From Minnesota to Cavan - to McCabes ancestry.

From Minnesota to Cavan - to McCabes ancestry.

 

After working on my husband’s family history for some time I found irelandxo.com

 

In March of 2018 we made an inquiry on their message board looking for any assistance in finding more information about the McCabes going back to Terence McCabe born 1780 and his wife Mary Tierney born 1786. Their children: John  b.1806, Patrick  b.1808, Michael  b.1810, Kate  b. 1812,  Bridget b  1814, and  Mary  b. 1816. We knew from the 1821 census that they lived in Derryevin House 7 in the parish of Lurgan.

 

Luckily, Carmel O'Callaghan a volunteer for Cavan County replied with a couple pages of resources that we could look into. This information was very helpful. She also offered to meet us when we would be visiting Ireland.

 

We met Carmel and Peter Lynch at the local Parish for Lurgan where we were doing some research.  We spent the afternoon headstone hunting in graveyards in a light mist. Some were locked so we had to climb over the stone fence walls and some graveyards were better kept then others, but we did find a McCabe who died at 97 in 1766.  The graveyard had a beautiful overlook as the mist quit and the sun came out.

 

Peter suggested we drive to Derryevin to the land that our McCabes had held on a three lives lease.  Peter went to the door and inquired.  We were allowed to walk the land, and imagine walking in my husband’s 4th great grandfather’s footsteps.  We took some photos of the land and the lake.  Even though they only rented a quadrant of the land it was a smart location with 14 springs feeding the lake and has always supplied the town of Ballyjamesduff with water.  We had such good fun that day with Carmel and Peter laughing and making the most of the day.  Peter said we had good crack which we took as a great compliment.

 

We visited for two weeks and drove 2000 miles and walked 90 miles during our visit and met so many nice and helpful people, both natives and visitors. Like the helpful people at the Parish of Lurgan, Terry the Barber, Herbert Stewart and his wife Livy, Eamonn Hughes were great.

 

This was one of the best trips we have been on!

 

Fast forward to November of 2024, and Carmel contacted us about someone else looking for the same information we had been looking for.  Carmel asked if she could give them our email.  We said sure!

 

We texted with that contact and confirmed we were related.  Then we conversed over the phone and then set a date to meet at McCabes Shamrock Club in New Richmond, WI.

 

If we would not have used Ireland XO and met Carmel, we would never have met my husband’s 2nd cousin, who we found out only lives 15 miles from our cabin in Northern Wisconsin.

 

Thanks again to Carmel, Peter and all the volunteers who give so much of their own time to help those of us looking to learn more about our family history and make connections when we can.

 

Slainte!