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Seeking information about Clarke &/or Leonard families from Caltra/Castlblakeney/Killosolan areas

GalwayCaltra (Galway)

My great-grandmother Mary CLARKE (born @1849) emigrated to USA in 1871 I believe. She was married to John LEONARD, who came from Killosolan. Her brother, Michael CLARKE also emigrated, in 1875, I believe. I went to Galway in April 2001 and with the help of a Galway librarian, a cab driver, and the postmaster in Killosolan I found the home of Sean Keane in Rabane, near Caltra. I later spoke to him by telephone and verified that he had inherited land from my last surviving Clarke relatives, John (1861-1950 I think) and Julia (1868-1952 I think), neither of whom ever married. John (who apparently was shellshocked after World War 1) and Julia were children of Martin Clarke (died 28Feb1900?) and Bridget Gavin (died 5 May 1901). Apparently there was a sibling Martin Clarke (born 1858.) I can't trace the connection of John and Julia Clarke to Mary Clarke, my great-grandmother. The Clarkes were supposedly cousins to Gavins and Noones, and the children of John Leonard & Mary Clarke visited the area in the 1920's. One child, Marian Leonard, became a nun, Sister Aloysius, and taught in England for many years, dying there in 1956. Thanks for any help connecting the branches of the Clarke/Leonard families. Erin McQuiston

IrelandXO member

8 replies

Hi Erin

We have family that married into the Gavins.....Bridget Dooley b c1832 (we think from around the Caltra/Castleblakeney area), daughter of Lawrence Dooley and Margaret Larkin.  We think Bridget married Michael Gavin.  Some of the children resulting from this marriage were Martin, Bridget (b 1866) and Anne. 

Could we have a connection...did Bridget Dooley 1832 remarry or did Bridget 1866 marry your Martin Clarke?

Cheers

Kerryn

IrelandXO member

Hi Kerryn,The only lead I have is the 1901 census. It gives me the idea that

martin was born in1814 but Bridget wasn't born til 1840. Their son Martin was born in1858

followed by John and Julia. From Irish Family History Foundation Records

it looks like Julia was a twin but her sister died shortly after birth. I'm hoping the family who inherited

the land, or some of the volunteers can help figure this out. It would be great if we were related. Erin

IrelandXO member

HI Erin

I just received an email from one of our volunteers in Fohenagh. She spoke with a gentleman from Caltra and he knows the Leonard family. Apparently they moved to Kildare in the 1960`s. He has their address, if you require it.

When checking the census...for theLeonard family ... it is Galway, Killian and then Killosolan.

There is also a Gavin / Leonard link in Ashfield,Castleblakeney, whom she knows well as they grew up together, she will follow up that link for you.

 

Paula

Ireland Reaching Out HQ

 

 

IrelandXO member

I wish I knew how to say 100,000 thankyous. It must be Cead Mile . . .

 

I recently connected with another Leonard descendant over here (after13 years of trying) who has a 16-year-old who finds this fascinating. So the present-day Leonard descendants may connect and learn how things went for the emigrants, and the hardships they endured. I'm so grateful for any help with this. Erin

IrelandXO member

Hi Erin

The only information I have is Bridget Dooley b c 1832 (daughter of Lawrence Dooley and Margaret Larkin) married a Michael Gavin b c1821.  The the only 'known' children that we can find resulting from this union was Martin b 1866, Bridget b 1869 and Anne b1870.

Sorry this is the only information I have of the Gavins, and we don't have hard evidence, apart from the fact that Bridget was the daughter of Lawrence and Margaret and they were from Co Galway from the Mount Bellew/Calta/Fohenagh districts.

 

Good luck with your search.

Kerryn

IrelandXO member

Hi Kerryn, 

I appreciate your keeping in touch about a possible family link. I haven't responded because I'm in contact with the Ahascragh parish also, and they're doing some reasearch about both the Clarkes and Leonards to which my great-grandparents were related. When I do get learn more about the Clarkes (and hopefully their Gavin cousins) I will certainly get back to you with it. 

Being about 80% Irish is a blessing and a curse. I need to follow up on one strand of my father's family and another of my mother's family, in other areas of Ireland. But since IMHO it seems like the Galway County volunteers of Ireland Reaching Out are ahead of the other counties, I'm going to focus my efforts here for awhile. 

Good luck to you also, maybe the similarity in our names is indicative of a genetic connection.

Erin

IrelandXO member

Hi Erin....yes it's a sign...the similarities of our names.

Good luck,

Kerryn

IrelandXO member

Hello Erin, I've just come across this message and I release that its been many years since you posted. I've been researching the Leonards of East Galway for a few years and would be interested in contacting you. I'm from the Ahascragh Leonards and my research has managed to link a number of the familys in that area from different townlands,  Eglish, Lissyegan, kilconnell, Kilmalaw etc. There are still many Leonards still living in that area and many more all around the world.

I'm told that these families are connected to the Killosolan Leonards also but I've not managed  to contact any of them yet. It would be great to find out if you made any progress. I've quite a bit of material that I'm happy to share, so please drop me a line if you wish. My email is xpeterleonard@gmail.com

 

Kind regards 

Peter Leonard 

xpeterleonard@…

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