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1800-1846 what church would Catholics in Graigeawoneen Co Galway baptize and marry?

GalwayClontuskert (Galway)

With the help of an Ireland XO volunteer I found church records of my 3rd ggrandparents Denis Whaelon/Whalen & Margaret Donnelon (1828) and several of their children, including my 2nd ggrandfather William Whaelon (1828) in the St Michael's Church records Ballinasloe/Clontuskert. The Ireland XO volunteer stated that one of the records was from Graigeawoneen in the parish of Clontuskert.  I had assumed they were married/baptised in St Michael's in Ballinasloe, but I read that that church was not built until 1846.  If they lived in Graigeawoneen what church would they have married/baptized in @1800-1845 (the last child I have found was baptized in 1845).  I hope to visit one day and would like to visit the church/ruins.

thanks so much

ps. My 2nd gr grandfather William Whalen stated he was from Ballinasloe in his petition for US citizenship.  Denis & Margaret's marriage record below was found in NIH Parish records St Michael's church, Ballinasloe, Clonfert diocese,  p130 (p249 in original)

chris.delano35…

8 replies

Chris:

There was a prior chapel in Ballinasloe before 1846. This link takes you to the 1837 Lewis Topographical Dictionary for Kilcloony civil parish in Co. Galway. Ballinasloe town is in Kilcoony civil parish and also partly in Creagh civil parish.  https://www.johngrenham.com/records/lewis.php?civilparishid=1024&civilparish=Kilcloony&county=Galway&search_type=full

There was also an RC church in Clontuskert https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/places/towns-and-villages/clontuskert

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you so much for the information.  I'm afraid I am lacking knowledge about how to figure this all out.  I find the place names/townlands/civil & catholic parishes etc so confusing,  Although the records seem to be in St Michael's church parish of Clontuskert.... I am confused as to where they must have lived and where they would have been married/baptized.  I do appreciate your help

chris.delano35…

Chris:

Land divisions in Ireland are confusing. Townlands are the smallest land divisions in Ireland and can range from less than 100 acres up to in some cases 2000 acres. Graigueawoneen (the official spelling) is 311 acres in size and is part of the civil parish of Clontuskert.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Chris,

Denis and Margaret were married in Balinasloe in 1828, as you say. If you look at the 1840 map, you will see an RC church on the same site as St. Michael's. Presumably this is the church they were married in. While St. Michael's was meant to be built in 1846, it wasn't started until 1852 (under a different architect) and was consecrated in 1858. As Denis and Margaret were married in Balinasloe, that is probably where Margaret was from, as a marriage normally takes place in the home parish of the bride. That she was from Balinasloe is supported by the fact that the first child, William, was baptised in Balinasloe. A mother often went home to her mother for the first child. All the other children were baptised in Clontuskert, where the family seem to have lived in Graigueawoneen. In some cases the townland address is given, in others it isn’t.  Graigueawoneen is on the north side of Clontuskert very close to Balinasloe.

Best wishes, Kieran

Kieran Jordan, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Kieran, THANK YOU SO MUCH!  This answers so many questions for me!  Where would I find the 1840 map?  Would the old church been also called St Michael's?  Would there be any pictures of the old church?  Is it now a ruin?  I hope to visit there someday.  Where would I find a map of Graigueawoneen?  What church in Graigueawonee would have been where the other children were baptized?  I believe that son William (my 2nd great grandfather) came to Boston 1854.  Possibly Denis came over, but I'm not sure.  I have found a Dennis Whalen who was a widower (but not sure it's him). I have not found evidence of Margaret here.  Wonder if she died in Ireland.  Traditionally would she have been buried in Graigueawoneen or back in Ballinasloe?

THANK YOU SO MUCH, again!  Sorry for so many questions!

Best Wishes

Chris Murphy Delano

chris.delano35…

Chris,

All the maps are available online, as are many of the records. I will get your email address from the admin staff and will contact you on this. The new church was built on the same site, so I presume the old one was knocked. I will see if I can find anything on this for you. I will also see about churches in Clontuskert,

Best wishes, Kieran

Kieran Jordan, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH KIERAN!!!!! I look forward to hearing from you via email!

chris

chris.delano35…

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