Thomas Kelly

[Owl]

I am trying to find information about my great great granny, Catherine Kelly nee O'Donnell. She married Thomas Kelly who was older than her in about 1862 and was subsequently widowed with 6 children circa 1878. She brought her family over to Manchester and appears in the 1881 census with her sons working in the local factories as bass dressers. I have birth certificates for two of the children born in Strade. Thomas is variously described as a labourer in a paper mill and later as a foreman in a paper mill. Can anyone enlighten me as to where this paper mill might be in relation to Strade in the 1860s? He was earlier described as a farmer and publican at Folfadda. Does anyone know what or where Folfadda is?

[heywood]

http://www.museumsofmayo.com/davitt.htm - Michael Davitt a famous son of Straide. There is an email address on this site- failing all else you could ask at the museum.
http://www.failteromhat.com shows that there was a Thomas Kelly, Strade (modern spelling seems to be with the 'i') in Griffiths Valuation.
http://www.thecore.com/seanruad/  - for a townland search- nothing comes up likfe Folfadda. Straide is near Foxford - it couldn't be that could it?

Sorry I can't be of any more help- best wishes
heywood

[Owl]

Many thanks for your help.  I will set about following up your leads. Folfadda is clearly spelt on the certificate but could have been misheard by the writer.  I fear Thomas Kelly would not have recognised what was written down so it may very well have been Foxford!