parish records? BEGLEY/BAGLEY

[polly88]

Hello there

I'm sure I'm doing this wrong, and if I am please ignore this! 

I am posting this on the Donegal bit but I don't really know for sure if that's the relevant County.

I am searching in vain for my great grandfather John Peter Begley (sometimes transcribed as Bagley), and his father Thomas Begley.  John Begley lived in St Helens and Liverpool and was  born in 1856c and died in 1931.  He married in 1874 in St Helens, and on the marriage certificate it said his father was Thomas Bagley, deceased, born Ireland.  I think that John Begley was also born in Ireland, as I can't find any record of his birth in England (I've wasted lots of money on wrong certificates).

If anyone can help in any way I'd be very grateful.  I've looked on various Irish websites and seen quite a few Thomas Begleys but how do I know if they are mine?

Thank you in advance.

Polly