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Kelly's of Ballyara

Bullaun New Inn (Galway)

My great grandmother was Margaret Kelly who married Thomas Burke of Corrabaun on 19 February 1882 at Bullaun. The marriage record states Margaret was aged 20 from Ballyara and her father was Patrick Kelly, a farmer with the witnesses being Michael Burke (Thomas's brother) and Mary Anne Kelly. I have been unable to find a birth record for Margaret.

Griffith Valuation records for 1856 show a Patrick Kelly as a tenant to John Blake in Ballyarha North and a John Kelly, possibly Patrick's brother.

DNA matches show that I have common ancestors with the children of Patrick Kelly and Margaret Callanan of Ballyara. Their children were Celia Kelly (1845-1932) who married Darby Finnerty (1835) and lived in Ballyara, Catherine Kelly (1848-1932) who married Michael Fahy and they lived in Ballyara, Winnifred Kelly (1851-1926) who never married but spent most of her life in Ballyara but did visit her sister in USA for several years and Mary Kelly (1847-1906) who immigrated to Massachutes and married Patrick Kelly (no relation).

My question is my great grandmother, Margaret the sister of these Kelly's ? This is what the dna results suggest. I wonder if there are any descents of Patrick Kelly still living in the area who might have some knowledge that would assist with this?

maria.monypenn…

3 replies

Hi, The rootsireland transcription of the marriage record for Margaret gives her age as 25, not 20, which would make her birth year around 1857. Perhaps widen your search of the baptismal records and see if you find her. Good luck.

glanvil3@aol.com

Mariam,

The marriage record shows that Margaret was 25, not 20 years old; thus her birth date was around 1857. The paid site, Roots Ireland, shows that Bulluan RC baptism records began in 1828, but that some records are missing from this parish. I looked on Roots for her record, but did not locate one. Of the other Kelly children you mentioned, Roots does have Catherine's record: 18 Oct 1848 to parents Patrick Kelly & Margaret Callinan, Bullaun RC, sponsors - John Kelly & Bridget Kelly. If Margaret had children and named any of them Patrick or Margaret, then this might be the correct family.

Regards,

Carolyn

Thank you for your replies. I have now confirmed that Margaret was the daughter of Patrick Kelly and Margaret Callinan. Just wondering if any of the their descendants are still living in Ballyara or surrounding area as I will be in Kilconnell in September and would love to discover more about Ballyara and the Kelly family.

maria.monypenn…

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