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Belmullet (County Mayo) -- Murphy & McDonnell

MayoKillala (Mayo)

Hello. I'm brand new to this site (saw the Irish Times article), so I hope I'm doing things right. I'll be arriving in Ireland on April 28, 2019 for an 8-day visit, which I hope will include some family research. I am planning two days in County Mayo. My grandmother, Maria Murphy (Davidson) was born in Belmullet in 1894 to to Edward (Ned) Murphy and Mary McDonnell Murphy. I would like to know more about Ned and Mary and the preceding generations, but haven't found much so far. I know where they lived from the 1901 and 1911 censuses, and I found a George Murphy at the same house in Griffith's Valuation for 1855, but I haven't linked the generations yet. If I am correct in the location,the property is still in the Murphy family, and is now the site of a florist shop. I hope to visit it.

Also, I would like to find out exactly when and where my grandmother departed for the United States. She was in Ireland for the census of 1911, and she was married in Fort Erie, Canada (across the river from Buffalo, NY, USA, where she lived) in February 1913. But I have no records about her between those dates. I would like to know as many facts about her life as I can, especially since I plan to apply for Irish citizenship and the information would be helpful.

Thanks to those who read this. Any comments would be appreciated.

Ron Davidson, Sandusky, Ohio, USA

rdavidson@toast.net

6 replies

Welcome to the site Ron

The baptism record from www.rootsireland.ie/ has Edward's occupation:

Name:Maria MurphyDate of Birth:19-Jan-1894
Registration Date:05-Mar-1894Address:BelmulletParish/District:BELMULLET DISTRICTGender:FemaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edward MurphyMother:Mary McDonnellOccupation:Gardiner

Siblings:

Name:John MurphyDate of Birth:13-Nov-1892
Registration Date:29-Sep-1894Address:BelmulletParish/District:BELMULLET DISTRICTGender:MaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edward MurphyMother:Mary McdonnellOccupation:Cardriver

Name:Edwd MurphyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:06-Jun-1895Address:B. MulletParish/District:BELMULLETGender:MaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edward MurphyMother:Mary McDonnellOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Pat Carney Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Bridy Gaughan 

Name:Michael MurphyDate of Birth:10-Apr-1897
Date of Baptism:28-Jun-1897Address:BelmulletParish/District:BELMULLETGender:MaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Church Of Ireland
Father:Edward MurphyMother:Mary McDonnellOccupation:Cart Driver

Name:Patrick MurphyDate of Birth:20-Jan-1900
Date of Baptism:03-Apr-1900Address:BelmulletParish/District:BELMULLETGender:MaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edward MurphyMother:Mary McDonnellOccupation:Labourer

Parents' marriage - very annoying as ages & parents' names are not given so hard to work back; Kilmore Erris would probably have been the bride's parish

Date of Marriage:03-Jan-1892
Parish / District:KILMORE ERRIS
County:MAYO
Husband
WifeName:NedMurphy
MaryMcdonnellAddress:Belmullet
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic

IF Edward was born in Belmullet this could be him:

Name:Edward MurphyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:07-Dec-1862Address:UnknownParish/District:BELMULLETGender:MaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Michael MurphyMother:Margt CareyOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Hugh Carey Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Honor Murphy 

IF they followed the irish naming pattern and IF the above are all the children then Edward snr's father would have been John as first son named after father's father; there are 3 with father John:

Name:Edward MurphyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:10-Dec-1873Address:N. RParish/District:Knock RC parishGender:MaleCountyCo. Mayo
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:John MurphyMother:Jane N. ROccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Mai Murphy Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Bridget Cunnane 

Name:Edward MurphyDate of Birth:30-Nov-1875
Registration Date:15-Dec-1875Address:CreevesParish/District:BALLYCASTLE DISTRICTGender:MaleCountyMAYO
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:John MurphyMother:Margaret PaddenOccupation:Farmer

Name:Edward MurphyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:23-Dec-1875Address:
Parish/District:Mayo Abbey RC parishGender:MaleCountyCo. Mayo
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:John MurphyMother:Julia BeglyOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Michael Begly Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Bridget Begly 

I had a look on the Ellis Island site for Maria's arrival in the US; the census was taken 2 April 1911 so between then & the 1913 marriage date would be the records of interest. I didn't find her but you may want to double-check.

I couldn't find a burial record of Edward/Ned on rootsireland or on a few other sites I tried I'm afraid

Enjoy your visit!

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you very much! The marriage record is very fascinating, and I'll want to dig deeper. The possible records you've found for Edward don't correspond precisely to his age in the census, but that doesn't necessarily eliminate them. I will have to investigate a little more. I am rather confident that you found the right siblings, because they match other information I have. I think you have opened up some new avenues for me.

Thanks again!

Ron Davidson

rdavidson@toast.net

Hi there
Join the Mayo ancestry & DNA group on Facebook

Suzhannah03

Hi Ron,

It sounds like you have already gathered a lot of information. Any work you do ahead of your trip can help.  I am not an expert in Bellmullet, but here are some tips for your trip:

Wild Atlantic Way - this site will tell you some places to visit on your trip.
https://www.wildatlanticway.com/home

I'd recommend visiting Ceide Fields to understand the long history of people in the area: http://www.museumsofmayo.com/ceide.htm

The North Mayo Heritage site can help, plus it has lovely grounds to walk around. They supply most of the North Mayo records on rootsireland.ie http://www.northmayogenealogy.com/

Mayo Library at Castlebar has a lot of local resources: http://www.mayolibrary.ie/en/FindABranch/Castlebar/

You should also call the Flower Shop and see if they would be willing to meet you and share what they know.  You may be lucky and find relatives.

Finally, the Clans of Mayo Facebook group is also quite helpful. https://www.facebook.com/groups/clansofmayo/  ;

I'll look to see if I can find out anyone from that area who would be more knowledgable to help you.

cheers,

John

Kilcummin MayoIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you Suzhanna, I followed your suggestion.

rdavidson@toast.net

John,

Thank you for the information. I had already lerned about the North Mayo Heritage Center, and am planning to visit. The information about the library is great -- as a librarian here, I would like to visit just to compare; all the better if I can get some family information.

I was planning to spend only two days in County Mayo (there is so much of your beautiful country that I want to see), but I still have time to change my plans. 

Thanks again!

Ron

rdavidson@toast.net

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