My Trip to County Clare in 2005

by Patricia Doyle Molnar

Ireland had been calling me for sometime. Researching my roots was becoming imperative. I knew
my grandmothers maiden name on the maternal side of my family. The internet was a great
beginning and I was able to locate my grandmother on a ships manifest in 1907 stating that she was
going to New Haven, CT. My grandmother Margaret (Madge) OLoughlin had come from Miltown
Malbay, Co. Clare.
So when we decided to visit Ireland we looked on-line for the nearest lodging to that township. My
partner punched in the info and up came Clonmore Lodge, Quilty, Co. Clare. This was perfect as it
was only a couple of miles from Miltown Malbay. The owners of the lodge, John Daly and his
lovely wife Maire, were very kind, hospitable and helpful in locating my grandmothers old
homestead. As far as I know the OLoughlins had lived there 160 years, more or less.
John Daly took us to the farm to see the outside of the home and surrounding land. It was late in the
day with rain falling when we met the present owner, Mr. Talty. We tried taking pictures, they
werent the best. I cant thank John Daly enough for all his help, and the two other sources he gave
me.
One of the contacts was an e-mail address who happened to be an OLoughlin. This person had her
brother send me a 17 page document on the OLoughlins going back to the 1700s. This was beyond
my greatest hope, roots! I cant wait to go back and meet some OLoughlins. I was told that my
OLoughlins were linked to the Prince of the Burren, who was an OLoughlin. The Burren is in the
northern part of County Clare. There is also an Lochlainn Castle still standing, a landmark for
tourists.
We had visited the Poulnabrone Dolmen. This area is spectacular and magnificent with its stark
beauty. As I was standing there absorbing and drinking in the flora all around me, I felt like I was
home. I felt quite peaceful there and did not want to leave. It was almost a year later that I learned
that my OLoughlins originally came from the Burren. I also learned that in the 1800s a great, great,
great uncle was a civil engineer who worked on the Corkscrew Hill and spectacle bridge in the
Burren.
I would never have known about my roots if I did not persevere with my research. Never give up!
Tips For Your Research - Know where your people are buried. You can get dates of their birth and
deaths. Finding out where they were born as in county and town. Retrieving copies of their marriage
or death certificates should be a big help. In County Clare there is the Irish Heritage Centre in
Corofin. In Dublin there is the General Registrars Office, Lombard Street. What is imperative here
is to talk to your older relatives before they are gone. Take notes or record them. Cemeteries can be
helpful too. I used the 2 week trial offer on Ancestry.com and later paid to do further research.
Unfortunately, on my fathers side its a much harder road. No older relatives to talk with. My next
search will be my mothers maiden name. The more information you gather the more you want to
keep going, its contagious.
- The Connecticut Irish American Historical Society - Neswletter Page