A guess worth checking on is: The Aran Islands. I have always considered Flaherty as an surname from there. Janice Boston In a message dated 6/23/2005 1:25:42 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, irishone@highstream.net writes: I know I should not even send a message for this because I do not know what town or what parish my ancestor is from, but I am hoping someone will have some hints for me. I have been looking for so long. My ancestor, Edward Flaherty, was born on January 12, 1817 somewhere in Galway.