Drought, Low, Connelly and Geoghegan of Galway

Rkaucla:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

Can you provide names and dates for your Irish ancestors who left Ireland and went to Philadelphia so our volunteers cab try to assist you. Thanks!

Roger McDonnell

Hi,

Surnames of Ireland by Dr. Edward MacLysaght states that the name "Drought" is possibly a combination of two Irish names. Droichid meaning a bridge which he refers to Counties Limerick and Clare. It apparently became known as "Bridgeman" and can still be found there.

The name Low - Lowe can be found in Galway city and the names Geoghegan and Connelly can be found in West Galway. The original "Geoghegan" name was associated with County Westmeath. The name "Hoeghegan" was common in the Oughterard area of County Galway, but is now recorded as "Geoghegan".

For details of surnames and the location go to www.askaboutireland.ie for land records in the 1840/50's and the census of Ireland 1901  www.nli.ie - National Library of Ireland. Free Sites

There will be many variations in the spelling!

Regards,,

Thanks for your replies.  As of now, I don't have the exact names of who left Ireland to move to Philadelphia.  We're working from initial DNA findings which tie my siblings and me to these families.  We are connected to a Barry line from Cork and then to the other families in Galway.  I'm hoping to find some descendants that have done Y-DNA testing and know of family members that emigrated to Philadelphia.  Most likely it will have been in the mid to late 1800's.

One name that has popped up is Catherine M. Barry born abt 1850 and married a Martin Connelly in 1875 in Philadelphia.  Died in 1900 and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Philadelphia...we can't find any other information on her parents/siblings.  Nor have we been able to confirm if she was born in Ireland or in the States. This is a possible line we are trying to sort out.

Thanks for the suggestions about checking the land records and the census.  And a big thank you for any information that can be shared.

Robin

Through the Big Y test, it's been confirmed that we are directly related to Henry Greene Barry of Ballyclough.  Trying to find out his son/grandson/great grandson.  Any information is appreciated.

Thank you.