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Redmond & Mary (Connor) Sullivan

GalwayOughterard (Galway)

Hi everyone,

My great grandparents were Redmond & Mary (Connor) Sullivan from Oughterard. I have been there and it's just beautiful. When I was there I hadn't really started researching my genealogy yet. Now that I have, I've hit a snag. My grandmother, Catherine "Kate" Josephine Sullivan's birth date was always listed and celebrated as 25 Dec 1892. In looking at civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie I find a birth record in OughterardCivil Records for Kate Sullivan, 1 Apr 1893 with the correct parents listed. This could very well be her correct birth date but was it usual for people to not know their correct birth date? I have found several Redmond Sullivan's in the area but the mother's maiden name is correctly listed as Connor. How would I go about obtaining an official birth record for my grandmother?

Thank you, Luanne

luannesf@gmail.com

5 replies

Luanne:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The subscription site Roots Ireland shows that Catherine was baptized on January 1, 1893 which would reinforce the Charistmas 1892 birth date. Parents were given 30 days to report to the local Registrar and register a birth. Many times because of weather, distance to the town, etc. the 30 days would pass. I believe there was a fine beyond 30 days so many times parents just adjusted the birth date to stay within the 30 day window for registration.

FYI. The offical birth record is the record you viewed on www.irishgenealogy.ie

Roger McDonnell

Name:Catherine SullivanDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:01-Jan-1893Address:KilanninParish/District:MOYCULLENGender:FemaleCountyCo. Galway
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Redmond SullivanMother:Mary ConnorOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Martin Connor Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Bridget Connor 

 

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger,

Thank you so much for the quick response! I had no idea about the registration date being different than the birth date.  That probably means I have the birth dates wrong for her 8 siblings as well. I don't have a subscription to Roots Ireland but it might be worth getting. Is that the best place to find information or should I post here and folks will help me?

Luanne

luannesf@gmail.com

Luanne:

We are always willing to assist but probably best if you get a short-term subscription if you have that many family members. You may find that some or all of the other siblings have the correct date of birth.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Roger, I am a cousin to Luanne, our fathers were brothers. I plan on being in Dublin with my family from June 20 to the 22 and then renting a house on Lake Corrib Connemara for a week. I am so hopng to find the homestead (if it is still there). I know you had found it was sold to Thomas Fahy who ran a tailor shop there for many years after. I am not sure how the houses are addressed there such as numbered or street names so I don't know just what the address of the house we are renting. We tried to get close to the are of my family land. I think all of my grandmother's siblings came to the U.S. but i would love to find any of her cousins decendents who might still live in Ireland. Thank you for the information you have found for us, it has really made us even more excited about our Irish heritage. Roni

Roni

Hi Roni!

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The Redmond Sullivan family lived in Gortacarnaun townland in Killannin civil parish. 

I was not the one who provided info on the homestead being sold to Thomas Fahy.

In the 1901 census there were 31 households in the townland including three Fahy families and your Redmond Sullivan. Based on the occupations in the census, the area appears to have been agricultural at that time.

I will let our HQ know about your travel plans. Not sure we have a volunteer in the area.

Have a great trip!

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

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