Monahans...possibly from the townland Magheranearla

Hello Lindsay,

Magheranearla is rural townland situated half way between the towns of Portumna and Eyrecourt close to the eastern border of Co Galway. While the Monahan name does not appear as far as I can see on Griffiths Valuation for that townland, they do appear in the nearby town of Portumna. In the meantime I will be issuing a newsletter for SEGAHS our local archaeological and historical society and will make an enquiry through that at local level. I can also make contact with some of the local people to see if there is a memory of that name surviving in the area.

One way or the other we can arrange for your mother to at least visit the townland where her ancestors originated from and also take her to the local graveyards if she wishes to see where they may have been buried.

Regards,

Christy Cunniffe.

Christy,

Thanks so much for your help. I accidentally hit email on this response earlier instead of reply...oops. Anyways James was born about 1846 but no exact year is known. For two years I've chased down leads but without a lot of money to spend on pay sites or a professional genealogist I kind of gave up until now. A cousin my mom hadn't spoken to in years gave us the townland. His mother had it but not much else. James may have had a brother William and a grave in St. Louis Missouri next to that of James mother, Mary Monahan goes with that rumor. But I cannot read the dates on either headstone. I have an obit from 1901 when Mary died but it is the worst written obit I've ever seen with no info to move me forward. Any help is much appreciated. Also I'm sure my mom would love to see the area. How would she arrange that visit? I'll have to speak to her about it but she and my stepdad are not part of any tour or group so they have a bit more flexibility. Thank you again for your help. I had pretty much given up. This is sort of a last hurrah. If nothing turns up now I'm done. I started this for my mom because she doesn't have the patience for searching but after two years and doing her roots and my dads at the same time I'm kind of at the end of my patience too. Also, please feel free to contact me directly at the email listed on my profile. It is a better way to reach me and I can also provide contact info for my mother to arrange a visit to the area.

Christy,

In an effort to find as much info as possible and help you with some more info I dragged out all my research and found a lot I forgot I had as I haven't looked at it in some time. I had contacted the archdiocese here for records on the family plots in St. Louis. Mary Monahan, James mother, was supposedly the oldest person in St. Louis when she died. Born about 1798 she was 103 when he died on sept 22 1901. She is buried next to Peter Monynahan (spelled wrong) who owns the plot. He died Oct 20 1884 @ age 76 (10 years younger than mary?) in the next plot over is buried William Monahan (James brother?) who died Dec 8 1886 age 54. His wife Margaret died Jan 23 1873 age 40. In the plot with them is infant Peter died June 21 1873 and Mary Dughigg Margaret's mom died Dec 22 1876. However there is one person extra in Mary and Peter's plot. Michael monahan born 1869 died August 8 1899 second child of William and Margaret. James did not stay in St. Louis but settled in Quincy , Illinois. He moved to Iowa later in life but back to Quincy before his death in 1938. Obviously some of the years/ages are probably not completely accurate but hopefully some of these dates can help and thank you again for making enquiries at a local level. Thanks again! 

Hi Lindsey,

Mike Feerick here - from a neighbouring parish to Magheranearla called Tiernascragh.  A local Ireland XO volunteer - Pat Madden might know about Magheranearla as the area is adjacent to where he lives - suggest you reach out to him via the Tiernascragh parish website.

Fascinating to hear your story and it is amazing that despite not knowing too much about your family history - the name Magheranearla was remembered down through the years in your familes. I was born in the US - one of my first memories is of visiting St Louis, MS. Keep us updated on your search please and also make sure any of your family who are interested in your roots join the programme - which as you know is volunteer-based and free to use.

Best Wishes,

Mike

These are the names of my Great-great-grandparents., all apparently born in Ireland. JOHN MEEGHAM and CATHERINE MONAGHAN were born in the early1800s or the late 1700s. Their son GHARLES MEEGHAM, born ca. 1828-1830) in the parish of Shankhill, in or near Belfast, was a gunner in the Royal Regiment of Artillery where he volunteered ca. 1848. He then came to Canada (where I was born) with his regiment. He married here (wife JANE MOODY, also born ca. 1830, in Canada. CHARLES is my great-grandfather.

JANE's parents were JAMES MOODY and LIZA MORAN. I believe they may have immigrated to Canada earlier as they have several children born in Canada, in the County of Portneuf, an agricultural area north west of Quebec City. Ther were mostly farmers. JANE AND CHARLES MEECHAM had several children, my grandmother was born in Ureland, in KNOCKALLA, Rathmullen, Co. Donegal. (while her father was stationed there with his regiment  I  suppose) I have no idea where my other ancestors were born. There is a possibility that JAMES MOODY and Charles father JOHN MEECHAM had SCOTTISH ROOTS - perhaps their ancestors came to Ireland for work at an earlier time. I have no proof of this. It is family lore. 

I did not know any of my grandmother's brothers and sisters, most of them born in Canada, in the province of Quebec, as we had no contact with them while we were growing up. I believe some of them moved to Montreal (again, family lore) and several also moved to the USA. 

I would appreciate any information relating to any of these people either in Canada or in Irelandor in the USA.  I know that I have family in Ireland, and also in Canada, probably in the province of quebec, and also in the USA.

Thank you so much for any help you can come up with.

margo joncas huc

My Grandfather was Christy Monaghan "the old man of the Shannon" that you have mentioned. He died In 1979. My grandmother was Alice Conner who came from Eyrecourt. If you would like any info. Please get in touch. Christy was one of 22 children born in Portumna. My great grandmother was from the Burke family. You have a lot of relatives.