Ruddy & Lavelle

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Lavelle is certainly a very common name in Achill.

Regretably, on www.rootsireland.ie/ there are a few Ruddy-Shevlin marriages in Mayo but they don't start until 1845 and none are in Achill.

The only Achill marriage pre 1864 for Ruddy in Achill was this one which has very little info:

Date of Marriage:16-Feb-1825
Parish / District:ACHILL
County:MAYO
Husband
WifeName:PattRuddy
MaryO'MalleyAddress:
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic

The only Michael Ruddy baptism I could find c 1800 was this one:

Name:Michael RuddyDate of Birth:
Date of Baptism:13-Sep-1790Address:KillarneyParish/District:THOMASTOWNGender:MaleCountyCo. Kilkenny
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Edmund RuddyMother:Mary SullivanOccupation:
Sponsor 1 /
Informant 1:Michael Niefe Sponsor 2 /
Informant 2:Judy Dray 
Notes:

[CHAPEL-THOMASTOWN]

If you have a look at the Tithe Applotments (free at http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/) you'll find 40 Ruddys in Mayo in the 1820's & 30's but I didn't see Achill or Slievemore mentioned. Similarly the Irish Censuses of 1821 & 41 (which have Mayo records) have no Ruddys or Lavelles in Mayo!

Much better luck in Griffiths Valuation (free at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/) with 17 Ruddys in Achill in 1855; 200+ Lavelles in Achill also!

I have a cd Memorials of the Dead Mayo & Galway which has an early Ruddy record from Murrisk Abbey Westport:

"An important medieval monastery site about 5 miles west of Westport and associated with the O'Malley family many of whom are still buried there. A Famine memorial has been recently erected nearby".

O Lord have mercy on the soul
of Thomas Ruddy who departed
this life on the 15th Septr 1843
aged 90 years

The National Library has the R C parish registers freely accessible online at https://registers.nli.ie/; there are marriages only 1821 to 27n & 67 to 81.

I thought I'd try burials in Achill C of I as well and found this one (which is also listed in Achill RC) bt the address is Colony which is where the Achill Mission was so perhaps they were converts?

 Name:BridgetRuddyDate of Death:02-Nov-1841
Age:
Parish / District:Achill & Dugort CofI parishAddress:ColonyCounty:Co. MayoStatus:
Denomination:Church of IrelandOccupation:
Sex:Female

Name:BridgetRuddyDate of Death:02-Nov-1841
Age:
Parish / District:ACHILLAddress:ColonyCounty:MAYOStatus:
Denomination:Roman CatholicOccupation:
Sex:Female
GraveyardInformantGraveyard:ACHILLRelationship:Head Of HouseholdParish:ACHILLName:
County:MAYOAddress:
Notes:

MGR* DATE OF DEATH IS BASED ON BURIAL REGISTRATION.
NO SPECIFIC GRAVEYARD STATED.

Perhaps she was having a bet each way in order to get into heaven?

Here are a few more early Ruddy burials from Achill R C including a Michael::

 Name:NancyRuddyDate of Death:17-Apr-1872
Age:80Parish / District:ACHILL DISTRICTAddress:DooaghCounty:MAYOStatus:Widow (Female)Denomination:Roman CatholicOccupation:WIDOWSex:Female
GraveyardInformantGraveyard:
Relationship:OccupierParish:
Name:Bridget RuddyCounty:
Address:Dooagh

Name:MichaelRuddyDate of Death:09-Jan-1877
Age:65Parish / District:ACHILL DISTRICTAddress:ValleyCounty:MAYOStatus:MarriedDenomination:Roman CatholicOccupation:FARMERSex:Male
GraveyardInformantGraveyard:
Relationship:OccupierParish:
Name:John MalleyCounty:
Address:Valley
Notes:

OLD AGE, UNCERTIFIED, NO MEDICAL ATTENDANT

A bit for you to digest there; unfortunately there are no Ruddys in Mayo in the Irish phone book

Col Cafferky

Achill Parish Liaison

Thank you for this information. Is there anyway to get more information on this Michael Ruddy? 

My name is Peter Ruddy my father was from Clare Island his brother Austin lived in the Lavelle house lovell is a French surname.