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Sarah West and Luke O'Brien/O'Bryan

GalwayLaurencetown (Galway)

I am looking for information about Sarah West and her husband, Luke O'Brien/O'Bryan. They left Galway [from Laurencetown and Kiltormer] in 1841. They sailed to Australia on the ship, Middlesex. They left 6 of their children in Ireland and 5 of them came out to Australia in 1848. It is thought that Edith died in Ireland. Sarah's father was Mark West and there is evidence that her brother, Henry, sailed with the couple. They went on to have a total of 15 children. I have one week left in Ireland before I return to Australia and would love to hear from anyone who has more information about this family in Ireland or indeed, anywhere else.

IrelandXO member

4 replies

BK:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

You did not mention the religious denomination. If they were RC, records for Kiltormer/Laurencetown parish start in 1834 and http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0335 they are included on Roots Ireland. However, I was not able to locate the marriage record or any baptismal records.

I saw an Elias West on the 1824 Tithe listing for Kiltormer parish but the 1855 Griffiths did not have any West or O'Brien records. We have a parish liaison for Kiltormer parish and I will send him an e-mail alerting him to your message.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

 

Dear Roger, thank you for your reply. I don't seem to be able to go back any further than Sarah West and Luke O'Brien/Bryan arriving in Australia in 1841.   I am most interested to know who cared for their children in Ireland from 1841 to 1847. The children left Ireland for Australia, due to the effforts of Caroline Chisholm in 1847. One child, Edith, died in Ireland during this period. The others, Richard 15, Michael 14, Thomas 12, Edward 10, John 8, and Eliza 6 were reunited with their parents in 1848 in Australia. Regards, BK

 

 

 

IrelandXO member

Hi, I am also interested in this family we are direct descendants. We are passing through the area tomorrow. Would be interested in a local contact I could perhaps call and follow up for further research once we get home. Thanks

 

IrelandXO member

Dear SarahOB:

Thanks for your message.

Our local volunteer is unable to meet today but has asked that you might drop into the parish priest,  Father Christy O Beirne 090 962713 / 086 3449345.
There is another man very knowledgeable about local history in the area: Seamus Curley.  If you would like his number, would you please email me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com and I will email it to you.  Have a wonderful visit!

 

All the best,

 

Jane

jhalloranryan@…

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