Rahilly Family of Ardgroom Inward

Hello Vern,

I’m not related, but did you know that your great grandfather Bartholomew (Bat) Rahilly was originally named Patrick on his 1867 birth record?

I found his birth record as well as the birth records for three of his siblings. These are copies of the original births recorded by the district registrar in what then was known as the Castletown Registration District, Civil Parish of Kilcatherine.

I also uncovered transcriptions, as well as copies of original Catholic baptism records for Bartholomew and six of his siblings, as well as the church marriage record for their parents, Daniel and Ellena.

I can send you all of these records or some of these records at your request. I don’t mind at all compiling all the records, though it will take some time to put all the information together. Hopefully I can have everything I found sent to you by Christmas. I can also see if there are any additional records pertaining to Bart’s father Daniel Rahilly and his mother Nell or Ellen O’Leary/Leary.

Kind Regards,

Dave Boylan

Dear Dave,

Thank you for your message.  Recently, I figured out that Bat Rahilly/Riley was born "Patrick" according to his civil birth record.  Early in my research on Ancestry, I located a copy of the Church record of his baptism and saw that he was baptized "Bartholomew."  It took me a while to realize that the civil birth record for Patrick related to Bat.

I think I have located all of the civil birth records for Bat and his siblings.  I also have a church record for Bat's baptism and the marriage of his parents, Daniel and Nell (O'Leary) Rahilly.  I would appreciate receiving copies of other Church records you've located. Thank you in advance.  

I would also enjoy any additional information you might find for Bat's father Daniel Rahilly or his mother Ellen "Nell" O'Leary.  I think I have located civil death records for both but don't have much more information about them other than a few mentions in O'Dwyer's Annals of Beara.

If I can reciprocate by providing you with copies or leads to US records that may aid in your research please let me know.  Both sets of my maternal great-grandparents immigrated to the US to Butte, Montana in the 1880s and 90s: Bat Rahilly (m. Mary Toomey of Allihies) and Henry Mellott (Ballinrobe, Mayo) (m. Eliza "Lizzie" Cassidy of Monasterevin, Kildare).  All had siblings who came to Butte during the same period as well - all part of the Irish diaspora.  I have collected a lot of information about my Irish family in the US that I'd be happy to share if it is of interest.

Thanks again and best wishes for the Christmas holiday.

Vern

Vgranneman@gmail.com

Hello Vern,

Many thanks for writing and for the offer of leads to American records. I won’t have to trouble you with assistance with leads, as I finished my own Irish-American research many years ago, learning that my ancestors who settled in the U.S. came from Cavan, Kerry, Limerick, and Roscommon.

This involved a lot of offline and online research over a 15 year period, with hundreds of hours spent at my local Family History Center (since closed), and at townhalls, churches, libraries, lots of letter writing, as well as several trips to Ireland in between, where I met cousins that I never knew I had.

Concerning the Rahilly research, after receiving your reply I accessed your Vernon Granneman Family Tree at Ancestry.com, and really can’t add much more than what you found in your own comprehensive research into the Rahilly branch of your family, which must have taken a great deal of research and quite a while to uncover. The research you've accomplished is very commendable, and a valuable resource to future generations in your family who may become interested in their Irish heritage.

I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Beannacht na Nollag agus Dia dhaoibh,

Dave