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James & Catherine McKenna

GalwayKillimor Bullogue (Galway)

I am a descendent (Great, Great, Great Granddaughter) of James McKenna, a weaver and his wife Catherine Quigley. They had four children Patrick (25/07/1832), Brigid (09/12/1833 or 1834), Thomas (12/04/1842), Catherine (24/11/1844) All were baptised in Killimor. Brigid (my Great, Great Grandmother) married Thomas Donnelly (born Tynagh) 17/05/1855 in Killimor. They migrated to Australia aboard 'Eliza' arriving in NSW 24/09/1855. 

I am taking my mother to Ireland in September/October this year and would like to take her to visit the graves of her Great Great Grandparents, James and Catherine. 

Can you please give me any information as to the location of their graves? We know that James McKenna had died before Brigid departed for Australia in 1855. 

We assume that there are no other McKenna or Quigly family members in Killimor now or back in 1830s as the recorded Baptismal sponsors of the four children are not McKenna/Quigly names so possibly not relatives.  

Patrick migrated to Australia arriving on 23rd June 1858. Catherine (married Martin Farrell 1860) migrated to Australia arriving 1860

Thomas Donnelly migrated to America 1860 (As reported by Catherine/Catie on her arrival in Australia. Originally Thomas was coming to Australia. Lost touch with Thomas & his family). 

Hoping you can help us

Kind regards

Suzanne Dickson

IrelandXO member

4 replies

Hi Suzanne,

Thank you very much for your message. I have forwarded it onto one of our volunteers who hopefully may be able to assist or advise you.

I hope that you and your mother have a lovely trip to Ireland!

All the best,

Genealogy Support

 

IrelandXO member

Hi Emma, thank you. I'm sure we will. Just the thought of going to Ireland is thrilling my mother. It has always been her dream. She is very proud of her Irish heritage. 

IrelandXO member

Hello,  I have just joined this site and want to say I am a descendant of

Thomas and Brigid/Bridget's daughter Bridget Mary Donnelly (1866-1947), who married Thomas Patterson.

I hope you enjoy your holiday it would be a lovely place to visit.

Cheers, Alana

IrelandXO member

Hi Alana, thank you for your reply. I found some of your descendants on the family tree in the book "Children of the Weaver" the weaver being our ancestor James McKenna. Your descendants mentioned are  Bridget who married Thomas  Patterson and Catherine who married Shea in Sans Souci. But that is the sum of the info. My line comes from Julia who was sister to your Brigid. Julia was the fourth child in the family of Thomas & Brigid. Julia was cut off from her family when she chose to spend her life with someone her mother did not approve.  My grandmother Lillian & her sisters remember their mother Julia speaking of her siblings, they knew their names but they never met them. Julia died relattively young 47 leaving my grandmother to help raise the younger children. It is only very recently in the last five years that we have come into contact with Julia's siblings' descendants through Rosemarie Perry in Dubbo. Rosemarie was thrilled to finally make contact with the children/descendants of the 'black sheep'. Rosemarie is a descendent of Thomas (Thomas/Bridget's second child)and Mary Patterson. Rosemarie's mother was Rosaleen their daughter who married William Dwyer. I gather you are doubly related to her via the Donnelly & Pattersons. 

It is interesting that your ancestor Thomas Patterson came from the village of Walli which is just down the road from the area where I grew up on a farm. 

Cheers

Sue

IrelandXO member

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