My name is Robert Upton and I live in Massachusetts, USA. I will be visiting Ireland in October 2025 for the first time in my 76 years. My great grandfather John Joseph Cooney was baptized in Ballaghaderreen on 25 Aug 1870. I would like to visit the church where he was baptized which I suspect is Ardcarne Church although I have no confirmation of this. Can anyone confirm this?
Hi,
Attached is his civil birth record. The record shows the civil parish of Castlerea which is in the RC parish of Ballaghadreen/Castlemore /Kilcolman. He was probably baptized in that parish, but the exact church, I do not know. The town land on the record looks like "Ardvarna"...I am not sure where that is, but it is not in the RC parish of Ardcarne/Cootehall/Tumna which is further to the east in Roscommon. This parish borders the county of Mayo.
Regards,
Robert,
If you are visiting in October, why not complete the 'meet and greet' form and we will do our best to get a local to meet you when you visit. See the link below.
https://www.irelandxo.com/meet-and-greet
Best wishes, Kieran
Robert:
The Cathedral of the Annunciation and St. Nathy's is located in the town of Ballaghaderreen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Annunciation_of_the_Blessed_Virgin_Mary_and_St_Nathy,_Ballaghaderreen
It dates back to around 1860 so likely this is the church where your great-grandfather was baptized.
Ardvarna is a local placename possibly in the town. The Ballaghaderreen library is in temporary quarters because their space is being renovated. ballaghaderreenlibrary@roscommoncoco.ie The library has limited hours three days a week. Maybe you can send them an email and hopefully they can let you know where Ardvarna is located. Did the Cooney family leave Ireland after the birth of Margaret in 1877?
Roger McDonnell
Thank you all for your help, much appreciated!
Also, for info...The Cooney Family (Patrick, Catherine and children) left Ireland in 1882 and settled in Providence, Rhode Island.
I am also attaching a copy of John's Birth Certificate for reference.
Ardvarnagh was a village located in Tullaghanrock townland, and about 2.5 km (~1.5 miles) north east of the town of Ballaghdereen.
OSI/GeoHive 25inch map c1900
The village is shown, but not labelled on earlier maps.
OSI/GeoHive 1st Ed. c1840
Tullaghanrock townland was in Kilcolman (Costello) civil parish, Edmondstown E.D. Co. Mayo and Ballaghdereen dispensary district/sub-district, Casttlerea/Castlereagh registration district/PLU so fits with that birth registration.
Added : Edmondstown Electoral District, including Tullaghanrock townland, was transferred to Co. Roscommon as part on the implementation of Local Government (Ireland) Act of 1898.
Shane:
Thanks! I know I had heard of Ardvarnagh but could not pinpoint where it was located.
Roger
In the early to mid 1800s there was two Catholic chapels for the parish of Ballaghadereen/Castlemore & Kilcolman - the first in the town of Ballaghadereen and a second in Creggan townland to the north east of Ballaghadereen. The first was likely the main, i.e.Parish Church.
(Ardcarn(e) is much further to the north-east past the town of Boyle.)
The chapel at Creggan was close to Ardvarnagh and Tullaghanrock townland c3 km (~2 miles), so I suspect the one the family usually attended. I dont see any sign of a chapel at the same location on modern maps or street-view, based on old maps it seems to have closed during the late 1800s.
Chapels/Churches in Ballaghadereen RC parish approx location of Ardvarnagh /Tullaghanrock in red
The Catholic Cathedral in Ballaghadereen was completed in 1860, before this there was a smaller chapel nearby on Chapel Lane.
Shane:
My gr-gr grandparents were married in 1837 likely at the chapel on Chapel Lane. In 1837, the parish was St. Colmans which relates to the civil parish of Kilcolman. The marriage records for the parish go back to 1830 but baptisms start in 1851
Roger