1659 - Athlone

The last known Mageraghty chief leased the townlands of Aghgad, Aghagowre, BallymcGirraght and Tobervaddy, in Fuerty parish, Athlone barony, Roscommon, from the Kellys. McGirraght would have paid 20 shillings rent to his overlord.

Our Garretty family appears in the historical records of Athlone parish in the same barony. As our surname is a derivative spelling Mageraghty, or Geraghty, our early history is presumably intertwined with that of the clan. At the very least, some of our ancestors served them. We most likely descend from them, along a female line at least, at some point in

THE REBELLION OF 1641-53

Athlone's bridge over the Shannon River made it of great strategic importance during the Irish wars for independence. The town and surrounding countryside was held by Irish Confederates from 1641 until 1651. Ireland's fate was virtually decided when Sir Charles Coote brought 4,000 troops before the city walls in June 1651. Faced with certain defeat, Athlone surrendered with without a fight.

One of the McGurraghtys was brought before the court, in Roscommon, to testify about a murder allegedly committed by this brother:

Examination of Laughlin mcGeraghty fol. 211r

"The Examinacion of Laughlin mcGeraghty of Curbegge in the County of Roscommon gentleman concerning the murther of a Trumpeter belonging to Major Robert Ormesbey taken before vs whose names are herevnder subscribed [ ] the 29th day of Aprill 1653

"The said Deponent being duely sworne & examined on the holy Evangelists deposeth and saith That he heard a Rumour in the Country a good while since that a Trumpeter by [ ] was killed att the Mill of Cloningleene or thereabouts in the County of Roscomon by Bryan mc Owen ô Kelly and Hugh <c> mc Gurraghty brother to this ex Deponent, And further saith that he doth not knowe particulerly from whome he heard the same report but that it was the generall [vote?] of the Country and that he this examinante knoweth not the exact time when the said Trumpeter was killed for that he this Deponent at the time of the fact committed lived in the County of Galloway And further saith not.

the marke of Laughlin [mark] mc Gerraghty

Rob: Ormsby

ffra: Gore: Rich Laughlin

fol. 211v

"The Examination of Laughlin mc Gerraghty concerning the murder of Major Ormsby his Trumpeter for which Bryan mcOwen Kelly is charged taken 29 April 1653"

GERAGHTY FAMILIES IN SLIGO & ATHLONE

After the rebellion was over, Cromwell needed land to pay his troops. All Catholic landowners were stripped of their possessions. The few who could prove their loyalty during the recent troubles were to be given new, and substantially smaller, holdings. "McGirraght" was one of the dispossessed. By order of the English parliament “all persons having the right to favour and mercy were to remove and transplant themselves into the province of Connacht and county of Clare before 1st May 1654”.

Ireland's 1659 Census shows that six "Geraghty" families moved to the Barony of Tireragh & Halfe Barony of Culavin in county Sligo, while ten "McGraghty & McGiraghty" families remained in the Barony of Athlone - where the last chief resided.

We appear to descend from the latter.