Good day to all!! Recently we found that one of our ancestors, Edmund O'Malley was born in Mount Shannon/Whitegate RC parish county Galway, currently Clare County. His parents were Thomas O'Malley and Mary Noonan and the recorded date of his birth is Jan. 14, 1847. Edmund did not come to Indiana with the rest of his family so we assume he died in infancy or in the crossing. My questions are: (1) are there any cemeteries in this parish that have been transcribed, if so, where might I find the records? (2) are there any local libraries within this area that I might contact for information,e-mail, web or postal address? (3) are there any historical societies that lie within this area that I might contact, if so, how do I contact them? (4) the family was catholic, any churches I might contact to find if they have a record of his death? Thank you very much for ANY assistance you might be able to offer!!! Debbie from Indiana

Dealing with each question on Shannon etc.--- 1- most graveyards transcribed anywhwere and I mean anywhere in Ireland are as a rule done by local people and are only sold to the locals and in a local area. *** and just asking a simple question here you sayCounty Galway currently County Clare *** Edmund O'Malley was born in Mount Shannon/Whitegate RC parish **county Galway, currently Clare County. I dont understand what you mean there ??? as Galway is Galway and Clare is CLare is there another meaning to this? and this then makes your other questions harder to answer--------given that you are talking about two counties. Galway and Co Clare are all covered by Local Libraries and historical societies and a search in Google will produce them for you But the one thing I do need to clear up here is the fact that you all wish to write to the local priest, and on all my lists that I admin, I do not advocate this at all. unless the said parish has a front office girl, my reasons being the local priest works 24/7 -he is on call to his parish at all time, he doesnt have the time to search his parish registers for you, knowing that the register has been microfilmed and is available at the Library in Dublin. as is later data available at the GRO etc. Now some of you have had success where you have written to a priest and he has found your family facts for you in the register at his church, but they are not all like this, and I hear the complaint on a daily base of those who have written to someone in Ireland requesting data and not ever heard back from them. You also need to take into account that deaths were not compulsory to be registered until later in the century( exact date is in another paper I posted to the Wicklow list this month) But in having told you my preferences, should you wish to write to the local clergy, go ahead, but be aware the rate of answers is very low. These days I do recommend that you DO- look for the local libraries and societies and see if they will assist you. All deaths were not registered and those you happen across in registers should all be transcribed whether they are yours or not, because someone needs that data, also you need to allow that ALL church of Ireland registers and other denominations but particularly the Cof I registers need to be checked to see if there in any of your RC ancestors deaths recorded within their registers. Not everyone had a headstone, there seems to be some belief that RC did not have stones, and whilst this is true of a lot of them, they did indeed have stones, but a stone was only erected if the money was available,. they did indeed place a thing called LOVE stones on loved one graves, even today within the area you are seeking ancestors if you are lucky enough to get close enough to the grave yard, find the oldest living person in the area, because this is where the knowledge is stored, not in registers, these registers we need have disappeared through time and age, let alone rebellions, and fire. Sorry if this is so long CARA