Hi Tom, How I wish we had a connection but my Mary MAHER married Patrick DUNN probable in the Killeshin area. That is down in the Southeast corner of Laois by Carlow. There first child was born about 1844. However the second child born 1845 was baptized at the Parish of Portarlington. Patrick and Mary were my GGparents. They immigrated about 1846 to Salem, MA, and then to PA. I have found Laois the hardest county to work with. I found lots of record from Donegal and Galway from other ancestors. I can't even get an answer to letters for church records down in Killeshin. I did find where the church records were transferred to Carlow but no answer there either. Of course this, the DUNN line, is my Fathers line the one I really want to follow. Do your Mahers pronounce it with a long r as Mahr - or as MAyer? Just curious as mine used the long r pronunciation. Anyway thanks for your answer and the best of luck with your research. Anne