A woman of Irish descent in the US is embarking on a research journey into her family history in Donegal.
Eileen Matthews Dolan from Norwich, Connecticut is hoping to find living relatives in Ireland. She reached out to Donegal Daily for help.
Eileen says: “I am searching my family tree and learned I am a descendant of Edward McGonigal and Elizabeth Holland, married in 1830 in Ballymoney, Donegal. They had one child, William, born 1835 also in Ballymoney. Also, my great grandmother Annie McGonigle was born in Ireland possibly 2/28/1856. She had a brother James born in January 1864. This information may not be totally accurate.
“The spelling of McGonigal may have changed from another spelling. Although ancestry.com tells me they were married in Antrim, it also says most of my family came from Inishowen. There is so much more research I need to do to find the connections. Here are the surnames I am researching: McGonigle, Harrington, Smith, Quirk, Murphy, Matthews.”
Some additional information Eileen found is that Michael Matthews and Mary Brennon were born in Ireland and married there, having a son William Theobald Matthews born in the US in 1856. He was Eileen’s great grandfather.
Do you know this family tree? Could you help Eileen? If so, please contact her at irishemd@gmail.com.
