I am hoping to visit Galway in 2014 and I am searching for information about my grandfather, Thomas Donohue (Donoghue) born around 1874 in Lisheen. I have not had any success in finding a baptism certificate for Thomas. I was wondering if there are any people related to him (and my family) in the area. Or even to know if the original farm is still there.
INFORMATION ABOUT THOMAS DONOHUE / DONOGHUE:
He and my grandmother (Julia Creed originally from Cork) married in the Catholic Church at Ahascragh on 6 February 1912.
My grandfather Thomas gave his occupation as farmer, and in the 1911 Census was living on the family farm in Lisheen, listed as house no. 5.1 Lisheen, Castleblakeney, Galway.
In October 1914, my grandparents migrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne. I have discovered that Thomas was in the first intake in 1904 at the Mountbellew Agricultural College.
According to the 1901 and 1911 Census records he had an older brother Michael, an older sister Brigid and a younger brother John. John was the best man at my grandparents wedding. John had two daughters, Mary Sabina and Sarah Ann - before dying while the girls were young (I think). His widow remarried a Mr Murphy. The daughters are now both deceased and with no children. I believe that Sarah passed away in February 2009 in London and was buried from S.S. Peter and Paul's Church, Ballymacward.
My grandmother, came from Cork to work at the Post Office in Caltra, lived with the Murphy family who ran the Post Office / Store. The 1911 Census gave her address at the Post Office as house number 5 in Caltrapallas (Caltra, Galway).
I came to Ireland in December 1976, and with my late grandmother I met her and Thomas's neice, Mary Murphy, who was then in the hospital in Galway City - it was a very emotional reunion, as my grandmother, then 90 years, was visiting Ireland for the first time since emigrating. My grandmother passed away shortly after returning to Melbourne in early 1977.
I have not been back to Ireland since, but I am very interested in family history and would like to come back and visit again. I would be grateful for any information at all.
Thank you
Marthelam
Thursday 29th Aug 2013, 11:35AMMessage Board Replies
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Mary:
I went to a subscription site www.findmypast.ie to search for Thomas Donohue birth index records. I found two in the general time period that you mentioned. There were also records in 1876, 1877 and two in 1869 all in the Mountbellew registration district which includes Lisheen. You can write to the GRO www.groireland.ie fill out their form and provide the data from the records below and tell them you want the Thomas in Lisheen. Costs around 4 euros per record.
Roger McDonnell
- First Name: Thomas
- Last Name: Donohoe
- Year: 1873
- Registered Quarter/Year: 1873
- Registration District: Mountbellew
- Volume: 9
- Page: 461
First Name: Thomas
- Last Name: Donohoe
- Year: 1872
- Registered Quarter/Year: 1872
- Registration District: Mountbellew
- Volume: 14
- Page: 411
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
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Hi Roger,
Thank you very much for your efforts regarding my request and for the promptness of your reply. I shall follow up with the GRO as you suggest, and I will let you know (post a comment) about how things go.
I am also interested to know if there are any relatives (descendants) of my grandfather's siblings in the Lisheen area today.
Thank you again.
Mary.
Marthelam
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Mary:
I live in the USA. I checked the online Irish phone book for Donohues in Lisheen and there were no listings. Hopefully, someone local will see your message.
Roger
Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
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Hello; I was searching online and came across your message and had to write; though may be of little info for you. My family was the Brodericks who lived in Lisheen at same time as your family. I visited Lisheen in 2002 and met Kitty Carr (whose family lived on Broderick's old land) and also Julia Murphy across the road, whose family had lived there for many years. Both had family stories for me that were treasured and perhaps you could look up Kitty if she is still there. Lisheen is basically a lane:) there was an ivy tree that my grandfather remembered from 70 years ago and it was still there. Kitty and Julia were wonderful and gracious to us. Best of luck to you.
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Hi Britanny.
I have just come across your post (nearly a year later). Thank you. The Brodericks have come up in my research about Lisheen. When I went to Ireland in 2014 I had the pleasure of meeting Julia Murphy who lives in the house that my grandfather was born in and lived in. Julia was very kind to my husband and myself and made us feel welcome. We did not meet Kitty Carr. It was lovely to read your post. There is something special about tracing our forebears steps. I'm glad that you found your way to Lisheen and got some memories. I was able to visit a nearby cemetery where some of my ancestors were buried. I would love to go to Lisheen again. Best wishes and thank you for your post.
Mary Lambert.
Marthelam