Blog Pages and Indexes

I think that I have finally landed on a format for my blog that I can live with.  Simplicity can sometimes get lost on the internet when you've got unlimited storage space available for information.  The unlimited storage can come with a price tag, however.  My blog is limited to ten pages unless I want to buy more space which I suppose is available.  Lately, I've realized that I don't really need all of that space.

My blog now contains the following pages:

Linked Pages and Indexes

• Main Page
• MYOG Articles and Genealogy
• Surname and Location Research
• Flanagan and County Louth Ancestor Line Posts
• The Irish Settlement and Beyond
• Northeast County Clare, Ireland, Ancestor Lines
• Romaine and McGuire Research
• Vienop and Borchers Posts

Eight pages seems to be a good length for this blog, at this point in time.  I am reserving those other two pages for any future projects or large chunks of information that should be moved off onto their own.

I also have incorporated a photo album via Picasa online.  It has some photos right now with room to expand and add other albums.  In addition, I have a separate Shutterfly Share Site for MYOG for family members.  This is a place where we can all share photos and upload and download as we wish.  I am hoping that this catches on more in the future.  I definitely accept photos via email at kristin@zelsersk.net.

As for updating the indexes, I continue to carve out time to do this.  Even if everything is not found in the indexes, this blog site has a search capability.  Feel free to use keywords to search and find what you seek.

One final note is that this research is a work in progress.  It may not be perfect but let's not let perfection be the enemy of all that is good in the world of genealogy research past, present, and future.

If you find this diary blog of mine, feel free to comment and/or contact me. 

McMahon Heraldry with a Twist

In my recent research, I found out that I'm a McMahon descendant.  My McMahon's lived in Ballyvannan, County Clare, Ireland.   They lived in a place/property location called "Revail" or "Reveal" and was considered to be near Caherhurly Road.   I think I've got most of that correct.  Also, they were part of the Bodyke Roman Catholic Church in the parish of Tomgraney.  I must admit to this is all rather new information for me. 

With all of this in mind, I decided to gather some information about the McMahon's.  It is the anglicized name for MacMathghamhna which is the name in Old Gaelic.  It means "bear".  So my question, is that the animal, the bear?  The McMahon name comes from Clare and Monaghan.   There were two different septs with this name.   I am assuming that somewhere along the way, they are related to each other.   

The first record of the McMahon's of Ireland is in 1170.  There is a bit of scandalous story to go along with the McMahon's.  A Norman by the name of Reginald Fitzurse fled to Ireland after the murder of Thomas a'Beckett.  It is legend that Fitzurse fled to Ireland and is the father of the McMahon sept.  Now that must make an interesting story. 

When I look up additional information for the McMahon's, I find the name in Scotland too.  So it looks like Clare, Monaghan, Scotland and, of course, all of those McMahon's in America, is where you would find this family line.

Here are some resources online:

• McMahons of Monaghan. McMahon clan of Monaghan and beyond.
• The Two Septs of McMahon. McMahon clan history.
• The McMahon Family Tree. McMahons in Scotland.
• McMahon DNA Project. McMahon DNA.

The McMahon name is plentiful in Ireland and the U.S.  I am seeking mine in County Clare.