Discovering our Irish Ancestory
Gemma Ann Ryall
William John Duffy
Finding the Ryall
Family
It was like a dream come true when my Father’s
sister Dympna suggested Bill and I join her on a
European Cruise. During the planning she said – “why
don’t we visit Ireland as well so I can introduce you
to your relatives?” I had always wanted to go to
Ireland – Dad was so Irish in his ways and often spoke
of his family and the Irish culture. Dympna had been
across several times and found most of our relatives
and kept in touch with them. So – in September 2006
the trip was on.
On 16th October we flew from Edinburgh to Dublin.
We spent a night in Dublin and then headed for
Kilkenny where we were meeting a cousin Brid Ryall.
After hiring a car and arming ourselves with an Irish
Bed and Breakfast book and Dympna’s memory, we
took off.
This is the old family home that my greatgrandfather came from. We found Dave here
and he showed us over the old home. He has a
modern new home but he spends his day
pottering around in the old stone building.
We met Brid and had a great time with her at the
Kilkenny Pub. This was my first real relative in
Ireland and we looked alike and had very similar
ideas on politics, religion and family! She was getting
married shortly so we left her to her preparations
and set off to meet her father, Dave Ryall who was a
cousin of my father.
Our next destination was Ballydangan in County
Roscommon, just south of Cork. This was where
we were informed the Ryalls originally came
from. Ballydangan was a small village where we
arrived as Mass was coming out.
Dave was as
excited to see us, as we were to see him. He
had a broad accent that I loved listening too and he
remembered my brother Tony visiting and offered to
take us out to the family gravesite
Ballindangan
We had an exciting drive with Dave directing us out to an
old property, which now enclosed the small cemetery
where my ancestors were buried. It was seriously
overgrown but well protected and reserved on a small
hillock in the middle of a cattle-grazing field.
The Ryall family headstone
Dave was familiar with the gravesite and told the story of
how all the family had been excited when John Ryall, my
great grandfather, returned home and threw a party for
everyone. He was doing well in Australia with his sheep
property in NSW. He arranged to have a new headstone
erected for all the family and won the hearts of the locals.
We knelt and “said an Ave there” for them all.
Dympna explained that the Ryall family was
quite a small clan that came down from the
mountains near Mitchelstown out of Cork.
D
family
Last resting Place
Dave was 94 but strode out purposefully with his walking
stick. We chased off the cattle, missed the cow pats and
climbed through an electric fence. It was a wonderful day
and we travelled home to tales from the past and dreams
for the future. Whenever we came to a crossroad Dave
called “HALT” and Bill slowed down! Wonderful. Dave
passed away last Year. RIP Dave – you were special, so glad
we met.
Dave let me use his
special air blower to get
his fire started and then
made us a cuppa in his
ancient cottage.
Cousin Brid at the
Kilkenny Pub.
2
My Grandmother was Mary (Minnie) Healy
We now went in search of Grandma Ryall’s family home–
nee Mary Healy, Dad’s mother. The Healy’s had a farm near
Gort close to Galway Bay. It was in The Burren, an Irish
word meaning “rocky place”.The current descendants still
living on the property are Dan and Bridget Ryan. They
continue the farm, which is now 180 acres of land and
caters for both cattle and sheep. They welcomed us warmly
with a dinner at the pub on Galway Bay – which they own!
We visited the farm the next day to trace Grandma’s steps.
Grandma was living at home on a farm with her parents and
three brothers when her both parent died. Mary, called
Minnie, was 21. Two of her brothers’ left to find their
fortune in America and the eldest married and carried on
with the family farm. Mary accepted an offer to come to
Australia where her maiden Aunt, Annie McMahon was
living. She resided with her brother, Mary’s uncle and
his wife. They owned a pub in Paddington, in Sydney.
Mary resided there until she was introduced to John
Ryall from Glenn Innes after a family gathering. They
married at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney and moved
to Glenn Innes.
Visiting The Burren
Bridget and Dan warmly welcomed us to the old
farm where they have built a modern new home.
The cottage that was Grandma’s home is still in use
as a storage shed. Dympna and I had some
emotional moments thinking about her Mother
getting the fire ready to make a cup of tea.
This is the original fence. I expect it gets patched
now and then but it strong an sturdy. Made from all
the stones and rocks picked up in the paddocks.
Although it was green, green everywhere, there
were lots of rocks and stones everywhere the eye
could see.
3
Scenes from the old family farm at The Burren.
Dympna and I walked around the old
cottage and wondered how her mother
might have carried out her day.
We then went into the new family home
and enjoyed tea and scones. We felt very at
home here with Dan and Bridget.
The old fireplace is now used for storage but
an old iron kettle still hung there and we
mused that maybe Grandma had used that
one!
We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the
Galway Bay Pub with Dan and Bridget
Ryan. It wasn’t till we went up to pay
that we were told they were the
owners and we were honoured guests!
No wonder it was great service.
Bill and I on Galway Bay
Meanwhile, back in Dublin we found another relative.
John Daly is a Augustinian priest, Parish
Priest at Ballyboden, an outer suburb of
Dublin. He is highly respected as a poet
and a mystic here and internationally. He
has also translated Italian and Gaelic
poetry so it becomes more accessible.
He was such a warm welcoming person.
Bill mentioned that he would like to visit
Glendalough and that Dympna and I were
interested in shopping. Before we knew
it we were in his car and hopping across
half of Ireland it seemed. He took us to
Powerscourt, a great castle now a tourist
and shopping venue. Dympna and I loved
it!! Then we travelled across the
mountains – The Sally Way – to
Glendalough. Wonderful views but all the
way we exchanged stories of our
families.
Visiting Glendalough the home of St. Kevin.
Bill and I joined hands around this famous Celtic Cross
of St Kevin. Legend has it that those who do will never
be separated. We had a really wonderful day with John
Daly. My Ryall relatives in Ireland set a high standard for
hospitality, caring and fun!!
Duffy’s
were here too!
Now for the Duffy’s
in Ireland…
We all had a lot of fun when we discovered that there were Duffy’s here too! In actual fact
there were a lot more Duffy’s in the phone book than anyone else.
Bill had found a gravesite for a Duffy at Glendalough so he was happy! A few days later we
travelled north to County Monaghan where we started our search at the ancient St
Macartan’s Cathedral. It was a public holiday so we were a bit limited in what we could find.
It didn’t take Bill long to call off the search. He found the earliest records of Bishops
included a few Duffys’, one was a Patrick Duffy, and the current Bishop was a Joseph Duffy.
We decided we needed to come prepared with more information to discover our Duffy
ancestors. Looking forward to another trip……
We did so many exciting and wonderful things in Ireland. I have only
related here the visits with our relatives. There are many stories to tell and
more photos to share. Thank you Dympna for such a wonderful trip. I am
so proud to be of Irish descent!!