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I. Catholic Church Records: in the Diocese of Achonry
Internet address: www.achonrydiocese.org
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Cathedral of the Annunciation and St. Nathy, Ballaghaderreen:
Address: The Presbytery, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 094-986-0011 includes Castlemore and Kilcolman parishes
Records of baptisms begin Nov 1851 marriages begin Aug 1830 no death records
No records are available for Nov 1861 through May 1864
See LDS Microfilm 1279232 for Baptisms 1851-1911 Marriages 1830-1963
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Church of St. James, Carracastle:
Address: Parochial House, Carracastle, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 094-925-4301 includes eastern part of Kilbeagh Parish
Records of baptisms begin 1847 marriages begin 1847 no death records
See LDS Microfilm 1279233 for Baptisms 1847-1908 Marriages 1847-1908
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Church of St. James, Charlestown:
Address: Parochial House, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Tel: 094-925-4315 includes western part of Kilbeagh Parish
Records of baptisms begin Jan 1855 marriages begin May 1845 deaths begin 1878
See LDS Microfilm 1279230 for Baptisms 1855-1924 Marriages 1845-1902, Deaths 1878-1950?
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Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Co. Mayo, Kilmovee, Ireland:
Address: Parochial House, Kilmovee, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 094-964-9137 includes Kilmovee Parish
Records of baptisms begin Mar 1855 marriages begin Oct 1854 no death records
No Records are available for Sep 1883 through Oct 1888
See LDS Microfilm 1279230 for Baptisms 1855-1924 Marriages 1845-1902
See also www.eastmayo.org for Kilmovee baptisms 1855-1913 & marriages 1824-1848 & 1854-1925
LDS Microfilm 1279233 includes Marriages Oct 1810 - Feb 1814 for Parish of Meelick & Kilconduff
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Catholic Parish of Lisacull & Loughglynn, Lisacull:
The Presbytery, Lisacull, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 0907-8068 includes Loughglynn in Tibohine Civil Parish
Records of baptisms 1817-1826, 1829-1840, marriages 1817-27, 1836-38, 1849-1858
Deaths 1849-1854, 1868-1900 LDS Microfilm 0989753, items 1-3.
Don’t be puzzled by the Carracastle and Kilmovee addresses: these 2 towns are located within Co. Mayo (as was Ballaghaderreen before 1898), but they are too small to have their own post office so their mail service is routed through the Ballaghaderreen post office, now located in Co. Roscommon.
Townlands of residence were often omitted during the early years of these records, and this is especially true for marriages. LDS refers to the Family History Library of the Latter Day Saints Church (Mormons).
The microfilms can be rented at $5 each at any LDS Family History Center in the U.S., though restrictions may apply in Ireland. In Ireland, these microfilms are available at the National Library, Kildare St., Dublin. It is no longer required to obtain permission from Catholic Dioceses to view Church records on microfilm at the National Library.
Contact Dick Towey for additional help on these records at toweylr@comcast.net because I have made copies of some of the above entries for my own family.
Cathedral of the Annunciation and St. Nathy, Ballaghaderreen:
Address: The Presbytery, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 094-986-0011 includes Castlemore and Kilcolman parishes
Records of baptisms begin Nov 1851 marriages begin Aug 1830 no death records
No records are available for Nov 1861 through May 1864
See LDS Microfilm 1279232 for Baptisms 1851-1911 Marriages 1830-1963
Church of St. James, Carracastle:
Address: Parochial House, Carracastle, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 094-925-4301 includes eastern part of Kilbeagh Parish
Records of baptisms begin 1847 marriages begin 1847 no death records
See LDS Microfilm 1279233 for Baptisms 1847-1908 Marriages 1847-1908
Church of St. James, Charlestown:
Address: Parochial House, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, Ireland
Tel: 094-925-4315 includes western part of Kilbeagh Parish
Records of baptisms begin Jan 1855 marriages begin May 1845 deaths begin 1878
See LDS Microfilm 1279230 for Baptisms 1855-1924 Marriages 1845-1902, Deaths 1878-1950?
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Co. Mayo, Kilmovee, Ireland:
Address: Parochial House, Kilmovee, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 094-964-9137 includes Kilmovee Parish
Records of baptisms begin Mar 1855 marriages begin Oct 1854 no death records
No Records are available for Sep 1883 through Oct 1888
See LDS Microfilm 1279230 for Baptisms 1855-1924 Marriages 1845-1902
See also www.eastmayo.org for Kilmovee baptisms 1855-1913 & marriages 1824-1848 & 1854-1925
LDS Microfilm 1279233 includes Marriages Oct 1810 - Feb 1814 for Parish of Meelick & Kilconduff
Catholic Parish of Lisacull & Loughglynn, Lisacull:
The Presbytery, Lisacull, Co. Roscommon, Ireland
Tel: 0907-8068 includes Loughglynn in Tibohine Civil Parish
Records of baptisms 1817-1826, 1829-1840, marriages 1817-27, 1836-38, 1849-1858
Deaths 1849-1854, 1868-1900 LDS Microfilm 0989753, items 1-3.
Don’t be puzzled by the Carracastle and Kilmovee addresses: these 2 towns are located within Co. Mayo (as was Ballaghaderreen before 1898), but they are too small to have their own post office so their mail service is routed through the Ballaghaderreen post office, now located in Co. Roscommon.
Townlands of residence were often omitted during the early years of these records, and this is especially true for marriages. LDS refers to the Family History Library of the Latter Day Saints Church (Mormons).
The microfilms can be rented at $5 each at any LDS Family History Center in the U.S., though restrictions may apply in Ireland. In Ireland, these microfilms are available at the National Library, Kildare St., Dublin. It is no longer required to obtain permission from Catholic Dioceses to view Church records on microfilm at the National Library.
Contact Dick Towey for additional help on these records at toweylr@comcast.net because I have made copies of some of the above entries for my own family.
II. For Civil Vital Records, visit the Internet website of the General Register Office at www.groireland.ie. Their “Research” page has lots of information. Civil Records of Births, Marriages & Deaths: begin on 1 January 1864 and continue to the present.
These records are held by an Irish government agency called the General Register Office.
Note: In the 1860s, not all families reported births to the local General Register Office in Ballaghaderreen. (I can’t find my grandfather Pat’s birth in 1864, for example). Later, the penalty for reporting a birth late by a month or more was severe so parents sometimes reported a later birth date. (How else can we explain why 2 of my great-uncles have reported dates of birth AFTER they were baptized at St. Nathy’s?)
A. To order a record by mail, Mail Address is : General Register Office, Government Offices, Convent Road, Roscommon, Ireland.
B. To do your own research in Ireland: In Dublin, go to the General Register Office Research Room, Joyce House, 8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin, 2. This is located near the Dart Station at Pearse St, just behind the Trinity College campus on the north-east side. Bring a pencil pens are not allowed there. Open Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
C. Fees: Research at GRO Dublin is a bit on the expensive side. In 2007, these were as follows:
20 Euro to search index records - per day, or 2 Euro to search one of the 3 indexes over a 5-year period – per day
Having found a person’s record, you can then order a copy of a vital record at 2 Euro each, but they do not guarantee that your record copy will be available on the same day.
D. Records ordered by mail cost 10 Euro each for an official certificate, or 6 Euro for a photocopy of the microfilm, and are available for all years as above. They say it takes about 3 to 4 weeks by mail.
ALTERNATE SOURCES:
Some GRO vital records for Ireland are available at the LDS Family History Library on microfilm. These include the Indexes of Births, Marriages & Deaths for all years from 1864 to the 1950s,, and also they have the actual records for some years: Births 1864.1-1881.1 1900.1-1913.4 and 1930.1-1955.1 Marriages 1864.1-1870.4 Deaths 1864.1-1870.4. (These are the original records from GRO, bound separately for the 4 calendar quarters (i.e. 3 months each). (Contact Dick Towey by e-mail at toweylr@comcast.net for additional help with these records)
The Indexes show only a person’s name and the PLU & page no. for each calendar quarter - e.g. the first quarter of 1864 is 1864.1. An entry of “Patrick Towey CAS-138" indicates a record for him in Castlerea Poor Law Union on page 138 for that period. All Family History Centers will have a copy machine for your use, and the rental is currently $5 per microfilm. It is cumbersome but necessary to use both sources, unless you know a precise date.
Actual records for years other than those listed above have NOT been released by the GRO to the LDS. Poor Law Unions (PLU) are arranged by Provinces for Toweys, generally look for the districts of Ballaghaderreen in Castlerea PLU, Gurteen [Kilcolman Parish in Co. Sligo] in Boyle PLU, and Kilkelly [Kilmovee Parish] and Lowpark [Carracastle Parish] in Swinford PLU. A few are in Loughglynn Parish in Co. Roscommon, which is also in the Castlerea PLU.
IMPORTANT: For these PLUs during 1864 to 1877, look in the volumes for each year designated as nos. 4 for Q 1 9 for Q 2 14 for Q 3 and 19 for Q 4. Beginning in 1878, volumes are numbered 1 thru 5 during each calendar quarter, so always select 4 then. In the 1930s & afterwards some Toweys are living in Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland. There is usually one microfilm per volume per year for the index. Rural residences are by townland designation only, which can cause problems of identification when there are many Towey families living in the same townland such as in Dernacartha or Barnaboy. Then there may be more than one family with “Pat Towey married to Bridget Towey”, because lots of Toweys married Toweys around Ballaghaderreen who were 3rd or 4th cousins or more distant.
Example: LDS Microfilm 258152 for period 1913.1 volume 4-1 Castlerea PLU on p. 99, line # 240 date of birth: Oct 16, 1912 residence: Barnaboy townland given name: Peter, male, son of John Towey & Bridget Towey father’s occupation: farmer mother signed report report date Jan 7, 1913. (My father’s cousin).
There is another (somewhat expensive & risky) source for Catholic Church parish records and Civil Vital Records of Ireland: view its internet website at roscommon.brsgenealogy.com
The Roscommon Heritage & Genealogy Company (located just off the N-5 Highway in Strokestown), in conjunction with the Irish Family History Foundation, sells access to records “on line” on a “pay per view” basis. Other Irish counties have similar facilities.
These are basically the same records as listed above: Catholic (mostly baptisms & marriages) and civil parishes (births, marriages & deaths) located in Co. Roscommon. They provide free search for a person’s record within a limited period of years after you login, and when you find a record you wish to see, you purchase credit to view (and copy) at a cost of 10 euro per record, payable in advance by credit card. The periods for which these records are available are listed on their website.
COMMENTS:
(1) GENERALLY THEIR RECORDS STOP AT 1900, WHEREAS SOME OF THE SOURCES LISTED ABOVE EXTEND INTO THE 20TH CENTURY.
(2) THEY DON’T IDENTIFY GAPS IN THE 19TH CENTURY RECORDS WHICH ARE LISTED ABOVE, SO DON’T EXPECT THAT THEY WILL HAVE MORE THAN THE LDS HAS FOR THE DESIGNATED YEARS.
(3) THEIR GRO CIVIL RECORDS DO EXTEND TO 1900 WHEREAS THE LDS ONLY HAS THESE RECORDS TO 1880 OR 1870, BUT IF YOU KNOW THE DATE OF BIRTH, MARRIAGE OR DEATH, THE COST IS LOWER BY ORDERING A PHOTOCOPY FROM GRO BY MAIL AT THEIR CO. ROSCOMMON ADDRESS GIVEN ABOVE.
IT IS PRUDENT TO DOUBLE-CHECK ANYTHING I HAVE WRITTEN HERE, BY GOING TO THE INTERNET WEBSITES, IN CASE RECENT REVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.
III. National Library: this is a treasure house of books, magazines, newspapers, manuscripts, etc. It is located on Kildare St., Dublin 2, which runs from Trinity College to St. Stephen’s Green. website is: www.nli.ie
Opening Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM Thu, Fri 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM Closed on Holidays pens not allowed use your or their pencil
Reader’s Ticket Office is closed 12:30 - 2:00 PM & closes at 4:30 or 5:00 PM
They also have copies of the microfilms of the parish registers at St. Nathy’s, etc.
IV. National Archives : has the Population censuses of 1901 and 1911. It is located at Bishop St., Dublin 4, and has a website of www.nationalarchives.ie/ Click on the “Visit us” option for information on the collection. GeneRally one must visit their office to view their records, and a reader’s ticket must be secured to work there.
I have had only a little experience in using their facilities because LDS microfilms are more readily accessible using the ARCHIVES facilities takes a lot of time.
Opening Hours: Reading Room Mon to Fri 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM closed on holidays pencils only
The 1901 census is available on microfilm from the LDS Library, but cataloging at www.familysearch.org/ is rather insensitive to obvious topic entries. It is easier to examine these records by inserting the following microfilm numbers at their Library Catalog page. For the Ballaghaderreen Electoral District, Co. Roscommon, see microfilms 0850479, 0850480 and 0850481 for divisions 55, 57 & 59 respectively in Castlemore parish, and 0850480, 0850481, 0851572, and 0851584 for divisions 57, 58, 71 & 8 in Kilcolman parish. For Carracastle and Kilkelly in 1901, see Co. Mayo microfilms 0850480, 0846250 and 0846251 for divisions 57, 115, 116, 117 & 118 and for Kilbeagh Parish, see microfilms 0846246, 0846247, for divisions 107, 108 & 109.
The 1901 Census listings by household are available on the Leitrim-Roscommon Bulletin Board go to www.leitrim-roscommon.com and click on the “1901 Census Database”.
The 1911 census is also available on microfilm from the LDS Library though not on the L-RBB. For Castlemore Parish, see 2146803 for Ardkill to Ishlaun (alphabetically arranged by townland), and 2146816 for Kilkeeran to Toomanagh, plus 2146950 , item 2, for Aghalustia & Roosky and 2146961 for Cappagh & Lissian. For Kilcolman Parish, see 2146816 for townlands Ballaghaderreen to Doogary, and 2146817 for townlands Hawksford to Tonregee + Ballaghaderreen town and for the townlands around Edmondstown, see 2146818, and 2146920 for Banada and Keelbanada. For the Sligo portion, see 1840413. For Kilmovee parish, see 2193303, 2193304, items 1, 2, and 2193305, item 1, and for Kilbeagh Parish, see especially 2146816, 2193353, items 1,2 and 2193355.
Household records from earlier censuses have been destroyed only the published summary volumes remain, at such places as the National Library. The California State Library, Sutro Branch, in San Francisco, has a set of microfiche of these volumes from 1821 through 1851, so they are probably found elsewhere too.
V. Tithe Applotment Books: This record source is NOT useful for tracing the Towey family history. It is nominally a “head of household” survey of persons responsible for paying tithes to the Church of Ireland (whatever was one’s religion & Catholics were not exempt), and covers the period 1823-1837. However, during this period the areas around Ballaghaderreen where the Toweys lived were leased by their owners on the “rundale” system of collective responsibility for rents & tithes, so typically only one tenant’s name per townland is shown while the neighboring farmers made their payments to him & were not listed.
The LDS church has microfilms of the Tithe/Tythe Applotment Books, arranged alphabetically by parish in Ireland.
See II. above “Alternate Sources”
VI. Primary Valuation Survey (also known as the Griffith Valuation Survey): this is a widely used record mainly useful as a “head of household” index in the late 1840s - late 1850s in rural areas. For the Ballaghaderreen area, it is dated about 1856.
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City has a set of the original printed volumes for almost all of Ireland, and it also has microfilms of these. A microfiche edition is also available in some genealogical libraries. This source is arranged by County, Poor Law Union, Parish & Townland, and then lists each family head, property owner or lessor, property, acreage and value. Also included are Ordnance Survey map references, which are mostly maps 64 & 74 for Castlemore & Kilcolman parishes.
But these have been mostly superseded, unless one wants to know farm acreages and rateable values, by compact disk # 188 from genealogy publisher Family Tree Maker, entitled “Index to Griffith’s Valuation Survey to Ireland 1848-1864" and priced at $59.95. There are also many websites which offer access to the Index for a fee there may be free sites as well I’m looking!
VII. Other Land Valuation Records 1850s-1930s +: website: www.valoff.ie/
The Valuation Office, at Irish Life Centre, Block II, Abbey St. Lower, Dublin 1, (2 blocks east of O’Connell St.) has the registers from which the Griffith Survey records were taken, as well as some earlier years and later years to the present. I have read that these are no longer accessible to the general public, but this office does sell copies of the maps associated with Griffith listings, which can help in identifying ancestors’ residences.
The cost is €25.39 for a Griffith map of an area, or €12.70 for A3 size, or for a Current Map €12.70 for large, or €6.25 for A3 photocopy. Look for Ordnance Survey\Griffith maps 64 & 74 for starters.
Valuation Office Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM closed on holidays.
The LDS Family History Library has microfilms of the Land Valuation registers which usually involve 8 volumes (not in chronological order) from the 1850s to the 1930s. For Castlemore & Kilcolman townlands in the Castlerea Rural District, see microfilms 0867962 & 0867963. For the portion of Kilcolman parish in Co. Sligo’s Coolavin Rural District, see 0868136. For the Kilbeagh Rural District, see microfilm 0867547 for Kilkelly 0877548 & for Kilmovee 0857710. These records are useful for tracing how tenants & owners of farms have changed since the Griffith Survey. Irish Catholics were mainly farm labourers and tenant farmers through the end of the 19th century, but many became owners in the early 20th century when the Congested Districts Board helped them to make purchases from the English landlords.
VIII. Ordnance Survey: website: www.irlgov.ie/osi/
This is Ireland’s mapping agency, which also has aerial photographs in color or black and white. It is located at the northwest end of Phoenix Park, so it is a lengthy walk, or a bus or taxi ride from Dublin’s city center. It also produces tourist maps.
Ordnance Survey Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-4:15 PM closed on holidays
There is also a National Map Centre affiliate at 34 Aungier St., Dublin 2, Ireland which sells maps published by the Ordnance Survey.
IX. Latter Day Saints Family History Library website is at www.familysearch.com
This website can be used to access the Family History Library and also to locate your local Family History Center.
X. IRISH TOWNLAND MAPS:
These may be ordered from Ordnance Survey Ireland, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8, Ph: +353-1-8025300 or for local calls: 1890-674627, which offers various maps of which the most useful for the Ballaghaderreen area are the Ordnance Survey maps of 1839 identified as “Full Colour First Edition Full Sheets”. Each of these covers 6 miles east-west and 4 miles north-south (33” wide x 23” high). Townland, parish & county borders are clearly marked, but you won’t see anything of Co. Roscommon or Co. Sligo on a Co. Mayo map. Sheet 74 for Co. Mayo includes Ballaghaderreen, and Sheet 64 includes much of Kilcolman Parish just to the north of Sheet 74 (Attiantaggart to Kilgarriff). These cost Euro 49-00 each. Past Homes also sells county index maps & CD-ROM sheets, and they will answer questions via the “Contact Us” link on their website. (When the mailing tube on my 1st order got crushed in transit, they graciously sent replacement maps right away and these arrived safely).
XI. MAP OF CO. MAYO: Available at Mayo Co. Library, Ireland on website
This is a map of Co. Mayo in 25 pieces surveyed by the young engineer William Bald during 1809-1817, but not published until 1830 evidently Bald had asked for more money than was originally budgeted by the government. These pieces can be printed in black and white online Toweys will be mainly interested in panels 10 (Hawksford & Edmondstown to the Sligo border) and 15 (Ballyhaunis to Bockagh Hill and Ballaghaderreen). (These seem a bit tilted eastward as compared with the Ordnance Survey maps). Miller Toweys will be interested in panel 10, even though its area is small. Bockagh-Broher Toweys will notice that panel 15 shows it was only lightly populated at survey time. Barnaboy Toweys will notice that their townland was called Balintleva back then, but the larger area was called Brusnagh back then (spelled Brusna today). Note: you will need to download a .djvu program to see these maps, and print them in the “landscape”mode to get the largest picture on 8.5” x 11” paper.
XII. Books of Interest About the Ballaghaderreen Area:
Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland: London, S. Lewis, 1837.
Includes descriptions of parishes and towns in Cos. Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, etc.
Maire McDonnell-Garvey, Mid-Connacht - The Ancient Territory of Sliab Lugha, Drumlin Publications, Nure,Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, Ireland, 1995. (Paperback)
An interesting local history, with some useful appendices about Toweys who were Dillon & Costello tenants.
Several Towey references are omitted from the index.
“Ordnance Survey Letters”: Letters Containing Information Relative to the Antiquities of the County of Mayo,
Collected During the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838 , Vols I, II, Reproduced Under the Direction of Rev. Michael O’Flanagan (Typescript), Bray, 1927.
Available at National Library of Ireland & British Library gives brief discussion of each parish and townland name, description of types of soils, principal crops, sometimes names of residents, sometimes anecdotes.
Liam Swords, A Hidden Church: The Diocese of Achonry 1689-1818, Blackrock, Co. Dublin: Columba Press, 1997.
This describes the early history of Achonry Diocese, whose see is located in Ballaghaderreen.
Liam Swords, A Dominant Church: The Diocese of Achonry 1818-1960, Blackrock, Co., Dublin: Columba Press, 2004.
This volume completes the history of Achonry Diocese and of events in the Diocese and in Ireland in recent times.
Liam Swords, In Their Own Words: The Famine in North Connacht 1845-1849, Blackrock, Co. Dublin: Columba Press, 1999.
Some commentary, but primarily transcripts of reports and correspondence by local officials and residents of Achonry Diocese and vicinity descriptive of the famine.
Prepared by Richard E. Towey for use at the 2nd Towey Clan Rally and Reunion, Ballaghaderreen, Ireland, on 14-15 August 2004 updated for the 3rd Towey Clan Rally and Reunion in Ballaghaderreen on 10-12 August 2007.
Inquiries may be emailed to one or more of these contact points:
Mike Towey, Taoiseach, toweymike@hotmail.com, Dublin
Edward Towey, Chairperson, etowey001@yahoo.com, Deephaven, MN
Dan Towey, Assistant Chairperson, toweydan@juno.com, Blaine, Minnesota
Janet Towey Mann, Secretary, jtafmn@snet.net Southbury, Connecticut
Dick Towey, Assistant Genealogist, toweylr@comcast.net Corvallis, Oregon
Bill Towey, Webmaster, wtowey5953@aol.com Stockton, California
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