A Day at the Library in Sligo - Stories from the Past

August 9:  Today, we went to the Sligo Library of Local History where the MacDonagh papers are lodged. In 2005, I had spend some time going through them - finding out for example about the location of Killoran where grandparents, great grandparents and great-great grandparents are buried.  It was great to go through more papers with Terence there - we bounced back and forth with each discovery.  Because of the meticulous work completed by our father we were easily able to trace out these roots back to the 1700's.

The source of the Sligo MacDonagh family (Tirerril and Corran) springs from one of the three sons, Innechlach son of Muirdhach of the Broad Crown in 702 AD.  Muiredhach had three sons: Conway, Innechlach, and Cathar.  The O Connors and all its allied families such as the MacDermots, MacDonaghs, O Beirnes, and O Flanagans came from this source.  From Muirdheach of Connaught there can be traced an unbroken line back to an Ri Feredach the Just in 75 AD - the "sun, moon and stars" king.

Closer to home! around 1700
George and Bridget Taaffe MacDonagh (great-great-great-great grandfather/mother). George trained as a doctor during the Penal days and forbidden by law to practice served as a tutor to the Taffee family of Strokestown - he eloped with and married daughter of the family Bridget Taaffe.   The couple eloped to Sligo and settled at Lisserlough in the parish of Killoran. The people in the parish being in sore need of a doctor built a home for George and his new wife.  Some time past, and a peddler called Billy Lee brought the news about the couple back to the Taffee family in Strokestown.  Though the Taaffes never saw their daughter again, they sent to her an annual allowance of 100 pounds.  Bridget was fabled in the baronry for her hospitality.  Children born to George and Bridget were Patrick and George.  Patrick lived to be over 80 when he died in 1826.  George studied for the priesthood for a time period, His studies were cut short when he was home on holidays, had an injury imparing his speech (hit on the nose by a snowball) and was unable to continue his studies.

Patrick and Mary Carty Mac Donagh (great-great-great grandfather) born in 1746.  He had 22 acres and tenants. He married Mary Carty and had four children:  Margaret, Peggy, Marie, and James (born 1782).  It was said that his first wife was not his social equal and is blamed for the family misfortunes! Widowed, he later married a Miss Mularkey, she was the sister of Doctor Mullarkey of Coolaney.  They resided in Lisseralough. They had no children.  They held four townlands known as Lloyds four quarters.


James and Elizabeth (Betty) Carty MacDonagh (great-great grandfather/mother) born in 1782. James married Elizabeth Carty of Carrickbauagher (6/22/1815) on the "eve of the bonfire night of the year of the Battle of Waterloo." They had nine children.
Their children: Catherine, Patrick, Mary, Rebecca, Owen, James, Andrew, John (married Maria Clarke),  and Anne.
Emigrating to US:  Rebecca, Owen, James, Andrew, and Anne
Emigrating to England: Mary

Patrick and Catherine McHugh MacDonagh of Carrowdoonen (great grandfather/mother). Patrick was born in 1819 and died in 1904 at the age of 85. He married Catherine McHugh (11/3/1866) daughter of Pat McHugh.  They had three children:
James of Carrowcloover born 1869, married Bridget Flynn
Michael of Coolaney born 1871 married Catherine McCarrick
 Eugene of Ballymote  born 1873 married Anne Hayden

Eugene and Anne Hayden MacDonagh of Ballymote (grandfather/mother).  Eugene born in 1873 married Anne Hayden. He was an agent for the W.H. Ryan Co, Ormond Quay, Dublin.  They had seven children:  Patrick (who dies at 10 months), James Stephen (Chris), Vincent, Mary, Margaret, Eugene, and Elizabeth. Eugene died in 1924 and Anne in 1942.

My father/mother:  James Stephen (Chris)and Betty Blackledge MacDonagh. Chris was born in 1905 Educated at St Nathy's B'dreen, and University College Galway, 1928. Betty was born in Cork in 1917, daughter of Ralph and Etta Doyle Blackledge.  Betty was educated at Loreto Abbey Dalkey.  In 1941, Chris married Betty Blackledge.  Chris died in 1960, and Betty in 2003.  Their children are: Eoghan (b 1942), Etta (b 1946), Terence (b 1952), and Fiona (b 1959).