Death (information) Kells area, Co Meath

[WhereRthey]

Hi,
I'm searching for  any information about my Gt Grandfather,
Michael Duffy, presumed born c1820.  (Religion R.C.) He had at least one brother, Patrick Duffy married to Beffley (Bessie?). 
He was married to Bridget Dun(ne)
Father of Thomas, James, Mary, Bety....  - all lived in Maperath, Parish of Dulane, Carnaross. 
I know that my gt grandfather lived most of his life in Maperath, Co. Meath. He was a coachman, horse trainer.
I know he attended the marriage of my grandfather (James Duffy born 1852) in Kingstown on January 7th 1875.

Verbal recollection passed down from elderly relatives says he died as a very old man and was totally blind.  I believe he lived with his daughter (at the end of his life) in Whitecommons/Kells. From information from my very old relatives, I presume Michael died around the turn of the century but have been unable to track down the actual place or date of his death.
Is anyone able to help me find anything at all or to help discover any more information/dates about him?
I would be extremely grateful for help either with facts - or advice on what else I can do to discover more.  (I have already contacted Meath Heritage Centre but with no results.)
Thank you so much for any help offered.

[MikeW]

If they were in Carnaross parish, why not try the Parish Priest in Carnaross, Kells, Co. Meath ?    If you think they were attached to Kells (town) Parish, try there.   The RC records date from 1791...and you'd probably have better luck than wasting time and money in the  Meath "Heritage" centre.
                            MikeW.

[WhereRthey]

Hi Mike,

Many thanks for your reply.  A few years ago I did try to contact the Parish Priest of Kells (RC) Church.  I asked for this information and also volunteered a contribution to the Church funds but received no reply.   Perhaps there were more pressing problems there in those days and it certainly might be a good idea to try again.

So, thanks for the idea, I'll try again.

[MikeW]

    I should have said :   Write to  the  'Parish Secretary'.....he's the one who would be dealing with your request(not one of the  priests), and a suitable donation in Euros/Pounds would be in order.... after all, there's little or  nothing 'free' anywhere  these days, if you want some serious results.  The parish  has a computer printout of the same  available  parish-info (1791-1901) held in the  heritage centre.
   
             {{ Parish Secretary
                  St Colmcille's  RC  Presbytery
                  Headfort Place
                  Kells
                  Co. Meath
                  Rep. of  Ireland }}

[WhereRthey]

Hi Mike,

Now that's really worthwhile information.  Thank you very much for it - and especially for the address.  This sounds like the turning point of my long, long search for information on relatives from the Parish of Dulane, Co. Meath.
I've searched the microfiche from the LDS, visited Dublin Archives and written to all and sundry for so many years but hope that a letter (& donation) to the secretary will produce a result.
I can't thank you enough. 
Sincerely,
Myra

[MikeW]

If you look up the Griffith Valuation  for Ireland (Duffy/Co. Meath) you'll find some listed as Maperath townland, and Loughan. The date for those is around 1848-plus. Loughan would be Carnaross parish (It's only three miles from Kells); but I know there are some Maperath references in the Kells parish record. Don't get too excited : a search is only as good as the searcher ! 
       Happy hunting !
                                 Mike.

[WhereRthey]

Hi Mike,
Thank you for this reply too... It's so much easier to think straight when you have someone showing you the way! (Meaning you!) I have looked at Griffiths valuation in the past but am like the person you described (ie not a very good researcher!) I did search on the name and didn't actually find anything for Michael Duffy.  I thought perhaps the family only owned a very small bit of land & so wouldn't be included in the valuation.  However, I will try again now I have your enthusiasm to encourage me.

Incidentally, I received a copy of the 1901 & 1911 census for Michael Duffy yesterday (result of an email to the Librarian at Navan - fantastic person and so kind.) These show Michael Duffy as head of family (1901) aged 87 - so presumably born c1814 - in a house on his own land. His profession is given as 'Retired Farmer' although on his son's marriage cert. it was stated he was a 'coachman, horse trainer'.  He is not mentioned on the 1911 census, so presumably he died between the two.  However, his son and family still appear to be living in the same house - so that is something for me to follow up.  His son too is said to be a farmer. (1911) Hopefully I think I can use this information to obtain the date of Michael's death from the Dublin Archives now as I believe they do a 5 year search if given a date and a place.

So, after many years of searching, some of the strands are coming together and it is still as exciting as those first few months!  What it is to be addicted!!!
Thank you again for your help and most of all for your encouragement.
Myra

[MikeW]

I haven't got  a detailed copy of the original GV list for the rural areas, but the online version shows a

   Michael Duffy   -  Maperath(townland) -  Parish of Loughan.

 Dulane townland is just over a mile or so outside Kells; another mile or two along the same road is the townland of Maperath........which is listed as in the 'parish of Loughan', but people might well have come into Kells parish instead.  Carnaross parish (chapel/priest)
would be the one to inquire at, if they were born/married in
' Loughan '  parish.  All of these placenames are within a radius of just a few miles. If/when I'm in the Co. Library(Navan) again, must look up the GV for the area.
                         Regards - 
                                           Mike W.

[WhereRthey]

That sounds like 'my' Michael Duffy.  He did live in Maperath (& according to Frances Tallon, one of his descendants still lives there.)
I wonder if you would be so kind as to send me the URL of the site where you found this entry?
I have tried looking GV up before but have never been able to find a result for Michael Duffy.
I would also really appreciate any further information whenever /if ever you manage to get into Navan again.  It doesn't matter on the time scale whether it's this year or the next (sort of thing....) I would be so grateful for any other facts to add to his file.
Any other ideas to turn me into a more professional researcher may be useful too!  I've struggled with trying to teach myself for so long and don't seem to get all that far - especially with the Irish relatives!
Still, with kind souls like you around, perhaps I'll get there in the end.
Many, many thanks,
Myra