The Catholic Church records show that a child was presented for baptism at Newry Cathedral on 27 August 1907. She was sponsored by one Mary Magee and christened Elizabeth. This baptismal record acknowledges that the child was the illegitimate daughter of Bridget Garvey. I have reason to believe that this was Bridget Garvey of Monaghan Street and that the child therefore was my aunt, the second-born of my granny Bridget, the father - as a result of a ‘seduction’ as detailed above - being one Joseph Mallon of Derrybeg.
What we have is a baptismal record. There is no record of the birth of this child Elizabeth. This baptismal record contains minimal information. It does not for example give the occupation or address of the mother or any father’s name. No address or occupation of the sponsor Mary Magee is included. That the child is acknowledged as illegitimate may be the reason that the priest did not record further details though he certainly would have demanded to know them. How could I find out more?
It is the practice of the Catholic Church when recording statistical details to open three consecutive pages therein to keep a record of the birth, the marriage and the death of all individuals. This led me to the discovery that Elizabeth, baptised 27 August 1907, was married on 16 July 1924 to one Francis Larkin of Tamnabane. It was following this lead that led me to my present conviction. I will detail Elizabeth’s story shortly. More evidence in support of my theory that she was my aunt will emerge then. For now I will return to the circumstances pertaining at Monaghan Street and how they relate to this child, Elizabeth.
If we had a second aunt (i.e. a sister of aunt Dolly) on the McCullagh side, where on earth did she go? Why did no one know anything about her? Did Dolly, Frank or Sonny know of her existence? Why was she not reared together with them at 43 Monaghan Street? Many more questions must be asked. For some answers, I must divert again and tell a different story.