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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Galway => Topic started by: DOC1 on Tuesday 06 September 11 05:46 BST (UK)
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I am trying to get some info on ancestors from the Aran Islands.
My ggrandfather Henry Lynch m. Margaret O'Rourke in 1892, on Inishmore. Her father was Stephen O'Rourke m.1865 Mary O'Malley.
Stephen died when he was 30 yrs and Mary married John Gorham in 1876.
Stephen's father was John Rorke (various spellings) but I don't know his wife and Mary's father was Pat O'Malley but I don't know his wife.
Can anyone help with further info?
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I presume your Lynch/[O']Rourke family were RC ?
Unfortunately RC parish records for the Aran Islands only go back to the 1870s, so if Henry and Margaret were baptised on the islands, then there will be no written record.
Shane
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Thanks for the info Shane.
Monica
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Monica,
Here is a census return for 1911 which lists Margaret as head of house. Henry Lynch came originally from Arklow when the congested district board brough fishermen and their boats to Aran in order to help modernise the island's fishing industry. The Lynchs were associated with the sea and with lighthouse keeping. The last of the Lynchs to live on Aran was Mary (Ciss) who died some years ago at the age of 99. Tommy O'Rourke was involved in the making of Robert Flaherty's Man of Aran in 1932. Another very skilled seafarer who was part of the shark hunting crew.That surname has also now died out on Aran
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai002386030/
Mike.
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Hi Mike,
Thanks for replying. We always wondered why Henry left Arklow for Aran, now we know!
We were lucky enough to meet Ciss over 20 years ago when we visited Aran. How I wish
I had asked her family history then.
All these little pieces help to build the picture of life on Aran. I have seen the movie, many years ago.
Thanks again.
Monica
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Hi
Iam am indirectly related to the o'rourkes of inishmore through my grandfather James Cooney. His sister Mary Cooney married Stephen O'Rourke in 1897 in Boston, USA then came back to Inishmore. Thier daughter Maria was born in Boston, Stephen in Limerick and thier other two children on Inishmore. I know Mary and her future husband Stephen O'Rourke both went to Boston around 1892 they appear on the 1900 Boston census and then the 1901 Ireland census Mary & the children in Limerick, Stephen on Inishmore. Any other info you have would be useful.
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Hi everyone on this subject.
I inadvertently came across this forum today when googling Inishmore, as I plan to visit in the summer.
I am the great grand daughter of Mary Cooney and Stephen O'Rourke - my maternal grandmother was Catherine O'Rourke, she was the younger sibling born on Inishmore when the family returned from Boston.
I am sure that I can give information to both Georgieknits and Monica as in addition to my knowledge on the family, I can also ask my mother and my Aunt who is still in Ireland.
If I am correct Georgieknits, you would be a cousin of my mother and her siblings. Her father was a Garda from Kerry whose name was John Hickey and he was married to Catherine O'Rourke.
Monica, my mother has spoken of the Lynchs. she used to go to the lighthouse as a child and help clean the windows! We also knew Ciss Lynch very well. I have a photograph of myself with her outside her cottage, taken when I was 5 years old.
I would be really interested in making further contact and I know my mother will be too.
Best wishes,
Mary
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I am so happy to get both your replies. Sorry it has taken so long to reply, Georgieknits.
I think our connection is through Stephens sister Margaret. I would like to share more info
so I will try to send a PM to you both.
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Hi,
I am Mary Theresa, granddaughter of Eileen Stocker nee Mary Ellen Lynch of Inis Mor. My great grandmother was Margaret Lynch nee O Rourke. My g g grandparents were Steven O Rourke & Mary O Malley. So what I can make out My great grandmother must have been Mary Cooney's sister in law. I must have
some unknown family out there, i came across this site looking for family names on Aran. Will be out there later this year.
Hope this is useful..
Mary
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Monica I am wondering now since I posted my message earlier, are we cousins as we have same g grandparents?
My grandfather was also a lighthouse keeper, Cecil Stocker on Aran (married Eileen Lynch, sister to Ciss). My mum was born in Kilronan with other siblings, so I'm wondering who your mum & dad are? I hope you get this. Mary T
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Hi Mary Theresa and Georgieknits!
I had sent personal messages to you both a while ago but didn't notice you hadn't enough posts to receive this. I think you have to have posted 3 times. Anyway,I have posted this in order to complete my husbands tree. His name is Philip Docherty. His grandfather was Stephen Lynch, brother to Ciss and Mary Ellen (and the rest!).Stephen went to Scotland and married a girl from Donegal called Mary Carroll.We live in Australia but have been to The Aran islands. We met Ciss then and Harry Stocker and his wife happened to be there . Is he your uncle?
If either of you post again, I can send a personal message with more info.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Monica :)
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Hi Monica
wow..good to make contact, thank u for your post..Yes Harry Stocker is my uncle, sadly he passed away last month. So your husbands grandfather would be my great uncle and sister to my grandmother Eileen Stocker.
It does get confusing as we appear 2b a large family. And I can offically now say we have family in Ausi... :-)
Many years ago I did venture out to the USA to catch up with family but never made it to Ausi. Peter my partner's daughter Anna has just spent the last 8 months travelling around Ausi and really loved it. Pete & I will b on aran in september. Sadly my mum (Maura Stocker) cant travel so far these days but she talks fondly about those days on aran. I would like very much to keep in touch. If yhers an easier way to contact one another please let me know. Look forward to hearing fm u soon. And thank u for yr message.
Mary T :-)
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Mary Theresa,
I sent you a personal message.
Monica