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Madigan of Shanagolden, Limerick

LimerickShanagolden (Limerick)

Hi there.

I am a great-great-great granddaughter of Michael Madigan, an Irish emigrant who came to Victoria, Australia sometime between 1846 and 1875. I am intrigued about his life in Ireland and would like to know what happened to his parents and siblings. From Michael's marriage certificate to Catherine Smith in 1875, I have discovered that Michael's parent's names were Thomas Madigan and Catherine Sheehy, from County Limerick. On further research, I found that Thomas Madigan was married to Catherine Sheehy on the 6th of April 1845 in Shanagolden. From what I know, they had three children, Michael (1846-1935) baptised in Kilcolman, Patrick (b.1848) in Newcastle West, Limerick and Daniel (b.1851) in Newcastle West, Limerick. If anyone has any information on what happened to his parents Thomas and Catherine or his siblings Daniel and Patrick, I would be very grateful.

Thank you,

Emmy.

IrelandXO member

5 replies

Em:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I will alert our parish liaison for Shanagolden about your message.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Em,

The Madigan surname in Co Limerick is very difficult to trace.I have them in my line also and have found them maddeninglyimpossible.

At FamilySearch.org I did find a Patrick Quaid Madigan married to Theresa Agnes Purcell. They had three children in Chicago, Cook Co, Illinois USA: Marie or M. Angela Merici Madigan b 24 Nov 1903; Leo Patrick Madigan b 28 Jun 1899; and Walter or Joseph Madigan b 28 Sep 1902. The rcds state that Patrick Quaid Madigan was born in Newcastle West, Limerick, Ireland. Patrick would have been about 50 years old when he had his children. Anything is possible. Maybe he married a younger woman? IF this is your Patrick, he did not follow the Irish naming pattern of naming his firstborn son after the child's paternal grandfather. (There is the possibility that there could have been a child born earlier somewhere else.)

I also checked a couple books that I own West Limerick Families Abroad and Poverty to Promise: The Monteagle Emigrants and found no info on this family. I also checked Ancestry.com without success. I didn't find anything at MyHeritage either.

I found nothing regarding Daniel.

From personal experience, you have a difficult search if you're looking for Madigans in Co Limerick. I wish you better success than I've had! I wish there was more I could tell you.

Best wishes,

Patti Hacht

Shanagolden & Kilcolman Ireland Reaching Out Parish Liaison

Shanagolden LimerickIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Em

I dug around a bit; retracing your steps. The Madigan/Sheehy marrigage was August, not April. You can view the film of the 1845 parish register online via the NLI. 

Thomas Madigan married Catherine Sheehy on the 6th of April August 1845 in
Ballyhahill    Townland – Parish Shanagolden

Here's a few suggestions. Reading the marriage entry, we see 'residence' is given as townland called "Ballyhahill" within the RC Parish called Shanagolden. This suggests the did not live in Shanagolden village/town, but in a rural area.  Hence, it is likely you can find via Griffiths Valuation the names of all the Occupiers (Tenants) of the houses and farmland within Ballyhahill.

These days you can view the Griffiths old maps and merge (overlay) them with modern (Google-style) maps. This is a good way the see where the townland is in relation to today's landmarks of highways, airports and shopping centres.

See:  https://www.townlands.ie/limerick/shanid/kilmoylan/loghill/ballyhahill/

I am sure the good people at IrelandXO will be able to walk you through Griffiths Valuations and Maps. 

Similarly, the child Michael (1846-1935) baptised (15Apr1846 townland Creaves; Kilcolman Parish) shows the 'residence' at the time of this birth.  The word "Creaves" is my reading of the Parish Priest's writing and should be reviewed. 

I could find a Dan Madigan married Mary Nunan in 1913, Newcastle District, Co. Limerick.  A check into the 1901 and 1911 census could offer more information.  I saw a c. 1925 death of a Dan Madigan in same district too.  If this is the one and he & Mary Nuam had children you should be able to pick then up.

Similarly, perhaps one or both brothers followed Michael into Victoria, or another state in Australia. Have you searched the Australian newspapers, digitised by the NLA and available online (free) via Trove?   A treasure-trove of information for useful snippets of data.

Good luck and best wishes,

Eire2Go

 

Eire2Go

Hi, all!

I'm very happy to have found this forum. I also have a Madigan from Limerick in my family tree and have hit a stopping point with him. My 2nd greeat-grandfather was Michael Madigan, born in Limerick in April of 1858. He married Margaret Kennedy in 1885. She was born in Limerick in 1868. They had five children, one of whom was my great-grandfather, Patrick. I'd love to know more if that's possible. Looking forward to sharing and learning! Have a great weekend!

Michael

FalkThisNonsen…

Hi Emmy,

Askeaton Tourist Office-Civic Trust-Genealogy Centre

There are 6 Genealogy researchers in the Link above that will be able to help you with your research for free,

Please email the Link above, as one of the research Lives in Shanagolden & is familiar with the area.

John.

 

oconnelljohn1

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