Michael Nolan of Kilglass, Ahascragh married Mary Blehein of Kilconnell, in early 1860's and they had 5 sons.They subsequently lived in Bunavane. I am trying to establish details of Mary's parents and family and when and where she married Michael Nolan . Michael died in 1887 in Bunavane. Any information on this and when Mary died and where both are buried would be also appreciated.
Gerald:
Since the bride lived in Kilconnell parish likely the marriage occurred in the Aughrim/Kilconnell church. Roots Ireland does not have marriages from 1839-1879 for Aughrim/Kilconnell. Not sure if the records for that period are lost or they are available locally but are not on Roots.
Later this summer the National Library of Ireland plans to place all RC parish registers online for free searching. You can wait until then or contact the church.
I also looked up the 1856 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Kilconnell parish. There is a Hugh Blehane listed in the townland of Monambraher. I'm guessing that Hugh is either the father of mary or a relative.
Roger McDonnell
Hi Roger,
Many thanks for your quick reply. The problem with the Blehein name is the number of variations in spelling. I found also that they used the name Melvin on occasions. I had checked Roots Ireland. Some of the Nolan's of Kilglass and Ahascragh are equally as difficult to find due to missing or lost records.
Gerald Nolan
Dear Gerard,
You are correct on the variants of spelling of Blehein and also the use of Melvin as variant of Blehein.
Mary Blehein parents were Hugh Blehein and Catherine Goad ( possibly Goode nowadays). The children of Hugh Blehein and Catherine Goad were baptised in Fohenagh (circa 1820 - 1837) but the church records are patchy. However, we did locate a birth record for a Mary Blehin born to Hugh and Catherine in 1828. From Mary Nolan census records and death record, we assumed that the first Mary Blehein may have died in infancy and a later child born about was probably the Mary (born circa. 1835)who later married Michael Nolan. Their marriage record cannot be traced but I am definite that her parents were as above. Mary Blehein and Michael Nolan had five sons born between 1864 and 1872. Only civil registration is available for the above named children.
I have this information from my own research as Mary Blehein's sister was my Great Grandmother ( Anne Costello).
Regards,
Marie
Hi Marie,
Many thanks for your reply. I had found the 1828 record but was not sure if it was correct. The birth c. 1835 looks good and I will take this as the Mary that married my great uncle Michael Nolan I would guess c. 1863-4. Do you have anything on Michael or his siblings prior to his marriage to Mary? I have details of all 5 sons and their families.
So Mary had a sister Anne, did she have a brother Hugh? I would appreciate any info you have on Mary's siblings such as dates of birth, marriage, death.
I was told Mary was from Killconnell but 1828 record mentions Killgerrill ( I know they are quite close). My grandfather John Nolan married Bridget Reynolds in Fohenagh in 1864. Mary's age varies in each Census so I have ordered a copy of her death cert. I do not have a precice date of death for her but the Registrar in Galway assures me she found her death in Banavane so I have ordered a copy. Son Andrew was informant. Michael died in 1887. I am happy to send on any information which I have which may be of use to you.
Do you by any chance have any photos of Mary and/ or Michael or their families which I can add to my family tree?
I live in Dublin, are you in Galway?We possibly have other family in common. I can give you my email address but am not sure if this is permitted.
Again many thanks,
Regards, Gerald Nolan
,
Hello Gerald,
I found this message when I searched for your name and "birchwood" which was part of your email address (my email to you bounced). I'm your closest DNA match on GED Com and you're one of my closest - but we have no other high matches in common. My dad's mum's mum's mum was a Nolan from Kilglass and after reading this thread I suspect that's the connection. Because of the lack of records I have no idea about my Nolan ancestor other than she was Bridget and married John Kennedy (no record found) and had my great-grandma Mary in Kilglass in 1855. I'd guessed that Kilglass was the Nolans rather than the Kennedys based on prevalence of names. Both families seem to have been shopkeepers / publicans in Ahascragh, or maybe just the Kennedys (don't know much about them either). I think Bridget's dad was James Nolan b. 1804 and I've assigned 3 siblings to Bridget but it's all a bit of guesswork. Sounds like you know more! I hope you're still on here.
Your 4th cousin or so,
Valerie
P.S. One of the siblings I assigned to Bridget is your grandfather John (I'd found his 2nd wedding to Bridget Reynolds so I think we're talking about the same person). I had made this note
"Sons from 2nd marriage Thomas, Patrick, Joseph, William all moved to Dublin, living in Stillorgan in 1911, working at tradespeople / merchants." and assume one of these is your dad?
Thanks for any info!
Hello Valerie,
I am delighted to get your after all this time. Where do you come in the family tree ?.
I am descended from John Nolan and his second wife Bridget Reynolds. They had 12 children and my father was William. We think John's first wife may have been a Fahy but no documentary proof. This wife died in 1859 giving birth to twins John and Mary but again no documents. From data collected my grandfather John born 1824 had siblings Michael and Bridget and possibly another sister. Michael married Mary Blehein and had 5 sons.
Bridget married John Kennedy whose family had a shop and pub in Ahascragh. They had at least 2 children. Daughter Mary married Patrick Moran a son of Martin Moran and Catherine Costello on 12 February 1877 in Ahascragh. The second child was son Thomas who married Catherine Reynolds (likely a sister of Bridget) on 17 February 1879. The witnesses were John Reynolds and Bridget Nolan. Thomas and Catherine had 4 children. Catherine died 4 April 1889 and Thomas subsequently married Mary Kelly on 14 July 1891 and they had 11 children (I cangive details if you are interested). One of the children Bridget married John Cahill in 1918 and when he died in 1945 she inherited the family pub and changed the name to Cahill's. The pub is still in the family .
I hope this is some help to you and I am happy to share my research with you. Hopefully you may be able to fill in some blanks for me. I am curious to find out more about the marriage of Michael and Mary. If you have any old family photographs I would love to have copies as they seem to be very scarce.
I am living in Dublin. My direct email is birchwoodnolan@gmail.com and phone 01 298 4834.
Regards, Gerald
Great to hear from you Gerald!
Thanks for all the info.
I've sent you an email with details - unfortunately no photos. I'll ask my aunt when I'm next home, but that side of the family weren't great picture takers and probably too poor to have cameras. I didn't even know I had Ahascragh ancestry until I started my own study!
Valerie
P.S. Martin Curley who seems to post here runs a Facebook Group called East Galway Genealogy. I found my Kilkerrin relatives through this group - not much activity from Ahascragh but maybe other parts of your family may be active.