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Finding Grandma O'Connor

Roscommon

My Grandma Bridget O'Connor died when I was one year old.  I went to Ireland in June 2013 to see if I could track down her home.  All I originally knew was her parents' names, Bernard O'Connor and Margaret Cox-O'Connor. I also knew ONLY that they were from county Roscommon. I could not find them anywhere in Ireland websites, until I dropped off the "O".  This upset me, but there they were, in Ardleckna townland, Aughrim Parish!  I found their property, the old Aughrim church and Cemetery, but no graves.  After finding out the reason for the missing "O" from O'Connor, it is now officially back on and my family is happy about that!  It felt so wrong just being Connor.

Bridget's grandparents were (John) Michael O'Connor and Ellen Fallon.

If it weren't for the wonderful people in Ireland, we'd never have found the place.  It was a day guided by the good Lord, and Grandma!  Our many thanks go out to Eugene O'Connor of Tulsk (Friary Restaurant), Willie Casserly of Hill Street, John and Doreen Hunt, and the woman who gave us no name, because she now owns the O'Connor land. First and only time we weren't given a name.  This is a bit of a mystery as to why she didn't.

Anyway, we love the people there, and can't wait to come back!  Thank you, thank you! 

I am writing Bridget's biography now, and have found all her siblings, her parents, her grandparents and marriage and death record for one sibling who passed away.  

Many thanks to Mary B Skelly,Curator,County Roscommon Heritage and Genealogy Co.,ChurchStreet

Strokestown,Co Roscommon who has helped us locally!  

I heard from Willie Casserly that Bridget's brother, Martin had two children, and that one of them, named "Josie" was the last to live there.

I also do not know where the youngest O'Connor Katerina (Kate) went, or who she married- possibly a Kenny?  

Are there any descendants of this family still in the area?

Does anyone in Ardleckna have any old photos?  We have not one single photo of Bridget O'Connor due to a misfortune here in America.  She emigrated in 1898, along with brother Patrick (John), Mary, and Ellen to Missouri, USA.  

How fabulous to have the ancestors this far back!  I love Ireland, I feel like it is home!  I now know a lot about my Grandmother and what her life was like as well as her ancestors.  What a wretched set of circumstances, but she was so proud, so strong, and was not beaten down. Sincerely, Nancy (Granddaughter of Bridget O'Connor) 2013

IrelandXO member

4 replies

Hi Nancy,

Thank you for your message and for sharing your experience with us! I am delighted that you had such a lovely time and met so many great people!

I hope that someone with photographs or information makes a connection with you  via the messageboards.

All the best,

Emma

Genealogy Support

 

IrelandXO member

nancy hope you see this message ask am one of your relation and my family still live in hill street  co Roscommon. Your grandma  would have being my grand aunt. We always new we had relation in the states but could never find them. Hope to hear from you on this from Kevin 

 

 

 

IrelandXO member

Kevin, HELLO from the U.S. Please email me at nancy.yancey@gmail.com so it will be easier to speak with each other!  Thank goodness for technology!  Who do you descend from?  This is very exciting!  Do you know Breege Beirne who lives very near the Aughrim Cemetery where Bernard and Margaret are buried?  She is your cousin!  She is the granddaughter of the youngest of the O'Connor siblings...Kate (Katerine).  She is coming here to America this September for an O'Connor reunion in the state of Kansas.  This family is huge!  In Kansas, these are the descendants of Micheal O'Connor who came here around 1896.  There's a whole slew of them, and I'm going to get to meet them all.  Breege also has two brothers still in Ireland, your cousins.  Tell me who you descend from?  My Grandmother changed her name to her middle name when she came here (Agnes) and is known to all these Kansas cousins by that name and not Bridget.  Haha, they didn't even know she was born as Bridget.  I've just discovered all of those cousins in this past year.  They have a reunion every year at the end of September (Micheal's descendants are huge) and I am going as well as two or three of my sisters.  Breege Beirne from Ireland will also be there this year so I will get to meet her!  This is so exciting to "meet" you, Kevin, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you!  When I made the post above, I knew Patrick came to America, but I've since found out that this Patrick was not one of Bridget's brothers, but was his maternal Uncle Patrick on Margaret Cox's side (Patrick Cox).  He is buried in Kansas.  As for Patrick O'Connor, who was the brother...he was a policeman and remained in Ireland, opening a Pub when he retired.  Breege helped me get all that sorted out.  The confusion was from my Grandmother always calling him Uncle Pat, as did my mother, so naturally I assumed he was Grandma's brother.  Looking forward to catching up through many lifetimes!  Email me!!  Thanks for responding, cousin!!  Nancy   P.S.  If you are on Facebook find me by searching for Nancy Dorene Yancey (living in Santa Fe New Mexico).  Breege and all the Kansas cousins are also on Facebook, and they have a complete page for just the Micheal O'Connor family as well.  Looking forward to it!

IrelandXO member

Kevin, I think Breege Beirne is married and her last name is now BURKE.  :)  I bet you know her.  She teaches Pilates there too.

IrelandXO member

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