looking for information on ancestors and/or living relatives

Good Morning

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and apologies for the delay in replying to your message. 

The name could actually be 'Scahill':

http://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=scahill

There is an interesting blog here on the Scahill name if you are interested:

http://therichneverseekoutrelatives.blogspot.ie/

You can see from the 1901 Census below, taken as an example, that there were a few Scahill families in Co. Mayo during that time: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=Scahill&exact=&firstname=&county=Mayo&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

In relation to Castlebar, the records for the corresponding Roman Catholic Parish of Aglish begin in 1835 for baptisms and marriages and 1834 for death records (although death records are not usually very readily available in most RC parishes). 

There are some places where you can search online, however these websites do not have complete collections and many do not cover the period after 1900:

www.familysearch.org has a huge database of genealogical records including some church records for Ireland.

www.rootsireland.ie have a large collection of Irish Church records, however you have to pay to use this site.

http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/ have begun a project to upload Irish church records to their site free of charge. However, so far only Counties Dublin, Kerry, Carlow and parts of Cork have been covered.

Other important sources include the Tithe Applotment Books and Griffith?s Valuation:

Tithe Applotment Books (1823-1837): http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/index.jsp

Griffith?s Valuation (1847-1864): http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

Some other websites that may be helpful are:

The National Archives of Ireland: http://www.nationalarchives.ie/genealogy1/genealogy-records/introduction/ - you can search the 1901/1911 Census on the National Archives page too

The National Library of Ireland: http://www.nli.ie/en/family-history-introduction.aspx

Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/index.htm

Irish Genealogy Tool kit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/

Remember to post any new information that you find here. The more information you post, the more likely it is that one of our volunteers will be able to advise or assist you. Also include information concerning which sources you may have already used so others may further your search.

Best of luck with your search

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

I'm looking for anything I can find on John Rowlands, born believed 1843 who emigrated to England.

In 1880 he had a son also John, born in Warrington, then Lancashire....

I am aware that there is an Irish spelling of Rowlands.

I have no other information, I've chosen Mayo because of the family's history there.
I would be very grateful if anyone can help or poinbt me in the right direction, John is my Great-Grandfather.

..

Many thanks in anticipation,

Colin Rowlands, Wigan, UK