1. BRIDGET WALSH #1
My first post on Our Mayo Families was Three Bridget Walsh's from Ireland to Ellis Island, New York. The second post concerned who they were and location of the three Bridget's after their arrival in New York. At that time I did not know anything concerning Bridget #1.I am confident that I now know the parents of Bridget #1.
Bridget Walsh, age 19, arrived at Ellis Island in 1897 with Anne DONNELLY in 1897. Anne and family lived in the townland of Ballygowen, County Mayo. In the 1901 and 1911 Irish census the next door neighbor of the Donnelly family was Anthony WALSH, a blacksmith, and his wife Bridget. On the 21 of April 1877 daughter Bridget WALSH was born to Anthony WALSH, a blacksmith, and Bridget FLAHERTY WALSH of Ballygowen.
I still do not know what happened to Bridget the daughter of Anthony after arriving at Ellis Island.
Bridget #3 who immigrated in 1909 with Bridget Walsh McHale (Bridget #2) is still unknown after the 1920 census where she was enumerated as a kitchen maid/cook to a family in New York City.
My grandparents home was completely destroyed by fire in 1950. Many of the answers to these and other Irish genealogical questions went up in flames early in the morning hours of that June day.
2. MICHAEL WALSH, son of John WALSH & Bridget GARVIN
John WALSH and Bridget GARVIN of Cloonaleedin, Kilfian were the parents of 10 children born between 1868 and 1887. Five of the children I have been able to document with birth, marriage, death, and census records. Until recently the other five I only found birth dates and some census records. The number documented is now six.Michael WALSH, the 6th child, was born 18 August 1877 in Cloonaleedin, Parish of Kilfian. The 1901 & 1911 census found Michael at Cloonaleedin with his parents. By 1911 he was the only child who remained at the homestead. Mary Ellen HARRISON from Clooneenmore, Easkey, Co Sligo became the wife of Michael 10 December 1916 in Easkey. The only record discovered of this marriage are photos of the pages in the parish book. Michael and Mary Ellen resided in Cooga, Easkey, Sligo. They are buried at Roslea Cemetery, Easkey. Michael died 22 Jan 1951 and Mary Ellen eleven years later 30 May 1962. Michael's birth and death civil records can be founds at: https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/
At this time I only know of one child of this marriage. Michael Joseph “Josie” WALSH was born 7 September 1919 in Cooga, Easkey, Silgo. Michael emigrated to the US in 18 April 1948 with his new bride Celia “Sheila” WALL aboard the SS Washington from Cobh. Michael died 14 April 2004 and is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their daughter Eileen WALSH (1952-2013) married Francis DOYLE in Pennsylvania.
Michael’s great grandson Congressman Brendan Francis BOYLE has been a member of the US House of Representatives, representing a district near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since January 2015. Brendan’s brother Kevin BOYLE is also in politics as he is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
In August 2017 Brendan F. BOYLE, his father, and brother visited County Sligo and Cloonaleedin, Kilfian, Co Mayo. John WALSH, the current resident, of the home in Cloonaleedin presented Brenden BOYLE sods of turf. The floor/flagstones of the Walsh home of John and Bridget remains next to John’s home.
The IrishEcho, published 8 September 2017
Still need to locate the following children of John WALSH and Bridget GARVIN:
Child #3 Martin WALSH born 18 April 1871
Child #4 Ellen WALSH born 14 November 1873
Child #8 John WALSH born 10 July 1884
Child #9 Patrick WALSH born 10 July 1887
There are stories of each of the above but no documentation other than their births.
