McGrath - Knockagarry Mitchelstown Cork

[csjjpm]

Hi,
  I am looking for relatives with any information on the McGrath's of Mitchelstown Cork.

My earliest record is the marriage of Michael McGrath to Johanna Sheehy on the 13/09/1865.

The online marriage cert has the father as ? Sheehy and a witness as Elizabeth Sheehy (possibly Johanna's mother).  Michael's father is only listed as ? McGrath.  It does not have their ages.  Michael was a farmer and died before 1904.

If anyone knows of any of their siblings or children I would really appreciate the help.  I have traced them from my great grandfather John McGrath born Mitchelstown on 24/06/1874 who relocated to Manchester and married Mary Elizabeth Miller in 1904.  John became a GP.

I have other McGrath marriage certs I have paid for that I will post on this thread in due course as they are of no use to me.

Look forward to a McGrath discussion ;-)
Paul

[steven781]

Hi Paul

I myself am a 'McGrath' but sadly am unable to see a connection with your line. My lot came from Cork also, but the parish of St Finn Barr.

Always open to a McGrath discussion!

Steve

[csjjpm]

Hi Steve,
  nice to hear from you so quickly.  How far back have you traced your family?
I have only recently taken an interest in genealogy prompted by some Canadian relatives who have started a family tree on myheritage.com.
  No one seemd to know my great grandmothers name so I started with that.  She married my GGF in Manchester in 1904 but although I could initially find a record of their marriage online the UK does not have alot of records fully accessible so I had to apply for a paper copy.  This helped me get my GGGF's name but it took me a few attempts to find my GGF birth cert which matched my GGGF's name which then gave me my GGGM's name.
  It is fascinating and addictive. 
 What has your experience been like?
Paul

[csjjpm]

I have been searching for any marriage between Michael McGrath and Johanna Sheehan in Mitchelstown, Cork, based on the birth certificate for my great grandfather (which I will post next).  I performed a 20 year search on IFHF for both names, then matched up the years and had 9 to chose from.  After paying for 8 I got 'Johanna Sheehy' so at some point, either back in 1874 or in recent transcription, there has been human error.

[csjjpm]

 

[csjjpm]

My great grandfather John McGrath was born in 1874 in Mitchelstown Cork, to Michael McGrath and Johanna Sheehan

[steven781]

Hi Paul

I was very fortunate to find long lost cousins who have been able to share with me the information they have on the McGrath line. One of my great uncles had paid a hefty sum of money many years back for a professional researcher to find out more about our family. I have a wad of pages about possible leads in Ireland. With certainty I can confirm my history back to around 1840.

It has been a sharp learning curve regarding Irish family history, the records available and the geography/boundries of Ireland. Certainly not as easy and straightforward as other research I have done. It is become obvious that one really needs to have background knowledge of religion, townships and addresses in order to make progress. I really would like to visit ireland in person sometime in order to further my McGrath research.

I have no record of any Michael's but not so surprisingly I have a lot of Patrick's

Steve

[csjjpm]

Steve,
  thank you for looking that is very good of you.

Yes it is very difficult.  The IFHF site is great but isn't totally accurate or complete.  Of course the huge gap is the lack of 100 years of census between 1801 and 1891 because of the 'wars' and the accidents destroying them.  Oh well.

I have found Michael McGrath listed as a land owner in Mitchelstown in the Cork City Directory of 1875-1876 which confirms him as a farmer.

Paul

[csjjpm]

A fellow genealogist who I found from a posting on another forum has passed me information of the birth cert for my great grandfather's brother.  His name is John Brennan and he is researching both his and his wife's family, he works for the Welfare department in Ireland.  thank you John.

James McGrath, born 2nd January 1868 to Michael McGrath and Johanna Sheehan in Knockagarry, Marshalstown/Mitchelstown.

Another branch of the tree to explore ;-).