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John Mulkerrin / Mulkern / Mulcairn

Clifden (Galway)

I have been able to trace my great grandfather, Michael "Mulcairn" to Clifden.  The date of Michael's birth is far from certain, as he was brought to the Protestant Ballyconree Orphanage in Clifden, and I do not know the circumstances of his going into the orphanage. The British Naval records show Michael was 10 when he entered the orphanage in 1865 (making his DOB around 1855) , and joined the Royal Navy at age 15 to get out of the orphanage.  Based on my research, I am fairly confident the spelling of the last name was changed in the Navy, and that he was actually born a Mulkern/Mulkerrin/Mulkerrins or similar variant.

Michael's wedding record lists his father as "John" and does not indicate his father was deceased. Which makes me wonder if Michael's going to the orphanage was related to the potato famine or perhaps a birth out of wedlock.

I have done DNA through Ancestry and FTDNA and although I have several matches, I have not been able to establish where Michael was born.

Thank you for any suggestions

Ted

Ted Cordery

7 replies

Ted:

I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and located an April 29 1855 baptismal record in Carna RC parish for a Michael Mulkerns with father John Mulkerns mother Mary Kean. The location maybe Glinsk. I did not find a marriage record.

There were no Michael Mulkern baptismal records in Clifden and Clifden RC parish has records back to 1838. There are two other RC parishes in the area. Letterfrack has records starting in the late 1860s and Roundstone RC parish has records starting in 1872. The records for Carna start in December 1853.

So possibly the record I located is the one your are looking for. It is also possible, Michael was baptized in either Letterfrack or Roundstone and his record is no longer available.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so much Roger.  Kean is definitely a name that I have come across in my searches.  Is there a chance you could send that record to me?

Ted Cordery

Ted,

To add to Roger's Post, I attach records of Griffith's Valuations for a Joh Mulkerrin in the parish of Ballindoon which would be close to Ballyconree and another John Mulkerrin in the Parish of Moyrus which would be further in distance.

Those records can be found at free site - www.askaboutireland.ie.

The book "The Protestant Missions in Connemara - 1848-1937" by Miriam Moffitt - 2008 has a record at page 48 of three youths who joined the British Navy from Ballyconree - they are Matthew James, Martin Duddy and James Mullarkey. The years are not shown. I checked for a Michael Mulkerrin in the school index, but did not find any Mulkerrin.

If you contact the Irish Church Missions at 28, Bachelors Walk, Dublin they may be able to assist you.  The Email is shown as   irishchurchmissions.ie

Regards,

McCoy

Ted:

The parish register for 1855 for Carna parish is very faint and I did not find the record that Roots Ireland transcribed. Here is the link to the Carna parish register around 1855  https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632022#page/6/mode/1up

Maybe McCoy might have more success finding the entry in question.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Ted,

Due to the poor quality of the record I was unable to identify it on catholicparishregisters@nli.ie  It did not show on Subscription site  www.findmypast.ie

The following is the transcription from subscription site  www.rootsireland.ie

Michael Mulkerns, Baptised 29the April 1855, Parish: Carna, Co. Galway - Roman Catholic - Address Glynsky (Glinsk) - Male - Father: John Mulkerns - Mother: Mary Kean

Sponsors: Stephen Devan and Mary Barrett

Copyright: galwayfamilyhistorywest

You will see from Griffith's Valuations that the surname KEANE and KEANY are in Moyrus parish.

I checked for a marriage record on Find My Past  - John Mulkerrin and Mary Kean - Negative

Hopefully you will get a positive result from the Irish Church Missions in Dublin

Regards,

McCoy

Ted,

Due to the poor quality of the record I was unable to identify it on catholicparishregisters@nli.ie  It did not show on Subscription site  www.findmypast.ie

The following is the transcription from subscription site  www.rootsireland.ie

Michael Mulkerns, Baptised 29the April 1855, Parish: Carna, Co. Galway - Roman Catholic - Address Glynsky (Glinsk) - Male - Father: John Mulkerns - Mother: Mary Kean

Sponsors: Stephen Devan and Mary Barrett

Copyright: galwayfamilyhistorywest

You will see from Griffith's Valuations that the surname KEANE and KEANY are in Moyrus parish.

I checked for a marriage record on Find My Past  - John Mulkerrin and Mary Kean - Negative

Hopefully you will get a positive result from the Irish Church Missions in Dublin

Regards,

McCoy

You are both absolutely amazing.  I can't tell you how much this means to me.

Thank you.  Thank you Thank you!!!!

 

Ted Cordery

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