The attached is a 1898 cultural study of people in western done by Dr Charles Browne from Trinity College in Dublin called: The Ethnography of Garumna and Lettermullen in County Galway. Garumna. The document was sent to me by cousin John Conneely from Hudderston, England.
I enjoyed this quote about Browne’s first impression of the area: "There are no trees or shrubs on Garumna and were it not for the almost numberless cabins that dot the face of the island, one could hardly believe the place inhabited, it appears so utterly uninhabitable.”.
- Page 226 – 238 is an anthropological study of the residents, complete with head, limb and facial measurements. At the bottom of the chart on page 236: subject # 65 Coneely, Patrick: Eyes Colour –grey, Hair Colour –brown, Skin –pale, Nose –sinous, Ears –Outstanding.
Patrick Coneely is my great grandfather,
There is a fascinating section beginning on pg 256; Dwellings, is the descriptions of the homes and living conditions. During the winter families had to bring livestock into the dwellings to protect them from the elements. My father’s parents lived in adjacent villages on Garumna, John O’Malley grew up in Deirin Darach, Bridget Conneely lived in Tiernee. I have visited the remains of my grandfather's “estate”, there is enough of it still standing to believe it resembles the picture on pg 257 of the study. It was about the size of a small one car garage, no running water, with an open hearth to heat the home. I have copies of the 1901 Irish census.
My grandfather's house had 9 people living in two rooms. Grandmother Bridget Conneely’s family was slightly better off; they had nine people in two rooms, but had an outbuilding for the cow.
There are sections on education, language, diseases, folklore, custom, etc. If you can find the time it's a worthwhile read. It’s a time capsule into the grandparent’s early life.
Click on the picture for a reformatted version that is a easier to read.
enjoy,
Go raibh míle maith agat Father Padraic Audley who provided the birth dates & names of John & Bridget and their siblings, cousins Maureen Wyckoff,
John Conneely, Áine Ní Chonghaile for all their wonderful research, Brian Connolly, Maire Dermody and Maureen Rodriquez for their help.
Also thanks to to Maeve and Mary of the St MacDara Church Cararroe parish center and Ann, Damian & John Bhaba Jack at
the Ionad Oidhreachta Leitir Mealláin (Lettermullen & Garumna Heritage Centre).
Why people with the same surname (last name) are not necessarily related.
Below are links to a couple of very interesting articles by Dr. Maurice Gleeson, a genetic genealogist concerning; why people with the same last name don't share the same DNA.
In a nutshell, there are several historical reasons why surnames have not always been linked with the biological father.
- · having your surname switched as an honor or distinction bestowed by a clan
- · switching surname as an act of fealty to a clan
- · changing your surname to that of your higher status wife, etc.
This is specific to the O’Malley’s
Website dedicated to connecting O’Malleys worldwide and promoting
awareness of the rich heritage and history of this Gaelic Clan.
