I started researching my family in 1998, and has been my passion ever since. I hope you can find some information to connect my family to yours. It's always nice to meet new cousins!
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A Geneology Collection by Debbie Mills
Research into our Sweeney’s in Donegal
Another Sweeney relative, Don Harrington, has done some extensive research into the Sweeney’s of Donegal, Ireland, without success. Although the County name is known, the parish is not. Here is a copy of a letter he sent me summarizing his efforts thus far:
About ten years ago the Irish government had some “heritage centers” set up in each County. It seemed to be mostly an effort to provide employment which was in poor shape at that time. The government seemed to have provided some start up funds but soon made them non-profit. We visited the one in Donegal in 1994 and 1997 and were not impressed. The first visit they had about 4 computers set up and the people sitting at them were not really doing anything. Things seemed to be a bit better in 1997, but not much. At that visit we contracted for a brief study on one of my wife’s ancestors and the result looked like it had been copied out of an encyclopedia.
About 2000, I contracted with the center in County Tipperary and was very pleased with the result. Of course, in that case, I had a definite local parish name and dates. Also the records were much better in that area. In 2001, I contracted with the one in Donegal to look for info on the marriage and/or children of Owen McGlynn and Kate Boyle. I had a possible parish location from a cousin, Mickey McGlynn. The answer was that the events were too early for recorded info. I have pasted in below some to the first few pages of the response. There was much more stuff included but it was just filler.
Don Harrington
Letter from Donegal Ancestry in July 2002
Dear Donald,
The initial assessment has now been carried out on your behalf and a preliminary report of our fndings is enclosed for your consideration.
I wish to apologise for the delay, which was caused by an increase in the number of enquiries to our centre. You will note from the preliminary report that the parish and civil registers do not date back to the relevant period. This may be due to the conditions, which prevailed in Ireland in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The absence of records is common, particularly in the case of members of the Catholic Church.
Our researcher conducted extensive searches of the sources that are available at this centre and we have land uncovered records, which may be of relevance. In the absence of parish records it is difficult to positively identify them as relevant to your ancestors. We have enclosed transcripts of these records at no additional cost to you.
Enclosed also is a map of the civil parish of Inishkeel and an extract from the ordnance survey map of the area for your information.
It is unfortunate that we were unable to establish a positive link to your ancestors. Should you have any further queries or seek clarification on any matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards.
Yours sincerely
Susan McCafFrey
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