1. Loughlin RYAN was born about 1824 in probably Co. Carlow. He died 10 Jul 1887 in Garryhill, Co. Carlow.

THANKS GO TO CORMAC GORDON IN CO. WICKLOW FOR PROVIDING SO MUCH OF THE INFORMATION BELOW ON THE RYANS.

According to the Myshall and Drumphea Parish website, www.myshalldrumphea.com, Loughlin was hedge school master in the Garryhill area in the 1840s until Lord Bessborough of Garryhill House built a National and Agricultural School in Garryhill, where Loughlin was headmaster until his retirement in 1886. Loughlin's son Malachy and grandson John would also teach at this school.

The Myshall and Drumphea site also tells us that Loughlin was a skilled farmer. "He was awarded several prizes in agriculture, such as best cultivated tillage farm in 1854 presented by the Idrone Farming Society, also best root crop in 1854 and again in 1856, both presented by the Co. Carlow Agricultural Society".     

Ryan is one of the most common surnames in Ireland. The vast majority of Ryans today are descended from the family of 'Ó Maoilriagháin', meaning 'descendant of a devotee of St. Riaghan'. In Co. Carlow and adjoining areas, Ryan may also derive from 'Ó Riagháin'. From their origin in the barony of Idrone in Co. Carlow, the Ó Riagháins spread widely into the adjoining counties of Wexford and Kilkenny. We're unsure as to Loughlin's place of birth but given the above it's likely he was born in the Carlow area.

Loughlin married Bridget NOLAN. Bridget was born about 1815 in possibly Garryhill area, Co. Carlow. She died 9 Apr 1886 in Garryhill, Co. Carlow.

The Nolan surname is very common throughout Ireland, especially in the south-east. It's strongly linked to the Carlow area where it's an anglicised form of O Nualláin. The prevalence of the name in counties Mayo and Galway is explained by the migration of a branch of the Carlow family there in the sixteenth century. There was also a separate Ó hUallacháin family from west Cork, whose name was also anglicised as Nolan. Given the above it's almost certain Bridget was descended from the Carlow Nolans. Unfortunately it's not known where she was born. However given that rural people tended to marry into local families in 19th century Ireland, and that Bridget married someone who was probably living in Garryhill at the time, it's possible she was born in the Garryhill area.