Searching for any records pertaining to Great Great Grandmother Bridget Kelley. Born 1826 BallaMcCraven, Ennistymon, Kilmanaheen. She emigrated to New York in 1845. In the US she met and married Patrick Cotter, after which they moved to Michigan.

Beau Richard:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

The townland for Bridget was Ballymacravan in Kilshanny civil parish which is just to the north of Kilmanaheen. I have a link below from the Co. Clare library site which shows the location of Ballymacravan within the parish and it is close to Kilmanaheen parish.

I looked at the 1834 Tithe listings for Kilshanny parish and did not see a Kelly record in Ballymacravan. Same with the 1855 Griffiths Valuation head of hosuehold listing for Kilshanny. 

I also could not locate a baptismal record for Bridget. There apparently are no church records for the RC parish of Kilshanny in the 19th century.

Here is a link to the library data for Kilshanny  http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilshanny.htm

Let me know if you have questions. You may want to consider autosomal DNA testing.

Roger McDonnell

http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilshanny_townlands.htm

Dear Roger, thank you so much for your prompt reply.  I will follow up as you suggested.  At one point our Grandma spelled the name 'Kelly' so I will check that, too.  My older sister will be visiting in the area soon.  She is leaving for a trip to Ireland in 10 days and will be visiting several cities.  As a matter of fact, we have considered DNA testing.  We do have quite a bit of info on our Father's family (Patrick Kean and Bridget Reagan or Regan) -- Cotter/Kissane/Kelley is his Mother's side.  But I'm at an impasse on the Kane side, as we have only the year of their emigration (1847) and there are a multitude of Patrick Keans!   Grandpa Kane said they were from Cork.  We have good info from Michigan records though.   It has been so interesting.   I worked on the project that converted Michigan's old death records to the online database used now -- fascinating!!   Thanks again for your assistance and suggestions.   I appreciate it, as does my family.

    ---- Mary 

Hi Mary:

Thanks for your query to Ireland Reaching Out.

Even though there are no records for Kilshanny parish, the National Library of Ireland (NLI) site re-directs to Lisdoonvarna parish which holds records and there are a number of Kelly listings there.

Here is the link:

http://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0630. 

If you are travelling to Ireland, the best place for you to stop into is the Local Studies Centre in Ennis.  They hold a lot of genealogy and local history records and you will be assisted by one of two archivists there, Peter Beirne or Brian Doyle.

Their hours are:  M-F 10-1, 2-5:30 and Saturdays 10-2.  The email is:  peter.beirne@clarelibrary.ie

All the best with your research and upcoming trip.  If you have any further questions, please email me at:  tulla@irelandxo.com.

Kind regards,

Jane.

Dear Jane, thank you so much for the links and information, which I will share with my sister.  She's actually the one who will be there.  We're both so excited to receive all the help, and I will let her contact you directly.  I have been busy searching with the links provided -- no luck yet, but it's been so helpful to have them and other possible sources.  Take care -- I wish I were coming there myself! Regards and best,

Mary