O'Donnells
IrelandXO member
6 replies
There are many thousands of people named O'Donnell in Ireland. Can you give us a bit more information? Some full names and dates of when they were born, married or left Ireland would help.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer
Hi, I was not the original poster, but my wife's grandmother is an O'Donnell and I'm trying to track down Grandma Rose's birth certificate. I have her record of baptism that I'm attaching to this post. My understanding is Rose and her family left Ireland after the 1901 Irish census, but before the 1911 Irish census as her family appear to be accounted for in the US Census of 1910. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as I'm very confused. The Parish of Killygarvan and Tullyfern/Diocese of Raphoe (the stamp on the attached file) leads me to believe she was born in County Donegal, but that's as close as I can get on my own.
Thanks in advance!
ghstultz@gmail.com
There is a birth in the statutory birth records that more or less matches the information in the church baptism (see first record):
It differs by one day (not uncommon as people didn’t bother much with birthdays at that time and so often just gave the Registrar their best guess), and by the fact the mother was named Unity Boyce not Winifred. That apart it fits, and is in the area denoted on the church baptism certificate. The birth took place in Millford which is in the civil parish of Tullyfern, RC parish of Killygarvan. I cannot find the parents marriage nor the family in the 1901 census though.
Informant for the 1902 birth was Mary Boyce of Skreen. Suspect this must be her in the 1901 census, so possibly Unity/Winifred’s mother?
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Loughkeel/Skreen_Upper/1192369/
Same family in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Donegal/Loughkeel/Skreen_Upper/502229/
That Skreen family appears to have been Michael Boyce who married Mary Kelly. Their son John’s birth in 1868:
Birth for Unity in 1871 at Skreen:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…
Some trees on Ancestry appear to have Patrick marrying Winifred/Unity in 1906. See this marriage:
However the marriage was 4 years after Rose Ann was born and the bride’s surname was Boyle not Boyce. It’s also 70 miles from Milford. I think that’s a different family altogether.
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer
Hello again!
First off let me thank you very much for your efforts! My wife laughed out loud regarding the information of lax birthdates, and expressed a desire to send you a basket of fruit for your hard work for strangers. At this time we now have three documents with three different birthdates (27th, 28th, and 29th). I guess if you're dropping babies every 10 months what does a day, or two, or three matter?
So, I have one more question at the moment? According to this website, https://dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/ , in order for my wife to apply for her Irish citizenship she needs, "
Documents relating to the grandparent born in Ireland (unless stated, originals must be submitted):
- Original civil birth certificate of Irish born grandparent (showing parental details) "
Do you have any idea how we might be able to convert that page of birth registrations into an "original civil birth certificate"? Were there hospitals in Milford in 1902? Should we try to call someone at the citizenship website perhaps?
Thanks so much!
Gary and Lori Stultz
ghstultz@gmail.com
You need a certified copy of the civil certificate from GRO Roscommon for €20 (euros). https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Apply-for-Certificates.aspx
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer
Thanks again! We've sent off the certificate request and are just waiting for a response.
All the best!
Gary and Lori
ghstultz@gmail.com