Hi Fran,
I am interested in a connection you mentioned:
Michael Creighton (1823 - 1915) married to Anne Gara (1832 - ?) who had a son Thomas born 1852.
I trying to link my family tree to one of three Creighton's from the same area in Roscommon.
The above Michael Creighton - has been suggested to me by others as being the father and mother of my great grandmother Winifred Creighton who was married to Thomas Grogan.
As well as they having a son Thmas born 1852, they also had Jacob 1853, Roger 1857, Mary 1861, and Winifred 1862 (possibly my great-grandmother).
I had been leaning towards an Andrew Creighton who was married to Maria Mannion and among their children was another Winifred born 1861.
The third was Jacob Creighton who was married to Maria Sweeney and again there was a child born to them called Winifre in 1857.
So easy to get swayed from one to the other.
All three were in the Loughglynn area and were Roman Catholic entries.
There was also an Edward Creighton who married Mary Moffit and a Thomas Creighton who was married to a Catherine Ford, although neither were listed with a Winifred thank goodness or it would be even harder.
Obviously a very common name in the mid 19th centure in the area of Loghglynn and surrounding townlands and perhaps all cousins.
Going back one generation further you would possibly encounter a similar trend as the father's of these Creighton's quite possibly cousins also. Where does it end?
However, having said all of that, I would be very interested in any info you have on the above mentioned Michael Creighton and Anna Gara.
I found an Anna O'Gara born 20/3/1824 with a father Edmond O'Gara and mother Margaret McGlyn.
Also an entry for Griffith's Valuations for a Michael Creighton in the towland of Aghadrestan, civil parish of Tibohine, barony of Frenchpark, and poor law union of Castlerea.