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My great grandmother, Mary McSweeney

Apologies if this is a duplicate request.

On my grandmother's death certificate, it states that her mother (my great grandmother), Mary McSweeney was from "London Derry." I messaged the volunteers from Derry and received a reply that all the McSweeneys in the county lived in Tamlarghtard Parish. But I hit a dead end there. 

On the 1920 US Census, my great grandmother stated that her, and her parents', first language was Irish. Her son, on the 1930 census, stated that his mother was from the "Irish Free State." Ancestry has recently changed my Irish genetic location from Donegal/Londonderry to Donegal only. I now believe my great grandmother may have been from Donegal rather than from Northern Ireland.

Mary was born in 1845. Her parents were Louis McSweeney and Mary O'Donnell.  

If anyone in Donegal can help with this, or even point me in a search direction, I would be deeply grateful.

Best,

Barbara

barbara.beauca…

3 replies

Barbara:

Unfortunately, finding RC records in Co. Donegal for 1845 or earlier is very difficult. I believe only three parishes have records starting before 1845. I searched on the subscription site Roots Ireland and was not able to locate a baptismal record for Mary or even for younger siblings. The surname Sweeney/McSweeney was very common in Co. Donegal in the mid-19th century. There were 540 Sweeney households listed in the county in the 1857 Griffiths Valuation. However, none of the households was headed by a Louis Sweeney.

Sweeney was found in many civil parishes but particularly on the northwest coast.

I did not find a death record for a Louis Sweeney.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonenll

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Dear Roger,

Thank you so much for your research and reply. I'm very grateful. I have supposed all along that since Louis is not a common Irish name, finding Mary's family might be a little easier. I guess not!

I was in Ireland last spring. At the visitor center in Cobh, the genealogist there advised me to "cast a wider net" so I have asked for my great aunt's records. Perhaps there will be a location included that is more specific than "London Derry." 

At one time, I thought I would never find where my great grandfather, Mary's husband, Michael O'Shea came from but a grave stone the cemetery gave me the clue I needed. Thanks to Ireland Reaching Out and a Facebook group, records were found in the NLI. I visited Gleninchaquin in Co. Kerry with my cousins last May. It's so ruggedly beautiful there! Nice to come back "home."  

So, I'm already planning another trip, this time to visit the north where Mary came from. Wish me luck!

Thanks so much again,

Barbara

 

barbara.beauca…

Barbara:

Good to hear from you. Yes, Louis is a rare name for Co. Donegal and would have been helpful if there were records for your family. Good luck with your research!

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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