Genealogy In Westmeath

Westmeath, a county of Ireland, province of Leinster, bounded N by Cavan, E by Eastmeath, S by King’s county, NW by Longford, and W by Roscommon, The chief rivers are the Shannon, Inny, and Brosna. It returns 3 members to the Imperial parliament. In the original Gaelic divisions Mide was in fact a fifth province and incorporated what is now Westmeath (Accommodation, Westmeath, Ireland), as well as the present Co. Meath, and large parts of Cavan and Longford. Westmeath covers what was the northern part of the province, known as Teffia. Granted to the de Lacys in the twelfth century, it was never defended or exploited as intensively as the de Lacy possessions further to the east, and by the end of the thirteenth century it had reverted to the Gaelic Irish. It was separated from Meath and became a county in its own right in 1541. After the final defeat by Cromwell, there were huge confiscations of land in the region and virtually none of the original proprietors survived.

The main towns in County Westmeath (Bed and Breakfasts, Westmeath, Ireland) are Mullingar, Athlone, Castlepollard, Moate, Kilbeggan.

Surnames associated with the county include (Mc) Geoghegan, O’Growney, Brennan, O’Coffey, O’Mulleady, O’Malone, O’Daly, McAuley, McCormack, Dalton, Farrell, Grehan and Scally.

Emigration from County Westmeath commenced on a large scale between 1845 and 1850. Prior to 1845 there was a population of 141,000. By 1851 the figure decreased by 21%, (partly accounted for by deaths through famine) and emigration. In addition to the usual destinations of Irish emigrants - England, the U.S., Canada and Australia - many emigrants from Westmeath (Hotels, Westmeath, Ireland)
made their way to Argentina in the nineteenth century, where their sheep-rearing skills were much valued.

Dun na Si Heritage & Genealogical Centre, Knockdomney, Moate, County Westmeath, Ireland

The Westmeath (Self Catering, Westmeath, Ireland) Heritage Centre offers a Partial Service to enquirers and has access to church, civil, land and census returns for that county. Enquirers may expect a delay of two months before receiving a reply from the centre. The main records include:

Roman Catholic Records for Co Westmeath start in 1737.

Earliest Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian) records date from 1710.

Other sources include

Griffith’s Valuation

Pigot’s Directory

Slater’s Directory

Estate Lists