'unknown' FLANNERY (male) [Parents] was born in prob Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. He married Sarah 'UNKNOWN' (Caution: not verified).

Sarah 'UNKNOWN' (Caution: not verified) was born about 1849. She married 'unknown' FLANNERY (male).

It's pure speculation that Sarah was the wife or widow of one of Catherine and John's four sons. According to the 1901 census, Sarah lived in the town of Ballaghaderreen and was a publican/farmer. Because of this it's being assumed she was a member of the Flannery family that owned the big shop and pub in Ballaghaderreen.

Michael GORDON [Parents] was born about 1886 in prob. Aughalustia, Co. Roscommon. He married Catherine (Katie) CUNNANE on 28 Apr 1919 in Ballaghaderreen Cathedral, Co. Roscommon.

THANKS GO TO KATH GORDON FROM THE U.K. FOR THE INFORMATION BELOW ON MICHAEL'S FAMILY. MICHAEL WAS A GRANDFATHER OF KATH'S HUSBAND, ALSO NAMED MICHAEL.

It seems that Michael emigrated to the United States - for a time anyway. There's an Ellis Island record for a Michael Gordon from Ballaghaderreen, who arrived in New York, aged 24, in July 1912. According to the ship manifest, he was joining his brother, Cormac, in New York, and his nearest relative in Ireland was his father, Cormac Gordon, Aughalustia, Ballaghaderreen. However, Kath had never heard of Michael having gone to the States. It's thought by the family that Michael might have gone to Australia at some point, but we have no confirmation of this.

Catherine (Katie) CUNNANE [Parents] was born about 1886 in prob Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. She was buried in Kilcolman Old Cemetery, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. Catherine married Michael GORDON on 28 Apr 1919 in Ballaghaderreen Cathedral, Co. Roscommon.

Katie was one of nine children. Her father was a cattle dealer in Ballaghaderreen.

Witnesses to the marriage of Katie and Michael were Thomas Gordon (probably Michael's brother) and Julia Cunnane.

Laurence O'HARA was born prob 1770s in prob Riverstown area, Co. Sligo. He died prob aft 1839 in prob Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was buried in Ardcarne Cemetery, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. Laurence married Mary MCDONAGH about 1796.

I'M INDEBTED TO PATRICK LAVIN FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA, WHO HAS BEEN SO GENEROUS IN SHARING HIS INFORMATION ON THE O'HARAS. Patrick was born in Co. Roscommon and is a great-great-great-grandson of Laurence and his wife, Mary McDonagh. The results of his research into his family history are available in his publication, "Ancestral Quest" which maybe viewed on www.leitrim-roscommon.com (see "Lavin Manuscript" on Home page). More detailed information on the descendants of Laurence's son William are available in Patrick's book "Ancestral Quest, Tracing my Ancestors in Ireland" (published in 2008). It's known that Laurence was born in Co. Sligo and Patrick's research suggests that Laurence was from "somewhere within the Kilmactranny-Riverstown-Ballintogher triangle".  

I'M ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR ACCESS TO THE FAMILY HISTORY NOTES OF THE LATE KEVIN KELLY FROM DUBLIN. Kevin was another great-great-great-grandson of Laurence and Mary. His research has provided us with most of the birth/baptismal dates you'll see below for Laurence's and Mary's grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  

Laurence moved to from Sligo to Cootehall, Co. Roscommon as a young man. It's thought he may originally have been a hatter who later acquired farmland in the Cootehall area.

It's believed Laurence died after his wife, Mary.

Note: The O'Hara surname is a phonetic anglicisation of 'Ó hEaghra', a family that originated in Co. Sligo.

Mary MCDONAGH was born about 1778 in prob Riverstown area, Co. Sligo. She died 2 Nov 1839 in Cootehall, Co. Roscommon and was buried in Ardcarne Cemetery, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon. Mary married Laurence O'HARA about 1796.

The only definite information we have on the McDonagh family is that they came from Co. Sligo. However in his book "Ancestral Quest, Tracing my Ancestors in Ireland" (2008), Patrick Lavin provides us with the following information on the Sligo origins of Mary and her husband, Laurence O'Hara:

"Laurence and Mary often went back to visit their families in Sligo. Those visits were usually for a short period, possibly only a day or two. When Laurence went alone, he went on horseback; when Mary accompanied him, they traveled by horse-drawn vehicle of some kind. The direction he took was along the Ballintogher road.....that would seem to suggest that the destination was some place between the line Lough Arrow/Riverstown and the Leitrim border.....the length of the visit, mode of transport and the poor quality of secondary roads at the time would have their destination at not more than 15-20 miles away. Therefore, it can be accepted, with some degree of certainty, that the area in County Sligo where Laurence and Mary came from was somewhere within the Kilmactranny-Riverstown-Ballintogher triangle".

It's not known when exactly Mary and Laurence, settled in the Cootehall area of Co. Roscommon, but by 1833, they were well established in Cootehall, with Laurence and his sons farming in the townlands of Clegna, Knockadaff and Glooria.

Note: The McDonagh surname (also spelled McDonough) is common throughout Ireland, especially in Connacht. It's derived from the Irish "Mac Donnchadha" from the Irish first name Donnchadh meaning "brown warrior".

'unknown' MEEHAN was born in poss Cootehall area, Co. Roscommon. He died in prob Cootehall, Co. Roscommon.

Unfortunately not much is known of the Meehan family, but it's thought they may have come from the townland of Derrygirraun, Cootehall (formerly known as Ardcarne) in Co. Roscommon.

Note: The Meehan surname comes from the Irish "Ó Miadhacháin", from the word "miadhach" meaning "honourable". Historically, the most notable family of the name was an offshoot of the MacCarthys of the kingdom of Desmond in south Munster. However, as early as the eleventh century, they migrated north to Co. Leitrim, and from there they spread slowly into the adjoining counties. The name is now common throughout east Connacht and counties Donegal and Fermanagh. There also appears to have been a separate family which adopted the surname in the Clare/Galway region where the name is also numerous. In Co. Monaghan, and there alone, Ó Miadhacháin has been anglicised as "Meegan". In Co. Sligo the name "Ó Maotháin" has sometimes been anglicised as Meehan, while in east Ulster, the name "MacMeekin", from the Irish "Mac Miadhacháin", has also sometimes become Meehan.

Patrick LYNCH [Parents] was born 15 Feb 1875 in Bunacrick, Binion, Clonmany, Co. Donegal and was christened 16 Feb 1875 in Clonmany, Co. Donegal. He died 11 Nov 1949. Patrick married 'UNKNOWN'.

Other marriages:

MORRISON, Catherine

At the time his birth, Patrick's father was working in Boston. Sponsors at Patrick's baptism were Brian Doherty and Cecilia Doherty.

Patrick inherited the Lynch family farm where he and his wife raised their children. However in May 1911, with bills needing to be paid, he went to New York, on his own, to earn money to send back to his family. He got a job stoking furnaces and worked his way up, doing exams along the way, to become a combustion engineer after five years. He then got a job in charge of heating in the Ansonia Hotel on Amsterdam Avenue. Once World War I started, Patrick couldn't return home and had to wait until 1919 to finally make it back on the first passenger steamer to arrive in Derry after the war.

The plan had been to return to the States permanently with the whole family. However for various reasons, including Patrick's involvement in local politics upon his return to Ireland, and the worry that life in New York wouldn't suit the children, the move to New York never happened. Patrick's eldest daughter, Mamie, however, expecting the rest of the family to join her, did go to New York a few months after her father's return.

'UNKNOWN' married Patrick LYNCH.

Patrick LYNCH died Bet 1881 and 1901. He married Mary DOHERTY.

It's though the Lynch family may have come from the 'quarterland' of Bunnacrick in the townland of Binion (sometimes spelled Binnion) in the parish of Clonmany, Co. Donegal.

Note from Helen: Although neither my husband nor I are descended from Patrick Lynch above, Patrick's granddaughter Mamie Lynch married Tom McDonnell, my husband's first cousin once removed. In the course of my research into Tom's family, I came across much valuable information on the Lynch family, hence its inclusion on the website.

Mary DOHERTY died Apr 1911 in Binion, Clonmany, Co. Donegal. She married Patrick LYNCH.

'unknown' MORRISON was born in Straid, Clonmany, Co. Donegal. He died in prob Straid, Clonmany, Co. Donegal.

The Morrisons were an old Clonmany family.

Note from Helen: Although neither my husband nor I are descended from 'unknown' Morrison above, unknown's granddaughter Mamie Lynch married Tom McDonnell, my husband's first cousin once removed. In the course of my research into Tom's family, I was given information on the Morrison family, hence its inclusion on the website.