FARRELL/McNAMARRA ANCESTORS

The names Ann, Agnes and Nancy are all interchangeable in Ireland. So someone baptised as Nancy could certainly be known as Annie, and vice versa. (Another example is Kathleen and Catherine. Sometimes Patrick and Peter are interchangeable too).

Hi Kathleen:  very delighted to hear that you are making progress with your family research.  O'Callaghans Mills registers have been transcribed and are available on the Clare Library website.  http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/genealogy/don_tran/bmd/baptism….  

Should you have any difficulty accessing them, contact me at:  tulla@irelandxo.com.  In regard to your question about the name Nancy, yes, it was used as a nickname for Anne.  

Kind regards,

Jane 

Hi Elwyn and Jane, thank you for your replies.  Hi Jane yes it is a slow progress but a progress all the same.  I have found the eight children of my great grandparents.  Jane with regards to James & Bridget's marriage, I know because it was in 1840 there were no marriage certificates issued.  I have written to the parish priest, Dr Donal Dwyer, O'Callaghans Mills last August  for perhaps something on letterhead as to proof of their marriage but havent received anything.  He did initially say he would "deal" with it!  What can I do to obtain a certificate and how do I go about obtaining birth or baptism certificates for the children.  Also Jane or Elwyn how do I go about finding out who James & Bridget's parents are? I hope this is not too much in asking. regards Kathleen Reynolds

The parish priest holds the original, and in most cases the only, copy of the marriage register. They do get a lot of genealogical enquiries, often more than they can cope with. The usual comment is that their primary responsibility is to their living parishioners rather than the dead ones. And I know from personal experience that many are often very busy. Sometimes a donation to parish funds can ease these administrative delays. But you can see what the records contain without troubling the priest. In addition to the link Jane gave, the National Library holds a microfilm copy of the O’Callaghans Mills records. Here’s a link to the image of the original 1840 marriage entry:

http://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634684#page/13/mode/1up

The parish priest won’t be able to give you any more information than what you can read there. All the marriage record contains is that James was from Broadford Town and Bridget from Killurin.  Also that their witnesses were John Farrell of Broadford and Patrick McNamara of Killurin. Siblings or parents, no way of determining the connection from that source.

The O’Callaghans Mills parish records only start in 1835 so if Bridget was baptised there (as seems fairly likely) then you won’t be able to find her baptism. Likewise for James in Broadford, which is in the neighbouring RC parish of Killaloe. It’s records only start in 1828.  Sadly, the baptism records for the years you need simply don’t exist. So finding their parents will be very difficult. Jane may have some ideas base don her local knowledge.

Hi Kate:

Thanks for your reply and glad to hear about all your hard work!  Fr, Donal is pretty busy these days but I do see him and I can try to coax him to get something to you.  The records for Broadford only go back to 1844 and are in very poor condition.  It may be through local headstones that you can match up some connections. 

As to baptism certificates, all that you would receive is a list of the baptisms through the register on letterhead.  I'm not sure if Fr. Donal does that or not.  As to finding out parents,  a good place to start is to take a look at the sponsors of the eight children as well as the witnesses to the marriage entry (if it exists).  Again, headstones might assist.  I believe that Killuran graveyard has its headstones online through the Clare Library.  If you need any help, just send me an email and I will see what I can do.  You can contact me through tulla@irelandxo.com.

All the best,

Jae

Thank you Elwyn and Jane.  I appreciate your help immensley.  I am happy in what I have found with your help.  I will keep on looking for more info.  I will check the headstones and see if there is anything there.   Many thanks once again.  regards, Kathleen Reynolds