Byrne/McGuirk

Dear Joan,

I believe you and I are long-lost cousins.  My husband Mike and I have made several trips to Enniskerry during the last 8 years and have connected with two long-lost cousins who still live in Kilmolin just outside of Enniskerry.  We live in New Hampshire, USA.

Patt Byrne and Mary McGuirk are my 3rd great grandparents. I am a direct descendant of their daughter Mary who was the sister of Michael Byrne.

Patt Byrne and Mary McGuirk were married in RC Parish Enniskerry on 15 May 1825.  The record was transcribed incorrectly on at least one website, but the original records from St. Mary's RC Church in Enniskerry have the year as 1825 not 1826.  We have found baptism records for the following six children of Patt Byrne and Mary McGuirk all baptized in Enniskerry:

• Mary baptized on 21 Mar 1826  • Thomas bap. on 22 Feb 1829 • Michael bap. on 23 Oct 1831 • Patrick 8 Jan 1837 • James bap. 20 Mar 1839 • Peter 29 Jun 1842

I believe that Mary McGuirk was bapized in RC Parish Bray, Wicklow on 04 Mar 1804.  Father was Michael McGuirk and mother was Mary Murphy.  What became RC Parish Enniskerry was originally in RC Parish Bray until the early 1820s.

We (my husband Mike and I) found a record showing that "your" Michael Byrne who married Elizabeth McCullough is buried in Waikouaiti, Otaga, New Zealand.  He died on 31 Oct 1905 (age 74) and his grave record actually states the he was a native of Enniskerry, Wicklow, Ireland.  His wife Elizabeth died on 26 Sep 1880 (age 45).

Believe it or not, we have copies of many letters that were exchanged between Enniskerry and Waikouaiti, New Zealand.  For example, there is letter written by Susie Nolan (husband named Stephen) from Waikouaiti, NZ on 4 July 1924 to her "Dear Maggie" in Enniskerry, Wickow.  We suspect these letters are a treasure trove of family information for Michael Byrne's ancestors.

We just received copies of these letters this past August 12, so we haven't had time to actually "digest" them and make connections across the generations.

My home email address is k.lancor@icloud.com.  If you can email me on my home email address, then we will be able to exchange emails and I can email you copies of pertinent letters exchanged between Enniskerry and Waikouaiti, NZ.

Kate Lancor