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Mary McGuirk and Patt Byrne from Clune and Tonigara

WicklowPowerscourt (Wicklow)

My wife Kate's 3rd great grandparents were Mary McGuirk (born circa 1804) and Patt Byrne (born circa 1790s or early 1800s). They were married on 15 May 1825 in RC Parish Enniskerry. Mary McGuirk's address was Tongigara. The names of Mary's parents were not noted in the marriage record. The marriage witnesses were John McArney and Bridget McGuirk.

In the 1825 Tithe Applotments, there were several McGuirks in Tonegara (Patk, Bryan, Michael, James). There was also a John McGuirk in Clune.

Mary McGuirk and Patt Byrne had several children for whom we found baptism records for in RC Parish Enniskerry. They were 1) Mary Byrne baptized on 21 Mar 1826; address Clune; sponsor Annastacia Byrne.

2) Thomas Byrne baptized on 22 Feb 1829; address Oldboleys; sponsors Thomas Byrne and Judith McArney.

3) Michael Byrne baptized on 23 Oct 1831; sponsors Charles and Elizabeth McGuirk.

4) Patrick Byrne baptized on 8 Jul 1837; sponsors John Doyle and Bridget Carney.

5) James Byrne baptized on 20 Mar 1839; sponsors John Byrne and Jane McGuirk.

6) Peter Byrne baptized in 1842; sponsors Thomas and Jane Byrne.

In 1852 when Griffith's Valuation was taken, there were two Patrick Byrnes in Powerscourt Civil Parish (one in Townland Kilmalin and the second in Townland Monastery.

We are hoping someone can provide us with additional information regarding Mary McGuirk (born circa 1804 and address Tonigara in 1825 when she married) and/or Patrick Byrne. We do not know the names of Mary McGuirk or Patrick Byrnes' parents. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Mike and Kate Lancor Moultonborough, NH

lancor

11 replies

Enniskerry wasn't a separate parish in it's own right until the 1850s, before that it was part of the Catholic parish of Bray (in more recent times Enniskerry chapel became part of the parish of Kilmacanogue). One of the Chapels for Bray parish was located at Curtlestown, which is located to the west of Enniskerry. The Enniskerry register included on the NLI films (plus Ancestry + FindMyPast transcriptions) covers records back to 1826, but the records for Bray cover earlier dates back to the 1790s, so worth checking these for your McGuirks also...

There are several McGuirk/ McGuirke baptisms before 1820 included in Bray records. Most of these early records do not include a residence so can be difficult to separate out relevant family groups. 

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.  Margaret Blackburn in the office at St. Mary's RC Church in Enniskerry was able to find all of the records noted in my post (marriage of Mary McGuirk and Patt Byrne and the baptism records for their children).  I have also checked out the baptism records for Bray and have lots of info there, but as you noted, the address is not stated for the Bray baptisms.

Do you know if any website (subscription or non-subscription) has death records for Parish Enniskerry during the mid to late 1800s.  I think it would be helpful for me to "chase" death records, but have not found a source for them yet.

Thanks again,

Mike Lancor

lancor

Civil registration of deaths started in 1864, and an index is included on IrishGenealogy.com , this site currently includes images for deaths registered after about 1891. The GRO are working on adding register images for the earlier records. Most Catholic parishes did not keep death/burial records - I dont see any listed for either Enniskerry, or Bray.

It may be worth checking for Memorial (headstone) Transcripts online for the cemeteries in the area. I remember seeing one on a steep slope in the area..  likely near to  Curtlestown.

I presume you've seen to Griffith's details for Tonygarrow townland on Griffiths dated 1852 - about 9 of the 32 names, listed for the townland are McGuirk, quite likely related to your Mary.... so worth following up.  (If the Griffith's link does not work start a new search by placename, enter Tonygarrow as the placename, select Co. Wicklow and search.)

EDIT : just spotted that the townland of 'Tonygarrow' is just a short distance to the west of Curtlestown - see c1840 OSI map, Tonygarrow is to the west, and the townlands of Curtlestown Upper and Lower to the east with just the townland of Cloon in between.

 

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks again for the quick response and your suggestions.  I will follow up on your leads and get back to you again if I have any additional information or questions.

Mike Lancor

lancor

I found some details on that graveyard, it's named Curtlestown and behind the church, and transcripts of the readable headstone are included in Cantwell's work - I've attached the McGuirk entries below...

 

 

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Shanew,

Some how I missed the message above from February 2017.  Thanks so much for the gravestone information for Curtlestown Church.  I will check them out.  My wife Kate and I attended mass at the Curtlestown Church on Sun., Aug. 11 (this year, 2018).

Thanks for the info.

Mike and Kate Lancor

lancor

many thanks for the update - hope you enjoyed your visit to Co. Wicklow.

 

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks shanew147 and Bobbi

Mike and Kate Lancor

lancor

 

Hi Mike and Kate,

may I ask how you got on with finding out information on Patt Byrne. I have just started researching my family tree and found Patt is my 4th great grandad.

thanks

Siobhan 

 

 

 

 

Siobhan Rodgers

Not meant to cloud the waters but I have completed a Ydna test and the results indicate that my Bradner line and a numebr of McGuirkes share almost identical Yna. My Joseph Bradner b 1807 in Old Boleys had a daughter Margaret out of wedlock before Mar 4 1829. Margaret was Baptised Mar 4  1829 in Curtlestown. Margaret's mother was name Mary McGuirke on the batism. The baptism sponsorers were William McMoulty and Rebecca Harrison

Both the McGuirk(e)s and the Bradner lived in Toneygarrow and I suspect DNA result occured pre 1800.

Would appreciae hearing your comments

Bernie Bradner

berniebradner@…

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