Catherine Lynch &

Patrick Gunn

Drummerheave

Catherine Lynch married Patrick Gunn on 7th November 1858. This information is from the Clones Parish Records and was given to me by a contact of mine, Sean Corr.

The Tithe Applotments records below show three Gunns listed in the townland of Drummerheave. There is a good possibility that these people are related to Patrick Gunn who married Catherine Lynch. Their first child was Bernard and if you use the traditional naming patterns then 'Barny' listed below could well have been Bernard's grandfather on the Gunn side. The names Thomas and Patrick also seem to be familiar Gunn names. They are indeed also traditional Lynch family names and Bernard's Lynch grandfather was also called Bernard.

Their children were Bernard, Bridget, Thomas and Patrick.

Bernard was born about 1860 and joined the R.I.C. He died in Bunbeg, Co. Donegal, in 1894, aged only 34 years old. It's not known at this time how he died but he is listed in the wills calendar at Proni (information below).

Thomas was born about 1866 and died in 1890, aged 24 years. His and Bernard's headstone is below.

This gravestone shows Bernard and Thomas, also Pat Gunn who died in 1907 and Catherine who died in 1913. I think Pat and Catherine were Bernard and Thomas' parents.

You can see from the 1911 Census below, for Drummerheave townland in Roslea, that Catherine Gunn, 80 year old and widowed, was living with her daughter Bridget, Bridget's husband Robert McDermott and their children, Mary Catherine, Bridget, Thomas Patrick and Bernard Robert. I have given rough estimates of their birth years based on their ages. Their actual dates are given below the table.

MARY CATHERINE was born 20th December 1898 and died 1st March 1983. She was not married but had a son called Sonny.

BRIDGET AGNES was born 30th January 1900 and died 12th January 1964. She became a nun and was known as Sister Mary Macartan.

THOMAS PATRICK was born 24th February 1902 and died 7th March 1962. Was married but nothing more is known at this time.

BERNARD ROBERT was born 1st January 1905 and died 28th February 1972. Bernard was also married. His wife's name was Mary Jane ? and she died on 12th October 1952, aged 45.

The Gravestone of Robert and Bridget McDermott and their children Bridget, Thomas and Bernard, along with Bernad's wife, is below. According to another contact, Robert McDermott used to play the fiddle on the streets of Bundoran.

The gravestone for Bridet and Robert's other daughter, Mary Catherine is below.

Below is a photo of some of the McDermott family of Drummerheave. They would be cousins of mine through the marriage of Catherine Lynch and Patrick Gunn. Tommy Senior and Sister Mary were Patrick and Catherine's grandchildren. (Catherine is a sister of my GG Grandfather Patrick Lynch)

This is from the book, Roslea Remembers, by the Roslea Historical Society and is copyrighted to them. If you would like a copy of this book, packed with photos, you should contact the Roslea Heritage Centre. Details are here.