I just logged into this site for the first time, having opened up my digital subscription to the NY Times today which featured one of my "alert" articles about anything Irish.
Well, I nearly fell off my chair when I went to your website and saw the name of my paternal grandfather's village, Eyrecourt,(Galway) and how a pop singer named something Perry is also descended from that village. My aunt used to visit the farm in that village area till it was sold in the 1950's due to my great uncle being single and with no kids. Or, was it sold? I think my aunt said it went to the "handyman". ?? My grandfather was Thomas Mooney of Eyrecourt and here you have a little piece about a young singer who is also descended from that tiny village. Thomas Mooney emigrated to Boston, not New York, as did all of my ancestors and they stayed there, too. I do feel that the Boston Irish Americans have retained many of the cultural traits and features of their ancestors (humor, generosity, spirituality, intellectual passion and writing ability being some of them).
I have never been to Ireland and my first stop was going to be Galway. Grandmother is from near Tuam and on the other side it is Mayo (not sure) and Donegal.
Martha Mooney
Tuesday 29th Nov 2011, 02:27PM
Message Board Replies
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Hi Martha,
you are very welcome to the Eyrecourt page. It is good to hear from you and I hope that I can be of some assistance in tracing your family history. There are two families of Mooney recorded in the 1901 and 1911 census for Eyrecourt parish. One was located in Chapel Lane within Eyrecourt village. The other is in Reaskmore a townland outside of the village. The latter family sounds like your family as you mentioned that they had a farm. Can you give me your fathers name and perhaps some other relevant details so that I can confirm this with the census records.
Kindest regards,
Christy C
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Hi Martha,
Griffiths Valuation for 1856 records that Patrick Mooney and John Mooney lived in the townland of Reaskmore. They have separate houses and seem to share the same plot as a Michael Mitchell. Have you any Mitchell ancestors?
This townland while in the modern parish of Eyrecourt was originally part of the civil parish of Meelick. The civil parishes of Donanaghta, Meelick and part of Clonfert were amalgamated to form the parish of Eyrecourt. This is a common occurrence right across the country and can cause confusion for people trying to locate ancestors. Entries in Griffiths Valuation are based on the civil parish unit. The Mooney family are still present in Reaskmore at the time of the 1901 census and again at the time of the 1911 census.
Of interest is that Anne Mooney (jnr) is no longer present in the house at the time of the 1911 census. Why is this?
Also of interest is that Tom Mooney is down as brother of the head of household. Does this mean that Anne Mooney (snr) was Mooney before she married or is it a mistake and that he should have been recorded as brother-in-law?
Griffiths Valuation 1856
Number & letters of reference to map / Occupiers / Immediate Lessors / Description of Tenement
3 (a, d) Patrick Mooney Joseph H. Cowan House, office, land & cottiers house & land
3 (b) John Mooney Joseph H. Cowan House, office and land
3 (c) Michael Mitchell Joseph H. Cowan House, office and land
The 1901 and 1911 census records the members of the Mooney family living in Reaskmore as:
1901 Census Reaskmore House no 2
Mooney Anne 50 Farmer RC Read and write Head of family Widow
Mooney Bridget 18 Farmers daughter RC Read and write Daughter Not married
Mooney John 17` Farmers son RC Read and write Son Not married
Mooney Anne 15 Farmers daughter RC Read and write Daughter Not married
Mooney Jane 10 Farmers daughter RC Read and write Daughter Not married
1911 Census Reaskmore House no 2
Mooney Anne 60 Farmer RC Read and write Head of family Widow
Mooney Delia 30 Farmers daughter RC Read and write Daughter Single
Mooney John 28 Farmers son RC Read and write Daughter Single
Mooney Janie 19 Farmers daughter RC Read and write Daughter Single
Mooney Tom 70 Farm servant RC Read and write Brother Single
Christy C