Exploring Galway Roots and the 1916 Easter Rising

Thank you to my dear friend, Judy Dundas, for allowing me to use her artwork this
St. Patrick's Day.  Four-leaf clovers were Celtic charms, offering magical protection
and warding off bad luck.

Thanks to a post from a fellow blogger, Linda Stufflebean, at Empty Branches on the Family Tree, this Saint Patrick's Day week, I have been exploring the fascinating archives provided by the National Museum of Ireland and the Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN).

Drumharsna Castle, built sometime in
the 1500s, was occupied in 1920 by the
Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish
 Constabulary (the Black and Tans)
This castle was near the Quinn home.  

Bill and I have visited the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin, but their digital collections offer even more to discover online. Plus, the Museum’s YouTube channel is fantastic!

iCAN was completely new to me, and I was excited to find numerous links to community archives in Clare and Galway—areas of particular interest to me. As Ireland’s leading organization supporting digital community archives, iCAN has already helped create 46 online archives across Clare, Cork, Galway, Mayo, and Wicklow and is expanding to include other areas. 

If you’re just starting your Irish genealogy research, Introduction to Your Galway Genealogy from the Galway County Heritage Office provides a great starting point—not just for Galway, but for Irish research in general. From there, I recommend checking out the links to videos on that page, which guide you step by step through Irish census records, Tithe Applotment records, civil and church records, and the Primary Valuation.

William Joseph Quinn
1894-1959

I’m particularly interested in the 1916 Easter Rising and the events in County Galway during that time. My husband’s grandfather, William Joseph Quinn, was a member of the Kinvara Company Irish Volunteers. While exploring iCAN, I found his name on a participant list and also found a map of the 1916 Rising activities in County Galway. The iCan pages War of Independence in Galway and Galway County’s Easter Rising, 1916 — Digital Heritage Project provide a wealth of information.

If you’d like to learn more about William Joseph Quinn, his service, and his family’s history, I’ve written several posts detailing his story and listed them below for easy access.

The Family of William Quinn and Bridget Brannelly

The Irish Uprising

The Irish Uprising: Obtaining the Records

The Irish Uprising: 1914 and 1915

The Irish Uprising: 1916

The Irish Uprising: 1917 to 1919

The Irish Uprising: 1920

The Irish Uprising: 1921

The Irish Uprising: The Quinn Home

The Irish Uprising: Michael Fahey

Friday's Photo: In Remembrance of the Kinvara Company Irish Volunteers 1916 - 2016

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2025

Drumharsna Castle, 2016, digital image, from the privately held photo collection of Diana Quinn, Virginia Beach, VA, 2025.

William Joseph Quinn, photograph, ca.1927; digital image, original in the privately held photo collection of D.B. Quinn, 2025.

Friday's Photo: A Genealogist's Holiday

My daughter sent this picture in response to a friend's text asking, "What are you doing?" I know that she thought it funny and I'm sure it was. She was watching us as we tried to read the letters on this cemetery stone. Genealogy is never her favorite part of a trip, but she knew there would be at least a few genealogical activities. 

This trip to Ireland was planned for our 40th wedding anniversary in 2020, which was postponed due to COVID closures. I only planned a few genealogy activities. We met a some of my husband's cousins and looked for family townlands, but most of the trip was spent admiring the beautiful country of Ireland, learning more about Ireland's history, and enjoying family time. 

This cemetery is the Killeen Cemetery, also known as the Cillin Graveyard, in New Quay, County Clare. What my husband did not know, as he was trying to read the letters by feeling them, was that this was the grave of his second great-grandfather, Patrick Murray. I wanted to know if there could be more than one name on the stone. There was not, but it is said that my husband's great-grandparents, James Murray and Cecelia Linnane are also buried in this plot. 

Genealogical Tidbits From Our Trip

Julia Murray Moylan's home has been sold. Her home on the Flaggy Shore in New Quay was also a store where she sold numerous items, including ice cream, candy, and cigarettes. Julia was the sister of my husband's grandmother, Susan Murray Quinn. 

My second-great-grandmother, Julia Halvey (also seen as Harvey), was born in Quinpool, County Clare - about a one-minute drive from Quinville House.  We could not find Quinpool but suspect it may have been on a portion of the land behind the Quinville House Gates. 

We found my husband's grandfather's name, William Quinn, on a wall at the Galway City Museum as one of 322 from Galway imprisoned in Frongoch Internment Camp following the Easter Rising in 1916. 

This is not a genealogy tidbit, but aside from visiting my husband's Murray and Quinn cousins and our friends, the Fordes, visiting Connemara was the best part of our trip. The scenery was breathtaking, and we enjoyed the gardens and small towns. 

Everyone liked Linnane's in New Quay. It wasn't our first dinner at this restaurant. I've always wondered if this Linnane family of New Quay was connected to my husband's great-grandmother, Cecelia Linnane. I will never know until I do some digging. 

This is me in front of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. I can't say enough good things about it! If you go to Dublin, visit this museum. Note that only I went to the EPIC. Everyone else went to the Guinness Storehouse. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

.

Diana

© 2022 

County Galway, Bienville Parish, New York, and Looking Ahead

My blog was a little smaller this year. You would think that retirement would mean that I could spend much more time with my genealogy, but that didn't happen in 2021. However, I am proud to say that one of the reasons there were fewer posts in 2021 was that I earned a Genealogical Research Certificate in Boston University's Genealogical Research program.[1] I spent 15 weeks practicing advanced research skills - allowing no time to research or post about my ancestors. A month after completing this rigorous program, my grandchildren came to spend the entire summer with me.  Again, no time to research or post about my ancestors. 

Most Read Posts of 2021

Bridget Quinn, wife of Patrick Murray, was from County Galway was my most-read blog post. Bridget was the wife of my husband's grandmother's brother and this short post documents her family.[2] 

The next two most-read posts were about Tillman Bryan and his daughter, Sallie Bryan Hammett, who lived in Bienville Parish, Louisiana.  Friday's Photo: Tillman C. Bryan and his Pension Record is my second most-read post and one of three posts about Tillman C. Bryan.[3] My third most-read post, A Letter from Sallie Bryan Hammett of Bienville Parish, Louisiana to Lizzie Ragan in Terrell County, Georgia Written in Spring 1915, tells much about Sallie Bryan Hammett's family and others who descend from Reddick Bryan and Elizabeth Regan who settled in Louisiana in 1838.[4] 

Photos of Tillman C. Bryan were taken sometime between the late 1850s and
before his death in 1899.

Friday's Photo: Bridget "Delia" Murray, County Clare to Iowa

Bridget "Delia" Murray

Source: Bridget Delia Murray, photograph, n.d.; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Mary Fahey, Iowa, 2000.

Bridget "Delia" Murray was a daughter of James Murray and Celia Linane (also seen as Cecelia Linnane) of County Clare, Ireland. [1] Bridget "Delia" Murray boarded the U.S.S. Etruria on 15 October 1899, in Queenstown, Ireland, and arrived in New York City on October 22nd. Delia's ticket was paid for by her sister, Mary Murray and she was going to stay with Mary in Dubuque, Iowa. [2] In 1900, Delia was working in Dubuque as a servant for the William Peabody family. [3]

Joseph F. Kingsley and Bridget "Delia" Murray

Source: Murray - Kingsley Wedding, photograph, 1908; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of Mary Fahey, Iowa, 2000.

Delia married Joseph F. Kingsley, a widower with three children, on 11 August 1908. [4] Children living in their household in 1910 were Samuel A., Eugene W., and Susie M. Kingsley; all children of Joseph and his first wife, Lillian Gear. [5] Delia and Joseph had one child, Cecelia Mary Kingsley. [6] Joseph, a retired streetcar conductor, died in 1938 after a fall from a ladder. [7] Delia died on 25 March 1970 and is buried in the Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Dubuque.[8] 

Delia was an older sister of Susan Murray Quinn, my husband's grandmother. When Delia left Ireland, her youngest sister, Susan was three years old. Delia never returned to Ireland to see family but did see her sisters, Ellen Murray (Sister Columbkill), Sarah Murray Meehan, and Katherine "Kate" Murray McGing as they visited Delia in Iowa. [9]

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

.

Diana

© 2021 

1. mkf74285, "Fahey Family Tree," public tree, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/119439030/person/322005198837/facts accessed 10 July 2021). Also, National Library of Ireland, "Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI", digital images, National Library of Ireland (https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634164#page/75/mode/1up :  accessed 15 June 2021), New Quay Parish (County Clare), Diocese of Galway, "Bapt  Oct 5 1854–Dec 30, 1880," page 75; digitized from NLI microfilm 02441 / 05.

    2. "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TH-4SSX-V?cc=1368704&wc=4X1L-QPD%3A1600492313 : 1 July 2021), Roll 88, vol 149-150, 22 Oct 1899-26 Oct 1899 > image 32 of 664; citing NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

    3. 1900 U.S. Census, Dubuque County, Iowa, population schedule, Julian, ward 4,  enumeration district 108, page 6, dwelling 101, family 116, William H. Peabody household; digital images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4119847_00564?8: accessed 21 June 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T623.

    4.“Wedded at St. Patrick's,” Dubuque Times Journal, 11 August 1908, p.3, col. 5; database and images, Newspapers.com (https://access.newspaperarchive.com/us/iowa/dubuque/dubuque-times-journal/1908/08-11/page-3/ : accessed 16 June 2021).

    5. 1910 U.S. Census, Dubuque, Iowa, population schedule, Dubuque, ward 4,  enumeration district 129, page 13A, dwelling 9, family  9, Joseph F. Kingsley household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4328297-00144? : accessed 8 June 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 402.  Also, Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/211813760/lillian-b.-kingsley: accessed 9 July 2021), memorial page for Lillian B. Gear Kingsley (unknown–4 Jun 1905), Find a Grave Memorial ID 211813760, citing Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa, USA ; Maintained by daveat1910 (contributor 47196943).

    

    6.1920 U.S. Census, Dubuque, Iowa, population schedule, Dubuque, ward 4,  enumeration district 140, page 4B, dwelling 76, family 82, Joseph F. Kingsley household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4300690_00530? : accessed 8 June 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 488.  

    7. “Dubuquer Dies in Ladder Fall,” Dubuque [Iowa] Telegraph Herald, 1 November 1938, p. 1; database and images, Newspapers.com (https://access.newspaperarchive.com/us/iowa/dubuque/dubuque-telegraph-herald/1938/11-01/ : accessed 16 June 2021).

    8 . Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/148363544/bridget-delia-kingsley : accessed 9 July 2021), memorial page for Bridget Delia “Delia” Murray Kingsley (15 Aug 1882–25 Mar 1970), Find a Grave Memorial ID 148363544, citing Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by Mr. Badger Hawkeye (contributor 46542485). 

    9. Email from Mary K. Fahey, (Iowa) to Diana B. Quinn, 4 June 2021; held in 2021 by Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA).

Bridget Quinn, wife of Patrick Murray, was from County Galway

Patrick Murray and Bridget Quinn

Murray-Quinn photograph, before 1975; scanned image, acquired from 

the privately-held collection of C. Bury, Ireland, 2004. 

My husband's grandparents were Susan Murray of New Quay in County Clare and William Quinn of Caherawoneen near Kinvara in County Galway. Susan had a brother, Patrick Murray also of New Quay, who married Bridget Quinn of Ballinderreen in County Galway.[1] Both William Quinn and Bridget Quinn lived only about five miles from each other in County Galway. I wondered if there was a connection between the two families. 

In 1899, Bridget Quinn was born in Ballinderreen, not far from Kinvara. Her parents were Patrick Quinn and Mary Larkin. [2] Her grandparents were John Quinn and Rose Neilan [3] and Martin Larkin and Winnifred Bermingham.[4] The marriage record of Martin Larkin and Winnifred Bermingham name their fathers, Pat Larkin and John Bermingham. [5]

Documents connecting these two Quinn families were not found in civil and Catholic parish records as records in the areas where they lived are sparse before the 1860s.[6]

Bridget Quinn's family is shown in the chart below. Copies of birth and marriage documents can be seen by clicking on the links in the citations at the end of this document. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2021

    1.Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1931/09017/5262896.pdf: accessed 20 May 2021); digital image, Pat Murray-Bridget Quinn marriage, 17 February 1931; citing Group Registration ID 1349845; filed 4 April 1931 by T. J. Connoly, registrar, in the District of Kinvara in the Union of Gort in the County of Galway, unidentified register and folio, "First Page," stamped no.5262896 and 227, entry no. 104.

    2. Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1899/02025/1776840.pdf: accessed 20 May 2021); digital image, Bridget Quinn birth, 14 September 1899; citing Group Registration ID 9932937; filed 20 September 1899 by C. McNally, registrar, in the District of Kinvara in the Union of Gort in the County of Galway, unidentified register and folio, "Second Page," stamped no.1776840 and 238, entry no. 390.

    3. National Library of Ireland, "Catholic Parish Registers at the NLI", digital images, National Library of Ireland (https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000634144#page/6/mode/1up :  accessed 12 June 2021), Kilcolgan  Parish (County Galway), Diocese of Galway, "Bapt  12 Nov. 1854 to 21 July 1881; Marr 29 Jan. 1871 to 06 Sep. 1884," page 6, Baptism and birth record for Patt Quinn; digitized from NLI microfilm 02442 / 13.

    4. Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1870/03355/2230287.pdf: accessed 12 June 2021); digital image, Mary Larkin birth, 14 March 1870; citing Group Registration ID 8269693; filed 25 April 1870 by Dennis J. Hynes, registrar, in the District of Ballindeerrin in the Union of Gort in the County of Galway, unidentified register and folio, stamped no.388 and 2230287, entry no. 422.

    5. Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1869/11423/8195944.pdf : accessed 12 June 2021); digital image, Martin Larkin - Winifred Bermingham marriage, 08 April 1869; citing Group Registration ID 3065660; filed 5 August 1869 by Dennis J. Hynes, registrar, in the District of Ballindeerrin in the Union of Gort in the County of Galway, unidentified register and folio, stamped no.8195944, entry no. 24.

    6. John Grenham, Tracing Your Irish Ancestors (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1993). This book was first published in Ireland in 1992. 

Friday's Photo: Mary Murray

Mary Murray married William J. Kingsley on October 10, 1899.
 

Source: Murray - Kingsley Wedding, photograph, 1899; scanned image, from the privately held photo collection of 

Mary Fahey, Iowa, 2000.

 

Mary came to the United States about 1895, leaving her home in New Quay, County Clare, and like so many immigrants, never returned.[1] Her parents were Cecelia Linnane and James Murray. Mary was the eldest of eleven children.[2] Mary went to Dubuque, Iowa, where her aunt, Sarah Murray Cassidy, was living. A few years later, she was joined by her sister, Bridget "Delia." Mary and Delia worked as servants and eventually married brothers William and Joseph Kingsley. [3]

Mary's sisters Sarah, Catherine, and Helen immigrated to the United States in 1911. Her sister, Julia, and brother, Patrick, remained in Ireland. It is not known what became of her brother Tom. Mary's youngest sister, Susan, was not born when Mary left for Iowa, and even though Susan came to New York in 1920, they never met.[4] 

In addition to twins who died in infancy, Mary and William had daughters, Sarah and Marion, and sons, William, Joseph, and Henry.[5]  William Kingsley died in 1915, leaving Mary, a widow, with five children between the ages of 5 and 13.[6] Sadly, Marion and Henry preceded Mary in death.[7] 

Mary died in 1955 and is buried with William at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery at Dubuque, Iowa.[8] Her obituary can be seen at Sunday’s Obituary: Mary Murray Kingsley.

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page, where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2021 

---

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Dubuque, Iowa, type of census, Dubuque, ward 4,  enumeration district 128, page 10B, dwelling 200, family 234, William Kingsley household; digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4328297-00109?pId=137126189 : accessed 8 June 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 402. 

[2] Diana Quinn, "My Family - Bryan, Regan, Albritton, Hairston, Davis, Giddens, Glynn, Bradshaw, Britt, Quinn, Murray, Driscoll," public tree, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/45260559/family/familyview?cfpid=410088574056: accessed 9 June 2021). 

[3] Letter from Mary K. Fahey (Iowa) to Diana B. Quinn, 16 December 1999; held in 2021 by Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA). Also, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJKW-KHC : 4 November 2017), William Kingsley and Mary Murray, 10 Oct 1899, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; citing reference Bk 6 pg 179, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,035,403.

[4] Letter from Mary K. Fahey (Iowa) to Diana B. Quinn, 16 December 1999; held in 2021 by Quinn (Virginia Beach, VA). Also, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJKW-KHC : 4 November 2017), William Kingsley and Mary Murray, 10 Oct 1899, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa, United States; citing reference Bk 6 pg 179, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,035,403.

[5] mkf74285, "Fahey Family Tree," public tree, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/119439030/family/familyview?cfpid=320185019759&dtid=100: accessed 9 June 2021). "Bible Page with Births" shared by mkf74285 on 05 March 2018. 

[6] Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/143054917/mary-kingsley : accessed 11 June 2021), memorial page for Mary Murray Kingsley (24 Jul 1873–25 May 1955), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143054917, citing Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa; maintained by Raymond Kilius (contributor 46912848).

[7] "Iowa, U.S., Death Records, 1920-1967," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61442/images/101821083_02805?pId=498118 : accessed 9 June 2021), death certificate entry for Mrs. Marian Cecelia Lee, 9 December 1940. Also, “Six From City Lost on Carrier: Missing in Torpedo Sinking of the Liscome Bay,” Des Moines Tribune (Iowa), 8 December 1943, p. 1; database and images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/322759336/ : accessed 8 June 2021).

[8] Find A Grave, memorial 143054917, for Mary Murray Kingsley.

County Clare, Bienville Parish, Phillipsburg, and Siberia

This blog is a relatively small blog in the blogger world. On average, I get about 2000 legitimate link clicks each month, most by the same set of readers. I love writing the blog and do not plan to stop. Writing the posts keeps me organized and has improved my research skills. It allows me to share my finds with those who are interested, collaborate with others, and, most importantly, find family. 

This year, I have written 78 posts. My most-read post, in 2020, was about my husband's great-aunt's store in New Quay, County Clare, Ireland. I learned much about New Quay while researching for Julia Moylan's Store on the Flaggy Shore.

The second of my top three posts, Friday's Photo: Charles William Giddens, told of my Great-Uncle Charlie and his service in World War I and World War II. Uncle Charlie lived in Phillipsburg, New Jersey when he first joined the Army in 1911 and he remained in New Jersey until World War II when he entered the United States Naval Reserve to be an instructor at the Naval Air Gunners School.

Three Bryan Cemetery Monuments Beautifully Restored in Bienville Parish was my third most-read post. The Bryan Cemetery is located in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. 

My all-time favorite posts this year were those regarding the photos of Almus and Lillie Beck in Siberia. Almus and Lillie were not my family and I was looking for a good home for the photos. As only four of many photos were labeled, I started with almost nothing and came upon an incredible story. The photos now have a good home at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Click here to read the story of Almus and Lillie. To see many of their photos from Siberia, visit Snapshots From Siberia 1918 -1919. 

If you want to know more about the families I research, click here to like my Facebook page where you will see each post and other genealogical finds. 

Diana

© 2020 

Sources 

Family photographs and documents from the collection of Diana Bryan Quinn.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Friday's Photo: Almus E. Beck of North Carolina." https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/10/fridays-photo-almus-e-beck-of-north.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Friday's Photo: Charles William Giddens." https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/08/fridays-photo-charles-william-giddens.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Julia Moylan's Store on the Flaggy Shore." https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/julia-moylans-store-on-flaggy-shore.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

"Moments in Time, A Genealogy Blog: Snapshots From Siberia 1918." 1919 https://momentsintimeagenealogyblog.blogspot.com/2020/10/snapshots-from-siberia-1918-1919.html. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.