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Mayo / Re: McDonnell's of Moorehall
« on: Wednesday 12 August 15 00:31 BST (UK) »
Hi David,
My mother has done a lot of the geneaology on her family, the McDonnells of Moorehall ... You're right that the Moores bought land from the McDonnells, and I think my mother showed me a copy of the Deed concerning that transaction. You see the McDonnells were gallowglas, i.e. mercenary (professional) soldiers to the Burkes, and as far as I'm aware, they were awarded land after helping an English captain to take Shrule Castle in what is now in Co. Mayo. However, I'll get the accurate story from my mother, or ask her to write to you instead as I'm rather hazy on it. However, the Irish writer, George Moore, according to my mother is writing about the McDonnells in his short story, "The Wedding Gown" in his collection, "The Untilled Field" although he changes the surname to O'Dwyer ... your wife might like to read it. Our family are now living in Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland but her grandfather, Alexander McDonnell had emigrated to England in the late 19th century. Subsequently, her father Francis Alexander McDonnell returned to Ireland just before WWII, and we're here ever since.
What is your wife's name and who were her father and grandfather ... Was there a John Joe McDonnell by any chance because he lived in New York, and my aunt, Nora (nee McDonnell) visited him there in the 1960s, and wrote down a family tree that he had memorized. We keep returning to that family tree. Do keep in touch.
Cathal
My mother has done a lot of the geneaology on her family, the McDonnells of Moorehall ... You're right that the Moores bought land from the McDonnells, and I think my mother showed me a copy of the Deed concerning that transaction. You see the McDonnells were gallowglas, i.e. mercenary (professional) soldiers to the Burkes, and as far as I'm aware, they were awarded land after helping an English captain to take Shrule Castle in what is now in Co. Mayo. However, I'll get the accurate story from my mother, or ask her to write to you instead as I'm rather hazy on it. However, the Irish writer, George Moore, according to my mother is writing about the McDonnells in his short story, "The Wedding Gown" in his collection, "The Untilled Field" although he changes the surname to O'Dwyer ... your wife might like to read it. Our family are now living in Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland but her grandfather, Alexander McDonnell had emigrated to England in the late 19th century. Subsequently, her father Francis Alexander McDonnell returned to Ireland just before WWII, and we're here ever since.
What is your wife's name and who were her father and grandfather ... Was there a John Joe McDonnell by any chance because he lived in New York, and my aunt, Nora (nee McDonnell) visited him there in the 1960s, and wrote down a family tree that he had memorized. We keep returning to that family tree. Do keep in touch.
Cathal