Hello Elaine,
I am one of the Kilrea Diamonds. In fact, I am from the next townland to Claragh, Kilrea where Rifleman Patrick Diamond lived - or so we believe. He was a first cousin of my grandfather. My understanding is that he WAS born in Claragh. My father inherited the family farm in Erganagh and we still own it as my nephew has now taken ownership of it having been left it by my brother. My father inherited the Claragh Diamond lands from his elderly relation many years ago. So we are now in both townlands.
I should explain that the name Patrick occurs very frequently in the Kilrea Diamond clan along with Peter, James and John (and further back Arthur). All of the Kilrea Diamond families were/are related. The name occurs in neighbouring parishes but any links are "distant cousin" only, if at all.
The reference to Gortmacrane may be a reference to a relation of Patrick Diamond who lived there. Many, many years ago in Preston England I met a distant cousin of mine, a lady who was a daughter of Daniel Diamond born around 1900 in Gortmacrane, Kilrea. He, too, was a cousin of my grandfather. Her son bore an unbelievable similarity to one of my brothers. On the passing of Patrick's father his mother may have gone to stay with that family. No social security in those days.
Unfortunately our church records were destroyed during the early days of the Civil War as were many tens of thousands of other records. I am trying to piece together data from such sources as the Mercers Company and Griffiths Valuations.
I hope this helps you in some small way.
FD
