Maher/Culligan/Linnane families of Ballyvaughan County Clare

Good afternoon, Seaching for information on my Great Grandfather John Michael Maher.  This is he information I have:

John Michael Maher Born 6/11/1853 in Ballyvaughan Ireland Died 1947 in Gary, South Dakota USA  Emigrated to USA at 17 years of age in 1871.  According to family lore his father died when he was very young and his mother emigrated to the USA and lived in Pennsylvania.  She left John in the care of Michael Culligan or Cullinan.  John emigrated to the USA following the family of Michael and Ellen (O'Loughlin) Linnane.   Michael was born to Thomas and Margaret Linnane in 1813 probably in County Cork he died 4/4/1899 in Iowa. His siblings were Patrick, John, Thomas and Mary.  I believe Thomas was the only one who remained in Ballyvaughan or Murrough.  Michael married Ellen O'Loughlin born 1826 died 3/19/1916 in Madison, South Dakota USA.   Michael and Ellen emigrated to Littleport Iowa USA  in 1866. They had two daughters Mary Ellen and Catherine Maria (my great grandmother) born 9/1854 in Murrough died 12/14/1923 in Gary South Dakota USA. Catherine was baptized on 9/12/1854 with sponsors Martin Fitzpatrick an Margaret O'Loughlin.  Baptismal records show the Linnane residence as Murrough. John Maher married Catherine  on 10/14/1875 they had 8 children:  Mary Ellen born 1878 (she claimed to have been named for John Maher's mother)  Mary Ellen married Patrick Fitzpatrick orn 2/20/1879 . According to Patricks obit his parents were Peter and Nora Fitzpatrick,  Patrick emigrated from Ennis in 1903 on the ship Teutonic through Ellis Island and headed for "family friend John Maher's farm in Maurice Iowa"  Patrick siblings  Matthew, Joseph and Katherine.  The rest of John and Catherine's children were Margaret Myria born 1879, Catherine Grace born 1880 (my grandmother) Susan Adeline born1882, Michael Francis born 1884, Elizabeth Lorenz born 1885, Gertrude Irene born 1886 and Thomas John born 1889.

In searching through old farm books I found an address for Sarah Culligan Murrough Ballyvaughan County Clare Galway Bay Ireland.  I don't know the relationship to John but presume she is related to Michael Culligan who raised him.  I also found an intesting note written by John which indicated that Michael Linnane would not permit him to marry Catherine until he could read and write English proficiently.

I have searched the Clare website but only found Catherine's baptismal record.  I would like to locate someone in Murrough or Ballyvaughan who might have some information on the Maher, Culligan, Linnane, O'Loughlin, Fitzpatrick families.  My grandmother died before I was born and her sister Susan always said these families were "double cousins".  

Any information or guidance to help unravel this history would be greatly appreciated.  I was abe to visit Ireland in 2016 and coincidently had a 20 minute rest stop in Ballyvaughan.  It was an amazing experience to be there although not long enough to do any research.  It is amazing any of us are here considering the hardships our ancestors endured and they must be remembered.   Thank you for your time and any help available.   Bonnie Poppenga