Parish Records of Croagh & Kilfinny

In the 1850s my third-great-grandparents Patrick Quaid and Ellen Dundon lived in rural County Limerick. They lived in a townland called Ballymacamore, which was in a parish whose church was sometimes in Croagh and at other times in Kilfinny; it was a single parish but the central church moved over time. Since baptisms and marriages were recorded at the parish level, Croagh/Kilfinny is where events from Ballymacamore should be found.

The old church ruins in Kilfinny,
much older than any surviving records.

Scans of Catholic parish registers are freely available at the National Library of Ireland site. Ancestry has indexes of the registers, but given the quality of the scans it's not clear how complete they might be. Perhaps more importantly, they don't always include ancillary information like the names of baptism sponsors and the more specific home of parents. That's important for me, because although I know Patrick & Ellen lived near several other families of Quaids, I don't know any of their relationships.

Given all that, I found myself reading through the available scans of the Croagh/Kilfinny parish registers. I recorded every entry that included a Quaid in any role. Spoiler: I didn't learn a lot.

Baptism Records

Sample baptism record, for David Joseph Quaid

So what does a baptism record look like? The example above is written in Latin:

25 David filius Patritus Quaid & Ellena Dundon -- spons -- Jacobo Moran & Honora Quaid

The date was March 1846 from context. In English, that would be:

25 David son on Patrick Quaid & Ellen Dundon, sponsors James Moran and Honora Quaid.

These records were normally written by the curate, not the parish priest. They followed a general pattern, but each curate had his own style. That includes the literal handwriting, and also some variation in the wording. Curate Patrick J. J. Benson wrote his entries in English, bless him. Some others included the townland of the parents, which is of course especially helpful.

In the tables that follow I've tried to use consistent English spellings, and I've marked the entries I had trouble reading with a question mark. The Register link will bring you to a scan of the relevant page.

Baptisms 1836 to 1843

Patrick Benson starts his register with a flourish

Link to the register book. This is a wide table, so it's not going to be very readable on a phone.

Date	Child	Father	Mother	Sponsor	Sponsor	Link
13 Aug 1837	Jane Quaid	David Quaid	Ellen Sheehy	Michael Quaid	Margaret Sheehy	Register
29 Aug 1837	Martin Quaid	Denis Quaid	Alice Barry	Edmund Barry	Margaret Barry	Register
6 Oct 1838	Johanna Quaid	Denis Quaid	Alice Barry	Thomas Connel	Ellen Bleake	Register
19 Apr 1839	Ellen McEmry?	Thomas? McEmry?	Mary Conway	Michael Quaid	Hanora Liston	Register
14 May 1839	Timothy Quaid	Patrick Quaid	Ellen Dundon	Timothy Quaid	Ellen Quaid	Register
25 May 1839	John Quaid	John Quaid	Bridget Sheehy	John Fitzgibbon	Anne Fitzgibbon	Register
26 Sep 1839	Michael Quaid	David Quaid	Ellen Sheehy	Michael Sheehy	Maryann Quaid	Register
9 Jan 1840	Margaret Quaid?	John Quaid?	Mary Liston	Dan Hannan	Mary Flaherty	Register
3 Feb 1840	James Lyons	John Lyons	Margaret Gready	John Gready	Ellen Quaid	Register
12 Jul 1840	Timothy Quaid	Michael Quaid	Alice Renehan	James Liston	Alice Barry	Register
21 Oct 1840	Margaret Maloney	Michael Maloney	Hanora Moinehan	David Quaid	Hanora Nunan	Register
6 Nov 1840	John Quaid	Patrick Quaid	Ellen Dundon	Timothy Quaid	Mary Liston	Register
7 Dec 1840	James Keyes	John Keyes	Bridget Connors	Timothy Quaid	Ellen Quaid	Register
6 Mar 1841	Catherine Quaid	David Quaid [1]	Ellen Sheehy	William Hogan	Catherine Hogan	Register
19 Sep 1841	James Quinn	Michael Quinn	Hanora Quaid	Micheal Quinlivan?	Ellen Quinn	Register
16 Jan 1842	Patrick Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Sheehy	John Sheehy	Mary Culon?	Register
17 Jan 1842	Thomas Quaid	John Quaid	Bridget Sheehy	Michael Quaid	Catherine Sheehy	Register
20 May 1842	Catherine Quaid	Michael Quaid	Alice Renehan	Timothy Quaid	Ellen Quaid	Register
7 Jul 1842	John Quinn	John Quinn	Mary Liston	John Quaid	Hanna Nunan	Register
31 Jul 1842	Thomas Quaid	Patrick Quaid	Ellen Dundon	John Dundon	Alice Barry	Register
15 Aug 1842	William McGrath	Owen McGrath	Mary Scully	William Scully	Alice Quaid	Register

1. This entry repeats on April 1.

Baptisms 1843 - 1859

Link to the register book.

Date	Child	Father	Mother	Sponsor	Sponsor	Link	Townland
19 Apr 1844	Ellen Quaid	Patrick Quaid	Ellen Donovan [1]	David Quaid	Catherine Sheehy	Register
19 May 1844	James Quaid	Michael Quaid	Alice Renehan	Matthew Renehan	Catherine Renehan	Register
10 Aug 1844	Mary Lyons	John Lyons	Mary Grady	David Quaid	Honora Nunan	Register
6 Apr 1845	Margaret Desmond	William Desmond	Catherine Sullivan	Thomas Renehan	Mary Quaid	Register
23 Jul 1845	David Quaid	David Quaid	Ellen Sheehy	Patrick Quaid	Mary Anna Quaid	Register
12 Dec 1845	Mary Keys	John Keys	Bridget Connors	Timothy Quaid	Catherine ??	Register
25 Mar 1846	David Quaid	Patrick Quaid	Ellen Dundon	James Moran	Honora Quaid	Register
30 Jun 1846	Timothy Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine ??	John Quaid	Ellen Dundon	Register
26 Aug 1846	Michael Quaid	Michael Quaid	Alice Renehan	Michael Liston	??	Register
7 Feb 1847	Catherine Lyons	John Lyons	Margaret Grady	Michael Quaid	Catherine Hoolihan?	Register
Something about Mary Quaid, witness John Quaid and Alice Quaid. Maybe a marriage?						Register
8 Oct 1847	James Malony	Michael Malony	Honora Minahan	John Quaid	Mary?	Register
21 Nov 1847	Mary Cassen?	Thomas Cassen?	Honora Costello	? Quaid	Catherine Quaid	Register
18 Mar 1848	Mary Quaid	Patrick Quaid	Ellen Dundon	Thomas Hickey	Catherine Burke	Register
13 Sep 1848	Helen Long	Bartholomew Long	Mary Quaid	William Desmond	Mary Long	Register	Kilfinny
23 Sep 1848			Quaid?	John Quaid?	Quaid?	Register
20 Jan 1849	Honora Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Helen Fitzgerald	Michael Fitzgerald	Bridget Sheehy	Register	Raheen
15 Feb 1849	Bridget Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Bridget Riordan	? Cavanaugh	Catherine Toumey	Register	Ballin...? [2]
7 Jun 1849	Mary Quaid	Michael Quaid	Alice Renehan	Timothy Halloran	Jane? Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
17 Jun 1849	John Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Sheehy		Mary Sheehy	Register	Ballymacamore
8 Dec 1849	John Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	John Quaid	Helen ?	Register	Ballymacamore
6 May 1851	Catherine Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Helen Fitzgerald	James Fitzgerald	Margaret Fitzgerald	Register	Raheen
15 Jun 1851	Daniel (David?) Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Bridget Riordan	Patrick Shaughnessy	Honora Scully	Register	Kilfinny
15 Feb 1852	Michael Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Sheehy	John Quaid	Alice Barry	Register	Ballymacamore
17 Feb 1852	Honora Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Maurice Hannan	Mary Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore
28 Feb 1854	Mary Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Helen Fitzgerald	? Higgins	? Fitzgerald	Register	Raheen
18 Apr 1854	William Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	James Nunan?	Anna Nunan?	Register	Ballymacamore
9 Jul 1854	? Sheehy	Thomas Sheehy	Mary Walsh	Catherine Quaid	Michael Sheehy	Register	Croagh
24 Dec 1854	James Hickey	Patrick Hicky	Margaret Hogan	James ?	Helen Quaid	Register	Kilfinny
4 Nov 1855	John Keyes	John Keyes	Bridget Connors	Charles Quaid	Mary Burke	Register	Ballymacamore
8 Jan 1856	Mary Donohue	Martin Donohue	Hanna Condon	Thomas Donohue	Bridget Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
12 Jan 1856	Denis Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Michael Hannan	?	Register	Ballymacamore
11 Mar 1856	Daniel Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	Patrick Riordan	Margaret Higgins	Register
29 Aug 1856	Timothy Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Helen Fitzgerald	Michael Fitzgerald	Mary ?	Register	Raheen
10 Jul 1857	Mary Quaid?	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Bridgeman	? Quaid	Catherine Burke	Register	Ballymacamore
13 Jul 1857	Michael Quaid	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Thomas Hickey	Mary Coll?	Register	Ballymacamore
1 Aug 1857	Helen Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Patrick Hannan	Mary Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore
3 Sep 1857	Mary Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	Daniel Higgins	Helen Quaid	Register	Raheen
9 Feb 1858	Frances Keyes	John Keyes	Bridget Connors	Patrick Quaid	Mary McCauer?	Register	Ballymacamore
14 Nov 1858	Charles Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Kilbridge [3]	Patrick Quaid	Bridget Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
6 Feb 1859	Cornelius Keyes	John Keyes	Bridget Connors	David Quaid	Elizabeth ?	Register	Ballymacamore
23 Jun 1859	Mary Quaid	? Quaid [4]	Johanna Hannan	Patrick Hannan	Mary Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore

1. Donovan should be Dundon.
2. Not sure what this is, but I don't think it's Ballymacamore.
3. I'm 90% convinced that Catherine Kilbridge and Bridgeman are the same person.
4. Hard to read; could be Jeremiah or David, based on other context

Baptisms 1859 to 1880

Link to the register book.

Date	Child	Father	Mother	Sponsor	Sponsor	Link	Townland
4 Feb 1860	David Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	William Hannan	Bridget ?	Register	Ballymacamore
22 Apr 1860	James Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Helen Fitzgerald	Patrick Fitzgerald	Honora Fitzgerald	Register	Raheen
30 Sep 1860	Anna Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Bridgeman	James Mulcahy	Anna Kilbridge	Register	Ballymacamore
13 Jan 1861	Thomas Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	John Houlihan	Bridget Higgins	Register	Raheen
15 Mar 1861	Alice Donohue	Martin Donohue	Honora Condon	John Quaid	Catherine Grady	Register	Ballymacamore
22 Sep 1861	Michael Quaid	Charles Quaid	Mary Nealon	John Quaid	Catherine Burke	Register	Ballymacamore
6 Oct 1861	Jeremiah Quaid	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	James ?	Mary Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore
17 Dec 1861	Frances Keyes	John Keyes	Bridget Connors	John Dea	Anna M?	Register	Ballymacamore
5 Mar 1862	Alice Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	Patrick Higgins	Honora Higgins	Register	Raheen
28 Sep 1862	George Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Patrick Costelloe	Johanna Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore
19 Oct 1862	Thomas Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Bridgeman	James Barry?	Johanna Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore
4 Jun 1863	Bridget Dundon	Patrick Dundon	Alice Quaid	Henry McMahon	Johanna Quaid	Register	Kilfinny
16 Apr 1864	Martin Quaid [1]	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	David Hickey	Helen Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore
12 May 1864	Hanna Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	John Houlihan	Hanna Hare	Register	Raheen
2 Jul 1864	Johanna Donohue	Martin Donohue	Hanora Condon	James Molloy	Hanna? Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
25 Aug 1864	Emma Hammond	Thomas Hammond	Jane Mc?	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	Register	Raheen
7 Oct 1864	Mary Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	James Hanna	Johanna Kelly	Register	Ballymacamore
19 Feb 1865	Bridget Quaid	Timothy Quaid	Catherine Kilbridge	Michael H?	Helen Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
4 Mar 1865	Alice Dundon	Patrick Dundon	Alice Quaid	Denis Quaid	Honora Costello	Register	Kilfinny
3 Jun 1866	James Quaid	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Patrick Dundon	Helen Hickey	Register	Ballymacamore
12 Aug 1866	Margaret Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	John Higgins	Helen Fitzgerald	Register	Raheen
7 Sep 1866	Johanna Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Henry McCarthy	Helen Molony	Register	Ballymacamore
24 Mar 1867	Catherine Dundon	Patrick Dundon	Alice Quaid	James Dundon	Catherine Sexton	Register	Kilfinny
31 Mar 1867	Helen Quaid	TImothy Quaid	Catherine Kilbridge	James Moran	Mary Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
4 Aug 1867	John Donoghue	Martin Donohue	Honora Condon	John Quaid	Bridget Quin	Register	Kilfinny
22 Mar 1868	Martin Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Henry McCarthy	Mary Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
19 Sep 1868	David Quaid	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	David Quaid	Honora Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
5 Feb 1869	John Dundon	Patrick Dundon	Alice Quaid	Daniel Higgins	Mary Costelloe	Register	Kilfinny
11 Mar 1869	Johanna Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	David Clifford	Honora Keating	Register	Raheen
23 May 1869	Alice Quaid	TImothy Quaid	Catherine Bridgeman	Michael Quaid	Mary Ruddle	Register	Ballymacamore
3 Oct 1869	Patrick McLoughlin	James McLoughlin	Margaret Quaid	Patrick Quaid	Mary Horan	Register	Ballinakill
17 Jan 1870	Patrick Quaid	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Jeremiah Quaid	Catherine Frawley	Register	Ballymacamore
10 Jul 1870	John Harman	Patrick Harman	Mary Frawley	David Quaid	Honora Quaid	Register	Kilfinny
24 Aug 1870	Bridget McLoughlin	James McLoughlin	Bridget Quaid	James McLoughlin	? McLoughlin	Register
3 Jan 1871	Alice Quaid	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Thomas Hickey	Johanna Hickey	Register	Kilfinny
23 May 1871	Matthew Higgins	Matthew Higgins	Catherine Quaid	James Barrett	Catherine Barrett	Register	Raheen
28 May 1871	David Quaid	TImothy Quaid	Catherine Bridgeman	David Quaid	Catherine Murphy	Register	Ballymacamore
12 Dec 1871	Honora Donohue	Martin Donohue	Hanora Condon	Michael Quaid	Mary Ruddle	Register	Ballymacamore
22 Jan 1872	Catherine Quaid	Thomas Quaid	Honora Cremin	Martin Quaid	Mary Quaid	Register	Smithfield
20 Apr 1872	Helen McLoughlin	James McLoughlin	Bridget Quaid	Michael Quaid	Margaret Stor?	Register	Balinakill
8 Mar 1873	Margaret Quaid	Thomas Quaid	Honora Cremin	Martin Quaid	Margaret Quaid	Register	Smithfield
14 May 1873	Helen Quaid	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	Jeremiah Quaid	Mary Bourke	Register	Ballymacamore
7 Apr 1874	Mary Anne Quaid	Thomas Quaid	Honora Cremin	Michael Geary	Mary Anne Geary	Register	Smithfield
15 May 1874	Mary McLoughlin	James McLoughlin	Bridget Quaid	? Carroll	Mary Long	Register	Ballinakill
13 Aug 1875	Martin Quaid	Thomas Quaid	Honora Cremin	David Quaid	Bridget Cahill	Register	Smithfield
8 Sep 1875	Michael Moloney	James Moloney	Honora Quaid	Jeremiah Moloney	Helen Quaid	Register
8 Oct 1876	Margaret Quaid	Thomas Quaid	Honora Cremin	Jeremiah Quaid	Bridget Hayes	Register	Smithfield
6 Mar 1877	Ellen Hannan	Michael Hannan	Margaret Dempsey	William Quaid	Johanna Collins	Register	Ballymacamore
13 Apr 1877	John L?	Patrick L?	Catherine Kelly	Patrick Quaid	Hannah Hall	Register	Old Court
17 Dec 1877	Thomas Quaid	Thomas Quaid	Honora Cremin	Patrick Quaid	Ellen Quaid	Register	Smithfield
17 Nov 1878	Helen Quaid	Thomas Quaid	Honora Cremin	James Cahill	Helen Cremin	Register	Smithfield
30 Mar 1879	Patrick Quin	Michael Quin	Mary Casey	Timothy Quaid	Helen Quaid	Register	Ballymacamore
22 Apr 1879	Timothy Quaid	Michael Quaid	Catherine Kelly	Michael Kelly	Mary Kelly	Register	Ballymacamore
11 Sep 1879	John McLoughlin	James McLoughlin	Bridget Quaid	Michael Quaid	Anna Quaid	Register	Kilfinny
6 Sep 1880	John Kelly	John Kelly	Margaret Dundon	Michael Quaid	Mary Kelly	Register	Kilfinny

1. Martin Quaid, baptized 16 Apr 1864, is the first child on this list who also has a civil birth registration, recorded in the civil parish of Croom. I think Ballymacamore is today in the civil parish of Kilfinny.

Marriages 1844 to 1881

Link to the register book.

Date	Groom	Bride	Witness	Witness	Link	Townland
19 Jul 1845	Timothy Flaherty	Margaret Quaid			Register
22 Jan 1849	David Quaid	Johanna Hannan	John Quaid	Michael Hannan	Register	Kilfinny
10 Feb 1855	Jeremiah Quaid	Johanna Hannan	James Barry	Mary Hannan	Register	Ballymacamore
6 Aug 1855	David Costelloe	Margaret Hogan	David Quaid	Joanna ??	Register	Kilfinny
16 Feb 1857	Patrick Dundon of Manister	Alice Quaid of Ballymacamore	William Dundon	Jeremiah Quaid	Register
16 Feb 1858	James O'Shaughnessy	Mary Grady	James McCann	Catherine Quaid	Register
25 Jul 1860	David Hannahan of Rathkeale	Ellen Carroll alias Scully of Croagh	Patrick Scully	Catherine Quaid	Register
15 Feb 1868	James McLoughlin	Bridget Quaid of Ballymacamore	Thomas Ruddle	Bridget Ruddle	Register
1 Mar 1870	Thomas Quaid of Knockaderry parish	Honora Cremin of Smithfield	Michael Quaid	Catherine Mulgrave	Register
9 Mar 1876	David Quaid of Knockaderry parish	Bridget O'Keefe of Croagh	Thomas Quaid	Margaret ?	Register
18 Jun 1878	Michael Quaid	Catherine Kelly	Thomas Ruddle	Catherine Mahony	Register	Kilfinny

Starting with the marriage of James McLoughlin and Bridget Quaid (daughter of Patrick & Ellen), all these marriages also had civil registrations.