Sullivan, Connolly, Ward

Hi there,

I would first suggest you check the records available in Wales. It sounds to me like your ancestors spent much time there and are more likely to have filled out official documents there. You might then be able to find even more information related to Ireland.

Marriage records (Roman Catholic) are available from 1822 from Lismore. This can be found at the National Library of Ireland, Pos. 2467, and 2468. Marriage records from Cappoquin are available from 1807. This can be found at the National Library of Ireland, Pos. 2467. If you have any difficulty, you could try writing to the parish priest there.

Hopefully, someone in the local communities will be able to help you further.

Please make sure you link anyone else in your family who is interested in their Irish heritage to our site - and indeed anyone else you know of Irish heritage.

Kind regards,

Sinead Cooney

Genealogist (Ireland XO)

Thank you Sinead.

I have done extensive research in Wales, utilizing both their local civil information in Merthyr Tydfil and what was available in London. I've tracked these families on the British census records starting in 1851 through 1871.  I've even researched in Dublin a couple of times for those baptismal registers you've mentioned.  I've even researched collateral lines, trying to find missing pieces.

My problem is my direct ancestor in each of the families seems to elude me. There was a baptismal register for Michael Patrick Ward in Wales from 1848 that should be a match. But according to family legend, he was brought to Wales as a baby. I know it's only a story passed down, but that would have been at the height of the famine and it is possible, isn't it? Or would they have left Ireland without baptizing an infant? I'm not able to find a civil registration of his birth in Wales, unless it's one of the many "Male child" registrations.

I like to think of it as justification for another trip over!

Hi there,

You have done great work researching in Wales and Dublin. I would not necessarily believe family stories. The details of the story may have become mixed up over time. It's hard to say really. Perhaps you should consider looking into the Michael Patrick Ward you found in Wales. Were the parents names correct?

I hope you find what you're looking for. And yes, please do come over and visit us! Ireland Reaching Out will be hosting a Week of Welcomes in the last week of June. Keep an eye on our website for further details.

Kind regards,

Sinead

Hi,

We are currently working on a database of staff for the Lismore Estate in Co. Waterford and I did a quick check and found a John Sullivan, gardens labourer listed from 1st March 1823-17th March 1827. He was paid 6pence per day.

We have already completed a database of tenants given assistance to emigrate by the estate and there is a record of a Mary Sullivan seeking assistance to go to her husband in Wales that may be of interest.

http://www.waterfordcoco.ie/en/services/archives/archiveprojects/emigrationrecorddatabase-celtictriproject/details.php?fn=931

So, it may be worth checking the Lismore Papers for records of the Sullivans in Lismore http://www.waterfordcoco.ie/en/services/archives/archivecollections/lismoreestatepapers/

Regards,

Joanne Rothwell

Waterford County Archivist

This is fantastic! Thank you!

I'm heading over to Dublin on October 10th and will definitely check out the papers housed at the National Library. I believe I also have an appointment in Dungarven to check out the Waterford Archives on October 18th.

Is it possible that they would have travelled back and forth to Wales? I have a marriage certificate for Mary Connelly and John Sullivan from Merthyr Tydfil, dated 1850. So much to learn!

Thank you again!

Mary Choppa

Nashua NH USA