I, too, am looking for McGowan's in Leitrim. Supposedly, it is quite a common name, equivalent to "Smith". Some of my information has come from my grandfather's "autobiography", which has been generally reliable; the rest from records I've been able to dig up. My great-grandmother was Ellen E. McGowan of Manorhamiton, Leitrim. IRE. Best estimate puts her birth date as December 1846. Her parents were Thomas McGowan and Mary. Griffith's 1848-1864 shows a (one) Thomas McGowan at Manorhamilton Main St. Parish of Cloonclare. Ellen emigrated in the 1860's to the Boston area and married. Richard McKay in Boston in 1866. There was another woman named Rose or Rosana McGowan living in the Boston area in the 1860's. She and my gr-grandfather's brother were godparents to the oldest McKay son, Patrick. (I'm thinking ?? sister?) Ellen had sisters, one or two at least who were still in the Manorhamilton or Enniskillen region in the early 1900's when she went back to visit. Apparently there were O'Reilly nephews, so one of the sisters likely married an O'Reilly. Anyone have any ideas for me ? Spot any connections ? Thanks much !! Edith Cornett