Ancestry Search - Can You Help Julia?

July 28, 2019 Bearna Beo

We were contacted by Julia Connolly, who is seeking a copy of a history book, but also information about her long-lost family from Bearna-Na Forbacha.

Julia is seeking a copy of this book, which was produced by the ICA in 1983, but has never been reprinted.

She wrote:

Julia has gone to great lengths to trace her ancestors, even submitting DNA for testing on Ancestry.com’s Family Tree Family Finder. And, as her surname is a common one here in Ireland, she is finding it difficult to distinguish who’s who!

Much has changed in Bearna-Na Forbacha since Julia’s family lived in Bearna, and yet, some things have stayed the same. Much like this beautiful bridge at Bearna Pier. Beyond it is another bridge, not visible now due to excessive growth, but scroll down to catch a glimpse of it in the old photograph of the pier.

I was hoping to find a few cousins on either my mother's side or my father's side. I have a list of thousands of cousins, although I'm not sure which side they belong on since I have found cousins whose parents were related to both of my sides ... one parent to my maternal side and the other parent to the paternal side. I know I am related to Collins and Gill's through my maternal grandmother, Margaret Collins. My grandfather's side, the Conneelys/Connelly/Connolly etc. and the Faherty/Flaherty side I know almost nothng about. On the Bearna Graveyard list, I recognized many names. I have Conneely on my father's side; Connolly on my mother's side; Folan on my father's side; Foley on my mother's side; I thought Keane/Keany was my mother's side, but perhaps I have some on my father's side. Aargh. Very challenging. Unfortunately, I can't tell if any of the cousins listed are from the Lacklea/Aille area originally.

If you can help Julia with her search for the book, or details of her ancestry, please email her: jtconnolly@aol.com.

The coveted book Julia seeks was complied by a small committee of ladies in 1983. It has never been bettered, nor ever re-printed, unfortunately. The information contained is invaluable, in that many of the sources have since died, and the original photographs have been returned to their respective owners.

Hard to recognise modern-day Bearna from this picture. The buildings on the right and centre occupy where the post office and adjoining buildings are now. The description reads: “Peter O’Fegan’s house being thatched, with the two storey slated house adjoining it. Next door lived Bartley Connolly who was in the British Navy. This is now Barna Post Office. Beyond that the house was owned by Mike Keane, a well-known thatcher. This house is now the Tealach. The man with the donkey cart was bringing the load to turf to market, possibly a Spiddal man. C: 1920s.

The small committee of ICA members who compiled this invaluable resource in 1983. There were 470 homes in the parish at the time of writing the book.

The local residents of Bearna Pier watch with interest as the ‘LDF’ (Local Defence Force) perform manoeuvres during World War II, known in Ireland as ‘The Emergency’. Another great photo from the local history book. Notice a second bridge (similar to the one we are more familiar with) at the top right corner of the picture. It is not visible from the anymore. The river played an important role for fishermen, who dragged their nets up to wash them in the fresh water.

Knocknagreena House was located behind the high wall on the left hand side as you approach Furbo from Bearna, until it was knocked during the boom times. The Presentation order bought it in 1925, who used it as a summer residence. When it came up for sale in the 1990s, there was a huge drive (led by Fr Leo Morahan) to buy it for the community to use as a much-needed graveyard. The ground was considered unsuitable, however, and the land proceeded into the hands of a private owner. There was said to have been a small pier behind it called Ceibhin Butson, named after the original owner.