Hi,
Thank you for your message.
Perhaps you may be able to find the connection you are looking for in Church records? If you could get hold of birth records or marriage records you may find a connection through sponsors or witnesses that are listed. Or you may be able to find a common ancestor for both families.
Most Catholic records are held locally. One website which you may find helpful is the Irish Times where they give an overview of what records are available in specific parishes. For Clonmellon parish follow this link:
http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/fuses/rcparishmaps/index.cfm?fuseaction=showidrecords&churchid=917&CityCounty=Westmeath&CityCounty=Westmeath&parish=Clonmellon
For information on Church of Ireland records check http://ireland.anglican.org/about/42 and http://www.nationalarchives.ie/.
There are also some church records available online at www.familysearch.org
It may also be an idea to contact the heritage centre in Westmeath for assistance-however a fee may apply..
Dun na Si Heritage Centre,
Knockdomney,
Moate,
Co. Westmeath.
Phone: +353(0) 90 6481183 Email: dunnasimoate@eircom.net
Kind regards,
Genealogy Support