Searching for my Irish Roots....Help Required :)

Good morning

My name is Dennis Michael Donahue (although I go by Michael).  My parents are Donald Stafford Donahue born 29 July 1927 in Stocco, Ontario, and Doris Marie Donahue (Nee McAlpine) born 06 September 1929 in Picton, Ontario. 

My Grandfather on my Dad’s side was born in Ontario sometime between 1889-1891, I am not sure of the date when he passed away but he is buried in Toronto, Ontario at if I remember correctly Mt Pleasant Cemetery .  He was married at least twice and my Dad’s mother who passed away while he was a child is buried in Tweed, Ontario and her last name was/is Starkey (spelling is probably wrong).  I am unsure when she was born.   My father was one of 5 children my Grandfather and his two wives had.

My Grandfather on my Mom’s side was Maurice McAlpine born 05 March 1900 in Maynooth Ontario.   He passed away in 1970 and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Picton, Ontario.  His wife my Grandmother on my Mom’s side was Marie Gilmour.  I am unsure of where she was born but I believe it was in the Belleville/Picton, Ontario area.  I am also not sure of here exact birth date but if I remember correctly I believe she was born in 1902.  This fine lady passed away in July 1994 and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Picton, Ontario also.  My mother was one of 8 children this set of Grandparents had.

It goes without saying that I do not believe that we spell our surname the way it may have been spelt in years gone by.  I know my Grandfather and at least on uncle spelled their surname using an O for instance Donohue.  My father and at least one sister and brother spelled the surname I currently was born under with an A for instance Donahue.  I suspect the O was dropped as the first letter of our name to hide the fact we were Irish, as there was racial hatred towards Irish people in Canada years ago.  So I suspect our surname was probably spelled something like O’Donoghue or any of the many variances I used for this surname.

I realize that this is not much information to go by but if anyone is available to provide some additional information it would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Mike Donahue

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada