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Seeking information on Frances Grogan (nee Doyle) c. 1838 - 1918

OffalyRahan, County Offaly (formerly King's County)

A Chara,

I am writing in search of information on the family of Frances Doyle who was born in Rahan parish c.1838. I have not been able to locate a birth record for her.

She was the oldest child of Thomas Doyle and either Mary Healy or Mary Burns. They emigrated to Australia when Frances was very young (before April 1842). Unfortunately I have not found a passenger list record. Frances' younger siblings were born in New South Wales.

Frances married Martin Grogan on 11 November 1867 in Ballarat, Victoria. Martin was born in Leamore in Ferbane parish. They had 8 children including Denis Grogan who was a Redemptorist Father and spent some time in Ireland. I have a number of letters which Denis wrote to my great-grandmother Margaret Kenny (nee Grogan) between 1932 and 1956.

Frances died on 22 July 1918. Her obituary states that her address was "Rahan", Devenish (in Victoria, Aus.). It also states that she moved to 'the colonies' in the early 1860's so it is possible that she remained in Rahan until her twenties and then moved to Australia to join her parents and family. See obituaryhttp://mv.ancestry.com/viewer/46a813c8-e457-4105-a9c2-f8d38d9b0608/49421811/28202068742

I have made contact with my 4th cousin Martin Grogan of Melbourne Aus. who is great-great-grandson of Frances Doyle and Martin Grogan. He is visiting Offaly from 13 to 20thAugust.

I would greatly appreciate if you could provide me with any information on the Doyle family. From looking at Griffiths Valuation and Census records I know that there were Doyles in Loughroe. In particular, I am wondering would you know of a birth and/or marriage record for Frances's father Thomas Doyle or any records of relatives such as death records, gravestones etc. Obviously if there were any living relatives in the Rahan area that would be great for Martin to meet them.

Many thanks for your kind attention. Please feel free to forward this request to anyone who may be able to help or let me know their contact details.

Kind regards,

PJ Dooley
087 4162268.

PJ Dooley

5 replies

P J:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I will alert our parish liaison for Rahan that you have posted a message.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Sorry PJ just saw your message not

Would it be possible to get contact for Martin Grogan who is coming to Rahan between the 13th and 20th August.  Just there will be mass in Rahan Cemetery on this Tuesday evening the 15th August at 7pm and the Doyle family from Loughroe is buried there.

Condrons are now living in the Doyle house and Carthage Condron is married to Monica Doyle.  They live in Loughroe.

My contact mumber is 086-3218785

Geraldine

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello again

I have gone through the birth records for 1838 and could find no record - will look more later.

Also posted your request onto a page Rahan photos - which is a group for Rahan people, hopefully someone on there might be able to help

Geraldine

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Geraldine,

Delighted to hear from you.  Either Martin or myself will phone you tomorrow.  Martin and his wife Christine are in Offaly all week so we will arrange to visit Rahan, possibly on Tuesday.

Thank you very much,

PJ

PJ Dooley

Hello 

Just wondering how ye got on after the meet up in Rahan.  Did ye get any further with the research.

Geraldine

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

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