Mary McDonagh/McDonough - Born Killoscobe/Killascole, Mount Bellew - c. 1833

Mary McDonagh/McDonough was born in Killoscobe/Killascole, Mount Bellew, County Galway in around 1833.

Mary's father was William McDonagh (blacksmith) and her mother was Margaret Mannion (probably born in Menlough). William and Margaret appear to have married on 24 January 1830 (witnesses Patrick McDonagh and Patrick Mannion) – Menlough/Moylough/Aghiart. William seems to have died in 1884 (aged 84) in Killascobe, by which time he was a widower.

At the time of the 1851 English Census, Mary was a pedlar of earthenware and living with Mr John (born Norfolk) and Mrs Mary (born Galway) Parker, and others, at 98 Upper Head Row, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. The others included Catherine, Peter and 10 month old Margaret Mulry/Mullery/Mulray and Bridget McDonough. It appears that Mary Parker, Catherine Mulry/Mullery/Mulray and Bridget McDonough were sisters (apparently the daughters of Patrick and Catherine McDonagh/McDonough) and were cousins of Mary McDonagh/McDonough.

Mary married John Barrett (b. County Mayo) in Huddersfield in 1854. Mary and John migrated to Australia in 1858. Mary died in 1870. John died in 1879. Mary and John had four children - Margaret (Maggie) (b. Huddersfield), James (b. on the ship), Mary (b. Australia), John (b. Australia).

Mary McDonagh/McDonough is related to Honor Kennedy, who became the 2nd wife of John Collins - their children included the late Paddy Collins of Menlough. It appears that Honor's parents were John Kennedy and Margaret McDonough/McDonagh, who married in 1870 in the Parish/District of Menlough.

We have had some contact with the family of John Collins and Honor Kennedy – mainly the relatives in England, Galway City and the USA. The general view is that Honor is a 'cousin', but no one has been able to work out the exact relationship between Honor Kennedy’s mother (Margaret McDonagh/McDonough) and Mary’s father (William McDonagh/McDonough). When Honor Kennedy and John Collins married in 1897, the witnesses were John Mannion and (another) Margaret McDonagh/McDonough/McDonogh (who was apparently Honor’s 1st cousin).

Mary McDonagh/McDonough is our great great grandmother and any information about her family would be appreciated.