Thomas Walsh and Elizabeth Shea

"Walsh" was a common name around Kinvara but "Shea" is rare. Born in Gort could be anywhere in the parish or surrounding parishes. However, I found a Shea family in 1901 in Ballyinastaig, which is in the Kilmacduagh part of the parish of Gort. It isn't too far from Kinvara either. A father, John 60, mother Kate 61 and son Stephen 30. They were gone by 1911. I tried Immigration and US census records for Stephen but to no avail. By the end of this week I'll have searched the parish office and the list of those buried in Kilmacduagh cemetery.

I'll get back to you

de L. (Sr.).

Dear Julie,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

The Kinvara R.C. Parish Records begin at 1831. On October 10th 1831 Thomas Walsh of Poulnevee (spelt thus) married Betsy Shea of Poulnevee. The witnesses were: Michael Shea, Gort; John Kempsey, Kinvara and Miss Anastasia Burke, Normangrove, Kinvara.

When I looked the names of families in Poulnaveagh (the usual spelling for the name) there was no Walsh or Shea. Poulnaveagh is usually known today as Northampton, the name given to it by the landlord who had a mansion there. You said that the occupation of Thomas was "butler". In all probability he was butler to James Mahon the landlord.

Another intriguing  angle is that of Anastasia Burke, called "Miss" which would not be the case if she were a farmer's daughter, for example. The Burkes of Normangrove were neighbouring landlords and again, Betsy/Eliza was a lady's housemaid to Anastasia Burke in Normangrove.

There was no mention of any baptisms of the Walsh children in the Kinvara register. I wonder did they move to Loughrea. You say the daughter was married there in 1861. Women usually married in their native parish. I would advise you to write to

The Parish Office, St. Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea, Co. Galway.

If you cannot get any leads there, please come back to me. 

Hello Julie and Sister de Lordes,

I looked in our listing of the burials in the Carmelite Abbey graveyard for any Walsh families and found several.  Most of them are in one plot, marked by a very prominent stone, surrounded by fencing.  It's at the SE corner of the old Abbey ruins, up near the building, again in a prominent location.

Here are the names in that location, we have this headstone photo uploaded on www.findagrave.com, under the cemetery "Carmelite Abbey", location "Ireland", if you choose to search by cemetery name (no fees, it's a free searchable website):

Mrs. Myles Walsh, died Aug 14, 1834

Myles Walsh, died Dec 1836

Rev. Nicholas Walsh, died Jan 1836

John Walsh, died Aug 1852

Rev. Matt Walsh, died Oct 4, 1872

Michael Walsh, died Jan 17, 1875

Mary Walsh, died Sep 1878

Here are the names, unknown plot location at this time, taken from the Internment Register (we may have photos of the following, but we have not yet gone through our entire collection):

Rev. Columbanu Walsh, born Dec 9, 1873; died Apr 12, 1930 (community plot, located just east of the new Apse)

Martin Walsh, died 1816

John Walsh, died 1818

Rev. Michael Walsh, died Nov 19, 1853

Thomas Walsh, born 1791; died Feb 27, 1854

and Mrs. Walshe (sic), died 1910

Maybe some of the above are related to your family who moved to Australia.

Mary Van Dyke

Dear Julie,

I hope you are well. Have you had any luck recently in searching for your Irish ancestors. It's amazing what people really find when they come to Ireland. If you haven't heard about the Week of Welcomes you can find it on www.irelandxo.com/wow/2012. Maybe I might meet you here 24th to 30th June.

With every good wish,

de Lourdes (Sr.)

Hi, I am seeking contact with Julie please as I believe that she may be connected to my family.

Mary Murphy was my 2 x great grandmother, born Loughrea c1840 - she was sponsored to Australia by David Roche in 1865.  I believe that she came with her uncle Thomas Walsh, his wife and daughter Ellen. 

I have tried unsuccessfully to find what became of Thomas and his family after their arrival in Australia.  David Roche was married to Margaret Walsh - daughter of the above Thomas.

I would love to hear back from anyone who is connected to these families please.

Kate