Denis Gallagher/Ellen Ferry

Hello,

I'm looking to find confirmation of children of Denis Gallagher and Ellen/Helen Ferry. I found  a Census search by their daughter, Kate in 1920, seeking Old Age Pension,, which gives the date of their marriage as 1844 in Tullaghobegly. The 1841/1851 Census shows other children besides Kate were Denis, Anthony and Mary born between 1845 and 1850. Kate was the youngest. Kate was born in Lunniagh and living in Carrick Coyle in 1920.

My GG grandfather, James Gallagher, says on his wedding reg. in Hamilton, Scotland, that Denis and Helen were his parents.

He was born 1854c.

My mum has a good DNA connection with someone descended from Thomas Gallagher born 1859, possibly in Carrick Boyle. The match shows Mum and Thomas'es descendant as 3rd cousins, which matches Thomas also being a son of Denis and Ellen. On Thomas'es marriage reg. to Cecilia Diver 11 April 1888, his father is noted as Denis. They married in Gweedore at St Mary's chapel.

The records I have found so far place Denis and Helen and their family in Carrick Coyle and Lunniagh.

My GG grandfather, James Gallagher, was last heard of 'back in Ireland' according to a Poor application by his mother-in -law, submitted in Hamilton in 1888. . She was unaware that his marriage has broken up. We know from his eldest daughter's wedding registration in Kirkcaldy, Fife, that he had died pre 1896. But we never have been able to find where he was buried or what happened to him. He was coal mining in Scotland. I cannot find a record of his death there.

My grandfather and I were close, and I can remember walking on the beach with him once in New Zealand when I was little, and him telling me all about how people used to survive eating seaweed and it was a certain type. 

This rang a bell when reading of the terrible time in Gweedore, which fits the time our Gallagher family would have been there. 

I know Gallaghers are needles in a haystack searches, but I'm hoping the DNA will pinpoint where our family lived and are resting. 

Any help greatly appreciated.

,Kerrie