The diminutive "Lalla"

Lalla may not be a formal diminutive of anything. Just a nickname.

We know from the 1901 census that Lalla was in Modeese, and that she and her mother were born in Co Monaghan. So her birth was registered somewhere in Monaghan, probably in 1899 or 1901.

Modeese falls within Castleblaney?s registration area. There was only 1 female Casey birth in that area in that period. It was for Bridget Lizzie Casey, Jan ? Mar 1899. (She looks to have died in Jul - Sept 1908, again in Castleblaney). There was a Rose Ann Casey registered in Monaghan town Apr ? Jun 1900.

So that?s it. Just two possible births to choose from in the whole county. Bridget would have been 2 at the time of the 1901 census (April 1901) and so I would look at the Monaghan town birth first. You should know from the parents names whether it?s the family you are looking for. Also the father?s occupation which is likely to be connected to railways.

I have been on rootsireland but cannot find Bridget Lizzie's birth.  I found Rose Anne but her father is given as James Casey and James Casey in my family was still not married in 1911.  Can you direct me as to where you found the births please.  I found a Margaret Casey aged 13 in the 1911 census in Corlealackagh but her father would be too old for my family.  They are all famers as far as I can see not railway workers.

Bridget's birth is on Familysearch:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FBJN-83B

OK thank you I'll have a look

Just out of curiosity, how can you know Lalla's mother was born in Co Monaghan? She probably was but she isn't on the same census return, those are her aunts, Bernard Casey's daughters.Nt

Ah. Right.  I assumed Alice, the married daughter, was Lalla?s mother. However we do know that Lalla was born in Monaghan, and so that?s really the key point. Her birth has to be registered in that county. But given that all the other occupants were born in Monaghan, there seems a strong chance that Lalla?s mother was born there too.