I am looking for a lead on possible place of birth and/or family connections for my great-grandfather, William James Lyons. For the 1901 and 1911 Ireland censuses, his place of birth is given as Co. Donegal. William married a Mary Frances Synnott from Co. Westmeath and they had their first child in 1880. They lived the bulk of their married life in the area of Clones, Clinoony, Drummully, and Clonfad in Co. Monaghan as National school teachers. William is buried in Co. Monaghan, died 19 Dec 1929 at age 73, which makes it likely he was born in 1856 or so. Thank you for any assistance you might be in this effort. I have done some successful research in other counties, but Donegal is new to me, and I appreciate any help you can offer. Cathy Hatcher --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

Dear Cathy RC National School Teachers were educated at St. Patrick`s College, Drumcondra, Dublin; History of the College St Patrick`s College was established in 1875 to meet the teacher training needs of a denominational primary school system. The College was initially based at numbers 1 & 2 Drumcondra Road, moving to its present site at Belvedere House in 1883. During the Presidency of Fr. Peter Byrne CM, in the 1880s and 1890s, an extensive building programme was undertaken which, along with a second major phase of development completed in 1966 during the Presidency of Dr Donal Cregan C.M. and a third completed in 1982, still forms the core of the campus. The administration of the College was placed in the care of the Vincentian fathers where it remained until 1 September 1999. In 1999, the Vincentians withdrew from the management of the College. On 1 September, Dr Pauric Travers was appointed first lay President of the College The College quickly became and remains the alma mater for a large proportion of Irish primary teachers. Its graduates have made a distinguished contribution to the educational, social and cultural life of the country. Originally an all-male College, female students were admitted for the first time in 1971; they now constitute a large majority of the student population. If you correspond with the college you might get information about William James Lyons's birthplace. (William b 1856, would have been 19 years old when the college was established in 1875) I enquired by email to Theresa O`Farrell about my Uncle and made the request "I am interested in any details of my uncle James Martin who won a King's Scholarship to attended the College around 1917 for two years". the reply from the college was :- James Martin (Ref - 2(6)) Entered September 1915 Address: Bishopgate, Londonderry Age on 1 January 1916 - 18 and 8/12 (eight twelveths) Diocese - Derry Parish - Templemore He was a "Monitor" in St Columbas Boys School, and the P.P. was Rev Wm Doherty, St Columbas Presbetery, Derry. Contact address Theresa O`Farrell President`s Office St Patrick`s College Telephone - 01-8842006 Fax - 01-8367613 email - theresa.ofarrell@@spd.dcu.ie You didn't mention William's religion - there would have been a corresponding "Protestant" TT college. Also, the RC ladies could have been educated at Dowanhill Training College, Glasgow ( My RC cousin, Anne Reid b 1889 was educated there) Liam "A bird in the bush is worth two in the cat" ----- Original Message ----- From: "cathy hatcher" <cathhat@yahoo.com> To: <irl-co-donegal@rootsweb.com>; <DONEGALEIRE@rootsweb.com>; <IRL-DONEGAL@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 12:22 AM Subject: [DONEGALEIRE] William James Lyons, b. 1856, Co. Donegal >I am looking for a lead on possible place of birth and/or family >connections for my great-grandfather, William James Lyons. For the 1901 and >1911 Ireland censuses, his place of birth is given as Co. Donegal. > > William married a Mary Frances Synnott from Co. Westmeath and they had > their first child in 1880. They lived the bulk of their married life in > the area of Clones, Clinoony, Drummully, and Clonfad in Co. Monaghan as > National school teachers. > > William is buried in Co. Monaghan, died 19 Dec 1929 at age 73, which makes > it likely he was born in 1856 or so. > > Thank you for any assistance you might be in this effort. I have done some > successful research in other counties, but Donegal is new to me, and I > appreciate any help you can offer. > > Cathy Hatcher > >