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Tracing my grandfather

ClareKillaloe (Clare)

I'm trying to track down birh details for my grandfather. I know he was born in County Clare about 1843. His parents were Daniel O'Connell and Mary Rahilly. Any further information would be most helpful.

I contatced Peter Beirne at the Clare County Library. He sent me this email:

Further to your e-mail query to Clare County Library,http://www.clarelibrary.ie, asking about a birth record for Michael OConnell, born in 1843, son of Daniel OConnell and Mary Rahilly.

There is an entry in the baptism register of the parishes of Killaloe and OBriensbridge which I think is the entry you have asked after. I say think because unfortunately the entry in the baptismal register is very feint.

As best as I can read it, it reads Michael, son of Daniel Connell (no prefix O) and Mary Rahilly, with the sponsors listed as John Connell and Sara (I think) Connell. The date is October 1843.

In the same parish register, there is the January 1846 baptism of Bridget, daughter of Daniel Connell and Mary Rahilly, sponsors (godparents) listed as Matthew Rahilly and Bridget Rahilly.

In the same register (Killaloe and OBriensbridge) there is the baptism of Mary (I think) to Dan Connell and Mary Rahilly (sponsors Thomas Molony and Bridget Rahilly) in August 1841.

For information on the Clare Catholic parish registers, see generally

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/local-studies/catholic_parish_records_killaloe.htm

It seems your family were from the parish of OBriensbridge, numbered 52 on this outline map of County Clare and its constituent parishes.

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/parishes_map.htm

There are general family history resources for the parish of OBriensbridge at this link on our website,

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/o'briens-bridge.htm

Note also the 1824 tithing records for the parishes of Killaloe and OBriensbridge, here,

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/tithe_applot/killaloe_tab.htm

The placename the Connell / Rahilly children were baptised in is given as Ballida / Ballyda in the 1841, 1843 and 1846 baptismal register.

If you e-mail me your full postal address, I will be happy to post out to you the baptismal entries from the register (microfilm printouts). As noted, the 1843 entry for Michael is almost illegible, unfortunately.

I hope this is helpful and wish you all the best with your family history research.

- Peter Beirne,

Clare County Library.

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/local-studies/locstudi1.htm

There is some confusion about my grandfather's date of birth. He emigrated to Australia in the 19th century (I don't have any details of this) and married Catherin Ryan in 1909. The marriage certificate states his age at 60 y.o.

However his death certificate dated 1915 states his age at his death as 68 y.o. (although it's difficult to read).

I'm planning to come over to Ireland about September to follow this up further and would be grateful for any help sorting this out. As far as I know he was born in the town of Ballyda with a birthdate of 3/11/1843. There could be an issue with the surname as Peter Beirne has suggested above.

Many thanks

Robert O'Connell

IrelandXO member

7 replies

Robert:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

We do not have a parish liaison for O'Briensbridge or Killaloe civil parishes

I tried to look up the record on the register but as Peter Beirne said it was very faint. Ages in the 19th century/early 20th century were inexact and I can see where Michael would want to make himself a little younger. Peter pointed to the civil parish of O'Briensbridge and a townland of Ballyda which I cannot locate. The 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for O'Briensbridge does show a Daniel Connell in Ballybrack townland. See below. Possibly this is your ancestor. You will also note two Rahilly records.

Have a great trip and if you have questions, let me know.

Roger McDonnell

http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/clare/obriensbridge.htm or  http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/griffiths_parish/obr…

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Robert,

I know the O'Briensbridge area and from my local knowledge I think that the advice of Peter and Roger are spot on.

Roger points out Ballybrack and that is a townland adjacent to Ballida (various spellings) close to the village of Bridgetown in Co Clare.

The various spellings of the townland doesn't help - Ballida/Ballyda and I saw it as Ballydaw on an 1840 OS map.  

If you need any other information you can email me at jimvaughan@eircom.net

Jim VaughanIrelandXO Volunteer

Robert,

I was researching a family from Bridgetown and in the graveyard I came across a well worn old headstone O'Connell Ballyida - might be your family??   

Jim VaughanIrelandXO Volunteer

Roger

Sorry I didn't get back to you  sooner. Thanks so much for the great work you've done looking up information about my family. I do appreciate this.

I'm  coming over to Ireland about the middle of September and will have about a month to follow up on all this. I'm  not sure if you or anyone else would be able to help me at all in my search. I've never been  to Ireland before so I'll probably start in Dublin and then Ennis.

I don't even know if I have any distant relatives there still around.

Let me know if you do find anything else in the meantime - this would of course be appreciated.

 

Thanks again

Robert O'Connell 

IrelandXO member

Robert:

A month in Ireland will be a great trip and the weather at that time is very comfortable. I live in the States so you won't run into me but I would certainly take advantage of the Clare library and Peter Beirne. I assume he is based in Ennis. If you are driving be aware that the old part of Ennis has very narrow streets so I always park on the outskirts and walk into town. If you get out to West Clare, make sure you visit the Cliffs of Moher and the village of Doolin which has great traditional music.

I know we don't have a parish liaison in Ennis but let me check with our HQ to see if there is a contact in the area.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Robert

I have just sent you an email with the contact details of a volunteer who would be delighted to meet with you in September. You can discuss arrangements privately with him.

All the best

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support

IrelandXO 

IrelandXO member

Hello Robert! I'm also looking for these details, I hope you don't mind me saying hello! I'm your cousin Franks' (Francis ) daughter, Helen. We live in North Queensland! My email is hayesh@bigpond.net.au I'd love to "catch up" and let my Dad know. Dad is 83 and very healthy.
I was born in Melbourne but we left for Queensland when I was very young.
I hope you receive this message
Helen.

Helen Hayes

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