Searching for birthplace of Gallaghers in County Mayo

Hello,

The paid site, Roots Ireland, has the baptismal record for Edward on 17 Dec 1876, residence - Currane, parents - John Gallagher & Nancy Currigan. Sponsors - John Currigan & Catherine Gallagher. I then looked for his siblings, and found the following:

Anne (1868) - parents - John Gallagher & Anne Currigan, residence - Currawn, Sponsors - Brian Patten & Bridget Gallagher, her civil record shows birth in August, but church baptism shows June (they registered her late in the civil record so fudged the date). Interestingly, she is named Nancy on her church record, but pretty sure this is the same person. Her mother is known by both Anne and Nancy in the records of their children. 

Michael (Jul 1870), parents - John Gallagher & Anne Corrigan, sponsors- Ned Corrigan & Bridget Corrigan, residence - "Sala" (probably incorrect translation)

MIchael (Jul 1871), parents - John Gallagher & Anne Currigan, residence - Bolyglann (civil record)

Regarding the above MIchaels....they are either the same person and they registered his birth very late, like Anne,  OR it is another son named Michael

Hugh (1873), parents - John Gallagher & Anne Currigan, residence - Bolinglara, sponsors - Michael Gallagher & Mary Gallagher

Twins Bridget and James (1875) - parents - John Gallagher & Nancy Currigan, residence - Bolyglann on civil record and Currane on parish baptism records, sponsors - Terrence Gallagher & Judy Currigan and Michael McLoughlin & Nancy Currigan.....the parents also registered the twins late

At first, it was confusing with the two different residences of "Currane" and "Bolyglann" - until I looked at the 1901 census and the Griffith's Valuation records. 

The town land you are looking for is Bolinglanna, Achill - you will see many Gallaghers in the Griffith's records as well as the 1901 Census. 

The 1901 census shows the town land written as such : Bolinglana (Corraun, Achill, Mayo)....that is where the Currane bit comes from. 

I believe that your Edward is living in house # 35 with his mother Nancy, brother Michael and sister Bridget in the 1901 census of Bolinglana. I think that there is an error n Bridget's age though. 

Regards,

Please fill out this form regarding your trip to Ireland  https://www.irelandxo.com/meet-and-greet

FYI there is a strong connection between Achill and Cleveland Ohio.  https://www.mayonews.ie/news/home/1296008/achill-and-cleveland-celebrates-gold-standard-twinning-agreement.html

Roger McDonnell

Jill,

Attached is Edward's immigration records from 1901.  You will see that he is destined for Cleveland, and gives his brother Hugh as the contact person in the US. Also, I believe that Anne/Nancy Corrigan was from the town land of Salia which is across the sound from the mainland part of Achill. Thus the "Sala" residence in Michael's record...sometimes women went to their home place to give birth. I could not find a civil marriage record for John Gallagher and Anne/Nancy Corrigan, nor a church record..but those began in 1867, so maybe they married earlier. Anyhow, I did find a marriage record of an Owen Gallagher to a Catharine Currigan in 1865. It looks as if Owen's residence is "Currawn" and Catharine's is difficult to read, but could be Salia as the only other places in Achill that begin with the letter S are much longer in spelling. The parent's names in this marriage are John Gallagher and Tom Currigan - so, this could be brothers (John & Owen) marrying sisters (Anne/Nancy & Catharine). A look at the Griffith's Valuation records for Salia will show many Corrigan names. 

Regards,

I am related to Edward's second wife (and probably Edward as well). Are you related to Edward through his first wife Margaret Cooney or his second wife, Margaret Gallagher? Edward was from Currane and almost certainly knew his second wife before he left Ireland. Happy to help if I can!

I am so thrilled and thankful for each of these amazing responses.  I am not sure how to respond to individual messages.  Each post has proven to be extraordinarily helpful and I am touched by your kindness in making the effort to reply.  To the person who posted last, being a relative of Edward's I would dearly love to correspond with you.  I am enquiring on behalf of my sister-in-law.  She was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio without knowing much of her Gallagher family.  Her mother was Mary Colete Gallagher, daughter of Edward and his second wife Margaret Gallagher.  Knowing that she was planning a trip to County Mayo in April with no knowledge where her family originated, I offered to help as I enjoy genealogy. How would you suggest we correspond?  

Hi Jill,

I don't know who left that last message as they did not write their name...just wanted you to know it was not me! I too have Gallagher ancestors, but they are from a bit further north from the RC parish of Kilmore Erris.

Good luck!

Carolyn

Hello All,

I am so sorry for all the confusion.  I am the original author. My name is Cheryl.  I wrote the Dec 8 4:26 pm post also. I was trying to speak to the person who posted Dec 6 at 3:20.  I hope to speak to her more directly since she is a direct descendant to Margaret Gallagher, Edward's 2nd wife.  Please pardon my ignorance. I have not been to this message board before and don't know how answer to a specific person on the message stream.  You are all so helpful and patient!  What I have learned so far is invaluable.  

Thanks so much,

Cheryl - Dexter, Mi

original author

Cheryl,

There is no other way to connect with that person unless they read these replies. Typically, that person gets notified by an email that there is a reply to read, unless they selected "don't receive updates" at the top of the page. 

Carolyn,

You have been so helpful and I really appreciate it.  Do you know anything about what the #35 house that Edward lived in with his mother means? Is there a way to find an address for that house?

Thanks,

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

First off, I don't know why I called you Jill! Sorry about that. The # 35 is not an address, it is simply the 35th house that the census takers went to on March 1901 to take the census. When the census was taken in 1911, the house could have been numbered 30 or anything else depending on the person taking the census...it would be a different person ten years later. Maybe if you could find a map from 1901, and then search the town land on Google Earth you might find something.

Regards,