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Looking for my husbands roots

TipperaryGortnahoe (Tipperary)

Hello,

I am looking for my husband's Irish Roots. We believe his second great grandfather, Patrick Edward Maher, son of Edward Maher was originally from Gortnahoe. We know that he was born 1818 and eventually immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Unfortunatley that is all the information we have.

If there are any records of this family in the town I would be most appreciative of any assistance you can provide. My husband and I are planning a trip to Ireland in May 2020 and want to visit as many of the towns our ancestors came from as possible.

Thank you,

Janet Maher

IrelandXO member

2 replies

Janet:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The search will be difficult because Maher/Meagher is a common surname in Co. Tipperary. In addition, not having his mother's maiden name will also hinder the search. Here is a link to the Gortnahoe parish register up until 1880  https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0266 The records are in Latin. 

I searched on the subscription site Find My Past and did not find a Patrick Maher/Meagher record in Gortnahoe with a father Edward around 1818. I did find a record in the next door parish of Moycarkey. See transcription below from the subscription site Roots Ireland. FYI Roots Ireland does not have the Gortnahoe records in their data base.

You may want to add Patrick's story to our XO Chronicles site and possibly someone will see a connection  https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-dat…

Has your husband considered DNA testing?

Roger McDonnell

Name:Patrick MaherDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:19-Jun-1817Address:ParkstownParish/District:MOYCARKEYGender:MaleCountyCo. Tipperary
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edmund MaherMother:Mary KavanaghOccupation:Not Recorded
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Thos Kavanagh Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Maher 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Janet,

My great-grandmother, Ellen Maher, was born in Gortnahoe in 1850 to a Patrick Maher. This Patrick Maher was married to Bridget Mulhall. There was another Patrick Maher in Gortnahoe that married a Briget Mulally and somehow both of these families are related. One of the daughter's of Bridget Mulally was a witness at my great-grandmother's wedding (which took place in Iows). A large number of them immigrated to New Jersey, and worked on the railroad. Many also lived in upstate New York. A DNA test would help you sort out which Maher families you are connected to.

Ellen Murphy

murphy.ellenma…

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