Who was Margaret Fahy, the caretaker name of my grandmother, Mary "May" Lydon (maiden name)? And who are the wives of my confirmed GG Grandfathers: John Lydon & Thomas Fahy?

To whom it may concern:

My grandmother was Mary Lydon (maiden name), born September 39, 1881, a year after her parents James Lydon and Honor Fahy married. My aunt, Mary’s sister, was Bridget Fahy, born in 1883. Bridget married Michael Joseph O’Kelly in St Joseph RC church in Dublin. Their father, James, died at age 32 in  1888 in Kinvara, County Galway. My grandmother immigrated to Chelsea Massachusetts and married John Mark Smith Sr, a dentist, in 1913. They had only one son, my father, John Mark Smith, Jr.

My GG Grandfather on James Lydon’s side was John Lydon. My GG Grandfather on Honor Fahy’s side was Thomas Fahy. This is certain because the names are listed in the Kinvara RC church records in 1880.

But, I just can’t seem to find other ancestors with certainty. I “believe” that Thomas Fahy was born in 1821 or 1824 in Parkmore - not sure - and that he died September of 1883 in kinvara (fairly certain).

My grandmother’s marriage record in 1913 said that her “mother’s” maiden name was Margaret Fahy (it had to be Honor Lydon!), possibly a maternal aunt, because a Kinvara RC baptism record shows her father as Thomas Fahy, and her mother as Maria Kilkilly (maiden). Margaret’s birthday was Christmas Day (25th of December), 1872. 

But, another record shows a RC baptism with a Margaret Fahy born on 30 April, 1867 in Ballinakill, East Galway, Galway with her mother and father being Thomas Fahy and Maria Conroy. But, I don’t believe these  are my ancestors.

I have to believe that my GG Grandmother was Maria Kilkilly, because a Margaret Fahy (mentioned above) was born on Christmas Day in 1872 - IN KINVARA, County Galway. They were living in Rathmore, as noted in the Kinvara RC church parish.

Margaret Fahy is the key name here in my ancestral search, because since she’s named as her mother (maiden name) in her 1913 marriage to John Mark Smith Sr, then obviously she was an aunt that took custody of her after Mary’s father, James Lydon, died when she was just six years old in 1888. Maybe Honor (Fahy) Lydon, her actual mother, wasn’t able to care for her child due to poverty. Margaret would have been Honor’s sister.

I am requesting assistance in my Irish ancestral search from Irelandxo.com. You all are very smart. I know because I used your message board in 2020, and you helped me bust through my brick wall. In fact, I am about to have my FBR Irish citizenship “finalized” (is the word used) after confirming my US residency within the past 6 months).

So, can someone please assist me in further generational research at this Kinvara parish?

It would mean so much and be so greatly appreciated!

Thank you! And God bless you!

Sydney Dodd (Smith) Frissell

Ps: I was adopted at age 12. Oh, and I “yam” a man (as the cartoon character, “Popeye” would say)!