Hello Emma,
I will fill you in on the information I have, hoping it's not too long!
My grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Burke, was born in 1874 in Tullahill, Lougrhea. I understand that Tullahill is an area bordering on the west of Loughrhea town (now called Tullagh Upper?). Her parents were Patrick Burke and Maria Keating, who were married in Loughrea, 1858. (The parents of "Patch" Burke were William Burke + Mary (Hart?). The parents of Maria were Patrick Keating and Mary (Healy or Connelly?). There was some information that Patrick and/or Maria came from closer to the Tynagh area but, again, I'm not sure about this.)
The first 4 children of this marriage were born with address Cahernamuck, Lackalea (Carrabane), 1861 - 1866 (names: Maria, Bridget, Honora, and Jane). We think these children did not survive as my grandmother never spoke of them. (The info about the Burke/Keating marriage and children is mostly from a search I had done in 2000 at the Woodford Centre. But the name Healy comes from a cousin who's done some research but I don't know where he found that name.)
The other children were: Thomas (about 1865 - not on Woodford search), Helena (Ellen), born 1869, address: Bride St, Loughrea. Michael, 1871- Tullahill, Mary E. 1874 - Tullahill, and Patrick, 1878 - Tullahill. All of these last children emigrated to the U.S. (Boston area) by about 1895. (The birth dates and addresses also come from the Woodford Centre search.)
Maria (Keating) died around 1889 and her son Thomas (on a return visit from the U.S.) had a tombstone erected for her in the Abbey Cemetary. (I think around 1912). Patrick Burke died around 1918 and his name was added to the stone.
Patrick Burke (my gr grandfather) re-married around 1892 to Mary Fallon of Croughwell (father John Fallon). At that time, he was living in Garacloon (Carrabane). He was a "herd". From this 2nd marriage, there were 3 children: Margaret (1893), and twins Jane and John (1894). Margaret married a butcher in Loughrea (either McQuaid or Nictular). Margaret + husband later had a pub, I think in Craughwell. Jane immig to U.S. John Burke married Margaret Nilan and had one daughter : Mary Kate (who married Michael Dempsey). I have met Mary Kate and Michael Dempsey (who used to run "Galway Glazers"). I don't know if they are still living but I would very much like to know. They lived at "The Meadows", Masonbrook, Eastern edge of Loughrea, and I think they were starting a golf course out there. I wrote to them in December but didn't hear back. Do you have any information about them?
We saw the old Burke/Fallon house in Garacloon (South?) in 2003. It was in ruins but it was still in the family (son Thomas Dempsey, I believe).
My mother, on a visit to Loughrea in 1970, thinks she saw the old homestead of her mother, Mary E Burke, and says there was a path near the house which went to a small church. Her mother used to talk about this. The only other reference to this homestead which I know of was made by a cousin in a letter (this cousin is no longer living). She said that she saw the homestead in 1972 and it was run-down looking but a family named Mannion was living there. That's where I had this information but I don't know if this was really the right house or not.
Any information you could find about the Burke homestead where my grandmother was born would be greatly apprectiated. Also, if you are able to find out anything about the Burke/Keating ancestors that would be an extra bonus! I think there were a lot of them around there so it could be challenging!!
Many thanks in advance,
Cindy Taupin
PS Could you advise me of where I could order a copy of the birth or baptism certificate of my grandmother? It would mean a lot to my mother who is still living. I had stopped in Galway at a records office in 2000 to inquire about it but they couldn't find anything. Maybe I didn't give them the right information?
