Introduction

My family links to Ireland are through my paternal grandmother’s mother (my great grandmother) who was Ellen Barry.

Ellen Barry was baptised on 5 Feb 1832 in Cobh, County Cork.

On 9 Nov 1854 at St John the Baptist, Cobh (then named Queenstown) Ellen married a Greek named Nicholas Svombo.

In 1855 their first child Lazarus was born in Cobh (Queenstown). He was baptised on 29 Jul 1855 in Cobh (Queenstown).

On 13 Nov 1856 Their second child Mary Ellen was born in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales.

They went on to have 8 more children all born in Cardiff.
George born 1858
David Emmanuel born 1860 (he was killed in an accident at work in 1876)
Constantine Garrett born 1862
Sitmati (male) born in 1864
Emily Augustina born 1866
Antonio born 1868
Maria Calliope born 1871 (my paternal grandmother)
Anne Cleopatra born 1873

Nicholas Svombo died in Cardiff in 1876. Anne Cleopatra was sent to be raised by relatives in Greece.

Apart from Anne Cleopatra and David Emmanuel I am in contact with the descendants of my grandmother’s siblings. My grandmother died in 1919, therefore I never met her.

I have traced the marriage of Ellen’s parents at St John the Baptist, Cobh, County, Cork on 12 Oct 1830. Ellen’s father was Garrett Barry and her mother was Mary Catherine, Connell.

I have been unable to trace Garrett Barry’s birth/baptism, his parents, or his death/burial.

Mary Catherine Connell was baptised at St Finbars, Cork City on 23 Jul 1810. Her parents were Michael Connell and Catherine Sweeney. I have been unable to trace their marriage or baptism.

I live in Wiltshire, England. I have had a holiday in Cork City which included a visit to Cobh. I have also had a holiday in Dublin. I was impressed by both cities and how friendly the people are.

I have taken a DNA test with Ancestry which suggests that I am 5% Irish.