First Steps in Irish Research

In preparation for an upcoming presentation, I have been reviewing a lot of material from my own research. This blog was one of my first steps to share information with cousins, get information out to potential cousins and to have a place where I could have the records online wherever I am.

Try to find the county / townland / parish of the ancestor

• Search in the U.S. first for records, and make connections through blogs, DNA and message boards.
  
• Keep track of nicknames, potential nicknames and the Latin names for the people who crossed the pond to live in America.
• Keep track of spellings, misspellings and alternate spellings of surnames.
  

Finding cousins is your best goal!

Irish Petty Sessions Court Registers 1828-1912

A free weekend at FindMyPast.co.uk a while back yielded some interesting information about Michael McMahon of High Street in Kilrush.






11th May 1891

Complainant: Michael McMahon of High Street

Defendant: John Scanlan of High Street Kilrush

Name of witnesses examined, and whether for Complainant or Defendant: Mary McMahon, Def Appear

Cause of Complaint:

Trespass of two hens on

Complainant’s potato garden at

Kilrush on 6th, 7th, and 8th May 1891

Particulars of Order or Dismissal:

Adjourned [?] on

application of defendant

18^th May 1891

Complainant: Michael McMahon of High Street

Defendant: John Scanlan of High Street Kilrush

Name of witnesses examined, and whether for Complainant or Defendant:

M. McMahon, John Scanlan

Cause of Complaint:

Trespass of two hens on

Complainant’s potato garden at

Kilrush on 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th May 1891

Particulars of Order or Dismissal:

To pay trespass

[?] Costs

25 Sep 1899


Complainant: Michael McMahon of High Street

Defendant: Francis Mangan of Moore Street Kilrush

Cause of Complaint:

Assault             

Defendant at Kilrush in said

County on 22nd September, 1899, did

unlawfully assault and beat Comp.

by striking him with your clenched

fist on the ear and tearing his clothes.

Particulars of Order or Dismissal:

No appearance

6th February 1905

Complainant: Michael McMahon of High Street Kilrush Sub. Sanitary Offices

Defendant: Michael Scanlan of Moore Street Kilrush

Cause of Complaint:

Laying Dung on Street

Defendant did unlawfully lay dung

on the public street at Kilrush in said

County on the 30th January, 1905, so as to

cause mischief to passengers and that

he allowed the same to remain there longer

than was absolutely necessary.

Particulars of Order or Dismissal:

Defendant is convicted of the offense

charged and ordered to pay for fine sixpence

and for costs one shilling and sixpence

Paid

17th September 1906

Complainant: Michael McMahon of High Street Kilrush

Defendant: Mary O’Donnell of Stable Lane Kilrush

Cause of Complaint:

Assault + Battery

Defendant at Kilrush in said County

on the 11th day of August, 1906, did unlawfully

assault and beat Complainant by striking

him with a stone.

It was difficult to read in the Gaol a women getting 14 days of imprisonment for Insubordination in the Workhouse, or a woman getting 3 Calendar months of hard labour for stealing a blanket.

McMahon-Blunney Family Picnic!

5 July 2014 was a great day for McMahon-Blunney Cousins!

Thanks to Muriel and Ken for hosting us.

We shared stories, pictures, and a wonderful afternoon with each other.

Mary confirmed with the original picture that this is Mary Blunney McMahon!

She is thought to be on Convent Ave, in Manhattan, sitting across from the Church of the
Annunciation.




Here are some of the treasures.

James Cassidy and Anne McMahon possibly on their honeymoon.

 

Delia Brady and her nephew when he was in the Seminary

 Easter Sunday, 9 April 1944

 

 

Our host, age 2

Thanks to Cousin Muriel, there is something new to add to the blog:
The Civil Registration for Michael McMahon's and Mary Mullaney's (also known as Blunney later in her life) wedding on 7 February, 1882.
I'm wondering if the Patt O'Neill is related to the young lady who came over with Mary and the younger children.

There is one problem. It seems that the Baptismal record I found for Michael (and posted in this blog) was not for the correct Michael McMahon! Michael's father is listed as John McMahon (deceased). We have more work to do!

Today, I used one of those shaking leaves on Ancestry.com and located the Headstone Application for Military Veterans for Joseph McMahon.

Below is his WWI Draft Registration Card.

1901 Census for Kilrush with Michael McMahon

The first image is a description of the structure.
The second image is the census for the family. Note the other people living with them. (I don't recall seeing them in the transcription available at the outstanding County Clare Library.)

Michael McMahon Death BMD Index 1907, 2nd Quarter

The Deaths Registered in Ireland index entry for Michael McMahon 1907 Second Quarter, p37