McGaffigan - McGeoghagan

Hello,

I am researching a man named Michael McGaffigan who died in San Francisco, California in March 1908.  His obituary says he was from the parish of Clonmany, County Donegal, and that he was 37 years old.  It also listed surviving brother Bernard, Patrick, James, and sister Kate.

I searched the NLI parish register and the Irish Civil registrations, and I found the birth and baptism of Michael McGeeoghan, son of Bryan McGeoghan and Ann (McGonigle) McGeoghan.  I was also able to find baptism records for the brothers with the same parents, but not the sister.  (I suspect with more digging I could probably find it.)  Still, because of the names of the brothers, and the location, I'm confident that I have located the correct family in Clonmany.

My question is about the pronunciation of "McGeoghagan" or "McGeoghgan" in Clonmany parish.  Could the "Geogh" portion of the name make a "Guff" or "Gaff" sound, such that when Michael came to America, it was easier for him to adapt the spelling of his surname to match the common sounds in the name?

Thanks,
Mary Kircher Roddy