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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Laois (Queens) => Topic started by: kenneth cooke on Saturday 03 April 10 02:51 BST (UK)
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I have seen several reliable references to a place called Ballynamon(e)y
or Ballymony in Queen's County, from the 1700s. A family called Halpin or Halpen lived there, as well as in Maryborough, and later Dublin.
I have been unable to find this place. Perhaps someone can help me.
I would be really grateful.
Ken Cooke
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The best possibility I can see is a townland named Ballymooney located about 4km east of Portlaoise (Maryborough) - see google map Ballymooney, Co. Laois (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Ballymooney&daddr=Portlaoise,+Co.+Laois,+Ireland&hl=en&geocode=FeAkKQMd2SeR_ylt0U3Dpw1dSDHiNrm6p8cAJg%3BFUE9KQMdFpWQ_ykHTklLNQxdSDHQdDGXqccACg&mra=ls&sll=53.034305,-7.301866&sspn=0.040465,0.145912&g=Portlaoise,+Co.+Laois,+Ireland&ie=UTF8&z=14)
Shane
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Shane,
That's the best lead I've had so far ! Thank you very much.
All I need now is a language expert who can explain how 'money' could
become 'mooney'. Not impossible though.
I feel we're making progress. There's a site 'jstor' which shows a 'glimpse' of a Mark Halpin of 'Ballymony' in a book called 'Handlist of Voters of Maryborough 1760'. You have to subscribe, and I'm working on it. I'll get it sooner or later.
Thanks again,
Ken
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Spelling variations are not at all uncommon in Irish place names, often based on pronunciation, so Ballymoney isn't far off Ballymooney.
Even now there are different spellings used- one road near me has 3 road signs with 3 different spellings of the road name.
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I would not worry about a minor spelling variation in a placename like this, especially as it is almost certainly an phonetic English spelling of an old Irish placename (there are no Y's in Irish!). The placename database at http://www.logainm.ie does not list the validated Irish name for the location on Co. Laois but the Irish name for the Ballymooney in Co. Offaly is Bhéal Átha Uí Mhaonaigh.
Shane
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Thanks Shane & Aghadowey,
I understand how the spelling of a name or place name can vary.
I agree, there's a small difference between 'mooney' and 'money'.
Ballymoony is the best we've got, and I'm sure it's the right place.
Thanks again.
Ken
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Shane,
I found that same Irish name for Ballymena in Ulster.
Also, does Ui Mhaonaigh not mean O'Mahony ? (sorry, can't do the accents)
It's not important, I'm just curious.
Regards,
Ken
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According to MacLysaght's 'Surnames of Ireland', and several other sources the Irish origin of O'Mahony is Ó Mathghamhana
As far as I can see Ui Mhaonaigh relates to the surname Mooney - for example a google search for this returns a wikipedia result for a well known Donegal fiddle player from the band Altan 'Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh', and her page links to her father's page (Proinsias Ó Maonaigh) and this gives the English version of his surname as Mooney.
see :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mair%C3%A9ad_N%C3%AD_Mhaonaigh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proinsias_%C3%93_Maonaigh
Shane
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Thanks Shane,
It all sounds very reasonable.
Regards,
Ken
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I now have a new problem and local knowledge may be able to solve it.
My elusive ancestor, Mark Halpen is mentioned in a deed.
Mark Halpen, gent of Ballynamona (sic)- (no date or year)
"A confirmed to B the tenement of GROUSIC, in the town of Maryborough"
This is from the Registry of Deeds, and has been transcribed by volunteers.
Any suggestions as to what the correct name is would be greatly appreciated.
Ken Cooke
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If anyone is interested-
The deed was dated 1771, the tenement was transferred to Mark Halpen of Ballynamoney by John Strange, and the name of the property was 'George Early's Plott'. "Grousic" came from a misreading of "that Tenement or Plott of Ground" where the 'd' was smudged.
Ken
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just outside portlaoise near bloomfield cross ( now a round about ) on stradbally road
there is also a towns land nearby called money --munney--munny