Bridget Brennan, daughter of Myles & Mary (nee Thornton)

Roger

Thanks for your prompt and helpful reply. I meant to include the Census details myself because the names and ages match so well and hence, think it is the correct family. If so, there may be some Kellys living in the Foxhall area of Galway who are descendants. I'd like to think so and hope that someone in the Kilbennan parish sees this correspondence and contacts me. I'll be certain to visit Foxhall on our trip.

Greetings from Perth, Western Australia

John James

Dear John

Below is a link to some further interesting historical information on the townland of Claureen:

http://places.galwaylibrary.ie/asp/fullresult.asp?id=14927

Have you considered writing to the Tuam Herald, the local newspaper as well as asking the parish office to include a note in the Sunday Parish Newsletter?

Tuam Herald: http://www.tuamherald.ie/aboutus/contact/

Parish Office: Email: frmichael@eircom.net

Parishioners from the area would probably be buried in either Kilbannon Graveyard (where there is an info board outside that I will check for you) or more than likely in a graveyard close to the village of Kilconly (the names escapes me at the minute). If the former isn't the one I will check the second one as I live nearby. By the way the townland of Claureen is in the combined RC parish of Kilconly-Kilbannon, Civl Parish of Kilconly. If I find anything on the ancestors side I will let you know.

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support  

Many thanks for those useful links Clare. I've done as you said and written today to the Tuam Herald and the parish office. I'll let you know whether I get a response to either.

Thank you also for offering to check the info boards at Kilbannon and Kilconly Graveyards. It's lucky for us that you live so close and are willing to do this.

All the best

John

Hi John

I checked Kilbannon yesterday and there are no Kelly graves. Will check Kilconly during the week - hopefully the rain will stop soon!

Best wishes

Clare

Genealogy Support 

Hi Clare

My letter to the Tuam Herald has produced a response from John Dermody whose late father knew Pat Kelly of Claureen. Apparently, Pat died about 1958 aged 100 or so and was a great storyteller. Bridget predeceased him and his sons are said to have gone to England. I've asked Fr Michael to check the parish records for Pat's death.

Fr Michael's initial reply mentioned that the only Kelly family in the parish was that of Michael Kelly of Ballyroe, Kilconly. He added that baptismal records for the parish didn't begin until 1921. I've asked him to check whether Michael Kelly is a descendant of Pat which may be pushing my luck.

John Dermody has kindly offered to show us where the Kelly house used to stand in Claureen, an offer we'll take up when we're there on 5 August. Are you likely to be around there then? If so, we'd very much like to meet you. 

Thanks again for your most helpful suggestions which have really borne fruit.

All the best

John

Thanks for doing that Roger. I think you may be right. His age was given as 24 at his marriage in June 1888 which could have made his birth year 1863 or 1864, depending on when his birthday was.

With appreciation

John

Hi John

That's great news! I bought the Herald last week but didn't see any message in it, I will have to take a closer look! I also checked the graveyards in Kilconly and Kilgeverin yesterday but could not see a Kelly grave. (There was one Kelly grave in Kilgeverin but not your family). I will more than likely be around during your visit. Send me an email closer to the time and we can arrange to meet for a cuppa depending on your schedule

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

cdoyle@@irelandxo.com

Hi Clare

Eight years is a long time ago, so you may have moved on from your role above. However, I'm hoping that you see this. I've done an entry for Bridget Brennan under My Ancestors and included a death record which may or may not be hers. John Dermody of Claremorris was a huge help when we visited Claureen, Foxhall in 2014. The email I had for him is no longer current and I'd like to contact him about Patrick and Bridget Kelly's respective year of death.

Would you mind forwarding my email (mauron@bigpond.net.au) to John and ask him to contact me? If you remember, John's original family home was at Claureen and we were were taken there to meet his mother and sisters who showered us with hospitality. Tasting his mother's soda bread was obligatory (and enjoyable also!).

Thanks in anticipation

John James

Roger

Many thanks for confirming the details of Patrick Kelly's death which you first gave me in July 2014 above. It's great to see an image of the original record.

Thanks also for provding Clare Doyle's current contact details. I'll follow up with her.

You and your colleagues provide a great service to the descendants of the Irish diaspora.

With appreciation

John