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Pallasgreen - Ballinaclough Cemetery

LimerickPallasgreen (Limerick)

Good afternoon from Fitchburg Massachusetts, USA. I have found that a cousin (son of my grandfather's brother) is buried in Ballinaclough Cemetery, Pallasgreen. The importance of this find is that it is the first firm connection to my family that did not leave Ireland in the 1880's. His name is James Rahilly. He actually died in 1931 in New York City, USA. He was returned to to his home in Pallasgreen for burial. Prior to this find, the most recent info I had was in the 1911 census (Templebredon) @ 15 yrs old at home . His father, Patrick Rahilly did come to Fitchburg, Massachusetts USA in 1880ish (as did three other brothers). Patrick's three brothers stayed in America while Patrick returned to Ireland. Family legend has it that he did not like it here in USA. I have since learned that Patrick's father (also Patrick) died in Pallasgreen area in 1887. I now believe that Patrick may have returned to Ireland due to the death of his father. My question to the group is how can I get more info on that cemetery? I haven't been able to find info as to what parish/church is responsible. I am assuming that there may be other Rahilly's in the same cemetery. Ultimately I am trying to connect with living descendents (of Patrick or James) to learn more about our Rahilly's.If you know the parish name or a way I can derive this info , that would be a phenomenal help.

Kevin Reilly

2 replies

Hi Kevin, we may have corresponded previously through a Facebook genealogy site for Limerick.  In any case, are you sure about a Ballynaclough cemetery?  The reason I am asking is that I will be in Pallas next month to specifically visit Ballynaclough from which my Magraths and Reals originated.  You might recall, if we did correspond, that I found it very unusual that the name Rahilly would be found in Ballynaclough since normally it is considered a Kerry name.  On the other hand in Kerry sometimes Rahilly and Real(e) are used interchangeable.  I may have mentioned also that the Irish Riley is sometimes a derivative of Real(e).  In fact, I have several DNA matches for Rileys who were not old-line Irish like the Reillys. The Reals likely arrived in Ireland with the Normans.

In any case, while in Ballynaclough, we are trying to locate what appears on the Griffith's maps and current maps to have been an abonded cemetery that abutted my Real and Magrath tenant farms.  The primary cemetery for the area would be either Pallas or Nicker.  The Pallas cemetery is online.

creal@cox.net

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