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Baptismal Records - Killybegs Parish

Introduction

The following information was taken from parish records for Killybegs, Diocese of Raphoe, County Donegal, Ireland. Earlier, I considered transcribing all the parish records; however, this is a terribly time consuming task. Eight years of full baptismal records have been transcribed; however, all baptismal records for McGonigles, Murrins, and McCloskeys have been recorded up to 1872. No Timoney records or its variants were found. Baptismal records will be presented in another document. This document merely reviews the marriages recorded in this parish from 1850 to 1903, and only marriages for Murrins, McGonigles and McCloskeys are shown.

What did we expect to find in these records? Did Francis McGonigle have any brothers or sisters? Would the records show this relationship? Before examining the marriage records we thought you might find the following history of St. Mary’s church interesting.

St. Mary’s of the Visitation

St. Mary’s Church is the only Roman Catholic Church in Killybegs. There was an earlier church, St. Catherine’s, but it is largely in ruins now. St. Catherine’s was built by Roger Jones somewhere around 1615 and has been used as a burial ground for both Catholics and Protestants. At some point St. Catherine’s church was turned over to the Protestants.

St. Mary’s Church is located on Church Road. According to the directions provided to tourists, one must keep left and go down Mulreany’s Brae where you will eventually find St. Mary’s Church on your right. According to parish records, the foundation stone was laid on February 2, 1842, and the Church was opened to the public 22 months later on Christmas Day 1843. The formal dedication by Dr. Cullen, Archbishop of Dublin, did not take place until August 6, 1854, on account of the Great Famine. Alexander Murray of Broughton in Southwest Scotland was landlord of Killybegs. He had his architect, John Buonarotti Papworth, design this church. Murray provided the site for the church as well as giving the single largest donation (£100) towards its construction.

Father William Drummond, Parish Priest, and Father James Stephens, Curate, were responsible for building St. Mary’s Church. As a Catholic Church it is unique in Ireland and still retains its general simplicity of design. Where these Catholics worshipped prior to 1843 we do not know. The 1836 Diocese of Raphoe records show Father Drummond and Father Stephens assigned to Killabegs (Killybegs). In the 1846 Slater’s Directory the priests assigned to the parish at Killybegs were Reverend William Drummond, Parish Priest, and Reverend John O’Donnell, Curate.

The chief stronghold of the Mac Sweeney’s in this part of Ireland was Rahan Castle, on St. John’s Point, near Dunkineely. St. John’s Point is a peninsula six miles long and rarely more than a mile wide. You can see if on the map above as it forms part of Killaghtee parish. Under the year 1524, the Four Masters wrote: “Niall Mor MacSuibhne of Tir Boghaine died, after Unction and Penance, in his own fair castle at Rahan, on the fourteenth of December.” In the nineteenth century the stones of this old castle were used to build St. Mary’ Church of the Visitation. Niall Mor’s grave slab actually resides within St. Mary’s Church and is shown below. Today it is encased in glass to protect it from the elements.

Parish Marriage List

The following was transcribed from parish records for St. Mary’s Church of the Visitation. You will notice that in some cases the names of the parents are listed on the marriage records. The earlier records were not so complete. Also, the Parish Priest listed the location where the bride and groom lived, if known. The location names are old style and may not correspond to known townland names. We limited the list to records for a Murrin, McGonigle or McCloskey.

We identified two people who were named ‘Peter McGonigle’. One ‘Peter McGonigle’ married an ‘Ann Murrin’ in Killybegs but no records exist there for any children. Did this Peter McGonigle move away from Killybegs? In our search we found a Peter McGonigle (born 1843) and Ann Murrin (born 1844) who moved to America. They had a daughter named Mary Ann who was born in July of 1866 in New York City. This family eventually moved to Colorado where Peter worked as a miner. In 1908 Ann Murrin McGonigle died in Denver. This Peter McGonigle died several years later (1912) in Kansas City, Kansas. Mary Ann McGonigle married James Henry O’Brien of Belvedere, Illinois.

The other Peter McGonigle married Brigid McShane in County Donegal. This couple had many children who were baptized in St. Mary’s Church in Killybegs. The baptismal records appear in another document.

The parish records begin in October of 1850. We did not expect to see either Francis McGonigle or Catherine Murrin listed in these records. According to the 1900 US Census Francis McGonigle was born in July of 1847 and Catherine Murrin McGonigle was born in February of 1846. Burial records suggest both were born in the Eighteen Fifties.

* (Notes: These Entries have been taken from the Registry kept by the late Rev. Wm Drummond PP Killybegs. James Stephens PP)

Spouses

Parents

Location

Date of Marriage