The Monahans, Musicians of Loughrea
Edmond (~1791-1874)and Catherine (Mahon, ~1793-1876) Monahan lived in The Hill and Garrybreedia sections of Loughrea town. Married in 1816, they had eight known children. Edmond was a professional musician as were most of his children. Their oldest child Michael (1821-1910) was a shoemaker andmarried Mary Cronin of Ballygar (Athleague Parish)around 1845. Michael and Maryfled the Famine to Coventry, England along with many Cronin relativesof Ballygar. One of their children, Michael (1854-1920) married Julia Devaney (1855-95) in England and emigrated to Boston. They are my great grandparents.
Edmond and Catherine's other children were Bridget (1823-1900), Thomas (1826-?), Mary (1828-1888), Catherine (1830-?), Judith (1831-?), Martin (~1838-1894), and John (1840-1942?). Bridget married Stephen Mullins in 1848 in Loughrea and lived inSalford, England until their deaths. Her sister Marywent to Salford with them and died there a spinster. I don't know what happened to Thomas. Catherine married John Martin in 1854 and I believe they moved to England where there were so many other John & Catherine Martins it is difficult to know which one is my relative. Judith likely married Patrick McHugh in Cummer in 1851 and settled in the Tuam area. A Martin McHugh, of parents Patrick and Judy Monahan,was born there in 1864 but nothing else is known of them. Martin Monahan joined the Connaught Rangers and remained a bachelor. Heretired from the Rangersto The Hill after his service. He was a military pensioner and died there in 1894. He purchsed a monument for his parents in the Loughrea Carmelite cemetery when they died. John Monahan, also a professional musician, married Mary Whelan in 1874 in Loughrea. Their youngest childEdward (1880-1959) emigrated to New York City in 1900. He married twice and had two daughters, Edna (1905-?) and Irene (1909-?), who never married.
If anyone out there in cyberspace knows more aboutthis family, includingthe fate of Thomas and Judith, I would be grateful if youwould contact me. Thanks.
Michael McGuire
Sarasota, FL