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Hi Tom,

My husband and I will be visiting Ireland and I would like to visit the Cahir area on one of those days because I have learned my Roche & McGrath great-great grandparents were from there. Do you have any suggestions of what might be good sights to visit? Also, is there more I could research while I am in Dublin or in your area?

Using information passed down in the family in conjuction with Irish Civil Records and the extracted Church records (thank you, Rootsireland.ie), I have confirmed that my ancestors, William Roche and Catherine McGrath, were married in Cobh in 1874 (I have a copy of this record, which lists witnesses, fathers' names and occupations - both farmers). William was baptised in 1842 (sponsors not listed) to Patrick Roche and Joanne Morrissey. Sibling baptisms were also found for Catherine, 1834, Joanne 1836, David, 1838 (all had sponsors listed). No baptismal record  listed an address for the father other than Cahir Parish.

In the Griffith’s Valuation, there is a listing in 1852 for a Patrick Roach, Kilcommonmore South, Caher Parish. An extracted death record for Patrick Roche of Kilcommon (farmer, widower, age 70) was found for 24 December 1874. If this is the only Patrick in Griffith's, how likely is it that he is the Patrick who was the father of William?

No marriage for Patrick Roche and Joanne Morrissey was located by me. No baptismal record was found for him either (I understand that athough Cahir Parish records of baptisms and marriages start in 1776, there is a gap in baptisms from 1793 to 1809 in the microfilmed records at NLI - are there existing records elsewhere?). There is a Joanna Morissy baptised 21 June 1812 at Cahir Parish, daughter of Roger Morissy and Ellen Bohelly, but am not sure it is possible to positively identify her as the correct person.

I have similar information on William Roche's wife, Catherine McGrath, baptised 1853 in Cahir Parish, whose parents were Jack McGrath (residence Kilcommon) and Mary Martin, and whose siblings were Margaret, baptised 1854, and Timothy (Ted), baptised 1856. I did find the McGrath-Martin marrige which took place in 1852, Cahir Parish (indexed in County Waterford), no parents listed, but did have witnesses.

I have also looked at the Tithe Applotment of 1826 for Parish Cahir, County Tipperary.

I am happy with the results I have found but want to make sure I am not missing anything. Thank you!

Barbara

Tbleeds

Friday 16th Aug 2013, 05:00AM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi Tom,

    This is great! I think I have some reading material for the plane trip, now. The link for the graveyard did not work, but perhaps I can see it in person? That is fascinating.

    We will be arriving in Dublin on the morning of the 24th and will pick up a car and head towards Cahir. We are not checking out of the Tinsley House until the 27th, so we will be in the area for a few days. We would LOVE to meet up with you anytime. We have no firm plans right now, other than where we are boarding. Portlaise would be grand.

    Urlingford is one of our planned visits since my husband has ancestors from Lower Tubrid, Urlingford Parish. I have not found out much about them, so I do not know what we would look at! [James Campion, laborer, married to Mary McCormick 10 July 1856 for whom I found four children born to them between 1857 and 1865, Catherine, Bridget, Mary, and Bridget. The younger Bridget is the one I think is his ancestor. She immigrated to New York City circa 1883.]

    We certainly hope we get a chance to meet you!

    Barbara

    Tbleeds

    Thursday 22nd Aug 2013, 02:53AM
  • Hi Tom,

    That was an AMAZING visit. You were so generous with your time and knowledge. Learning about the history of the area and getting an orientation to the townlands has been a great boon to my research. Connecting me with local people was brilliant too and gave me a breakthrough as well as a 2nd cousin! What a great trip --thank you!!

    Barbara

    Tbleeds

    Sunday 8th Sep 2013, 01:12AM
  • Hi Tom,

    Thank you very much for the recommendation. I have just booked us in for three nights and will use Cahir as our base for exploring the region. My husband has ancestors from Urlingford and Creamer's Grove in Kilkenny County, so this is convenient for both of us. I certainly look forward to talking with Mr. Roche.

    Thank you also for your suggestion concerning the maps associated with Griffith's Valuation. I have found Patrick Roche's land which abutted the estate (farm?) of his landlord, the Earl of Glengall. I see on a modern map that the Glengall farm still exists. There was second entry for Patrick Roche for land leased from Earl of Glengall in the townland of Lissara. I cannot locate Lissara the map, even though I know the map reference numbers. I notice that in the 18026 Tithe Applotment Book, this location appears as: Clonmore & Lisarra, Wood & Mountains, belonging to the Earl of Glengall.

    Patrick Roche was listed (Griffith's) in Lissara next to David Roche who had house house, offices and land there. I suspect David was Patrick's father.

    The other record I have found for Patrick is his death on 24 December 1874 at Kilcommon. He was 70 years old, a farmer and a widower. The informant was John Roche, householder.

    I did not know that Kill refered to a church - that is helpful. We will certainly be stopping at all the sites you mentioned. My husband and I are very much looking forward to our visit!

    Best Regards,

    Barbara

    Tbleeds

    Sunday 8th Sep 2013, 01:27AM
  • Hi Tom,

    That is good to post.  I had discovered there are locations that were more easily found using a round about method (a specific Google search string usually does it). 

    Congratulations on the red Rosette for your great honey.  I completely agree that it is award worthy!!

    Did my last e-mail reply go through to you? There was an attached document, so just checking to make sure it did not go to the spam box.

    Best wishes,

    B & T

    Tbleeds

    Tuesday 19th Nov 2013, 04:56AM
  • Tom, that is great news! It was frustrating to have so little time in the library in Dublin since it is important to look at the original records. The extracts are *extremely* helpful, but then I like to see the original. Little errors here and there in the extracts can make important differences in genealogy! Thanks so much for the update.

    Tbleeds

    Tuesday 2nd Dec 2014, 03:13AM
  • Barbara,

    I hope ye are all keeping well .

    You wll be saddened to read the attached death notice for the death of  Breda McGrath, Cahir.

    Regards

    Tom Hussey

    Thomas J, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Sunday 15th Sep 2019, 07:34PM
  • Tom,

    Thank you for letting me know. Tim and I are indeed sad to hear she has passed away. So glad you introduced us to her. It was uncanny how she resembled by grandfather. At least I have a photograph and one of her handmade doilies to remember her by.

    Barbara

    Tbleeds

    Tuesday 17th Sep 2019, 04:14AM

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