Patrick Donnellan and Mary Ellen Corrigan/Corregan

Patrick was listed in the Griffiths Valuation (taken on 13th December 1860) as owning and living in the townland of Aughnacloy, in the Parish of Drumsnat, not to be mistaken with the town of Aughnacloy in County Tyrone. You may find more information here You will notice at the bottom of the page, a Thomas J.P. Toal, Chairman of Monaghan County Council, mentioned. He is also mentioned in the newspaper clipping for Mary Ellen Beggan's funeral. He was listed as a cousin of hers.

It is not known when Patrick Donnellan was born or married but he died on 25th March 1892 (see below). Nothing is known about his wife, Mary Ellen Corrigan/Corregan. Some of the following information comes from the family search website (donated information) and has yet to be verified. I will say though, that I have been told, by my cousin, that a lot of that donated information was given to the LDS by her Aunt, in the form of certificates. Their children were Francis (b. ? - d. 19 Oct 1885), Mary (b. 1850 - d. ?), James (b. Abt. 1856 - d. 3 Jun 1926), Mary (b. Abt. 1861 - d. ?), Henry (b. 10 Feb 1866 - d. 8 Feb 1875) - There is also a Henry Donlin extracted birth on 10th Feb 1866, Ellen (b. ? - d. ?) and Houg (b. 23 Jun 1879 - d. ?). All children were born in Aughnacloy, Parish of Drumsnat, Co. Monaghan. *Note: Some of the births mentioned here have the parents as James Donnellan and Mary Ellen Corrigan/Corregan/Corridan. Apart from Henry Donlin b. 10th Feb 1866 (father Patrick) all the others are submitted information*

Below are the death and will details for Patrick Donnellan (spelled Donleen), from the Proni site

Note: This information is subject to copyright by Proni. For details please go here

Forename: Patrick
Surname: Donleen
Alt Surname:
Date Of Death: 25/03/1892
Date Of Grant: 25/05/1893
Effects: Effects £164
Registry: Armagh


Full Abstract:
The Will of Patrick Donleen late of Aughnacloy County Monaghan Farmer who died 25 March 1892 at same place was proved at Armagh by Hugh Corrigan of Glenn County Tyrone one of the Executors.

I don't know if the Hugh Corrigan mentioned is connected to Patrick's wife, Mary Ellen Corrigan, but there's a good possibility.

Francis Donnellan - Became a Priest. According to articles and family history stories, Francis left Aughnacloy in 1882, after carving his name and date on the doorstep, and headed for Turin, via Dublin. He was somewhere between 18 and 27 years old. He was educated at Gortmore National School, under the name of Francis Donlin, and left on 29th November 1879. He went on to do a Seminary course. An Archbishop Lynch of Toronto persuaded him, and five others, to go to the Mother house of the recently founded Salesian Order in Turin. Saint. Don (or John) Bosco was founder of the Salesian Order there. While there, he sent letters to his parents and sister, Ellen. He mentions Pat in one of the letters and other letters mentioning the same person indicate that this Pat was a brother of his (possibly Patrick). Francis signed his earlier letters Frank Donlin and later changed back to the original spelling of Donnellan. In one of his letters he requested that the family name should always be spelled Donnellan in the future. In 1884/85 Francis was suffering from an undiagnosed illness (later said to be a duodenal ulcer). Saint Don Bosco visited him on the evening of 18th October 1885 and knew he was near death. Francis died on 19th October 1885.

James Donnellan - James was born about 1856, in Aughnacloy, Co. Monaghan. He married Mary Ellen Beggan on 27th Feb 1906 at St. Tierney's Church, Roslea, Co. Fermanagh (Mary Ellen's hometown across the border). Mary Ellen was born in Drumacritten, Parish of Clones, Roslea, Co. Fermanagh. She was born on 4th September 1887 and was 31 years younger than James. Her parents were John Beggan and Susan Lynch of Drumacritten. They had a large number of children and, as happened in many families back in those days, sadly some of them died in infancy or very young. Other children born were named after the ones who died. Their children were Bridget 'Bridie' Donnellan (b. ? - d. 1980), Catherine (b. ? - d. ?), Lily (b. ? - d. aft. 1992), Mary Ellen 'Minnie' (b. ? - d. ?), Patrick (b. 17 Oct 1916 - d. 14 Sep 1940), John (b. 16 Jan 1914 - d. 3 Jan 1961), Susan (b. 15 Jan 1915 - d. 7 Dec 1988), James (b. 17 Jan 1916 - d. 23 Apr 1980), Francis (b. 26 Feb 1917 - d. 4 Nov 1918), Hugh (b. 29 Dec 1917 - d. 1 Nov 1918), Edward (b. 1919 - d. 1997) - Godparents were James Beggan and Susan Beggan, Margaret (b. 24 Oct 1920 - d. 25 Nov 1922), Francis Joseph (b. 3 Mar 1922 - d. 1991) and Hugh (b. 1923 - d. 26 Mar 2002).

Other information

In this section I will add any information I find on Donnellan and/or Aughnacloy (Parish of Drumsnat)

The following information was found on the familysearch site -

Edward Donolan married 25th May 1697 to Elisabeth Robeson in Clones, Monaghan (Extracted Record)

John Donlan born 1698 to Edward Donlan in Clones, Monaghan (Extracted Record) *It seems plausible to assume that the Edward in the above marriage was John's father*

Margaret Donnelan born 16th August 1749 in Drum, Monaghan (Submitted Record) *Looking through the Griffiths Valuation, I found one townland called Drum, although there were many more starting with 'Drum'. The Drum I found was in the Parish of Currin in County Monaghan*

Margaret Donnelan married 3rd May 1768 to Michael Dwyer in Drum, Monaghan (Submitted Record)

Margaret Donnelan died 3rd December 1777 in St. Bridgid's Well, Drum, Monaghan (Submitted Record)

I found a Hugh Donnelan listed in Drumsnat in the Flax Growers List of 1796. This is on the failteromhat website.

There is a reference to a headstone for a Patrick Donlon who died 16th Nov 1746, aged 60. The headstone was erected by his son, Cornelius. This is most likely the headstone of the Donnellan family grave as mentioned in the news clipping for Mary Ellen Beggan

A Mrs Donnellan of Aughnacloy received an invitation to attend the opening of St. McCartin's Cathedral in Monaghan. This Mrs Donnellan is undoubtedly Mary Ellen (Corrigan/Corregan), wife of Patrick (d. 25 March 1892). The opening was to take place on Sunday 21st August 1892. There would be a Dedication by His Grace the primate of all Ireland at 11am, a Pontifical Mass by His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin and a Sermon by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Croke, Archbishop of Cashel. Also mentioned on the invitation are Most Rev. James Donnelly Bishop of Clogher, Monaghan and the Rev. George McMeel Administrator of Monaghan.

Below is the Donnellan Photo Gallery.

These photos were kindly sent to me by my cousin, Annie.

For a larger version please click on each image. You will have to click the back button to get back to the Donnellan page again.

Gravestone of Patrick Donnellan (1912 - 1940) Jim Donnellan (1916 - 1980) and Susanah Clarke (1915 - 1988). You might notice that there is a difference in the birth year, for Patrick, from the one mentioned in the children of James Donnellan and Mary Ellen Beggan. The submitted information on the family search site says Patrick was born in 1916. I don't know at this stage which of the details are correct so I will leave them in disagreement until I have concrete evidence of either.	This is Edward Donnellan taken in 1937 in Roslea, Co. Fermanagh. This photo is one of my favourites, not only because Edward cuts such a smart figure on the horse but because when I saw the photo for the first time I instantly recognised where it was taken. It was taken at the entrance to Drumacritten Lane, up near Annashanco cottage, where my Grannie, my father and the family lived. I keep wishing I could pan round to the left and see the cottage and how it looked then. I can also imagine other members of the family watching while the photo was taken. I simply love this photo!	This is Edward Donnellan's baptismal certificate, indicating he was baptised in the Parish of Kilmore. I'm not sure why this was. As far as I know, most other baptisms took place in Threemile House. His godparents were James Ed. Beggan (their Uncle) and Susan Beggan (possibly John Beggan's wife, Susan Lynch).
Edward Donnellan (1919 - 1997)	Old John Beggan. This photo seems to be similar to the painting of Old John on the Beggan page so would have been taken around the same time. John was the father of Mary Ellen Beggan, married to James Donnellan.	This is Edward, Bridie and John Donnellan, taken outside their homestead at Aughnacloy in 1947
This is the mass card of Hughie Donnellan, son of James Donnellan and Mary Ellen Beggan.	From left to right: Sarah Beggan (sister of Mary Ellen), Mary Ellen Beggan, 'Minnie' Donnellan (daughter of Mary Ellen). The little girl in front is Sarah 'Sadie' McConville (my Aunt). The photo was taken around 1936/37.	Edward Donnellan at his brother Patrick's grave in 1940. Patrick sadly died in an accident where he worked.
This is the wedding photo of Edward Donnellan and Ruby, taken 26th June 1943. Back left to right: Jim Donnellan (brother of Edward), Edward, Clement Clarke and Ruby's brother. Front left to right: Friend of Jim's, Ruby's sister, Ruby and Susannah (Donnellan) Clarke (sister of Edward)	This is a photo of Bridie and John Donnellan..