Catherine Hefferman born in Westmeath maried John Downes had 7 children, Juan, Ma Catalina, Santiago, Miguel, Maria, Pedro, Lorenzo, Jose
Co. Westmeath, or An Iarmhí in Irish, is located in the midlands region of Ireland. It is home to Athlone Castle which, after a multi-million euro renovation, reopened in 2012 as a state-of-the-art, multi-sensory visitor experience. Our county town is Mullingar and we have a population of approximately 88,396. We look forward to helping you connect with your ancestors’ place of origin.
Quaker Island
Location: Westmeath
Inchcleraun, Longford
Fore Abbey
Location: Westmeath
Fore, Westmeath
St Marys Parish Church, Streete, Co Westmeath.
Location: Westmeath
St Marys, Streete, Co Westmeath
Bellaugh Parochial House
Location: Westmeath
Foundation of Ballymore GAA Club
1884-01-01 12:00:00
County Westmeath in the 1830s
<p>A snapshot of pre-famine local history, as described in the "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland" by Samuel Lewis, 1837. (Much of the information collected here was submitted by members of the local gentry and clergy of the time).</p>
1837-01-01 12:00:00
May Day traditions across Ireland
<p>Lá Bealtaine (May Day) officially heralds the beginning of the summer in Ireland. The name is said to derive from Old Irish, meaning "bright fire" (Belenus was the Celtic sun and 'healer god'). Old traditions involved lighting bonfires at sunset on Oíche Bealtaine (or May Eve - April 30) on prominent local landmarks. The Hill of Uisneach in Co. Westmeath is the most famous example. These and other rituals (such as creating a May altar) still survive, particularly in the west of Ireland. Our 19th-century ancestral piseóga (superstitions) were recorded diligently by Irish schoolchildren in the 1930s ...</p>
1830-05-01 12:00:00