Swift descendants to visit Gort

Hi Molly

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Sr. De Lourdes is our Parish Liaison for Gort so you are in good hands! We would love to see some photos of your trip. My Grandmother is 99 so I understand how this is a special birthday. I hope that someone researching the family will be in touch with you, though sometimes it takes a little while to happen and great connections can take place after weeks and sometimes months when someone new joins in.

Fingers crossed for some good weather in May

All the best

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Hello Molly, how much do you know about John W Nolan ? Do you know his wife's name at all? Sr. delourdesfahy has been helping me as well, and I have a John Nolan of interest too for that same period. They are connected to Rineen I understand and lived at 30 Bridge Street in Gort. Do you know of any brothers or sisters of John also ? Best regards Fred Nolan Australia

Hello, Fred,

I know only a little about John Nolan, plus what Sister De Lourdes has found in the records. John Nolan was a good friend of my great grandfather (John Connell Swift). We know this based on the contents of two letters written from Ireland to John C. in America. I am sorry to say that the letters mention only John's name and no other family members.

One letter came from John C. Swift's uncle, Patrick Connell in 15 May 1880 (my cousin transcribed the name of the writer of this letter as "Bert Connell," but I think this is an error because he mentions his daughter, Mrs. Mary Malone, and that would be Patrick's daughter.) In his letter, Patrick writes to John C. Swift, thanking him for some money that was sent. Of John Nolan, here is what is written:

I called on William John Nolan. He told me he received your letter but did not answer as yet with regards to sending you a boy. My dear nephew, if you wish I have a young man who I could recommend to you. A good working young man in case it would answer. Now, his name is Michael Walsh. If you wish to pay his passage, he will have no further delay.

Another letter, written 3 July 1911, came from Bridget Connell Larkin, a first cousin to John C. Swift. She was married to Michael Larkin:

My dear cousin, Mr. Swiift,
I am writing to you a few lines. Hope the arrival will overtake you in the former state of health and all your family. Sorry to say that I am after burying my husband. He was not long complaining. He got the last rites of the Church. We are feeling lonely after him. I hope to hear from you soon.

Your friend, John Cooney is buried also lately. There are a few of your friends still living, the John Nolan family.

The letter continues, but there is no more mention of John Nolan or names of any of his family. I have only the transcribed contents of these and two other letters from Ireland. I do not have the original letters, and I doubt that anyone in the family knows where they are. My cousin transcribed these 30 years ago, and thank goodness she preserved them for us. I will be happy to send you the contents of all four letters, if you like. Or perhaps I can find a way to post them here so that others may also read them. 

Sister De Lourdes's information indicated that John William Nolan did indeed reside in Rinneen, about two miles from Ballylee (my great grandfather's townland.) She also found that he died before 1901 but did not find the date.

I hope this is helpful. Can you tell me more about your John Nolan? Do you think we are writing about the same person? (My mother will be pleased to know that we have connected, regardless. I like the thought that my great grandfather's friendships of 165 years ago are still remembered today.)

best regards,

Molly Daniel
Charleston, Illinois, USA

Dear Clare,

thank you for your reply. I can hardly wait for May to get here so we can be enjoying our time in County Galway. I'm praying that Mother's health will remain as good as it now is. This is a trip that she has made twice before (in 1980 with her brother and sister, and in 2001 with my sister and I), but she longs to see Gort and Ballylee one more time. We will certainly take lots of photos. On my last trip, I was still using a film camera and had to be mindful about each photo I took. Now, with digital cameras, I am not concerned about that at all (this has not necessarily improved my abilities, just increased the number of images!)

best regards,

Molly

This link contains family letters posted by Molly Daniel.

http://www.irelandxo.com/ireland/galway/gort-kilmacduagh-and-kiltartan/…

Hello Molly,

John's name having a William in it is an unknown. Last night I just arrived home from a long road trip. Sr Delourdes Fahy wrote to me enroute and then I noticed your Post. I have not had the chance to reply yet to Sister, but will include this Post in my reply. But basically, Sr Delourdes outlined the possible family for my Grandfather Thomas Nolan. His father was also Thomas (a Carpenter) and mother was Catherine Glynn (from Shrah). She thought the Nolan folks are from Rinneen and Ballyaneen South and the Glynn's from Shrah, and also Ballyaneen South. The Nolans of Rineen still live today in "Roseville Cottage" at Rinneen.

Thomas the carpenter had a nephew (assumed) James and he was a Victaller and they both lived at 30 Bridge Street in Gort. James' father was John Nolan who married Sabina Ryder. James had a sister Bridget who married Martin Glynn in 1893. Other names mentioned are Patrick and Mary (?), prob brothers/sisters or relations of old John/Sabina.

On Brigets marriage certificate, John Nolan is noted already deceased, this being 13 December 1893. James the Victualler dies 3 years after the 1911 Census, so say 1914. Thomas the carpenter does not appear in the 1901 Census, so may be deceased most likely. As young Thomas was born in 1856, by 1901 Thomas the Carpenter would be pretty old. Somehow I think young Thomas' birth to Catherine Glynn/Thomas the carpeter was a family scandal of sorts as they never married. They both came from well off families I understand. I suspect he may have been much older and she a young girl, but this is just my assumption. One can only wonder why they never married, then or later ?

Young Thomas departs for Australia arriving on the 17 June 1876 at Townsville on an agricultural sponsor program, at the age of 19. Whilst I have tracked him well from there, no family reference or stories came with him. My Dad (William Henry) and oldest brother (William Robert) 81, only know he was from Galway. So I think his childhood was an unhappy one and he left for a new life in Australia. My brother refers to some family close to him also going to Canada or the US, if so it must be cousins etc, as I see him as an illigitimate child. I assume his childhood was with the Glynn's or old Thomas/family. I need to try and determine this if I can.

We have common assistance with Sr Delourdes, she may be able to relate to John easier, in as much if it is the same family or person. There is a lot of them that's for sure. Your visit in May may help dramatically also, being ther first hand. Bridge Street, Rinneen and Ballyaneen is the key locations it would seem. I can only dream of getting over to Gort.

I just did my Ancestry DNA and uploaded to Gedmatch (#A909110) if you have done this also, but being that John N was a friend of John Swift, it is probably of no use. Ireland and the UK have just come on line with the DNA testing, so it should be exciting in the future. However, locals there may have already sampled via other groups.

My email if you want to write is frednolan@bigpond.com and I have a web site www.frednolan.com if you want to check me out. I'll be contacting Sr Delourdes again asap now that I am home and in the comfort zone of my own PC !

Best regards Fred Nolan