Richard Conway of Castlekirk

Hi Doreen,

Just wondering whether it said Richard was buried in Kilcummin parish or Kilcummin graveyard? It is most likely referring to Oughterard graveyard either way but Kilcummin graveyard would be more definite. I would suggest you give oughterardheritage.org a look as they are currently working on a graveyard mapping project and when complete you'll be able to see if Richard Conway is buried there and where his grave is situated etc.

As for the reference to Castlekirk, this is quite strange as Castle Kirk is an actual castle on a tiny island which was in ruins centuries before Richard's time. Stones from the castle were even used to build houses in the area in the 19th century. However, he may have owned some land on the shore which included the island and simply used that title as an address. 

If this is the case it could be assumed that Richard owned land either in the DED of Letterfore on the south-east side of the lake or Cloonbur on the north-west as Castlekirk lies in between. If Richard was buried in Kilcummin Parish most likely he resided in Letterfore DED; however, when I searched the 1901 census I found no Conways in the area. In contrast to this several Conway families can be found in Cloonbur DED which could make Cloonbur more likely a location. Also there was an RIC barracks on Camp Street  in Oughterard town and a Church of Ireland church on the main street where they were likely to have been married as I dont think there were any other Church of Ireland church in the entirety of west Galway at that time.. 

So I would say that the most likely DEDs (District Electoral Divisions) that concern you are: Oughterard followed by Letterfore or Cloonbur. I hope this might help in narrowing down your search.

Paul Gibbons.

Kilcummin Parish Administrator.

Hi Paul

Many thanks for this.

It doesn't actually give the graveyard on the burial record just the details I have given above, but it does say that it was ' by J O'Callaghan'.  I have found a Rev John O'Callaghan on Griffith's Valuation living at Glebe, Kilcummin, so I presume this is the Vicar who performed the burial of Richard Conway.

I did find a record for an Elizabeth Conway born  c1838 whose place of residence was given as Castle Kirke, father's name Richard, when she married John Mellett in Kilcummin in 1855. In 1901 & 1911 Elizabeth & John (Church of Ireland) had a hotel in DED Roundstone, Barony Ballynahinch, Moyrus parish.  John Mellett was a Scripture Reader in 1901.  One of their daughters, Henrietta, a Canadian army nurse was killed when RMS Leinster was sunk by a German u-boat off  Dun Laoghaire in 1918 - she is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin.

My research leads me to believe that Richard Conway may have  had at least two sons, Thomas Richard & Marcus Benjamin.  On the 1901 Census Thomas R & Marcus were the only two Protestant Conways in the whole of Ireland to be born in Galway. Having obtained both of their marriage certs I have ascertained that their fathers were given as Richard Conway.  Interestingly both men named sons Marcus  & my great grandma Kate Louisa Conway gave one of her sons the middle name Marcus. 

When Thomas Richard Conway was married in 1867 he was a 'Mission Agent' in Waterford & later went on to be a vicar in northern Ireland.Given that what is now 'The Irish Church Missions' seems to have been very active in Oughterard around 1847 I think that you are correct in thinking that Richard Conway came from there.

One of my Irish cousins was told by her mother that there had been a vicar in the family & that a member of our family had been on the Lusitania when she was sunk.  I have researched the passengers on this ship & can find none who fit my family's profile so I am wondering if in fact the story related to Henrietta Mallett on the Leinster.  I do feel that these Conways are my great grandma's siblings & that just one more piece of the jigsaw is needed to prove it!

Once again many thanks for your help, your information was very valuable & much appreciated.  I will post a message on Oughterard parish in the hope that someone may know something of the Conways.

Regards

Doreen