This Project forms part of the Donegal Genealogy Resources Website and is the work of many people
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Gartán - Gartan
A parish in the barony of KILMACRENAN, County of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 6 miles (N.W.) from Letterkenny, on the road to Dunfanaghy; containing 2109 inhabitants. St. Columb founded a monastery here in 521, of which the ruins still remain. The parish comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 44,124 statute acres, including 1590 under water; there is a considerable extent of heathy mountain and bog. A silver and lead mine was worked here in 1835, in the townland of Warrenstown but has been discontinued. Gartan is the residence of Capt. Chambers. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Raphoe, and in the patronage of the Bishop : the tithes amount to £150. The glebe-house was erected in 1828 by a gift of £400 and a loan of £380 from the late Board of First Fruits : the glebe comprises 25 acres. The church, which is a small plain building, was erected in 1819. In the R.C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also part of Kilmacrenan, in each of which there is a chapel. The parochial school, in which about 50 children are educated, is aided by an endowment from Col. Robertson's fund, and subscriptions from the rector; there is also a Sunday school
(From Samuel Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland", 1837)
Introduction
Gartan is a special place for a group of us who have made contact through genealogy lists, my Donegal website or sheer luck. The area most of our ancestors were concentrated in is just south of Churchill, in an area known as Glendowan.
Ancient hazel trees of Ard-na-Chruinne
Gentle ground where fairy people moved;
Over whose assembly ruled Timopan
The Fairy King whom human people loved.
Shy-minded mortals silently
Pass by the Fairy Stone,
Hushed by the ancient stories
Of the charm of the Wee Folk
Oe'er Glendowan(Click here to SEE that Fairy Stone!)
I have collected, with the help of a lot of people, what I consider to be the most valuable resources for researching in this area as well as all of the parish of Gartan. You will find them below, along with our individual research interests and contact email addresses.
If any information on this site in general looks to be relevant to your research please contact me. Further, if you have anything to contribute or you would like to be added to our little list of researchers please send me an email!
Last updated 10 Aug 2019
Births, Marriages and Deaths
Baptisms and Births
Civil Birth Registrations
Civil Birth Registrations 1864 to 1881 Church Hill district - 2,206 entries
Newspaper
Roman Catholic Baptisms
Marriages
Civil Marriage Registrations
Newspaper
Roman Catholic
Banns and Marriages - 1853 to 1880+ from church registers
Deaths
Newspaper
Census
1841/51 Census
1841/91 Census
1901/1911 Census
Carrowtrasna updated
Census & Land Valuation Cross-References by Townland
Churches
Electoral Roll
Events
Headstone Inscriptions
St Columba's Church of Ireland Graveyard under construction
Immigration
Land Information
1837 Valuation Office Field (Perambulation) Notebooks (under construction)
1855 Valuation Field (Perambulation) Notebooks (under construction)
1855 House Books (Meg)
1857 Griffith's Valuation
Donegal Planning Map Search Zoom in for an aerial photo or detailed map of your favorite townland
Who and what is there now? Select Donegal and enter townland name for current details
Links
Sweeney Clan Chief Website - Includes the Sweeneys from Derryveagh and Glendowan
The Catholic Parish of Termon & Gartan - The website of the Catholic Parish of Gartan & Termon
Derryveagh, Evictions Then and Now - Robert Spiegelman's new site on Derryveagh
Parish Map
Parish Map & Data (Bob Hilchey)
Townland Map
Glendowan (143kb)
Media
- Glenveagh Evictions - YouTube
- Interview with Paddy (the Lodge) Gallagher - Bailiúchán Béaloidis new
- The Evictions - Goats Don't Shave - YouTube Music Video
Parliamentary Papers (British) on Ireland
Photographs
Poems and Articles
Derryveagh Evictions - An article by Paul J. Mc Geady
Gartan Poems - The Gartan Mother's Lullaby and more
John Doherty - Farewell to Ireland - Written by Jimmy Doherty of Killymasney, 1929
Passages From Ireland - Thorough Guide Series 1909
Registers
Medical Registers
School Registers
Workhouse Registers
Who is researching family in Gartan?
Lindel (New Zealand) (thats me!) -
My Great Great Grandmother, Fanny Gallagher, was born in Stramore, Gartan, about 1850, the daughter of Hugh and Ann (nee Doherty) Gallagher. She married John O'Donnell from Augullies (near Dungloe) in Letterkenny in 1866 and a few years later, in 1869, she, her husband, their two sons, a foster daughter, her brother's James and Patrick, plus three or four others from their area, known as Glendowan, left for New Zealand. Fanny and her brothers lived out their lives here in Kaikoura, raising 20 children between them. Fanny sister Bridget stayed in Stramore, marrying Daniel Sweeney, the son of Hugh Sweeney and Isabella Gallagher. They had 16 children and lived in a house they built in front of the original home. Hugh's father, James Gallagher, originally from Galwolie, in Kilteevoge, established a shop and hedge school in their house, on the road which used to run past them from Dungloe to Letterkenny. In 1826, Hugh's brother Patrick was the hedge school teacher, with Hugh joining him a few years later.
My husband's father was born in 'The Lodge', Glendowan, Gartan Parish, in 1910. Great Great Grandfather James Gallagher and wife Nora, who were probably born in the early 1800's, had three children that we know of so far - John Ban, Charles, and Fanny. John Ban Gallagher and wife Annie Gallagher (same surnames) had nine children that we know of...Annie, James, Mary, Patrick, Johnny, Hugh, Ned, Daniel, and Timothy. Son James married Bridgit Harley, daughter of James and Mary Ellen (nee Carr) Harley who were from Ardachrin. James and Bridgit had ten children - John, James, Patrick, Michael, Hugh, Daniel, Annie, Mary Ellen, Joseph, and Timothy. Patrick of this generation still lives in the family home, 'The Lodge', which was once owned by Benjamin Humphries, an English landlord.
Joan (USA) -
My great-grandparents were Daniel O’Donnell and Margaret (Margery) Gallagher of Glendowan (Gaelic - Gleann Domhain) in the Parish of Gartan, County Donegal. After 1880 they lived in the townland of Carrickatimpan – prior to that they were in Drumnasharragh. Dan and Margery had 7 sons and 7 daughters. The sons were James, Hugh, John, Daniel, Charles, Patrick and Joseph. The daughters were Anna (my grandmother), Mary, Grace, Susan, Agnes, Margaret (Maggie) and Hannah. John is the only son who remained in Ireland. He married Mary Gallagher and had 10 children. The others emigrated to the United States, most settling in Wilmington, Delaware. Maggie returned to Ireland and married Dominic Harken of Derrora. Anna married James Bradley and eventually settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We have no information about Hannah and suspect she may have died young. My great-grandfather, Dan O’Donnell, was employed by the Landlord, Benjamin Humphrey, as caretaker for his property. When Dan died the Humphrey family erected a large tombstone for him in Temple Douglas Cemetery. In September 2001, my husband and I enjoyed the thrill of standing inside the remains of the Dan and Margery O’Donnell house in Carrickatimpan. Jerry’s “Uncle Patrick” at the Lodge directed us to that site.
Darren (England) -
My Great Grandfather Patrick Duddy, was born in Carrickatimpan, a Townland of the Parish of Gartan in August 1888. His parents names where Patrick and Hannah (nee McLaughlin). His Fathers parents names where John and Mary (nee Mullan). Around 1900 the family left Ardachrin (another Townland close to Carrickatimpan) for Scotland, to find work in the coalmines. They started Scottish life in a village called Newton, near Glasgow, close to the Blantyreferme No 3 colliery where both Patrick's worked.
Connie (USA) -
My Grandfather, Hugh Carr, left his home in Glendowanbeg, Co. Donegal, Ireland abt. 1907 to "make more money in America". His parents were Hugh Carr and Anne Coll. His grandparents were Hugh Carr and Ellen O'Hara (Sligo). He was then in his early 20's with only a quarter in his pocket. To know him was only to love him!! Until his dying day, he carried the Irish brouge with much pride for his homeland! He lived in New York for 4 years before buying land in Montana. Living there only a short time, working in a Copper mine, he enlisted in the army to help fight WWI. After the war, he moved to NE to work for his Uncle John Carr and his wife, Bridget Gallagher, until he purchased his own land in Shamrock township (where else), Holt Co, NE where he met and married Margaret Holcomb. He later sold this land and bought the ranch where my father and Uncle Darell still reside. They had 5 children between the two of them: Hugh Gene (my father), Darell Duane, Lyle James, Sharon Ann and Patrick Joseph. He was able to see his parents only once before he died in 1971. As our family tree grows taller and the roots deeper, I have every confidence that the pride Grandpa felt for Ireland will always reflect in it's branches! With loving memories, Constance Jo.
Mary (USA) -
I am researching my Reid / Reed family who lived in Glebe hill, Churchtown and Carrowtrasna in the middle 1800's. John Reed, my Great Great Grandfather came to Pennsylvania and then to Delaware, USA, in 1848. His father's name was Archy, from John's marriage record to Mary McGrenor in 1846.
Helen (Scotland) -
My name is Helen Smith (maiden surname DOCHERTY). My grandfather was Joseph Doherty, son of William and Mary McGinlay. I think Joseph was born about 1868-1872, but I cannot find proof of this. Two brothers, Michael and Patrick were born in Carrickatimpan. Michael was baptised in May 1868, the sponsors being John Boyle and Mary Boyle. Patrick was born 12 March 1870 - the informant was Grace Doherty. William and Mary McGinlay had another son named William, as he appeared in the 1901 census with his mother, and the 1911 census on his own. In both census returns, a James Doherty lived close by. He could be another son of William and Mary, or possibly a cousin? The first sighting I have of Joseph in Scotland is in the 1891 census in Uddingston, when he was a boarder with Edward Doherty and his wife Mary (maiden surname Curran), who had been married in Letterkenny on 4th November 1881 or 1884 (from the birth certificate of their daughter Grace). Joseph married Mary Ann Daly in 1892 and had six children, Annie, William, Mary, James, Joseph and Patrick (my father). Joseph and his family appeared in the 1901 census in Uddingston, and his brother Michael was a boarder with them, although family folklore has it that Michael left Scotland for United States of America. Joseph's other brother Patrick also appeared in the 1901 census in the same area. Joseph died on 21st May 1908 from injuries received in an accident at No 2 Pit, Blantyre Ferme Colliery, Newton. To date I have been unable to locate Joseph Docherty's birth certificate or any marriage information for his parents William Doherty and Mary McGinlay.
Rose Ann (USA) -
My grandfather, Charles Gallagher (Og) (d. 1938), was married to Anne McLaughlin(1869-1938). They had six children: Frances Maria (Fanny), John, Charles, Ann, James, and Edward. Frances Maria (1900-1961) was married to Jeremiah McBride (1892-1976) and had 17 children; John (1902-1991) was married to Mary McAteer (which she changed to McIntyre) and had one son, Philip. They lived in Pennsylvania, USA; Charles (1904-1996) was married to Leona Bach and had no children. He emigrated to Canada, where he lived with his wife, who was from Kansas, USA; Ann (1905-1990) was married to Dennis Larkin (my father, who came from Liverpool but whose original family was from Armagh) and had 7 children and lived in Forest Hills, New York; James (1909-1969) was not married and continued to live in Inniskill; Edward (1912-1939) was married to Nellie Callaghan and had one child, Charles. When Edward died, his wife remarried, and the child's name became Charles Stratton. Edward and Nellie may have emigrated to South America. I would like to know if my grandfather, Charles Gallagher (son of Charles Gallagher), and his wife, Anne McLaughlin (whom I know absolutely nothing about), had any siblings. They could be sources of McGinleys in our family tree. The only other names I have are James and Catherine McFadden, my mom's godparents, and Cassie McCormick and Nelly McClafferty, friends of my mom's.
Nan (USA) -
The Rodger McDade and Margery Crossan household in the 1901 census of Meenawilligan are my great-great-grandparents. I am descended from Patrick McDevitt DOB Sept 7, 1865 in Meenawilligan (settled in NYC) and married Maggie McFadden in 1894 at St. Columba's Church in Chelsea, NYC. (Gives his parents on certificate as Rodger McDevitt and Mage Crossen of IRL.) He died 1930. One daughter, Mary b. 1897, my grandmother. Others in the Crossen/McDade family born in Meenawilligan: Susan, born January 29, 1885, Sarah, August 8, 1881, (on census) Joseph, June 30, 1879, MaryAnn, July 16, 1877, Charles, February 4, 1875, Margaret, Feb. 20, 1873, John, March 24, 1870, Charles, July 13, 1868 (Died), Dan Dec. 31, 1866. Have not been able to connect with any of this family--- who else came to US? Unknown.
Joe (USA) -
Denis Frize and Margaret McDaid in Falbane & Michael and Mary Duddy in Mountpleasure are his great great grandparents, as are Dan O'Donnell and Margery Gallagher in Carricktimpan. Other families he has connection to are Dohertys in Killymasney, Carberrys and Friels. He still has close ties with family in the area and has said that he would be happy to help anyone out with their research there.
Steve (USA) -
I'm not sure I have anything to contribute at this time because I think my research is leading more toward Letterkenny - specifically in the townlands of Ballynakilly and Glenkeeragh. However, my great-great-grandfather's (John McDaid) second wife was Margaret Murray from the areas of Cornagullion and Gartan.
Francis (Frank) O'Donnell (Gardner) age 26 married Margaret Gallagher (Servant) age 27 on the 24th or 25th of December 1893 at the Roman Catholic Chapel of Glendowan in the Registrar's District of Churchill in the Union of Letterkenny in the County of Donegal. Frank's father was Manus O'Donnell a Gardner residing in Lacknacoo, Gartan. Margaret's father was Edward Gallagher a Farmer residing in Lacknacoo as well. Margaret's sister, Mary, married Cornelius Murray, son of John and Rose Murray of Drumdeevin, Kilmacrenan, on 5 Feb 1889 at St Columba's Termon and Gartan. I was looking to dig deeper. Like where Frank was born, where Manus was born and his wife's name, etc.
Shona (Australia) -
Hugh and Mary both came from Glendowan, County Donegal, arriving in Lyttleton, New Zealand, 17 Jun 1870 on the Ramsay with their infant son Edward. Also on board were three young men from Glendowan - James Carr, John McCay and Dominic Sweeney. Hugh Gallagher was b abt 1830 in Glendowan and d 1922 in Kaipoi, NZ. His parents names were Edward Gallagher and Fanny Doherty (information from his NZ Death Cert.) His wife Mary Gallagher was b abt 1843 in Glendowan and d 1930 in Kaiapoi. Her parents names were James Gallagher and Hannah Doherty (Info from her NZ death cert.) Their son Edward was 7 weeks old when they embarked from Plymouth on 27 Mar 1870 and they went on to have six more boys born in NZ. after Edward there were John b:1871, James b:1873 d:1873, William b:1875 d:1875, Daniel b:1876 d:1961, Michael James (My G.Grandfather) b:1878 d:1917 Somme WW1, Patrick Gallagher b:1880 d:1916 WW1, and Hugh James (Jimmie) b:1882 d:1965.
Bernadette (France) -
Bernadette is descended from John Conaghan (Connaghan, Cuneghan, Cunningham, etc) of Churchill/Carrowtrasna/Churchtown who was married to Grace Doherty abt 1870. Their children were all baptised in Glendowan Church. John died in 1918 in Carrowtrasna aged 64 (d.o.b around 1854/55), son of Patrick? Conaghan & Catherine? Trearty (she was born in Creeslough, Dunfanagy). Grace Doherty was b abt 1855 in Carrickatimpan (this is unconfirmed as there are no existing records). She was the daughter of Mary? McGinley and William? Doherty. John and Grace had 12 children - their details are in a page attached to the family entry in the 1901 census of Carrowtrasna on this website.
Chuck (USA) -
Chuck is researching Charles McLoughlin/McLaughlin and Fanny Gallagher. They had five daughters that he knows of - Catherine, born in 1866, Ann, Bridget, Fanny, and Unity. They immigrated to the U.S.A. in the mid 1880s.
Mike (USA)
So far my ancestor's townlands were in Conwal parish, but include Derrora, Tullanascreen, and Sockar, two of which border Gartan parish near Churchill. There's also a good chance I had Kelly's in Falbane townland which adjoins Tullanascreen, and is in Garten parish.
Patty (USA) -
William G Forrest b. 1810 d. 1891 emigrated to Delaware from the Parish of Gartan, Donegal, Ireland in 1832. His wife, Margaret Parvis (or Purvis) emigrated from County Tyrone. They were married in 1835. In doing Cemetery research we found Samuel Forrest b. abt. 1816 married to Mary Ranken b. abt. 1801. She was a native of Rothsay, Scotland. Also, there was a William and Martha Forrest (she was b. abt. 1801) and we are not sure if they are related to William and Margaret Forrest.
The Forrest Monument at Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, Wilmington, DE has this Epitaph:
William Forrest: Born in Parish of Gartan, Donegal, Ireland, Aug. 1, 1810. Emigrated to the U.S. June 1, 1832. Died May 18, 1891.
Margaret Forrest: Wife of Wm Forrest. Born in County Tyrone, Ireland, Feb. 1, 1815. Died Sept 17, 1886.
Barbara Ann Forrest Butler: Wife of Joseph Butler. Born Oct. 7, 1836. Died Sept 5, 1875.
No sin nor care can reach her now. Angels crown is on her head. She joined that joyful, hearldry wind. Who's heart is in that better land.
Joseph Butler: Born in the Parish of Moville, Ireland. Died July 29, 1887, aged 52 years.
Margaret Elizabeth Forrest Carrow: Margaret F. his wife June 23, 1848 - March 6, 1934.
James Carrow: Dec 1, 1838 - July 26, 1922.
I will be happy to help in any way we can if you know or hear from anyone that needs information or pictures of headstones of someone here in Delaware.Brendan (Ireland) -
Brendan's wife is a gr gr grand daughter of Charles Gallagher and Bridget McGinley of Drumnasharragh. She is related to them through their daughter Mary, who married James O'Donnell, Magheran, Conwal, the son of Nathaniel and Catherine O'Donnell, on 14 May 1888 at St Columba Termon and Gartan. Witnesses Patrick McCormick, Inniskil and Ellen Bradley, Cornagullion. Thanks to Brendan, there is now a photograph of Bridget McGinley on her census entry for Drumnasharragh.
Trish (USA) -
Trish is descended from John Duddy, a son of Neil Duddy and Sarah Crossan of Falbane & Mary McCay, a daughter of James McCay and Bridget Duffy of Clondavaddog. Her father is a son of John Duddy and Mary McCay, who married at Glendowan on 24 Nov 1901
Acknowledgements
(in alphabetical order!)
Joan Broussard (for census copies & photos)
Berni Campbell (for census & electors)
Bernie Donaghey (for photos & inscriptions)
Connie Comte (for photos)
Darren Dooley (for valuations & sketch maps)
Deirdre Doherty (for census)
Joe Dougherty Jr (for photos & poem)
Tara Drake (census and more census)
Jerry Gallagher (for headstone inscriptions, typing & photos)
Margaret Graham (for census copies)
Cass McCready (for copies of civil registrations of births)
Fr Michael McKeever (for Glendowan baptisms)
Bernadette Murphy (census index & photos)
Shauna O'Donnell (for civil registrations)
Michael Ó Nuadháin (for census copies)
Muriel Sherlock (for headstone inscriptions and baptisms)
Bill Spillane (for maps)
Tom Sweeney (photographs and help)
© 1998 Donegal Genealogy Resources
