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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Roscommon => Topic started by: Clemans on Monday 10 February 25 02:50 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone help?
I am trying to find a private cemetery on the shore of Lough Allen near Arigna.
The clue I have is an account by my grandfather written in 1917 (he was on his way from Australia to fight in France). He wrote:
"With Jim I went all around the place,
visiting the grounds of the late Major
Somebody's residence on the shore of Loch
Allen. We went along the road to the
cemetery where grandmother and dad's
brother are buried together. We did not go in
as it was then dark and Jim was not sure he
could find the grave.
So, a private graveyard in an estate on Lough Allen once owned by Major "somebody"?
Not much I know, but worth a try!
Thanks
Clemans
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A comment and a question:
- There is nothing in the quoted extract to say that this was necessarily a private cemetery. Many old cemeteries are located within or on private land, but are not private cemeteries.
- The majority of Lough Allen in in Leitrim. So is there some additional information to say that the place of interest is in Roscommon?
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Near Lough Allen, there are several cemeteries including Kilbride Cemetery, just to the north of the lake, where victims of the 1831 Lough Allen tragedy are buried. Fahy cemetery is on the east side of the lake, right next to the lake shore.
Other nearby cemeteries are Mullaghgarve Famine Graveyard in Annadale, Co. Leitrim, and Tarmon Abbey in Drumkeeran, Co. Leitrim. Additionally, Arigna Graveyard in Agrigna, Co. Roscommon, and Drumshanbo New Cemetery in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim are also located in the vicinity.
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"With Jim I went all around the place,
visiting the grounds of the late Major
Somebody's residence on the shore of Loch
Allen. We went along the road to the
cemetery where grandmother and dad's
brother are buried together. We did not go in
as it was then dark and Jim was not sure he
could find the grave.
I don't read it as the cemetery [graveyard] being in the grounds of the estate mentioned but that it sounds like they went on the grounds of the estate and then along the road to where the graveyard was located.
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Thanks to one and all!
Some useful leads to follow up!
Apologies for the confusion re Roscommon and Leitrim - my Grandfather was visiting relatives in Arigna and Seltannaveeny.
Clemans
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What are the names of 'grandmother and dad's brother' and when did they die?
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Shanreagh,
Thanks for your interest.
I am only beginning my research, but what I know so far:
My great great grandfather was James McKenna baptized 1st October 1827 at Kilronan.
He died in 1910 and is buried at the Arigna cemetery.
His wife, the "grandmother" we are discussing, was Mary Kelly for whom I have no detail other than she was deceased by 1917 when my grandfather visited Arigna, and that she was not buried at Arigna with her husband - hence the current search for her burial site.
The person referred to as "dad's brother" could have been either of brothers James (baptized 27th March 1866 Kilronan) or Michael McKenna (baptized 26th September 1871 Kilronan). I can eliminate brothers John and Terrence who emigrated to Australia in the late 1880's, and Stephen who was at Arigna in 1917.
Thanks again for your interest.
Clemans
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Shanreagh,
Just a note:
The Kilronan records has the family name as "McCanna" rather than "McKenna"
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My great great grandfather was James McKenna baptized 1st October 1827 at Kilronan.
He died in 1910 and is buried at the Arigna cemetery.
Is this your family's headstone in Arigna graveyard?
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169783221/james-mckenna
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2024/120/169783221_7394ac09-92ce-4964-a58a-b9bacdecf6aa.jpeg
James McKenna of Seltannaveeny died 23 March 1911.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1911/05386/4503110.pdf
Seltannaveeny townland north of Arigna village.
https://www.townlands.ie/roscommon/boyle/kilronan/lough-allenaltagowlan/seltannaveeny/
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This might be the death of the wife of James - Mary McKenna of Seltannaveeny on 28 February 1877. #374
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1877/020554/7212575.pdf
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The death record in reply #9 looks to be correct.
Here's the birth of Stephen McKenna on 19 December 1868. MMN Kelly
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1868/03416/2252814.pdf
…and Stephen with his father James on 1901 census.
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Roscommon/Lough_Allen/Seltannaveeny/1658857/
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With the OP being online here at 8:01am, just wanted to add some more information-
According to the headstone (in reply #8), Stephen McKenna died 21 April 1945. His death record indicates that he died on 22 April at Seltannaveeny. The informant was his son James McKenna.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1945/04622/4226452.pdf
Death record - Mary Ann McKenna. Her son John the informant.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1942/04678/4246518.pdf
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…and Stephen with his father James on 1901 census.
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Roscommon/Lough_Allen/Seltannaveeny/1658857/
Marriage of Stephen McKenna to Mary Anne Clinton - 13 February 1899 at Drumkeerin RC Church.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1899/10370/5775598.pdf
1911 census - 5 children born, 4 still living
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai003224393/
Six children born 1900 to 1913.
https://tinyurl.com/2cd4xwxn
Sadly Eliza McKenna died at only 3 days.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1908/05492/4538240.pdf
(transcribed on IE as EHZA)
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Kiltaglassan,
Wow. Thanks for all your help.
These are indeed my relatives although my direct line is through Stephen's brother John McKenna.
One person I am having trouble with is the sister of John and Stephen - Margaret McKenna
Her parents were James McKenna and Mary Kelly.
She married Bartholomew Gilhooly at Arigna on 17th January 1890.
She and her husband (referred to as auntie Maggie and uncle Bartly) were alive in Arigna in 1917 when my grandfather visited.
I cannot find a record of her birth, any clues as to where I might look?
Thanks again for all your work.
Clemans
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if you look on the census for 1901 Margaret is shown as aged 42 so born apx 1859.
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Roscommon/Lough_Allen/Srananooan/1658878/
On the 1911 census she is shown as being 52 so born apx 1859. Birthdays/dates etc were not as important to people then.....
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Leitrim/Mahanagh/Derrinvoney_Lower/655356/
Margaret Gilhooly dies in 1944 aged 88 years and this gives a birth date of apx 1856. She dies at Aghafin
https://www.townlands.ie/roscommon/boyle/kilronan/aghafin/aghafin/
Usually the date of birth is most accurate when the person has noted it themselves, so the marriage certificate but this has full age so at least 21 years so born apx 1869 or earlier.
Unless you can find a month then you will be able to have 'hours of fun' looking at the parish records for this parish
https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0145?locale=en
"Kilronan
Diocese of Ardagh | County of Roscommon
Variant forms of parish name:
Keadue
Arigna
Ballyfarnon, Keadue'
OOps You've found the correct 1911
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Shanreah,
This just got interesting!
In the 1911 census:
You have Bartly and Margaret "Gilhooly" in Derrinvoney Lower, Mananagh, Leitrim.
I found Bartly and Maggie "Gillooly" in Srananooan, Lough Allen, Roscommon.
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Roscommon/Lough_Allen/Srananooan/779799/
At this stage I am sticking with Maggie "Gillooly" of Strananooan, as she is 52 in 1911 so consistent with the 1901 census, the list of children is consistent and I know that James must be one of her sons as it was he who my grandfather met in 1917 at Arigna.
I suspect the correct spelling should be "Gilhooly".
Thanks heaps for your contribution.
Clemans
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Margaret Gilhooly died on 22 March 1942 at Srananooan. Her son James was the informant.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1942/04683/4248200.pdf
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Margaret Gilhooly died on 22 March 1942 at Srananooan. Her son James was the informant.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1942/04683/4248200.pdf
This death with an age of 77 years shows a possible birthdate of 1865.
I think I'd give the parish registers for 1859 as above a shot.
I've lightly skimmed looking for Margarets - found one but not her. I'm wondering if Margaret might have been a pet name, confirmation name.... There are several Gilhoolys
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She and her husband (referred to as auntie Maggie and uncle Bartly) were alive in Arigna in 1917 when my grandfather visited.
You probably have this, but just for the record Bartly Gillooly died 18 February 1929 aged 71 yrs and at Srananooan. His son James was the informant.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1929/04940/4342603.pdf
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I found Margaret / Auntie Maggie!
Margaritam McCanna born to Jacobus McCanna and Maria Kelly, baptized on 9th December 1858 at Kilronan, Co. Roscommon.
Margaret McKenna born to James McKenna and Mary Kelly, baptized on 9th December 1858 at Kilronan, Co. Roscommon.
Now I can return to the hunt for the final resting place of her mother Mary Kelly and her brother Michael.
Thanks one and all for your help!
Clemans
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That's great, well done. And under McCanna as you thought it might be.
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I found it!
Thanks for all those who contributed.
I have made contact with a long lost cousin in Ireland who has family knowledge that Mary Kelly and her son Michael McKenna are buried in an unmarked grave at the graveyard at the Tarmon Abbey on the shore of Lough Allen, Leitrim.
Clemans.