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Gillen family, Donegal Town

I am trying to find information on my Gillen family ancestors who lived at Water Lane, Donegal Town.  My great-grandfather was James Gillen who married Mary Anne Reilly.  A number of Mary Anne's siblings emigrated to East Liverpool, Ohio, USA.  Likewise, some of the children of James and Mary Anne also emigrated to the same area. But I have been unable to find out much about the children who remained in Donegal, other than the following: Bridget Gillen married James Harkin, Mary Gillen married Clyde Hodgson, James Gillen married Annie McKeown and Margaret Gillen married James McHugh.  I've been unable to find any information on any children from these marriages, nor have I been able to find death records.  Recently, I discovered that there is a headstone to the Gillen family in the Donegal Abbey graveyard and it is probably my family's because James McHugh is also listed on it.  Is it possible to find out who placed the headstone and if someone is maintaining it?  Any leads anyone can give me would be appreciated.

megallen@orange.fr

6 replies

Hi Moira,

It would be helpful if you provided the years which you are researching and the religious denomination of the family.

In relation to the headstone, the provider usually inscribed their name on the plinth.

If you Google Stone Masons+ Donegal you may get a response.

Regards

McCoy

Moira,

In case you don’t have the dates, James Harkin married Bridget Gillen on 20.2.1919, James Gillen married Annie McKeown 9.4.1923 and James McHugh married Margaret Jane Gillen on 27.4.1938. All in Donegal town.

Clyde Hodgson married Mary Gillen in 1923 in the USA (according to a tree on Ancestry). So if there are still descendants in the Donegal town area, they’ll likely be from the first 3 marriages.

I can see the birth of Margaret Mary Harkin in 1919 to James & Bridget here:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1919/01232/1512310.pdf

Births in Ireland within the past 100 years, marriages within 75 and deaths within 50 years are not generally on-line. They are open to the public at the GRO but you can’t search on-line. So it’s not easy for us to help you with other children these couples may have had, as those records are not readily available to us. Possibly someone reading this may know the families though. Or you may be able to trace them through the local mason as has been suggested.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi there, might be a bit of a long shot but I come from a strong line of "Gillen's" who imigrated to scotland in the 1900's. I have many family ties in and around Ireland  and there are lots of us in glasgow too. The whole Gillen family frequent donegal regularly (as our grandparents/great grandparents were raised there)  and my family have a home in moville. If this sounds connected to your question contact me at sophiegillen@icloud.com

 

sophiegillen@i…

Hi there I have a long family history in donegal Ireland and come from a strong line of Gillen's. there are lots of us throughout glasgow and ireland please contact me to find out more sophiegillen@icloud.com

 

sophiegillen@i…

Hello Moira,

My name is James and I have just recently come upon this site and, specifically, your post and enquiry regarding the family of James Gillen and Mary Anne Reilly.  Mary Gillen is my Great Aunt through her marriage to my Great Uncle Clyde Hodgson.  I have a wealth of information regarding both of them, including a photo, documents, and in my lifetime I have spoken directly with two immediate members of my family who did know Mary Gillen and Clyde Hodgson personally and who shared with me their memories of both of them.

I do hope that this post of mine finds its way to you.  If so, I would appreciate it very much if you could please confirm in order that we may proceed to communicate further.

My most kind regards,

James M 

millgrant

Hi Moira 

I think my grandparents were James Gillen and Annie McKeown.  My dad was John, he had brothers Hugh and Pat and a couple of sisters.

My uncle Hugh used to paint the grave on his visits back home before he passed.

Jan Gillen

jan.gillen

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