DOWNEY FROM BALLINASLOE TO AUSTRALIA

According to the Immigration papers for Patrick DOWNEY Mary KELLY, Mary DILTON,  Bridget ROTCHFORD, Bridget GARROT & Margt DOOLEY travelled in his care to Australia, arriving per "Gilbert Henderson" in September 1841.

The only added information about them is that Margt DOOLEY was the daughter of Th's and Rose DOOLEY. I can only presume they came Ballinasloe as did the Downey's.

I have not researched them here in Australia.  Someone  maybe looking for them and would love to hear.

Regards,

Prurob

Hi,

I am Thomas Downey, live in Kilkenny. If I can be of any help. On Griffith Valuation, about 1850, most of the Downeys in Galway, were in a parish called Ahascragh, which is about 7 miles from Ballinasloe. They may have lived closer to Ballinasloe, but be in Ahascragh. You can have a look at Griffith Valuation, www.askaboutireland and click on Griffith Valuation. I don't have a telephone directory for Galway, to see if there are any Downeys there now. 

Ahascragh parish is on this website.

Good Luck.

Hello Thomas,

Thanks for your kind response.   Just recently I have found Patrick DOWNEY'S Death in Sydney.  At the time of my initial posting, I had been unable to find it.

The Death Certificate indicates :

• he was born about 1794 (aged 78 in 1872) at TUAM in Galway
• his father was SIMON DOWNEY, a builder; mother MARY MOLONEY

The Informant was his 22 year old daughter from his second Marriage, so accuracy is always questionable re details on Death records, but better than nothing!

I don't think the Catholic Church records go back far enough for me to locate his birth or  Ballinasloe records for his Marriage.

I have also located a Baptism  at St Peters Athlone and Drum, Roscommon in June 1827, of one of his children, Eliza M, who came with the family to Australia.  I have seen the entry on an LDS microfilm. There were no other Baptisms of his children there, that I could find.  The other children's native place was given on the Emmigration records,as Ballinasloe.

I have checked Griffith's Valuation and note Downey's but have no idea at this stage if any are connected.

I was in Ireland from late May until July and called at Downey's Bar at Ballinasloe and left my details, so, hopefully, with these posts as well, someone connected will turn up.     I also had a night at Kilkenny and wished we could have had longer.  Have a son married in Dublin, so we are likely to visit your delightful country again.

Kind regards,

Prue

Hello,

I also have a connection to a Downey family in Ahascragh/Ballinasloe.  Were you able to make contact with any of the Downeys still living in Ahascragh?

Thank you