Hello June,
Later in the reply I’ll make some suggestions about how you and your family may enhance your visit to County Louth when you travel to Ireland in the future.
In your message to Ireland Reaching Out you had mentioned that your second great grandmother, Catherine Dwyer was born in Ardee, Louth on 12 February 1834, but baptized in the Armagh Parish on 22 October 1834. The Catholic Parish of Armagh is located in the County Armagh, which is the county just north of County Louth.
The Armagh Catholic Parish is about 72 Kilometers, or roughly 45 miles north of the County Louth border. See the attached Catholic Parish map from the National Library of Ireland website, with the Armagh Parish, County Armagh highlighted in orange.
I looked for Catherine’s baptism transcription in the Armagh Catholic Parish at the Find My Past (FMP) website for 22 October 1834, but didn’t find it. Nor did I find her baptism at any time in the Armagh Catholic Parish. I then looked for her FMP baptism transcription in the Ardee, County Louth Catholic Parish, but again without results.
I figured I missed locating Catherine’s baptism because the surname Dwyer in the 19th century may have had spelling variations, and so I looked for baptism under the mother’s name only, Margaret Brackney. Brackney is not a common Irish surname.
With Margaret Brackney’s name I managed to uncover Catherine’s 22 October 1834 baptism in the Ardee Catholic Parish, but Catherine’s surname was transcribed as, “Wire,” by FMP. That’s why I didn’t find her baptism after several tries.
The transcription further shows that at the time of the baptism Catherine and her parents were living in Castle Street, Ardee Town. Her mother’s first name is abbreviated as, “Margt,” in the transcription, which you can download at the following FMP link after establishing a free account: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2514239&tab=this
Note: FMP is primarily a subscription genealogical search website, but does have some free collections. One of these free collections includes Irish Catholic Parish register transcriptions of baptisms, marriages, and some death/buries for the 32 counties of Ireland. End of Note.
Each FMP transcription includes a link that will take you to a copy of the baptism, marriage, or burial record held by the aforementioned National Library of Ireland. Catherine’s baptism record is attached to this reply, it’s position in the baptism register indicated by the blue arrow.
As an aside the Ardee Catholic Parish baptisms are available from August of 1763, marriages from August of 1769, and deaths/burials from 4 January 1765, according to the National Library of Ireland. See: https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0183?locale=en
You’ll notice in the copy of the original baptism record that the spelling of Catherine's surname does appear to be “Wire.” To the right of her name you’ll see the names of her parents, Owen and Margt Brackney, followed by the name of Catherine’s godfather, John Weir. This is an indication that the parish priest who recorded Catherine’s baptism likely had written that her surname too, was Weir, rather than “Wire,” but that his penmanship was not the best.
You’ll also see that Catherine’s godmother was Mary Ann Weir. John Weir may have been Owen’s brother. Mary Ann could have either been a sister, or John’s wife. Just under Mary Ann Weir’s name, underlined in blue, are the words, “Castle Street,” a reference to where Owen, Margaret, and Catherine were living at the time of the baptism.
In a sense the Armagh reference you have for Catherine’s baptism is correct, as the Ardee Catholic parish is located in the Archdiocese of Armagh.
In his reply of 18 March, Ireland Reaching Out volunteer Roger McDonnell had kindly noted the baptisms for Owen, Margaret, James, Michael, and Bridget Dwyer.
I also uncovered the same baptism transcriptions for these children at the FMP website, with the addition of a baptism for a second child named Margaret, who was baptized in 1841.
The 1830 FMP baptism transcription for Owen does not include the child his first name, which is an indication the FMP transcriber had difficulty with reading his name in a copy of the original baptism record. In the baptism transcription his mother's maiden name is spelled, "Bighney."
All of the children were baptized in the Ardee Catholic Parish.
Below you’ll see not only the links to FMP baptism transcriptions for each child, but also their dates of baptism, and where the Dwyer family were living when each child was baptized.
22 May 1830 FMP baptism transcription for a Dwyer child with no first name, Bridge Street, Ardee Catholic Parish, County Louth:
https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2513186&tab=this
2 October 1831 FMP baptism transcription for Margaret Dwyer, of Bridge Street, Ardee Catholic Parish, County Louth. Could not read the names of the godparents because of fading: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2513479&tab=this
7 November 1832 FMP baptism transcription for James "Droyer," of Castle Street, Ardee Catholic Parish, County Louth: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2513750&tab=this
25 September 1836 FMP baptism transcription for Michael Dwyer, of Castle Street, Ardee Catholic Parish, County Louth: Godfather is Thomas Dwyer:
https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2514743&tab=this
12 August 1838 FMP baptism transcription for Margaret "Weir", of Market Street, Ardee Catholic Parish, County Louth: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2515221&tab=this
13 March 1841 FMP baptism transcription for Bridget Dwyer of Market Street, Ardee Catholic Parish, County Louth: https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FBAP%2F2515888&tab=this
The baptisms of two daughters named Margaret means that the Margaret Dwyer baptized in 1831 had died before her sister was baptized in 1838. Notice too, that the surname for Margaret’s baptism in 1838 is transcribed as “Weir.”
I looked for the first-born Margaret's death/burial transcription at the FMP website for the years 1831 to 1838 but didn't find it. There are gaps in these registers however.
Copies of the original baptism records from the National Library of Ireland for the Dwyer children noted above, are attached to this reply.
After you download copies of the original baptism records, you'll be able to see the names of the godparents for each child, if legible.
For example, the 1830 baptism for Owen shows his godparents were Patt Dwyer and A. Dolan.
The 1832 baptism record for James shows his godfather was Jas. (James) Dunn. The first name of the godmother is Sally. I could not tell what her last name was.
The 1836 baptism record for Michael shows his godfather was Thomas Dwyer. The first name of the godmother is "Cath." Her last name is difficult to read, but could be Mathews.
The 1838 baptism for Margaret shows her godfather is Pat Mullins. Her godmother is Bridget Boyle.
The 1841 baptism for Bridget only records a godfather. His first name is abbreviated as Ewd, for Edward. I could not tell with certainty what his last name was. It may be Keenan.
With these baptisms you now know that the Dwyer family had lived in three different streets in Ardee Town over a 10 year period. These streets are Bridge Street, Castle Street, where your direct ancestor Catherine was born, and Market Street.
The link that follows will take you to an old post card view of Castle Street, Ardee. The post card, from the Lawrence Photograph Collection, can be downloaded from the historicpicturearchive.com website:
https://www.historicalpicturearchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/LH-00099-ARDEE-D.jpg
The Lawrence Photograph Collection at the National Library of Ireland can be accessed at: https://catalogue.nli.ie/Collection/vtls000313414 and also at the Lawrence Collection website at: https://lawrencecollection.com/
I next wanted to see if I could locate Bridge Street, Castle Street, and Market Street on a colorized Ordnance Survey map of Ardee from the Tailte Eireann website at:
Irish Townland and Historical Map Viewer
This OS map of Ardee was produced in 1835, according to the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland website: https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/LBC-OS-6-1191
Attached to this reply is a map of Ardee, showing that Market Street and Castle Street in Ardee Town are actually the same road.
A second attached OS map of Ardee shows Bridge Street, located toward the bottom of the map, just right of center. The map shows that Bridge Street ties into Castle Street to the north. The bridge crosses the River Dee.
Just to the west of Bridge Street you'll see the R.C. Chapel, located in John Street. This would be the Ardee Parish church where the children of Owen Dwyer and Margaret Brackney were baptized. I'll have more information about this church a little later in this reply.
A Google Map of Ardee shows Market Street, Castle Street are part of the N2 Road, which ties into the N52 road off Castle Street: https://tinyurl.com/5bje7tuy
Here is a Google Street View of Bridge Street looking north toward the Ardee City Centre: https://tinyurl.com/57pbjsn3
The next Google Street View is of Castle Street looking north: https://tinyurl.com/yvsk64wr
The following is a Google Street View of Market Street: https://tinyurl.com/4s4mnyet
THE FORMER ARDEE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
According to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage/Buildings of Ireland website, the old Catholic Church in Ardee was called Saint Mary's, which was constructed in 1829, the year before Owen Dwyer was baptized. The church was "deconsecrated" in 1974 after another Catholic Church was constructed in Ardee near Saint Mary's. The new Catholic Church is called the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, in Drogheda Road, John Street.
You can read architectural details about Saint Mary's, and also view a slide presentation of the church at the following Buildings of Ireland website link: https://tinyurl.com/2p8y9jp4
Here is a Google Street View of the church in John Street, Ardee: https://tinyurl.com/w7mask2t
It looks like the former church was once a furniture and flooring store, but the building appears to be empty, and up for rent in the Google Street View from October 2022.
June, when you and your family travel to County Louth in the future, you can walk the streets in Ardee where your ancestors walked. You can also visit the old Saint Mary's Church where your Catherine Dwyer and her siblings would have been baptized, though I don't know if the old church is open as commercial business at this time.
MEET AND GREET
Ireland Reaching Out has a free service called, "Meet and Greet." If a family history advisor volunteer is available for the date or dates you will be in Ardee, they will be able to meet with you to share their knowledge of Ardee and the surrounding area. For more information about Meet and Greet, and to fill out a Meet and Greet form, go to the Ireland Reaching Out link at:
https://irelandxo.com/meet-and-greet
THE MARRIAGE RECORD FOR OWEN DWYER AND MARGARET BRACKNEY
You had mentioned that Owen and Margaret were married in Dundalk on 5 February 1822. Roger McDonnell had also found their marriage transcription at RootsIreland.
Likewise I uncovered the marriage transcription at the FMP website, though Owen's surname is transcribed as "Downs," as you'll see here:
https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=IRE%2FPRS%2FMAR%2F0525960%2F1&tab=this
A copy of the original marriage record from the National Library of Ireland is attached to this reply. You can see why the FMP transcriber thought Owen's last name may have been Downs because the image is a bit faded. The marriage record further shows that the witnesses to the marriage were Owen Collins and Ann Flood. In the right margin of the marriage record you'll see two zeros 00. This means that Owen and Margaret did not make a donation to the parish church for having the wedding ceremony performed.
Like Roger McDonnell, I didn't find the baptism records for any Dwyer children from 1822 to 1829 in either the Dundalk or Ardee Catholic parishes, nor did I find the baptism records for any of their children anywhere else in Ireland.
Irish marriages traditionally take place in the bride's parish, which means Margaret Brackney may have been born in or near the town of Dundalk, or had moved to the area sometime before her marriage to Owen Dwyer. The National Library of Ireland shows that Dundalk baptisms, marriages, and deaths/burials are extent from August of 1790, though there are gaps in the registers. I didn't find a baptism record for Margaret Brackney in the Dundalk baptism registers. I also looked for her baptism in the Ardee baptism registers, but again without results.
I had the same negative results when looking for Owen Dwyer's baptism record in County Louth.
THE DUNDALK PARISH CHURCH
The present day Saint Patrick's Church, known as a Pro-Cathedral, is located in Roden Place, Townparks. However, the Cathedral was completed in 1847, 25 years after Owen and Margaret were married in 1822. According to the Dundalk Parish website, an earlier Saint Patrick's was located in Chapel Street, but what had one time been called Chapel Lane. The first Saint Patrick's, according to the Dundalk Parish website was constructed in 1750, and "served the needs of the people for almost a century. From 1843 it was used as a school and became the property of the Irish Christian Brothers from 1867." See the history of Saint Patrick's at: https://www.stpatricksdundalk.com/sermons
This old Saint Patrick's from 1750 may have been where Owen and Margaret were married, though they may have been married in other chapels in the Dundalk Catholic Parish.
Attached is in an Ordnance Survey Map of Dundalk Town from the year 1835, showing the location of the "R.C. Chap," off Chapel Lane and Wrightson's Lane.
A Google Street View shows that location of Chapel Street and Wrightson's Lane: https://tinyurl.com/3es3y683
Another Google Street View shows the Christian Brothers School building, former location of Saint Patrick's Church in Chapel Lane, Dundalk: https://tinyurl.com/mrt2u45n
If you fill out a meet and Greet form at Ireland Reaching Out, and plan to visit Dundalk, you can also request a volunteer guide to show you around the town, provided a guide is available for the time period you are there.
With Kind Regards,
Dave Boylan
REFERENCES
National Library of Ireland: Catholic Parish Map
Armagh Catholic Parish website.
Find My Past
National Library of Ireland: Catholic Parish Registers Collection
Ireland Reaching Out Volunteer Roger McDonnell's rely of 18 March 2025
The Lawrence Photograph Collection, National Library of Ireland
historicpicturearchive.com
The Lawrence Collection website
Tailte Eireann: Ordnance Survey Maps
Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland website
Google Maps
Google Street Views
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage/Buildings of Ireland website
Ireland Reaching Out: Meet and Greet
Saint Patrick's Dundalk Parish website
