Ganly & Lackey Roots

AlaskaGirl,

Non RC marriages were entered into the statutory registers from April 1845 onwards. However births and death were not recorded there till 1864. So to trace Mary Ganly’s baptism you need to rely on church records. (Which are not always on-line).

I think the townland on the marriage certificate is probably Mosstown. There is a place of that name in Kilcommick. (The double ss may have been written in the old fashioned style which can look like a p or an f).

The Church of Ireland parish records (Births, deaths & marriages) for that parish all start in 1827 and are stored in the Representative Church Body Library in Dublin. A personal visit is required to view them.

Details of the RCB  library and Kilcommick church on this link:

http://ireland.anglican.org/information/dioceses/parish/14010

Thank you so much for your help. Are the area churches often open and available for genealogy questions or inquiries?  I have also taken down the information to search while in Dublin as well. We are looking forward to our trip!

AlaskaGirl,

I would not expect most Church of Ireland churches in Longford to be open other than when a service was taking place. Consequently if you would like access you should contact the Rector/Vicar in advance to make an appointment. (Most will happily make the arrangements). Use the link I gave in my previous post.

With regard to accessing church records, some hold the originals but many have sent them off to the RCB library in Dublin for safekeeping. My understanding (from the Church of Ireland catalogue I have) is that Kilcommick’s records have been sent to Dublin, so there won’t be anything for you to see locally but obviously you should check that. If they do hold the records locally, expect to pay a fee for access to them. Churches in Ireland get rather a lot of genealogical enquiries and as a consequence the Church of Ireland has introduced charges to cover the costs of the time and work. Some parishes receive rather more enquiries than they can cope with, and so sometimes a bit of persistence is required). 

When will you be in Kenagh (Parish of Kilcomick) Co Longford?. Kenagh is a village between Longford town and Ballymahon town. St Georges C of I Church is on the Ballymahon side of the village and has a small graveyard attached. The chuch and graveyard date from 1825 approx. There is an older church in ruins with an older graveyard attached which is still the main local burial ground for Roman Catholics. Canon Albert Kingston is the C of I Rector but he lives in Ballymahon.  If you wish to get access to the church I would be delighted to arrange this for you

I would really appreciate being able to see St Georges C of I Church and graveyard.  We are planning to be in the Galway area between July 12 and 17th.  I hope to schedule a day to drive to Longford and see the area.  As we get closer to leaving, I can schedule a time?

Look forward to meeeting you in July. Galway is less than 2 hr drive, good road to Athlone & then not so good but scenic. You will come through Ballymahon and eventually to Kenagh village where you will see the fine 19th century cut stone church largely funded by the Countess of Rosse who was an large landed estate holder in the area. Dedicated to St George.

I see Major Lackey on the Tithe Applotment books in 1825 at Cloncose, Parish of Clonbroney. This might at first glance seem like a military man but I think it is more likely a connection to the Major family who also lived in the Longford area, with a considerable number around Granard town.

A road in Longford town is still known as Major's Well Road, but more commonly called the Ballinalee Road. Ballinalee is the main village in Clonbroney parish. Are you aware of any connection to the Major family?

Interestingly there is a John Glin also in the Tithe Applotment books is records at Cartronwillan, Parish of Granard and his neighbour is Stephen W Major, reoced for 1833. 

Mosstown was a large estate near Kenagh village at one time owned by the Newcomen family who were very wealthy. The estate was leased to Alexander McCloughry who anglicised his name to Alexander Kingston. The Kingston family later purchased the leased hold when the Newcomen family went bankrupt in a banking collapse. Their descendants sold the last of the land in 1960 and it was dividend up amoungst local farmers. At its peak this estate would have had many employees and perhaps your ancestors were employed there.

I note also a number of Ganly's on the Tithe Applotment books for County Longford, at least 5 and possibly as many as 8 although I think some of those listed are the same person perhaps holding 2 pieces of land. There are Isaic, John, James, William and Thomas Ganly listed from 1825 to 1835. Any of these names mean anything to you? 

I have researched the Major Lackey angle from  my end.  I found reference on a US Census report where my two GG Aunts stayed with Ann Ross (maiden name Lackey) whose brother's name was Major Lackey.  Ann and Major's father was John Lackey who I believe was James Lackey's (my GGG grandfather) brother.  My GGG grandmother's (Mary Ganley) father's name was Philip Ganley (listed on the marriage record).  I haven't been able to find relations associated with Philip Ganley but he may have had a son named Patrick?

I have found a really old reference letter in my family's possession for James Lackey from his employer at the time (prior to his immigration to America).  He was a servant (porter, manservant ?) and his employer references the Bank of Ireland on the letter.  I will find a copy and attach it for your review.  The signer of the letter is hard for me to read but perhaps it could be associated with the Kingston family?

I have attached a copy of the reference letter written April 1847 (I believe).  He planned to go to America with a cousin but stayed.  He married Mary Ganly in October of that year so not sure what he did for employment between April and October. On the marriage record, both James and Mary were listed as servants. 

William Wolseley was the Bank of Ireland agent in Longford town from 1844 into the 1860's. His name is noted in several of the County Longford Trade directories published over these years.

Thanks Elwyn and John. 

Would love to hear about your visit Alaska Girl

All the best

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Thank you to you all for your comments on my post.

My husband and I are in Galway at this time and plan to visit Longford, after we visit the Roscommon archives, this Friday, July 15th.  We will search for Ballymahon, Kenagh Village and try looking up Mosstown.  Not sure what I may find as I was unable to find out more about my GGGG Grandfather, James Lackey who was a farmer (married to Elizabeth Glin) or my GGGG Grandfather, Philip Ganly also a farmer. I found several genealogical references to the Ganly family in Longford so hoped to acquire these records from Roscommon.  I am still coming up empty on the Lackey end.  Do you have any recommendations of places/offices I can visit while in Kenagh (Kilcomick)?

A must see is the Corlea Trackway centre just outside Kenagh village on the Lanesboro Road. It is not well sign posted but ask locally if you are uncertain. Coming in to Kenagh village from Ballymahon you will see St Georges Church on your right hand side. Turn left after Gavs Bar and you are on the Lanesboro road, about 1 mile on the left is the Trackway Centre. Come back into the village and going towards Longford you will see 2 stone pillars with Eagles on top - this is the old entrance to the Mosstown estate. Turn in and travel along a narrow country road and keep going turning left at end junction. You will see the ruins of the old Mosstown Corn mill - once the biggest industry in the locality giving huge employment. Continue on and you will come to the old Canal Harbour, another great employer in the Royal Canal Company.

I am working on Friday 15th until 5pm - I could meet you at St Georges at 6pm if you want to see the interior. There is a nice restaurant in Kenagh village if you need to get a meal. I would highly recommend it for good wholesome food and my cousin Olive runs it. Hope you are enjoying your Irish visit   Regards  John.    Let me know if you are OK for Friday evening.

 Hi John,

I am so sorry. I didn't realize that the 15th fell on a Friday and would be a work day for you.  I would have loved to meet with you and seen the church but we will need to be back in Galway by that evening.  We won't be able to meet after you get off work =(.  I would love to have lunch at your cousin's place and will be on the lookout for it and be sure to stop in.  What is the name of her restaurant or is it easy to find?

I will use your instructions to search the village and find the landmarks you pointed out for me.  I am so excited to see the location and the churches!!

I sincerely "Thank you!" for all your input and information you have provided. You have been a tremendous help to me!

It would be a shame to come all this way and not see the interior of St Georges church. I can ask my daughter to cover for me for an hour or two on Friday lunchtime as I am self employed. How about I meet you at 1pm at St Georges or earlier if you wish. Regards John.

We can meet you at 1:00 at St Georges church, that would be wonderful!  We will see you then!

Thanks for making the time John!

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Hi my name is Philip Leckey and I live in Ballyclare in Northern Ireland. Came across you correspondance and would have info in the Lackey side of things hope to here from you philip

Hi Philip,

Thank you for reaching out to me.  I have hit a bit of a wall on the Lackey branch of my family tree.  Any assistance to help would be most appreciated.  I was able to trace back as far as my 4th grt grandfather, James Lackey (married to Elizabeth Glin/Glynn), who was a farmer in Longford.  I can somewhat extrapolate that he had several children; Mary Lackey b 1815, Ellen Lackey b 1817, John Lackey b 1817 and James Lackey b 1823.  James is my 3rd grt grandfather who emigrated to New York in late 1840's with his wife Mary Lackey (nee Ganly).

While in New York, James's daughter, my 2nd grt grandmother, Helen Mary Lackey, intentionally changed her last name from Lackey to Leckey.  I am unsure why the change but assume it may be because this was the original spelling?  All documents I have up until then had shown Lackey as James' surname.

My 3rd grt grandfather, James, had five children; Helen, Sarah, Sophie, Fanny and James. Helen's decended family is quite large and I have lots of cousins whom I am still tracking down.  I was also able to find a branch out from Sarah's marriage with living decendants.  Sophie's line appears to have died out.  Fanny died early and had no children.  James had moved to New York city and simply disappeared.

I look forward to hearing from you! 

My GGG Grandparents were John Ganly and Margaret Deignan/Dugnan of County Longford.  They had 3 sons, Thomas, James (Jacobus) and George.  My GG grandfather was born in County Longord, probably in Taghshinny in 1841 and was baptized in Cloonscott, Carrickedmond.  George married Marcella Ganly in 1862 and had a daughter Margaret who died shortly after birth.  George and Marcella immigrated to America in 1863.  Other names associated with this family may include Isaic Ganly as per thythe records.

Any help with this family would be greatly appreciated.  djhirn@gmail.com