Hello Cousins,
I am looking for a family member who was born in Westport, and I am guessing in a RC church. Who do I contact to help me? Or are there records online? I've only worked with records in Co. Clare so I don't know what is available in Co. Mayo?
Can someone offer me a bit of direction? I am very grateful for any advice.
Thank you,
Karen Lynch
Hi Karen,
The National Library of Ireland has made the RC parish registers freely available at registers.nli.ie/
If you search for Westport and select Archdiocese of Tuam you'll be shown the relevant microfilms - baptisms start in 1845 & go to 1881.
If you're looking for someone before or after these years (or want to save yourself a lot of time) post the name and year of the person and I'll check on rootsireland.ie (Subscription site) which has records from 1720 up to 1920
Col
Hi Col,
Thank you for your advice!! Goodness, I appreciate this more than you know!! Of course the family member was born in 1840. lol But now, thanks to you, I should be able to pursue this lead further.
Karen
Well Col, I was stupid to try to do this on my own. Did I mention I may be stubborn? :) I went on to rootsireland.ie and paid for a month's subscription and found that I do NOT possess the magic needed to extract the information I am seeking. It's difficult to ask to for help and I truly thought I could find this info on my own, given your excellent direction. I am failing. I cannot find the microfilm of which you speak, I have spent hours looking and the closest I could come were baptism records starting in 1865. How am I missing this? I'm usually very computer savvy, but am embarrassed to say that I am getting nowhere. Is that offer still available to assist my search a bit further?
I am looking for my family member John Colbert Shannahan, born April 3, 1840 in Westport, Mayo to Edmon(d) Shannahan and Catharine Colbert. He died in PA, USA on July 8, 1911. The family is Catholic so I guessed he was basptized. My direct email is onesaltymom@yahoo.com if that makes it easier.
ANY help would be greatly appreciated.
Karen
Hi Karen,
Really sorry it didn't work out for you; I sent a screenshot of the nli page to your email address.
I searched roots for children of Edmond & Catherine & look what cam up!
Name:Honora ShanahanDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:10-May-1835Address:
Parish/District:CONNAGender:FemaleCountyCo. Cork
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edmond ShanahanMother:Catherine ColbertOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Michael Flynn Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Elizabeth Cone
Name:Margaret ShanahanDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:09-Jul-1841Address:
Parish/District:CONNAGender:FemaleCountyCo. Cork
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edmond ShanahanMother:Catherine ColbertOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:William Lean Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Mary Fling
Col
P S The email I sent bounced back - just as well as I sent the wrong screen-shot!
Will have a look in the RC registers tomorrow
Col
Good morning Col!
This is very exciting news! Not sure why the email bounced, I’ve had it for 20+ years, maybe it’s a no no to post emails? Regardless, I’ll have you to thank for this discovery. I’m going to set off now to spend the day working on this.
It was kind of you to reach out and assist. I wish I could repay your generosity.
Karen
Hi Karen
I hope you had a better day.
I had a look at the nli R C registers from start up to Jan 1847 but couldn't see any Shannahans I'm afraid. It's very difficult to read and my old eyes could well have missed the entry but I hope not.
Col