A Short Resume of Sources by Gearoid O'Brien, Librarian, Athlone

Athlone poses certain problems for the amateur genealogist as the river Shannon divides Athlone into two parishes, two diocese, two counties and two provinces.The parishes are St. Mary's to the east and St Peter's to the west. St. Mary's is in the Roman Catholic diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise but the Church of Ireland diocese of Meath. St. Peter's is in the Roman Catholic diocese of Elphin. In the case of the Church of Ireland church for the St. Peter's Parish, it was united with that of St. Mary's parish and thus the records are retained with those of St. Mary's.

The town of Athlone is in County Westmeath for administrative purposes but prior to 1899 the town west of Athlone was in Co. Roscommon while that to the east of Athlone was in Co. Westmeath. If one has 19th century records relating to Athlone, Co. Westmeath or Athlone, Co. Roscommon one can make the assumption that the Roscommon ones refer to the west Athlone. Westmeath is in the province of Leinster while Roscommon is in Connaught.

One explanation for several unusual surnames being found in nineteenth century Athlone relates to the fact that Athlone was a garrison town for the British army from c. 1697 to 1922.

Church and State Records
Civil Registration of Births, marriages and deaths became obligatory in 1864 and copies of all three sets of records are retained in the the General Registrar's Office in Joyce House, Lombard Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 353 (0)1 6354000 prior to 1864 one is entirely dependent upon church records.

The advantage of the R.C. Records in Athlone was that both parishes were mensal parishes of their respective dioceses, thus the bishop of the day had an interest in all stipends payable to the local clergy and encouraged record keeping from a relatively early date!

St. Mary's R. C. records date from 1813 with the following gaps births 1827-38, 1859-62, marriages from March 1827-December 1833 and 1885-68, death records are extant only from the period 1813-26 and would appear incomplete.

These records have been indexed by Dun na Si Heritage Centre, Moate, Co. Westmeath which is the official IGP Centre for Westmeath.

St. Peter's R.C. parish record The original records date back to 1789 and still held in the parish. They have been indexed by the Roscommon heritage and geealogical Centre, Church Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon.

St. Peter's Church of Ireland Parish records are held by The Representative Church Body Library, Braemore Park, Rathgar, Dublin 14. (Tel: 353 (0)1 4923979). Copies of the earlier records from both St. Mary's & St. Peter's Church of Ireland parishes form part of The Burgess Papers in Athlone Library.

Athlone Library holds copies of Griffith's Valuations for Athlone (1854) which details the land or householder for every dwelling in the area, giving details of the street or townland name and a description of the property (i.e. land, house, house & land, corn mill, forge etc.). It also lists the landlord for the property and the annual rateable valuation.


Census Records
The first full census of Ireland was taken in 1821 and thereafter at ten-year intervals. While statistical information survives, the actual census forms do not. The only surviving census returns available to researchers are those of 1901 and 1911.

The census returns are held in:
The National Archives of Ireland,
Bishop Street,
Dublin 8.
Tel: 353(0)1 4072300

Local Research Agencies for Athlone County Westmeath

Dun NA Si Heritage Centre,
Moate,
Co. Westmeath
Email: dunnasimoate@eircom.net
http://www.irishroots.net/Wstmeath.htm
Tel: 353(0)90 64-81183

for Athlone County Roscommon

Roscommon County Heritage & Genealogical Society,
Church Street,
Strokestown,
Co. Roscommon.
http://www.irishroots.net/Roscmmn.htm
Tel: 353(0)78-33380

Athlone Public Library
While it doesn't offer a commercial research agency does hold a large number of relevant sources and will help with advice and information where possible.
Contact:Gearoid O'Brien,
Executive Librarian,
Aidan HeaveyPublic Library,
Athlone Civic Offices,
Church Street,
Athlone,
Co. Westmeath.
Tel: (0)90 644 2157
Fax: (0)90 644 2158
Email: athlib@westmeathcoco.ie

Your Irish Roots
Irish Genealogy, Irish Surname & Irish Coat of
Arms. Irish Genealogy research- Irish surname history and Irish
Coat of Arms,Ancestor Reports, plus information on tracing your Irish
Ancestors
http://www.youririshroots.com

Surnames
Local surnames:
There are very few indigenous surnames in the immediate vicinity of Athlone.

Examples being:

South Roscommon
(Mc)Keogh
(O)Murray
(O)Fallon
and Naughton (and its variants Nattan & Norton)


South Westmeath.
(O)Breen
Carbery
McAuley
O'Melaghlin

Other surnames particularly numerous in the area include:
Beatty
Curley
Dunning
Harney
Lennon
MacGlynn
MacManus
Green
and Shine


A number of Norman and Anglo-Irish surnames, most notably:
Dillon
Longworth
Allen
Devenish & Handcock
have been prominently associated with Athlone and its environs for hundreds of years.