficult.

Roger

Thank you so much, Roger! Yes, that is my John Smith. He was born in May of that year. Did you mean to write Sullivan or is it Cullivan for his mother's maiden name. 
 

My William Larkin would've been much earlier than 1871. Thomas Larkin, his father, was born c. 1780-1799 and farmed in the former King's County near Coolieshill. 
 

Sarah Kenny was born in the U.S. Her father, Daniel, was born in County Donegal. I would love her mother's name.
 

I may have forgotten to mention that Ryan is one of my surnames. Thomas Eagan's wife was Alice Ryan, also born in Ireland. Thomas was born in Loughrea in 1821/1822. His father, Mathias (Matthew), was born in Ireland and appears in the census in either 1800 or 1820 as living in Kilreekil. Thomas's mother was Honora Griffin. May have not mentioned the Griffin surname. When my son and I were in Kilreekil, we went into the only store there and the proprietor told me there were lots of Griffins in the Kilreekil area and a few of them were just in the store! 
 

Thank you again for the update. They are always welcome! 
 

Patty:

See link to baptism of John Smith May 29 1834 mother's maiden name was Cullivan   https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634810#page/40/mode/1up

I located a February 7 1819 baptismal record in Roscrea parish for a William Larkin with father Thomas Larkin and mother Margaret Lahy

Record is on right hand side of page  https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634775#page/59/mode/1up

Can't help with the mother of Sarah Kenny.

Roger

Thank you for much for your research, Roger. I really appreciate it! From what I understand, parish records are vital tools as a fire in 1922, destroyed civil records. My only remaining puzzle, aside from the elusive Daniel Kenny of Donegal, is Alice Murray born to Phillip and Catherine Murray in Cavan c. 1834-36. I do not know Catherine's maiden name. Progress has been made and I thank you for taking the time to investigate! 

Patty:

The Public Records Office fire in 1922 did not destroy civil records. You can find the records for free at www.irishgenealogy.ie (Civil Records Tab). Births are available from 1864-1920, Marriages from 1864-1945 (non RC marriages are available from 1845-1863) and deaths from 1864-1970. If you need assistance for any records, let me know.

Prior to 1864, you are reliant on available church records.

Roger