Visit to County Clare in May 2020

Mu great, great grandfather, William Hegarty, was born about 1816, in County Clare Ireland. His parents were William Hegarty and Catherine Callaghan. He married Catherine (Kate) Kelly in about 1842, in County Clare, and had four children before his family emigrated to Australia in 1852. The children were: John born about 1843, Norah about 1845, Susan about 1849, and Daniel. I do remember my mother telling me that two of William and Kate's children died on the voyage to Australia, and I believe they may have been Daniel  and an infant son James, born on the vessel the Maria Somes. 

There are a few anomilies on the ship's log relating to family names, spelling and ages, but I do believe the Maria Somes was the vessel which transported the family to Australia in 1852. William Hegarty was listed as Wlm Heagarty, 36 years old from Clare, a laborer who could both read and write. He was a Roman Catholic. His parents were listed as Wlm and Cath, with his mother living in ????

His wife Kate was listed on the ship's log as Kate Heagarty, 32 years old from County Clare. Her parents, Wlm and Susanna Kelly were listed as being alive and living in Rathborney. Kate was a Roman Catholic, but could not read or write. She was also noted as being in hospital during the voyage.

William and Kate settled in Unanderra, New South Wales, Australia and were dairy farmers. They had several more children in Australia, one of them being my great grandmother, Bridget Hegarty born in 1863. William Hegarty died on the 19th June, 1907, and his wife Kate died one year later on the 20th July, 1908.

I am hoping to connect with some of my Hegarty and Kelly relatives, from County Clare, when I visit there in May next year. I assume that William and Kate may have married in Rathborney, as I believe that is where Kate and her parents were living at the time. I wonder if they married in the Rathburney Church in Burren, which is now in ruins. Does anyone know the history of this church?

Many thanks, Gabrielle