Martin Kelly 1835'ish

Hi my name is Alan Kelly and my grt  x2 grandad Martin Kelly was born in Kilchreest in  about 1833-35.His father was called Thomas Kelly but I dont know his mums name and she deserves her place in our family history.I have been to Kilchreest twice now and have developed some really good friends such as Paddy Monaghan Martin Forde and the Coy family.Michael Coy and Martin Forde being two local historians have both indicated that my Martin and his family left Kilchreest and went up the mountain to Kilneedeema.On my second visit I went through the church books beginning 1836 with Father Joe...the books are in excellent condition and the handwriting is beautiful.

The information I have gained seems to point to Thomas Kelly and Mary Egan being my Martin Kellys parents but I am one step away from the final proof.Thomas and Mary had two daughters Catherine born 1837 and Elizabeth born in 1838 in Kilneedeema but I can not trace this family unit after the potato famine,,I dont know if they moved to another country or stayed in Ireland.

Martin my grt x2 grandad went to England UK and joined the Cheshire Regiment ,He joined in 1853 from Warrington Lancs/Cheshire....he married an English lady Eliza Bloom from Sheffield in 1858 and they had 9 children.I am descended from the eldest child William.

On Martins marriage certificate he had two sponsors Patrick Connors and Mary Ann Conway. I was given a beautiful book by Paddy Monaghan on my lasy visit and it mentioned a Patrick Connors being the Kilneedeema representative on the GAA  whilst Peter J.Kelly was President.I think this Patrick Connors was the son of Martin Kellys sponsor.I also spoke with  Peter Kelly who lives beteen Kilchreest and Kilneedeema and who is a good friend of Paddy Monaghan and he told me Mary Ann Conway was his grt grt gran,so Michael Coy and Martin Forde seem to be correct in the link with my Kellys and Kilneedeema after my Kellys moved from Kilchreest about 1836.

So I would love to find the missing link to prove hopefully that my Martin Kellys parents are indeed Thomas Kelly and Mary Egan.I would also like to find the Egans connected with Thomas and Mary and find where they moved to after the potato famine.I have searched England on the cencus with no luck.I also would like to find Martins siblings as overall I think I have a big big family in Ireland whom I do not know yet.

Martin Kelly and Eliza Bloom have created a big Kelly dynasty which is strong in England and also in the USA.

The Kelly who strated this search was Alfred Kelly  23 years ago .He has since passed over without finding Martins mum,which is a shame.Alfred rose from the ranks of able seamn to be a Captain and Commander in the US Navy.He was a fantastic man and humble as well.I want to complete the search for Alfred and also to identify the missing lady so she can have her rightful place in our Kelly history.

Then I can visit Ireland and enjoy meeting new  cousins and enjoying the country and friends and learning much more about its traditions.

I hope somebody can help me ...please. I know the final answer is somewhere in Galway.

In the 1901 cencus for  Funschadaun there is a Bridget Kelly nee Coy who was married to a Martin Kelly and I think this family unit is connected to my Martin Kelly. I suspect that Thomas kelly and the cencus Martin were brothers.

Thanks in advance.

Alan Kelly