Thomas & Bridget Gibbons (nee Walsh)

Photo:Bridge Street, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo c late 1800s

Bridge Street, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo c late 1800s

Photo:Tourmakeady is directly across Lough Mask from Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo

Tourmakeady is directly across Lough Mask from Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo

Possibly had a shop on Bridge Street, Ballinrobe

By Averil Staunton

I recently had a query, see below, from a lady in the States and wonder if anybody could fill in some details for her. She asks:

"I am researching the Gibbons and Walsh families who lived in Ballinrobe, probably around mid 19th century. 

The parents were Thomas Gibbons who married Bridget (nee Walsh). It seems they may have originated from Tourmakeady Co. Mayo before moving to Baltimore, USA. Bridget was born in 1803. There were 5 children, Mary, Catherine, James, John and another, possibly a son.

They returned to Ballinrobe in County Mayo from the USA because of Thomas' health. He died in Ballinrobe 15 years later aged 47. That is when they re emigrated to the USA (New Orleans this time, but I believe James opposed the civil war and went back to Baltimore).

 Does anyone have any information about this family?" I would really appreciate your help".

This page was added by Averil Staunton on 05/04/2017.
Comments about this page

Hi, my mum is called Bridget Gibbons, her mum was Mary Gibbons married to John Gibbons. Her grandmother's maiden name was Walsh. She was born in Ballinrobe and moved to Belfast as a youngster. The Gibbons family Roots seem to be in Tourmakeady according to records.  I’m guessing we are all related somehow?

Editor reply: not sure but you could contact Gerry Delaney; details http://www.historicalballinrobe.com/page_id__265.aspx who hold a lots of family history records. Thank you for contacting us and hope you get the information you need.

By Angela Rook
On 27/05/2020

My husband found this site while searching for places we could research while visiting. I know there are a lot of common and duplicate names but I found Katie Crow’s post to be a close match to my own history And so happy to have found it. Not sure the connection but our paternal ancestors were from Partry, County Mayo. 

Malachi Henaughan 1787/Mary Gibbons 1801 son John J

John J Henaughan 1826/Mary E Walsh 1838 son John E 1869 and also Bridget B 1880

Mary Walsh‘s parents Michael Walsh/1797 and Ellen Philbien 1801.

Michael Walsh and family were neighbors of the Henaughan family and immigrated to US via Louisiana up Mississippi to Dekalb Illinois. They bought neighboring plots of land in Pierce Township of Dekalb County. We found a lot of information and help in Sycamore about their journey and lives.

Please feel free to contact me if this seems like the right path.

Editor: Many thanks for your very interesting contribution. I'm sure people will find the information very useful.

 

By Peggy Henaughan Klemp
On 13/02/2020

Do you know  that Thomas and Bridget (Walsh) Gibbons were the parents of James, Cardinal Gibbons. The first child or two were born in Ireland then they came to American and settled in Baltimore where James and another child or two were born.  Thomas develop TB and the family moved back to Ireland.  He live another, maybe 5 years, but when he did pass away he was buried with one of his daughters, there in Ireland and his wife and the remaining children return to the US, this time reentering through the Port of New Orleans where they settled.  James entered the priesthood there and was sent back east and eventually ended up back in Baltimore and the Cardinal of that diocese.  He was a very interesting man.

By Katie Crow
On 21/12/2019

I am tracing my own roots in Tourmakeady. My great-great grandmother was a Catherine Walsh; she would have been born sometime in the 1850's or so as she married John Higgins in Tourmakeady in Feb.1871.

All of their children were born there. Sadly, it's almost impossible to know when she was born as there are more than one Catherine her age. If you've researched the register, I'm sure you must be running into the same thing. her children were Bridget,John,Ellen,Nora,William,and Patrick. One of the sponsors that shows up a lot is a Mary, also a John and James Walsh. Sorry, I can't be of much help.

By Ginger Cook
On 31/01/2018

My great, great grandmother's name was Catherine Walsh, who married John Higgins in 1871 and recorded in the Catholic registers in Tourmakeady.

I doubt this will be of any help to you, but we may be very distantly related!

By Ginger Cook
On 31/01/2018
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