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Looking for great great grandparents birth place - traveling to Ireland Oct 2026

I am visiting Ireland Oct 6th 2026 We are Flying into Dublin and traveling to Galway 3 days and Cork 4 days then returning to Dublin 2 days then return home. I'm seeking information on where my great great grandparents were born in Ireland . My great great grandparents immigrated to the US according to US census around 1864 and all the documents I have do not list where in Ireland they are from - They just list Ireland . My great great grandfather is Michael Lyden (born 1850 not exact ) - his parents are Theodore Lyden and his wife Bridget Coyne. My great great grandmother is Mary Lyden (born 1860 not exact ) and her parents are Patrick Lyden and Mary Coyne - all born in Ireland. - My great great grandparents Michael and Mary are both buried in Calvary cemetery in Pittsburgh PA - My great grand father who was born in the US is Dennis Lyden and I remember vising him as a child . I would love to locate the place my great great grandparents came from and visit while I'm in Ireland in October. Any help would be greatly appreciated

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Brigettelyden

6 replies

Brigette--

Is it correct that both Mary and MichaeI had parents named Lyden and Coyne? Sometimes death certificates are not totaIIy reIiabIe when it comes to age, parents' names, etc. So I'm wondering if you have any other source that gives these names.

AIso, I couId find no record of a Theodore Lyden in IreIand.

glanvil3@aol.com

Brigette,

The 1900 US Census shows Michael came to America in 1860 and Mary in 1871. They were married in 1872. Did they marry in Pennsylvania? Have you requested a marriage certificate from the State to confirm Mary's last name? Have you checked their children birth, marriage, and death records sometimes they include parents' names.

mtvrdk@gmail.com

Hello :-)   Thank you both for your responses.

I will request the marriage and birth certificates from Pennsylvania for the records I have not been able to locate 

Michael and Mary's daughter, Mary, married Joseph A. Flynn in the US and they had a son, Joseph R. Flynn (sometimes spelled Flinn). I contacted one of the cousins I found who is related to the Flynn family, but unfortunately they did not know where Mary and Michael were born in Ireland.

Brigettelyden

Brigette:

Likely your Coyne and Lydon ancestors were from west Mayo or west Galway. Many of the RC parishes in those areas have late starting records which explains why our volunteers are unable to locate baptismal and marriage records.

Roger McDonnell 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for your help. We look forward to our trip to Ireland this October ! 

Brigettelyden

I was able to connect with a family member that recalls my father mentioning Mayo as where his grandparents were born. :-) 

Brigettelyden

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