American national looking for long lost Westmeath relatives

An American national with what she believes are strong family ties to Westmeath is on the look out for her long lost relatives.

In a letter to the Westmeath Examiner, Maureen E Gilchrist from North Carolina said that she wanted to make a “shout out to family I may still have in Westmeath”.

“I am working on my family ancestry! I am coming back to Ireland in October with a cousin and we will be visiting County Westmeath to see if we can find any relations and to visit where a part of our family comes from! I would love to meet new family (earlier this year I met new family in Co. Longford!).

“One set of great grandparents I’ve found, come from Killucan! John Whelehan born in 1864 and Margaret Glynn born in 1861. Both were Baptised in the Killucan Roman Catholic parish and both emigrated in the 1881/1882. John (photo below) and Margaret were married in New York in 1886.

John Whelehan (became Wheeler in the US after emigrating) - his parents are Patrick Whelan (Whelehan) and Margaret Dunne, both passed in Killucan based on documents I found.

“Margaret Glynn – her parents are David Glynn and Margaret Plunkett, they both emigrated, but not together although they were married in Killucan. Margaret had nine siblings but I don’t know if they stayed in Ireland or emigrated. David Glynn had five siblings and his parents were Andrew Glynn and Mary Glennon (still confirming this information).

“If any of this family history sounds familiar or the family names match you I would love to hear from you at megilchr@yahoo.com. I am on Ancestry.com so if you are too perhaps we can see if our DNA matches.”