From 'The Fermanagh Story'

Beggan - (O Beagain) "This family was common in the Clones-Roslea-Donagh area. It was originally O Beacain and this was often anglicised Little. Little was itself a British name and some of the minor planters bore it. O'Donovan mentions Beggan under Clones and there are many Beggan inscriptions in Donagh cemetery." There are 139 Little voters in Fermanagh today, and 44 Beggans or Beagans."

My Beggan family comes from a small town called Rosslea (old spelling Roslea), in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. They are among many Beggan family branches in Rosslea and the surrounding area, which makes the job of tracing my line that much harder.  I'm quite lucky in that I have Beggan family contacts in Ireland but they don't know everything as they are pretty much younger than my father was.  I've also relied on things I remember my father telling me, although trying to confirm these pieces of information may or may not prove difficult.

     I have it on good authority that my Beggan line originated in Greaghawarren, which should, hopefully, be confirmed once I get hold of my g grandad's marriage certificate. *Update* According to John Beggan and Susan Lynch marriage certificate, John Beggan was living in Drumacritten. I have also learned that my Beggan family also came from Knocknalear townland and I have also found siblings and cousins from these places, in Corraleek and Eshnadarragh townlands too. All in Roslea, in the Parish of Clones. May I say a special thanks to James Mullan, for providing the townland map, and to Sean Rooney for editing to make the townlands clearer.

My grandmother was Susan Beggan, born 16th November 1903 at Drumacritten, Rosslea, County Fermanagh.  She was the daughter of John Beggan (pictured right holding a scythe) and Susan Lynch.  Her siblings, as far as I can gather, were Sarah Jane, Catherine, Mary Ellen, Patrick, James Edward, Bridget and Margaret. 

My great grandfather, John Beggan, was the son of Patrick Beggan and Catherine Quigley. He was one of 10 children, the others being Mary, Catherine, Bridget, Sarah, Ellen, Patrick, Ann, Thomas and Margaret. Their mother, Catherine Quigley, immigrated to Providence, Rhode Island, USA in 1896, along with two children, Thomas and Margaret, who were still young at that point. They went out to join three others of Patrick and Catherine's children, Patrick, Ellen and Ann, who had already immigrated. John remained in Drumacritten, Roslea until his death. For some Beggan/Beggan related marriages, in Rhode Island, USA, click here

For anyone researching the name Beggan, or any variant spelling, i.e. Beagan, Beggin, Bagan, etc,may I suggest you visit.... http://members.tripod.com/~Al_Beagan/start.htm where you'll find a wealth of information and messages. You will also find lots of other family surnames mentioned. A very good Beggan Resource indeed.

Another great Beggan site is a new site at http://geocities.com/jamesmullan@rogers.com/ Created by James Mullan and Maureen Batty. If your Beggan ancestors were from Roslea and the surrounding area, you really must check out this site!