Information on Leehy or Kavanaugh family

Hi there,

Could you please post your message here (Ballyferriter, Kerry): http://www.irelandxo.com/group/dunurlin-kerry

The Roman Catholic diocese of Kilmelchidar (Ballyferriter) church records start from 1807 for baptismal records and 1808 for marriage records. These can be accessed at the National Library of Ireland, Pos. 4274 to 1828; remainder 4275. Try contacting the parish priest for assistance.

The RC church records for Kiltormer (Clonfert diocese) start from 1834 for baptismal records and marriage records. These can be accessed at the National Library of Ireland, Pos.2433, or the Church of Latter Day Saints ref no. 1279217. Again try writing to the parish priest for assistance.

You could also try checking the land records called the Tithe Applotment Books (1823-38) or the later Griffth's Valuation (1848-64). Griffith's is freely available here: www.askaboutireland.com or here: www.failteromhat.com Failte Romhat has lots of other useful links you could try looking at.

I am sure more people living in the local community will be able to help you further. Ireland Reaching Out will be hosting a Week of Welcomes at the end of June this year. When you come to Galway, please feel free to contact us, and we will put you in contact with someone from the area who will be able to guide you and show you the area.

Please make sure you link anyone else in your family who is interested in their Irish heritage to our site - and indeed anyone else you know of Irish heritage.

Kind regards,

Sinead Cooney

Genealogist (Ireland XO)

Thanks for your reply.  I will check out those records and links you sent.  I also updated the post to reflect the Kavanaugh surname.  I hope that I am somehow able to at least find the birth records for Patrick Leehy so I can possibly trace his parents this way.  But as of now the trail stops at simply his parents names Thomas Leehy and Mary (Kelly) Leehy.  Hopefully I will be able to find something more at the library when I visit.

Thanks so much!

Hello Andy,

While you use the spelling Leehy it is likely that Leahy is how it was rendered here. Griffiths Valuation shows both a Leahy and a Kelly family as heads of household in the townland of Lisheenaguile, Kiltormer c.1855.  

Leahy         John             Lisheenaguile                    Kiltormer     Galway

Kelly           Mary             Lisheenaguile                    Kiltormer     Galway

The 1901 and 1911 census shows the Leahy family living in Cloonlahan, Kiltormer. There are still Leahy family members living in the general Kiltormer area. Arrangements can be made for you to meet with some of them and hopefully take your family story from there.

To access the census records simply go to www.census.ie and simply choose county Galway from the drop down menu and then in the DED box type Kiltormer and click the search icon. Make sure to choose the particular census that you want to access 1901 or 1911. You will require both.

Hope this is of use,

Regards,

Christy C.

Thanks for your help.  Its certainly likely that Leahy is the spelling used.  And John Leahy (Mary's son) would have probably been the head of a household in 1855.  I would have expected to see Thomas Leahy (Mary's husband) as a head of household, and no record of Mary Kelly as I assume she would go by Leahy in 1855.  But I have not searched the records yet so maybe it is there.  We are looking at taking another trip to Ireland in a year or so (its too beautiful to not come back), so I will continue to search what I can.

Thanks again!

Andy