Bridget Diskin - Dunmore, Co Galway

Hello Janice,
A possible way to establish if there is any connection between the Diskin families you mention would be through church records.  It would have been very common to have family members as sponsors at a baptism or as witnesses to a wedding.  A wedding record could even reveal if any of the Diskin heads of family are siblings.

Most Catholic records are held locally - One site which might be of use is - http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/ - where you can ‘browse’ an overview of available records per county. If you have any difficulty, you could try writing to the parish priest for possible assistance.

Judging by the age of James Diskin in 1901 You could try checking the land records called Griffith's Valuation (1848-64) http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation. This might give you useful information regarding Diskins in that area.

Kind regards Michael.

Hi Janice

There might be a possible connection with my Family

I have done some research, My Great, Great Grandfather was  Michael Diskin. He lived in the townland of Russellstown (Milltown, Galway). Residents of house 32

He was married to Monica.

Found this in the 1911 Census.

Kind regards

Paul

Hi Janice

There might be a possible connection with my Family

I have done some research, My Great, Great Grandfather was  Michael Diskin. He lived in the townland of Russellstown (Milltown, Galway). Residents of house 32

He was married to Monica.

Found this in the 1911 Census.

Kind regards

Paul

Hi Janice

There might be a possible connection with my Family

I have done some research, My Great, Great Grandfather was  Michael Diskin. He lived in the townland of Russellstown (Milltown, Galway). Residents of house 32

He was married to Monica.

Found this in the 1911 Census.

Kind regards

Paul

Hi Janice

There might be a possible connection with my Family

I have done some research, My Great, Great Grandfather was  Michael Diskin. He lived in the townland of Russellstown (Milltown, Galway). Residents of house 32

He was married to Monica.

Found this in the 1911 Census.

Kind regards

Paul

Hello Janice

My name is Anna Casey Black.  I was born 7/31/22.  I will be 91 the end of JulyI live in Maryland.  I think I am the last of the Diskin generation on earth. I am first generation Irish.  James and Margaret were my grand parents.  My mother was Honora, the youngest of the Diskin clan,  At the age of 20 she came to Washington, D.C. and worked in Washington for a Jewish family along with her friend Mary Burke..  She came into Ellis Iseland in New York in 1894.  Sister Mary was already in Washington so I am assuming that is why she came here. She met Patrick Michael Casey,  Glensaul, Co. Mayo  and they married 6/7/1903 at OLD st. Pauls church in D.C..  In 1912 they moved to Mt. Rainier, Md. They had 5 children. The 4 oldest were born in D. C. John 1905, Martin Joseph 1907,   Catherine Margaret in 1909, Francis Patrick 1911.  Anna Nora (ME) was born in Mt. Rainier in 1922.  Mom was 48 when I was born. Ray and I were married 8/1949 in Mt.

Rainier.  We have 5 children.  Susan Eileen, Kathleen Ann, Julie Marie, Daniel Sean and David Wayne. We have 14 grandchildren , 10 girls and 4 boys  3 great grandchildren - 2 girls, 1 boy and another one due in Sept.  They tell me it's a boy.  I know some of my Aunts came to the States.  I remember Mary.  She had palsey.  I guess what I would like to find some of my cousins if they are still alive. Children of  Ellen, Bridget, Mary - I know she married James Hayes and they had a boy and girl, -  Catherine (Kate).

My e-mail address is Tizhurself@aol.com  Forgot to tell you my husband of 63 years died 1/22/1213.  He was 95 years old.  .Ray Black from Pa.

Hello Janice,

My name is Paddy Diskin. My grandfather was Patrick Michael Diskin, born c.1881 in Cormeelick South. He married Molly Martyn c. 1911. 

The 10 year old Thomas Kirrane that you mention was a cousin of my father. In what degree, I am not sure (either 1st or 2nd cousin). 

In 1992, I met and spoke to Thomas Kirrane and he assured me that I was related to him through the Martyns and the Diskins. He was 101 years old at the time and his memory was sharp and he told me many stories about my father, whom he remembered very well.

Unfortunately, I am rather hazy on the details of the kinship and need to look them up.

My great-great-grandfather was a Michael Diskin, born in the late 1700's and died about 1871.

My great-grandfather was Patrick Diskin,known as "Small Pat", born circa 1834, died 1919,

He had (at least) two daughters, Margaret born 1867 and Bridget born 1874 and three sons, Michael born 1870, John born 1872 and my grandfather Patrick.

I surmise that if you are related to Thomas Kirrane through the Diskin line, then we are cousins, distant but blood is blood.

The earliest Diskin that I know of for sure, was Peter and all I know is that he drowned one night in a boghole. Putative birth date around 1750. He was Michael's father.

The family, according to Duald MacFirbis, originated in the northwest of Co Sligo in the parish of Templeboy (An Teampall Buidhe)  where there is a townland called called Ballydiskin or Ballyeeskeen. They were a minor branch of the U? Fiachrach Muaidhe sept. U? Fiachrach Muaidhe were a branch of the U? Fiachrach dynasty of the Connachta, descended from Conn C?ad Cathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles). They were centered in the Moy (Muaidh) River valley of Co. Mayo. The U? Fiachrach Muaidhe territory at its widest reach included the baronies of Erris and Tirawley (T?r Amalgaidh) in Co. Mayo, and the barony of Tireragh in Co. Sligo. This branch of the U? Fiachrach was descended from Fiachrae, a brother of Ailill Molt (died 484), high king of Ireland. Later their chief sept was the U? D?bhda, princes at Carn Amalgaidh, near Killala, Co. Mayo. The MacFirbis’s were hereditary physicians and more importantly geneologists to the O’Dowd or Ua D?bhda family.

Being part of a sept does not necessarily mean descent from a common ancestor. A blood relationship may not exist but very often it does. The alliance could also be the result of intermarriage between families in close proximity.

In  “The geneologies, tribes and customs of Hy Fiachrach, commonly called O’Dowda’s Country”, edited and published in 1844 by John O’Donovan, on page 171, MacFirbis is quoted:

 “and the Dumb Book of James Mac Firbis states that O'Conbhuidhe was chief of the tract extending from Ath Cliath Muirsge to the river ?ascach.

The families of Mac Eoghain and O'C?anan of D?n m-Becin ; ? D?sc?n of Baile U? Dh?sc?n ; O'Dunghaile, O'Suidhlearga and ? C?ain of D?n U? Chobhthaigh ; O'Colm?in of Gr?inseach M?r; ? Tuala of Gr?inseach Beag ; ? Ceallaigh of ?rd ? g-Ceallaigh; ? Loingsigh and ? Caomhain an Chuirrigh of Muine na bh-fiadh [or Muine dhiadh at this day]“.

On page 261 we find:

“? D?sc?n, who refused not the learned, got

The townland from him entirely,

The land is named from the man

For whom the fair- skinned hazel grows fair and large”.

It would appear that U? D?sc?n were granted their land for services rendered to the U? D?bhda possibly in the twelfth century but that sometime in the seventeenth century, probably after 1642 and before 1659, they were deprived of their lands and reduced to landless peasantry and afterwards, drifted south to the Mayo-Galway border, settling mainly in the parishes of Addergoole, Milltown, Dunmore and Kilkerrin as tenant farmers. The family is divided into the Dunmore Diskins (Addergoole,Milltown and Dunmore) and the Kilkerrin Diskins (Kilkerrin, Glenamaddy and parts of Roscommon). The meaning of the name D?sc?n is nowhere attested. The origins of the name are lost. It is possibly related to the word D?osc, meaning barren or dried up or to D?scir, meaning, fierce, nimble, active, sudden or D?s, meaning two persons, a pair, or twins.

In the 1659 Census, the landholders of Templeboy (Tituladoes) are Armstrong and Ruttledge. No Diskin.

There is an interesting footnote from Virginia, USA, where the arrival of a Daniel Diskin is recorded for 1659. Was he the Diskin who was dispossessed under the direction of the Lord President of Connaught, either Thomas Dillon, 4th Viscount Dillon or Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester?

Well there you have it. A potted history of a minor clann in the west of Ireland.

I hope that it is of some interest to you.

Take care,

Paddy   (P?draig O D?sc?n)

Hi Guys. 

I am A Diskin from Shanballymore adergoole Co Galway.My Great grandparents are Patrick and Katherine Diskin. My family still lives on the farm. I have recently started a search for the family history and would be very interested in getting in touch with anyone who belongs on the family tree. From my research so far there is alot to uncover. 

Hi Paul!  Wonderful to make your acquaintance!  Bridget and her sister emigrated to America to the area of Western New York known as Strykersville, located in Wyoming County, NY. Approximately an hour from Niagara Falls.  Here she had many children , lived a long life and is buried in the local cemetery.  I am sending your contact information onto Bridget's Great Grand-daughter, MaryAnn Metzger who has collected a lot more information about Bridget's life in America, but is very keen to learn more about her life in Ireland.  Last winter, my husband and I visited the farm and interrupted the Sunday dinner, but they were incredibly gracious and we had a very nice visit!  

Oops, I hit enter too fast.  I have Bridget and Mary's immigration record showing her arrival in the Port of New York on board the Steamship "City of Limerick" April 14 1864.  Her records can readily be found in online US Census records after her marriage to Peter Schiltz, residing in Sheldon, New York. I'm assuming that you have the Irish census records from 1901 and 1911 that are particularly of interest.  1901 census showing James and Margaret Diskin (her parents) living at age 78 and 75 respectively on the same property with their daughter Margaret and her husband James Kirrane and children, Thomas, Patrick, Mary and Ellen. 1911 census showing Margaret Diskin living at age 78 (times slows down I guess) still residing with her daughter and family.  I look forward to talking further!   Jan

Hi Janice,

I think we are possibly close relations. My mother's maiden name was Ellen (Nellie) Diskin. She passed away in 1988. Her family lived in Woodfield, Dunmore  Co. Galway. There were eight children Michael (Mick) deceased, Mary deceased, Kathleen deceased, Martin, Nellie deceased, Pat, Tommy deceased and Jim.

If you are interested in our side of the family I would be delighted to help.

Kind regards,

Marian.

Delighted to find this site with so much Diskin info.   "My" Diskin search is a bit convoluted, but some of you (esp Paul) may be able to find a connection.The line is from my husband's adoptive mother, and since she and her mother worked diligently to climb Chicago's social ladder, their Irish ancestry was referred to as "English." (Her German father became "French.") Since they changed their nationalities and ages  (and even parts of their names) with every census, they were not easy to trace.  However, what I finally uncovered was that my mother-in-law's grandmother  was Delia Diskin, and her grandfather was James P O'Malley. O'Malley was from Carrowmore Knock, Galway, and Delia from Russelstown, Addergoole, Galway.   Delia was b in 1843 , emigrated in 1857 or 1858, married in about 1865, and died in Chicago in Sept of 1917.  I did find her obituary, which mentions a surviving sister named Mary Hay.  Her death index entry was transcribed and posted online, but apparently it was difficult to read.  Her parents are listed as Patrick Draking and Bridget Quart from Russ..t Based on the data in the 1855 Griffith's Index, I suspect they are Patric Diskin and Bridget Quarter. Griffiths and the 1911 cnesus show 4 Diskin families in Russellstown.  Delia's parents do not appear to be among them, and were perhaps deceased. In spite of all of the family secrets and destruction of family data, I was able to find my mother-in-law's travel diary.and an entry from one of her two trips to Ireland in 1927 states "then to Russellstown and Milltown where we located all the Diskins."  They also visited the "Mealey" family in Carrowmore Knock.   Even though this is my husband's lineage only through adoption, I have included it in my genealogy because  surely some of their values and personality were passed along...

An interesting side note:   Delia and Patrick were indeed "poor Irish" in Chicago, but their daughter  Anna (my husband's grandmother) became a prominent figure in America in the 1920's.  The Chicago Genealogical Society was so interested in her after I gave the some basic information, that they researched  and wrote a lengthy article about her for their journal.   Anna L. Smith (changed from Schmidt; she never used "Mrs. Peter Smith", only Anna L. ) became a well-know public speaker, President of the Chicago Democratic Women, Commissioner of Public Welfare for Cook Co, and the first woman to be a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.  I imagine that she was proud to return to Ireland to visit her relatives.

Hopefully one of you will be able to connect to some of this...

Nancy