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My husband and I want to get a good look at the places in Ireland my paternal grandfather's family emigrated from.  I will be staying at Abbeyshrule early July of 2022.  Looking out for Geretys and/or Geraghtys.  We believe the spelling changed the more traditional -aghty a while back.  Town land or other identifiers of James Geraghty circa 1850s are Derryhawn, Newtowncashell.  Curious to know how the loss of family to assisted migration affected the families of those who took advantage.  I have a few names and dates that I've registered here on xo.  

Ms. Gerety

Wednesday 30th Mar 2022, 06:50PM

Message Board Replies

  • This James was born earlier than yours, but he was from "Derrahannmore" (Derryhawnmore) in the parish of Newtowncashel.
    James Gerety
    Baptism: 03-Apr-1842
    Address: Derrahannmore
    RC Parish NEWTOWNCASHEL
    Co. Longford
    Roman Catholic
    Parents: Michael Gerety and Mary Flyn
    Sponsor: Mary Gerety

    Patricia

    Wednesday 30th Mar 2022, 07:10PM
  • Ms. Gerety:

    Using Patricia's finding, I looked up the 1901 and 1911 censuses. The official spelling of the townland is Derraghan More and there is also a Derraghan Beg. The former consists of 723 acres and the later 387 acres. Both townlands are in Cashel civil parish. Derraghan More is 13-15 miles northwest of Abbeyshrule and it will take 20-26 minutes by car depending on your route.

    The first two links are the 1901 census and the second two links are the 1911 censuses. I would believe the Thomas Geraghty/Gerety family would be related to James.

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Cashel_East/D…

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Cashel_East/D…

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Cashel_East/D…

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Longford/Cashel_East/D…

    Roger McDonnell

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 30th Mar 2022, 09:47PM
  •  

    Thank you very much Mary and Roger for your replies. I'll be checking with my mother, Ruth, our genealogist as to what priority we should give to Thomas.  There are two Thomases in my immediate family:  Grandfather and father, both descendants of Richard.  

    It's so helpful to be able to ask questions of folks in the area.  

    Sheryl Gerety

    Ms. Gerety

    Thursday 31st Mar 2022, 04:07PM
  • Attached Files

    I've put together a map based on records we have in our research that looks pretty reasonable for a full three days.  Regarding Ballymahon, Kenagh and Newtowncashell and Kilcommock I can now search on "must see" info.  If any have suggestions for sight seeing I would love to add to the list.  

    Ms. Gerety

    Thursday 31st Mar 2022, 07:40PM
  • One thing I was surprised about when I first went to Ireland was that the names of townlands are not signposted. The locals all seem to know where the townlands are and who lives in what townland, but you won't see a townland sign.  You might want to buy an ordinance survey map that shows townland names.  But you also might want to look at your ancestors in Griffith's Valuation (at AskAboutIreland.com).  Each name has a number next to it. You can then look for that numbr on the Griffiths maps on the website to see exactly which plot of land your people held.

    Another idea...Google and/or look on Facebook for a Longford heritage group or historical society.  You may find someone with good local knowledge who can assist you further.

    Patricia

    Friday 1st Apr 2022, 01:48PM
  • A couple of places well worth a visit...

    --An hour or less from where you are staying is Killykeen Forest Park in or near Killeshandra.  Lovely place for a walk or a picnic on the lake.

    --About an hour from Abbeyshrule is Drumlane Abbey and Round Tower in Drumlane, Co. Cavan.  Also has an old cemetery.

    Patricia

    Friday 1st Apr 2022, 01:55PM
  • Patricia, sorry for missing your name as I replied to your first post.  We are virtually certain that the James you mention is not the James of my family.  As to the Thomas mentioned by Roger, I need to spend some time with the links provided.  Normally I would email my mother, but I think she's given me all her records so I need to do a little digging.  I'm hopeful that Shrule and Cashel are the two town lands I'm concerned with, as that's pretty much what birth and death certificates have indicated.  

    Question:  are cemeterieson church grounds open to the public or do I require a permission to view a grave if that's feeling urgent?

    Ms. Gerety

    Saturday 2nd Apr 2022, 03:14PM
  • Hello again,

    We've been to Ireland many times and have always found cemetery gates to be open.  Of course, there may be some that are locked, but we haven't encountered them.

     

    About the James I sent to you...I would guess that he was a relative of your family.

    Patricia

    Sunday 3rd Apr 2022, 11:46AM
  • My mother says he is not, or at least not a direct ascendant?  There are James's in the line, including the brother of Richard who immigrated to Kansas and made a new life.  If you would like, I could gather up the page that lists the birth and death records, etc. of "our" James?

    Ms. Gerety

    Monday 4th Apr 2022, 11:45AM
  •  

    Sheryl,

     

    I see Mmeyer0858's 'Gerety_Brosnahan2' Family Tree on ancestry contains the following information:

     

    James J. Geraghty (1803, Derryhawn, Newtowncashel - 1878, Kenagh) married Elizabeth Belton (1798, Corlea, County Longford - 1878, Ireland) and had the following children:

    Elizabeth Geraghty (1824, Kenagh - 1894, Ballymahon), James Geraghty (c1824, Longford - ?), Thomas Geraghty (1827, Kenagh - 1904, County Longford), Richard Geraghty (1827, County Longford - 1906, Monrovia, Kansas, U.S.A.), Patrick Belton Geraghty (1828, Kenagh - 1882, Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy).

     

    I have not been able to verify any of the above birth information as the Newtowncashel RC Parish records only commence in 1830 and those for Kilcommoc RC Parish (which contains Kenagh) only commence in 1859.

     

    However, I hope the above information is of interest.

    David Leahy, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘︎

    Sunday 24th Apr 2022, 08:25AM

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