Maragert My friel family is from Beefpark, Mountcharles, County Donegal. It is about 3 miles from the town of Donegal. On our last trip in July we found the family home. It was in ruins and owned by Mr. Kelly, who we met and told us wonderful stories about our family. He was a spry 80+ years old. Our Friel came to Philadelphia, Pa and some settled in Delaware also. My family now lives in the burbs of Philadelphia. A beautiful country area with lots of farms and horses. It has built up too much over the years, though. Our gggrandfather Bryan Friel is as far as we go back. His son John Friel came to America in 1855 and one other brother William. The rest of the children stayed in Ireland and lived at the family home in Beefpark. Janice In a message dated 12/9/2003 3:41:05 PM Eastern Standard Time, conaught2@charter.net writes: Hi Janice, Where in Donegal are your relatives from? My Grandmother Catherine Doherty Smith was born in 1870 in Ballyhillion, Malin Head, Ireland's most northerly townland. I have a cousin who still lives there. Recently received an email from somebody in Kansas City who was asking about his relatives in Ballyhillion. Turns out he was my missing link for my Great Grandmother Mary Houten Doherty's family. With his information was also able to connect another person who we have never been able to figure out how or if he fit into our family. Turns out the missing link, Mike was this other person's second cousin. They are both my 3rd cousins. I was in Ireland for 5 weeks in August and September, Donegal in September. There was a Friel who went to high school with my daughter. The mother said that her husband had a family house in Donegal but she couldn't remember where it was. I live between Wastsonville and Aptos, California. These Friels would be any chance related to you? Beannachtai, Margaret