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Gilhulas/Gilhulys/Gilhooleys/Gilhoolys

RoscommonTaghboy (Roscommon)

The Gilhulys in Ireland are a brick wall for me.

I have at this point three DNA Matches that lead to Bridgit Gilhooley born in 1848 in Ballyforan in Roscommon.

It is known her father was Patrick Gilhooley who was born I estimate about 1818.

The family left Roscommon for the United States about 1850.

I am confused a bit about Ballyforan as it is a town, and a Parish.

I have also been unable to find the father of Patrick Gilhooley (abt.1818).  I cant find any other family members using RootsIreland.

Patrick Gilhooley could possibly be a brother to my 3RD Great Grandfather William Gilhuly (1804). He left Ireland for Canada in 1828. He was from Roscommon according to his tombstone.

I would appreciate any assistance you could give me.

There are so many Gilhulys, Gilhooleys and Gillollys in the southern part of Roscommon.

My surname got changed from Gilhuly to Gilhula in 1861 in Canada due to mail mixups.

Diane Gilhula

 

 

Diane Gilhula

3 replies

Diane:

Ballyforan is a village in southwest Co. Roscommon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballyforan  and is also an RC parish but not a civil parish.

Unfortunately, the records for Ballyforan/Dysart/Tisrara RC parish start in July 1850 https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0544  probably just as your family was leaving Ireland.

From what I can see, the surname Gilhooly/Gilhooley is a north Roscommon surname principally in Kilronan civil parish. Gillooly/Gillooley is also more of a north Roscommon surname. There were no Gilhooly/Gillooly records in the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for the two civil parishes in the area (Dysart and Tisrara).

Civil registration of births started in 1864 and without church records, it will be difficult to pinpoint where your family was from in Roscommon.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Diane:

I saw your post on the Roscommon Genealogy Facebook page. Ballyfarnon village is not located in Kilronan civil parish which is in north Roscommon. Ballyfornan village is near the Galway border in Dysart civil parish.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

I have a far back great grandfather named Patrick Gilhuly born in 1787 in County Sligo, Ireland. He had about 3 sons named: John, Joseph, and Richard (which is my line). I don't know much info past him but I do know he was a retired farmer and moved to Lanark County, Canada around 1826 to 1829.

SeanGilhuly

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