Looking for descendants of John Carey and Bryan Carey of Belmullet, County Mayo.

Charlene:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

We have a parish liaison for Kilcommon Erris. I will notify her that you have posted a message. Let me know if you have not heard back in two weeks or so.

Roger McDonnell

Thank you. 

Hello Roger and Charlene,

My name is Shane Carey and I live in Philadelphia, PA USA and I just joined Ireland Reaching Out. I was in Ireland in the Summer of 2016 and believe it or not I trace my ancestry back to a Patrick Carey (I have no middle initial) born in the townland of Monaghrory, Erris, County Mayo right outside of Belmullet in 1836. My great-great grandfather Michael Carey came over with his brother John Carey and parents Patrick and Mary (Tighe) and moved to Schuykill County in Pennsylvania in 1870 during the height of the Molly Maguire era in the Pennsylvania Coal Region (along with the Phoenix Park Murders it seems like the Careys like to stir up some trouble!) My great-great grandfather actually became the head of the Schuykill County AOH about 20 years after the alleged Molly Maguires were executed so we have not been able to find out if Patrick himself was involved, but we wouldn't be surprised. I also assume that the Carey's mentioned above by Charlene are probably related to my part of the clan as well!

 I was able to obtain this information while visiting the North County Mayo Heritage Center in Enniscoe, Castlehill, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Once we realized they were from Belmullet I wanted to go visit to find out more, but was unable to break away for that long from the tour I was on. The parish was named Kilmore Erris in the book assembled by the North County Mayo Heritage Center (I assume thats the same as Kilcommon Erris? since Kilmore didnt show up on this website). 

Long story short Charlene and Roger it seems that you guys were able to glean some great information and resources about the Carey's from Bellmullet. I am planning on going to Ireland later this year and renting a car to visit Belmullet and Erris as well as Donegal (my mothers family, the Dougherty's) and would truly appreciate any recommendations to find out more about my family's history and even possible distant relations in the area if possible! The local genealogists that you speak of as well as the Parish Liason is that something that I can be involved in as well? I am planning on visiting in late summer/early fall around the US Labor Day holiday. 

I apologize about the long reply but anything would help!

Thanks,

Shane Carey

shanecarey9013@gmail.com 

Shane:

I responded to your John Dougherty/Mary Monaghan message.

The townland you mention is Manraghrory and it is in Kilmore civil parish which is in the northwest corner of Mayo to the west of Kilcommon civil parish. Both parishes are in Erris barony.

Roger

Shane:

My guess is that your Patrick was different than our Patrick, but they may be related to each other.  Lots of Patrick Careys up there.  Don't know if you have already gone to Belmullet.  However, you should go to the B\lack Sod heritage center on the peninsula.  Rose Marie, who runs the heritage center in the small village about half way down the peninsula may have information for you.  Also, ask her if you can contact Phil, who is an amazing geneologist.  Rose Marie will know how to contact Phil.  We found Phil through the Belmullet tourist bureau in town, just by chance.  

We now know that Patrick S. Carey was a brother of John and Bryan.  We found his wedding records in Dublin.  Still trying to find out if there are any branches of that family still living around Mayo somewhere. 

We are in Detroit, Michigan.  If you find out more from your trip, we should talk by phone when you return.  Not sure how one puts personal contact information on this site.  

YOu should stay at Hannah's B&B at the foot of Black Sod peninsula.  It's wonderful.  Ah! I just realized your email is on here.  I'll copy and past this into and email to you.  I don't look at this site as often as I should so I just saw your email.  

My family were Careys from Aughadoon, in the NW of the Belmullet peninsula. My mother, Kathleen, is the last remaining Carey sibling born in Belmullet and reared in the family home. Her father was Patsy Carey and the main point of my post is that Patsy told his family about the link to Bryan and John Carey, they were his grand uncles and he would have known them. My grandfather was born in 1880 and Bryan Carey died in 1896.

My grandfather, Patsy, was the grandson of Robert Carey who was the eldest brother of Bryan, John and Patrick. My guess is Robert stayed in Aughadoon to look after the farm whilst Bryan and John became successful merchants in Belmullet.

I had the pleasure of meeting Shane Carey, from Philadelphia, last year. And Helen Keogh from Long Island, another Carey descendant, a few years earlier.

I moved back to Belmullet with my family in 2018 and live on the farm in Aughadoon. The old stone cottage (dated1691) and stone barns, that the Careys would have been familiar with, are still in use and it's nice to think that they have a historical link to Bryan, John, Patrick and all the other Carey descendants who passed through their doors over the years.