Gretta Connell - A Guide to Tracing Your Westmeath Ancestors

I wish to express my gratitude for the support, advice and encouragement given to me by many people during the course of my research. This book started out as an assignment for a Diploma in Genealogy/Family History Course at the Adult Education Centre, Univeristy College Dublin. I firstly thank the course tutor, Sean Murphy, MA, for his excellent tuition and encouragement. I also thank Mary Farrell, County Librarian for her support; Gearoid OBrien, Senior Executive Librarian Athlone Library for giving generously of his expertise and knowledge especially relating to Athlone and its environs; Martin Morris, Archivist for giving generously of his expertise and knowledge; Paula ODornan, Senior Executive Librarian; Cailin Gallagher, Executive Librarian and all the staff of Westmeath County Libraries who are my friends and colleagues. Thanks also to the principals and staff of the primary schools in Westmeath; Joe OMeara, Coliste Mhuire, Mullingar; Fr. Jimmy Murray, Carmelite Presbytery, Dublin; Sr. Claire, Convent of Mercy, Moate; Sr. Maureen, Convent of Mercy, Rochfortbridge; Mrs. Rosemary Eager, Deputy Principal and Mr. Adrian Oughton, Headmaster, Wilsons Hospital School, Multyfarnham and the staff of Westmeath V.E.C.

Others who deserve thanks include; Mchel Conlin, Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society; the late Leo Daly, Mullingar; Rev. Declan Smith, Taughmon; Rev. Peter Rutherford, Castlepollard; Rev. Alister Graham, Mullingar; Rev. Graham Doyle, Athlone; Rev. Stephen Lockington, Mullingar; Ruth Illingworth, T.C., Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society; Peter Wallace, Westmeath Archaeological and Historical Society; Danny Dunne, Mullingar; Billy Standish, Drumcree; William Smyth, Drumcree; Enda Geoghegan, Mullingar; Paul Hughes, Delvin Historical Society; Helen Kelly, Professional Genealogist, Dublin; the staffs of the following institutions: UCD Library; The National Library of Ireland, especially Tom Desmond; The National Archives of Ireland; Representative Church Body Library, Dublin; the Valuation Office, Dublin; the Registry of Deeds, Dublin; the Civil Registration Office, Mullingar; Meath County Library; Longford County Library; Roscommon County Library, Offaly County Library, Fr Ignatius Fennessy, Franciscan Library, Dublin and Teresa Finnerty and staff Dun na S Heritage Centre Moate, Co. Westmeath.

Thanks also to Dr. Jim Ryan and Brian Smith of Flyleaf Press for their support in bringing this work to a successful conclusion, and to Mr John Feeney for his useful comments and suggestions on the final draft.

A special word of thanks to my husband Joe and our children Patrick, Rosemarie, Theresa and Val for their patience and loving support.