
The following are a collection of stories, notices or articles taken from media sources/historical records. While some may not be that significant or indeed bear much information, we feel they are important to note for future generations. If you would like something removed please let us know.
The majority of these have been taken from newspaper sources. A great effort has been put in to extract this information and this page is quite scattered in terms of content and chronological order, however we hope you enjoy the content provided. ​
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If you are viewing this page on a mobile device, we are aware that the descriptions and the images that follow them have been muddled up in some cases, particularly the 'Death/Obituary reportss section. For a better experience, we advise viewing these on a desktop device (laptop).
For example, the Death/Obituary reports seem to appear randomly throughout this page, while at the top of the mobile device view is a poem dedicated to the drowning of Michael McAteer and Daniel Martin in 1885 along with contributors to a fund set up for the Martin family. On the desktop device, these items appear where they should. Hopefully this does not cause too much confusion. Also, on the desktop view, the death report of Edward McAteer appears where it should at the top of the page while it appears at the bottom of the mobile device page. Same with a lot of obituary reports.
Death/Obituary Reports
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1902 - John Campbell
1906 - Edward 'Charlie' McAteer, (House 9 in 1901 Census and are ancestors of Jimmy ‘Biddy’ McAteer, Araheera)
1909 - Father John 'Charlie' McAteer
1910 - Sarah McAteer, wife of John Roe
1932 - Francis O'Friel, Pollaid
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1932 - Charles 'Una' McAteer
1933 - Brian Whoriskey, father of Johnny
1933 - John Kelly, uncle of Eddie 'Jimmy' Sweeney. (It is reported that John spent the day working for Charlie ‘Una’ McAteer from Doaghbeg and returned home in wet clothing and went to bed but took seriously ill soon after.)
1934 - Grace Boyce, mother of Maggie Doherty (wife of Johnny Doherty)
1934 - Jimmy 'Paddy Nelly' Sweeney
1934 - Patrick Kenny, son of Anne 'Frink' McAteer
1934 - Tom 'John Roe' McIntyre
1935 - Hugh Martin, originally Carryblagh but related to Doaghbeg Martins









1935 - Jiley 'Una' McAteer
1935 - John Hunt death, Sergeant RIC
1936 - Michael and Katherine Deeney
1936 - Annie McConigley, nee McAteer
1937 - Patrick McAteer, Denis O' Brien's great grandfather
1937 - Pat 'John Roe' McAteer
1940 - Bridget 'Johnny Owen' Whoriskey, Doaghcrabbin
1940 - Mary Kelly (nee Sweeney), 4 year anniversary





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1942 - John 'Prionnsias Mhor' Sweeney
1947 - Rev John 'John Roe' McAteer estate
1951 - James 'John Roe' McAteer
1952 - James Sweeney
1954 - Bridget McAteer, Charlie Una's wife
1954 - Catherine 'Prionnsias Mhor' Smith, nee Sweeney
1954 - Francis 'Charlie Frink' McAteer
1954 - Tommy Richardson











1955 - Frank 'P' McAteer, Denis O'Brien's grandfather
1955 - Michael Campbell
1966 - Bridget McAteer, Denis O'Brien's grandmother
1968 - James Martin
1970 - Fanny Anne 'Paddy Nola' Duffy (nee McAteer)
1970 - Jim 'John Roe' McAteer
1971 - Anne Campbell
1976 - Margaret Richardson
1979 - Daniel Kelly
1980 - Dan Duffy










1980 - John Richardson
1981 - Margaret Sweeney
1983 - Bridget Sweeney
1988 - Francis Sweeney
1989 - Charlie 'James' Sweeney
1990 - Catherine Sweeney
1990 - Tommy 'John Roe' McAteer
1994 - Art McAteer
1994 - Jim 'John Jimmy' Sweeney









1996 - Jim Kelly, Sally Sweeney & John William Sweeney
1999 - Frank McAteer
2000 - Mary 'Charlie' McAteer
2008 - Mary O'Doherty
2010 - Annie McConigley (nee Ward)
2012 - Enda Ward









Accidents/Incidents
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1832 - Whiteboys Burglary
The Whiteboys were a secret Irish agrarian organisation in 19th-century Ireland which used violent tactics to defend tenant farmer land rights for subsistence farming. Their name derives from the white smocks the members wore in their nightly raids.
In 1832, the local Whiteboys robbed a local man named Kelly and stole his gun. They entered the house through the chimney. They also demanded arms from another local man and got them.
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Like a lot of stories from this time, we are not able to determine who this Kelly man was.
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1833 - Fatal Affray
A fatal coming together occurred in September 1833. Two parties of fishermen, one named Hugh McCarron and another named John Friel, had a disagreement and came to blows. They were at the shore with fish nets and after a dispute, McCarron struck Friel with a pole of the foot net. Friel fell to the ground and never recovered, he died a few hours later.
A coroner’s inquest was held and cause of death was confirmed to be by the consequence of the blow inflicted by McCarron. McCarron was then committed to Lifford jail.
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We are unable to tell just yet who Friel and McCarron were as unfortunately, records were not available at this time.
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1840 - Drowning
It was reported that two boats, with nine occupants across both, made their way to Doaghbeg on a fishing trip looking to catch some cod. On their return that night, they struck a rock on Pincher’s bay and all nine people drowned. On board the vessel was a man named Callaghan, his two sons, a set of brothers named John and James Black from Anney and the rest of the crew were called Kerr or McElhare.
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1857 - Ribbonism attack
Report from the Ballyshannon Herald;
We regret to learn that symptoms of this nefarious system have made their appearance in Fannet. Some time ago a party of these midnight legislators attacked the house of man named James Friel, of Cooladerry, (who acted shore baillif to the Earl of Leitrim) and tore off part the thatch, broke the door with stones, and threatened that, if he would not give his situation, they would level the house. Two boys, named McGinley and Sweeney, have been arrested, and, having been identified as being engaged in the outrage, were bound over at Tamney Petty sessions, on the 6th instant, to take their trial at the approaching assizes, it is but justice to state that the Roman Catholic priests of the parish have publicly denounced the system and its abettors from the altar.— Constable Dawson, of Doaghbeg, and his party, have been active in their exertions in discovering the parties.
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1872 Evictions
The following report was taken in January 1872 and talks about some evictions in Fanad, including one of a Hugh Friel;
We understand that the Earl of Leitrim has recently carried out number of ejectments on his Fannet, Donegal estate. The circumstances reported by our contemporary are peculiar. A number of persons holding under the Earl, in the townland of Ballinaluskey, have been ejected, with the option of re-entering on their property complying with the following—viz, signing document giving up all right and claim for compensation belonging to them under the Land Act; also, re-enter their holdings as weekly tenants. Some of the tenants, so far from complying with the above, have instituted proceedings with view to obtaining compensation for disturbance. A court recently held in Lifford, the Earl was cast in £250 for having ejected a person named Hugh Friel, of Doaghbeg.
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1875 - Ernisteine shipwreck in Lough Swilly – April
On Monday morning last, at about four o'clock, a large barque, called the Ernisteine, from Greenock, bound for Quebec, with a cargo of coal, had occasion to put into Lough Swilly, and on proceeding up the lough she struck upon the Swilly Rock. After the shock, in consequence of the damage she sustained, it appeared she became unmanageable, and veered round before the wind in the direction of a very large and isolated rock, commonly known by the name or " Brown George," a very formidable and merciless companion for the Ernisteine. The crew exerted themselves to the utmost to avoid the imminent collision; but, unfortunately, their efforts proved ineffectual, the collision took place, and the barque became stranded, it is thought irrecoverably, on "Brown George." It is a very gratifying feature in this catastrophe that no lives have been lost. The crew have taken ashore their boxes, clothing, & when they were provided by the inhabitants of Doaghbeg with stores for them. It is but fair to add that great praise is due to the constabulary of Doaghbeg for their untiring exertions towards securing the comfort of the poor shipwrecked.
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1877 – Harriet Shipwreck
LOUGH SWILLY. On Wednesday night, as the schooner Harriet, bound for Ramelton with a cargo of coals from Workington, England, was beating up the lough she experienced a sharp breeze from the south, which increased to a heavy gale about ten o'clock, and ultimately tore into shreds the rigging of the vessel. A heavy sea being running at the time, the Harriet became unmanageable in consequence of the damage sustained, and was drifting before the wind when the crew found it necessary to cast anchor, which had the effect of checking her, but the gale strengthening she snapped her chains and began drifting again in a sinking condition. At this juncture the crew, nearly exhausted from their exertions in trying to save the vessel from the fury of the elements, thought it advisable to abandon her. They then put out in a small boat, and after encountering a heavy sea for two or three hours they were fortunately cast on a range of rocks at the entrance of Doaghbeg harbour. Immediately after leaving the vessel she went down, bearing to the bottom her whole contents, with the exception of some clothes brought ashore by the crew. The vessel belongs to Captain McBride, Ramelton, who has sustained a heavy loss by the occurrence. The cargo was fully insured. The crew consisted of four hands, all told.
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1885 – Drowning of McAteer and Martin
LOSS OF LIFE IN THE SWILLY. On Friday last two men, named respectively Martin (later confirmed as Michael McAteer) and McAteer (later to be confirmed as Daniel Martin whose family lived in House 19 in the 1901 census), from Doaghbeg, Fannett, proceeded to Inch Island, opposite Rathmullan, for the purpose of obtaining a new boat and gear, which they intended to bring home that evening. I have not ascertained as to what hour they left the Island, but it must have been about 6pm., as about 6.30 the boat was observed by the Knockalla coastguards, opposite Portbawn, a little bay about mile from the station. The day which till then had been extremely stormy, was every moment increasing in severity; with biting hail showers, and a strong north to north westerly gale, the effect of which on the usually placid Swilly has always been characteristic. The waters were dashing violently up against the coast on all sides, impelling showers of spray high up in the air. At about 7 o’clock it was noticed that the men, who were rowing were making for the little bay underneath the Station; and one of the coastguards. Mr. Horae, went in their direction, when they delivered him letter from Mr. Hazel, Divisional Officer of Coastguards, Rathmullan. This letter was addressed to the station officer (Mr. Miller,) desiring him to inspect some fishing gear belonging to the men. Upon receiving the message he inquired about the men, intimating that he should like to see them, but was told that they had pushed off again, when he expressed his surprise that they should have ventured out in such an evening, and wondered much that they did not pull up, and remain for the night. According to his instructions, however, went to Doaghbeg on Monday morning, with the intention of inspecting the gear, but to his amazement there he learned that the men had not yet arrived. The sorrow of the parents of the unfortunate men, when hearing how things stood, no pen can depict; they had up to this time confidently hoped that the men had desisted in their attempt, believing that they were waiting for a favorable opportunity when they might pursue their journey without danger. When told Mr. Miller that the boat passed down the Lough on Friday their grief knew no bounds. Towards the evening Mr. Miller, accompanied by his son and one of the coastguards, together with the brother of one of the missing men and a few others, proceeded along the coast from Doaghbeg to Knockalla Station, but not a trace of the men or boat could they discern. The light-keeper at Dunree informed them that he noticed a boat at nightfall nearly opposite Carrickadonnell— not far from the place where the Saldanha” commanded by Captain Pakenham, was lost in 1811—but could give no further information concerning her. The current belief is, that the boat struck on rock near Stocker, sprang a leak and was swamped; but be this as it may, the event still remains a mystery, and undoubtedly will, as it being dark no person could have observed her. Some sanguinely hope or imagine that the men may have put into some port the opposite coast of the Lough, but as to this, also many are inclined to be sceptical; indeed the station officer assures me that owing to the heavy sea it would almost an utter impossibility for them to do so. The event has cast quite gloom over the locality, and much sympathy is felt for the parents in their sad bereavement. Martin, who well advanced in years, leaves a wife and large family to mourn his loss; McAteer was young man and unmarried. The report from Port-Devlin, published in our previous issue, is an unhappy confirmation of the fears that a casualty has happened. The remains of new boat and some gear were washed in there, and this, coupled with the continued absence of the men. points to the sad conclusion that the poor fellows have gone down in the heavy sea.
Here is the death record for both men, stating bodies had been found on Leenan beach by a Con Doherty. The bodies were found on 15th May yet this report was published on 22nd May and didn’t make a reference to bodies being found.

In June 1885, Baptist J Barton made a public appeal in the Dublin Daily Express and other newspapers for support of the family of Daniel Martin, stating;
‘Will you allow me to make appeal, through your columns, to the generosity of the public on behalf of the family of Daniel Martin, of Doaghbeg, one of the two fishermen who were drowned by the upsetting of their boat in Lough Swiily during the gale of the 15th May. Martin has left a widow and six small children, the eldest only twelve years of age. They are in the greatest poverty, and already in want of the necessaries of life. It will be an act of real charity to help these poor people. I shall be happy to receive and apply any money that may be entrusted for this purpose, and will acknowledge it through the Press.
The following people contributed to the fund while there was also a poem written about the tragedy;


1926 - Joseph McCarron drowning
1932 - Bicycle accident
1933 - John Kelly Carrowblagh
1934 - Patrick Sweeney
1934 - Motor accident
1957 - Mayflower sinking






Court Cases​
1841 - Murder in Doaghbeg?
Francis Sweeney mentioned in the group chat about a murder in Doaghbeg in the 1840s and this may have been the reason the Barracks was built. After thorough research, we found this;
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Londonderry Sentinel 27 March 1841 page 1 Crown Court –
Robert Costello, an officer of the revenue police, and John Mulhern, a private under his command, were indicted, the latter for killing Mary Gallagher, at Doaghbeg, on the 6th of February, by discharging a loaded gun at her, and the former for aiding and assisting in the offence charged in the indictment…..
Here’s more details into the alleged murder as per the resulting court case;
On Thursday March 18th 1841, Chief Baron Brady took his seat in the Crown Court to review a number of proceedings, one being that of the murder of Mary Gallagher, as per the above notes, Robert Costello and John Mulhern were indicted for said murder.
The first witness called was a Doctor Fullerton who was examined by Mr Smyley, QC. Fullerton confirmed to seeing the body of Mary Gallagher at her mother’s house on February 7th of the same year, after she had died, and again at the inquest on February 19th after it had been disinterred. He examined the body and found the skull fractured and a bullet lodged in the back part of the head. Part of the skull had to be removed before the bullet could be extracted. He stated the injury caused by the bullet was sufficient enough to cause death.
Denis Gallagher was next to be examined by Mr. Smyley. Denis lived in Doaghbeg and was a brother of Mary Gallagher. He was witness to the event and confirmed that Mary passed away on the 7th February, one day after the fatal shot was fired. She lived in the same house as Denis. Denis recalls the day of the murder; the police made their way to the Gallagher residence to seize potale. Mr. Costello arrived shortly after the seizure and Denis estimated there were eight policemen in total at the scene. Mulhern, the other prisoner, was also present, while some of the Doaghbeg town people were also at the scene. It was reported there was no rioting before the seizure. Denis stated he did not see people with sticks or stones nor was there any shouting. Mister Costello desired his men to spill the potale and destroy the hogsheads (a large cask used for holding alcohol). He also told the mob to drink the potale, that it was as good as ale for them and that Costello drank some himself, as did Denis Gallagher upon invitation from the officer. The police then smashed the staves of the vessels into two shares, one of them went to the house of Denis’ brother for a spade. A boy came and prevented this from happening and took the spade from the policeman. The police were now arguing with the people present. At this stage, Denis heard the officer instructing his men to fire. The officer fired a pistol in the direction of the people and one of the men fired after him. Neither shot did any damage. The third shot fired by Mulhern struck Mary Gallagher. After the first shot was fired, stones were thrown across the houses. Denis did not see Mary Gallagher fall but stated she was wounded above the eye. The body was buried 8 days before being taken up by order of the coroner for reexamination.
James Doherty Esq, then cross examined Gallagher about Mr. Costello, Gallagher stated he was an officer of the police. The other prisoner (Mulhern) is a private. There was a still seized before the police came to Doaghbeg. They did not know who it belonged to, but they got it roughly a mile from where the Denis Gallagher lived. They went into this still house at times and saw the still at full work. On the morning of the murder, they were not in the still house and did not know who owned the potale. They saw the mob there and called them ‘idle people’. He did not see any staves with any of them. He also did not see any stones thrown when the shots were fired but did see stones thrown over the house afterwards. He wasn’t sure if any were thrown before or after that. Doesn’t know who threw the stones. The houses were between him and them. The people scattered after the shots were fired. He couldn’t tell who was carrying the worm of the still, could have been a policeman. Did not see any attempt to take it from him. The hogshead was broken before the spade was sent for. He saw an Ennishowen man throw a hoop over the house. Heard Mr. Costello say to him, if he ever sees the like again, he will shoot him. Thinks the police might have carried off their seizure if Mr. Costello had not given any of the people the potale. Did not see blood on the hands of the police or that any of them were struck by stones. Neither witness nor his brothers had any share of the potale.
Pat Gallagher was examined by Mr. Smyley. Pat is a brother of Denis. He could not speak English so had an interpreter present. His detail was much the same as Denis’. Except that he stated seeing the people put forth their hands in a threatening manner towards the police who he then saw draw their bayonets and threaten the country people. Upon cross examination by Oliver Sproule Esq, he did admit seeing people throw stones before shots were fired.
Daniel McAteer was examined by Mr. Smyley. The police destroyed the potale before the shots were fired and saw a man drink some out of a noggin. This was before the officer came. McAteer gave them a can to lift the potale with, they asked him for a spade, but he refused. He told Mr. Costello that he would get him a spade, went out of the house with a spade in his hand, went toward the people and endeavored to keep them back. Mr. Costello was obliged to retire into McAteer’s door, stones were then thrown, Costello ordered his men to fire, Costello fired a pistol himself but done no harm, he cannot tell whether any of the stones struck Costello. Stones were thrown at the direction he was standing and at the police. He also seen Mary Gallagher after she received the wound, she died the next day.
McAteer was then cross examined by Mr. Doherty. Stated Costello had made a seizure of a still at full work that morning and a good many vessel. He heard it was to make a gutter for the potale to run off, that’s why they wanted a spade. He considered Costello in great danger when the stones were being thrown, he may have been in danger of his life, he had to retreat before he fired. He thinks he could have been killed by one blow of the stones. He also considered Costello would have been in danger of losing his life if it wasn’t for him (Daniel McAteer) who endeavored to save him. He saw marks made by the stones at the door posts where Costello was standing. McAteer went out with the objective of saving Costello. Stones were thrown before shots were fired. The crowd began to slacken as soon as shots were fired. Heard that it was to prevent Costello from making any more seizures that made him be attacked. He also heard from those throwing the stones that there was more malt in the country.
McAteer stated he did not see who fired the shot that killed Mary Gallagher.
Daniel Martin also gave testimony that was mostly similar to that of former witnesses. He did state that stones were thrown before and after shots were fired.
The case for the crown having closed, Mr. Doherty addressed the court and jury on behalf of the prisoner. He said no man regretted more the killing of Mary Gallagher that Costello. The duties of the situation which his client filled were arduous and responsible and not unfrequently of a dangerous character. It was too bad, when obliged, in defense of his own life, to act as he had done in the present instance. For insinuations to be thrown out by the prosecutors that he actually had an intention of committing murder.
Mr. Smyley, with some warmth, said that there were no insinuations of such put forward by the crown.
Mr. Doherty admitted the crown had conducted the case very properly. But he considered he had a perfect right to find fault with the testimony of Denis Gallagher which, when contrasted with the evidence of Daniel McAteer, appeared very striking. Costello was anxious for a full and fair investigation into his conduct and he had now obtained it. After adverting to the perilous situation that Costello found himself in, Mr. Doherty referred to the 7th and 8th of Geo IV, Chapter 43, on the revenue laws which stated he had a right to give evidence, and from which it did appear that if a revenue officer was being attacked when on duty he is justified in opposing force with force. It was shown Costello was assaulted and placed in imminent peril, before he had instructed his men to fire. Mr. Doherty read a portion of the act, which bearing on the subject appeared fairly quoted.
The following witnesses were then called for the defense;
Patrick McGuire sworn and examined by Oliver Sproule Esq. McGuire was part of Costello’s party on the morning of the 6th February. They had seized a still head and worm before going to Doaghbeg. Seized potale there, there were nearly 100 country people present when they arrived. McGuire knows Irish, he heard some of the countrymen say to one another that they were a slack set of people if they let eight policemen make such a destruction and to let them away without murdering them. He saw stones thrown, was struck himself on the arm, a round of ammunition was knocked out of his arm by the blow, thinks the party would have murdered if they had not fired. There were a great many stones thrown at them. Is sure the firing did not continue longer than was necessary. The prisoner Mulhern was carrying the worm and did not fire a shot at all.
Cross examined by Mr. Smyley, the worm was not seized in Doaghbeg, there was no disturbance until after the potale was destroyed. He did not see any of it drunk. Saw it carried out in vessels to be spilled. Did not think it would be effectively destroyed till it would be scattered so as a drop of it could not be gathered up. Though it was early, there was probably 100 people present. One of the men bade/instructed them fall out like soldiers which they accordingly did. He considered them a rebellious mob. McAteer was assisting the police, so was Sweeny and one Martin. The police drew their bayonets when struck with stones. Costello was struck three or four times and fired from McAteer’s doorway. It was necessary for him to do so at the time to protect himself. Some ran, some did not, after the first shot was fired. Costello and his men could not retreat safely, the woman was killed by the third shot.
Patrick Sweeney and James Grother, two more of the policemen present, corroborated the testimony of McGuire. They said they were both struck by stones and that stones were thrown before a shot was fired.
Mr. John Lavens of Milford was examined by Mr. Doherty and stated he was acquainted with Mr. Costello for three years and that he never knew a more superior officer. He said Costello was in the habit of coming to Milford once a fortnight and that he never saw anything with him but what was most respectable.
The Chief Baron in his charge to the jury, said it was immaterial whether or not the shot which killed the woman was fired by either prisoners. The law authorized a revenue officer, if attacked on duty, to defend himself by opposing force to force. The question for them was to try and figure by evidence that had come before them, consider the attack on Mr. Costello of sufficient violence to cause him to order his men to fire. As in that case, was he perfectly justifiable in doing so, or on the other hand, the shots were fired without provocation, then the prisoners were guilty of the offence and charged in the indictment.
The jury retired for a short time and returned with a verdict of not guilty for both prisoners.
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We also found a written entry which was sent to the newspaper before the trial;
l observe a paragraph giving quite an erroneous account of an encounter between the people of Doaghbeg and the revenue police. For the information of the numerous readers of your widely circulating paper, I transmit you the following statement of the matter, which may be relied on correct. On the morning of Saturday, the 6th, a party of Milford revenue Police, consisting about eight men. with Mr. Costello, their officer, at their head, proceeded at an early hour towards Doaghbeg, searching the adjacent mountains on their route, on which they made seizure of some distilling apparatus, destroying part and carrying part (the worm, I believe) to Doaghbeg. A few of the police arrived in the hamlet before Mr. Costello came up, made search and seized potale. Part which Mr. C. gave to his men, and also to the people, to drink, the remainder spilled out; but it collected into much from which it might again be preserved for distillation, (and it is not an unusual practice have a trough made close at hand, in order to receive the potale that may drain from the broken vessels to distilled when the police retire.) Mr. C. sent for a spade to let it away. It was when the policeman was bringing the spade that he was first opposed the people, who stopped the man and took the spade from him; some altercation ensued, the people threatening to stone the police if they persisted in the work. One of the more peaceable of the inhabitants here interfered to pacify the people, offering a spade, for which Mr. C went to his house, and on his return, found the people pelting police with stones. Mr. C. drew his men in close order, retired some distance, and, the people still persisted in assaulting the police with missiles. Mr. C. gave orders to fire; he first let off his own pistol, (it is thought, over their heads, as it did no injury,) two of his men then fired, one of the shots took effect in the head of a girl, who, on hearing the first shot, very imprudently ran in line of the fire in order to get to her brothers and bring them from among the assailants. On receiving the Injury, she fell, and remained insensible till her death, which took place about twenty hours after. No other person was injured. The crowd now dispersed, and Mr. C. made no further search but retired with his party.
On Tuesday, the 9th, Sir James Stewart, Portstewart, Bart. J.P, with John Law, Esq , J P., visited Doaghbeg to investigate the matter, when it appeared, the testimony the witnesses, that Mr. C. was justifiable In firing, and that his life, well the lives of his party, was in danger. On the reports reaching the Castle of Dublin, his Excellency was pleased to order John Miller, Esq., coroner, hold an inquest on the body of the deceased, Mary Gallagher, of Doaghbeg. Mr. Miller arrived in Tamney, on Friday, 19th, for that purpose and proceeded with the investigation. The body was disinterred; Doctor Fullerton, medical superintendent of the district, assisted by Mr. McGarvey, surgeon, examined the head. The skull was opened by the passage of the ball for a distance of two inches at the left temple, on its course to the back part of the substance of the brain, in which situation it (the ball) was found, much flattened and very irregular on the surface. Mr. Miller, after a most patient and protracted examination of witnesses, received verdict that Mr. Costello was not justifiable in firing, it appeared in the jury he (Mr. C.) was not in danger of his life. Mr. Miller, in consequence, granted warrant for Mr. Costello.
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We are not 100% sure who Mary Gallagher was. We are aware that there were Gallaghers in the area before 1900 but all their family either emigrated or died out as there were no Gallaghers in Doaghbeg in the 1901 census or 1911 census.
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1847 - Assault
Owen Sweeney, Rose Sweeney (his wife) and their children Catherine, Grace and Morgan were indicted for assaulting Charles McAdoo at Doaghbeg on June 30th 1847.
Charles McAdoo was examined by Mr. Smyly QC, it appeared he had gone to the lands of the prisoner where his brother William seized a cow belonging to him. He was assaulted by the persons in the dock – the wife and children of the prisoner Owen Sweeney who with the little boy came to take away the cow, but it did not appear that he received any injury.
The prisoner, who appeared to be a very poor man, offered him a field of oats for the debt which he was anxious he should accept and let the cow remain as she was in poverty at the time, but that he had afterwards taken the cow, sold her by auction and was paid his money.
This, the prosecutor admitted, Not Guilty.
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1885 – Illegal Bog Cutting
THE EARL OF LEITRIM AND HIS TENANTS At the Tamney Petty Sessions—Captain Barton, J.P., and Captain Peel, R.M, presiding, the principal cases for hearing were thirty-eight at the suit the Earl of Leitrim against his tenants, some for cutting turf without permits, some for malicious damage in cutting sods on cut-out bog, a few for trespass of cattle, and one for trespass of persons.
Mr. Martin, S.C.S., appeared for the Earl of Leitrim, and, in stating the cases generally to the Court, said that these thirty-eight or forty tenants were singularly ungenerous and ungrateful to their landlord. When his Lordship succeeded to the estate one of the grievances brought before him by these tenants was that they were followed and watched by a crowd of bailiffs, who reported everything they did to the late earl, and they ascribed all the misunderstandings they ever had with their landlord to the misrepresentations of those bailiffs, and begged of their present Earl dismiss them, and that they would watch his property and protect his interests better than they ever had been.
His Lordship, believing there was something in their complaint, set about, and soon it could be reasonably accomplished, in justice to the bailiffs, he dismissed them all but two or three men of unquestionable character, and appealed to the honor of his tenants to carry out their promise; but in that he (Mr. Martin) was sorry say they had grievously failed, the facts be disclosed in these cases would show.
There was at that time valuable turf bog, called Doaghbeg bog, within his Lordship’s preserves, and in order to bring it into the most profitable and convenient state for the use of his tenants, subject to the payment of a few shillings for a permit to cut their turf upon it, he expended upon this bog £360 in draining it and making roads through it, without charging a single penny to his tenants in respect of this outlay; and for the further use of his tenants a place of grazing, subject a very small charge, expended £1,503 in fencing and draining a large extent of cut out bog, called Knockdonnelly Park, and it was those tenants he employed to make the improvements, and to them he paid those large sums, amounting £1,868; and yet, after all that has been done for them, what was the result ?
Why, some thirty or forty of the men who had pledged themselves to watch and defend their landlord’s property were there that day charged with the criminal offence of having themselves willfully and maliciously damaged and injured the property they had pledged themselves to protect. Some of them, with the high hand, had entered upon Doaghbeg bog and cut their turf without leave or license, and others, in like manner, had gone into the fenced park and dug up and carried away the soil, stripping the rocks, and leaving the place waste. Lord Leitrim had instructed him (Mr. Martin) to attend there and prosecute those men, for which no one could blame him. Mr. Martin here said the only course he saw open to his Lordship now was to recall the dismissed bailiffs and add their extra salaries to the charge for the bog tickets. He said, however, that Mr. Manning, Lord Leitrim’s agent, had just suggested to him what he hoped would be a more satisfactory solution of the difficulty—namely, he had instructed him to say to the tenants that, if they confessed their error, and paid the usual 5 shillings for their bog tickets, and paid the costs of the day, he would ask the magistrates not impose any penalty upon them. He said he had no authority from his Lordship to do so, but he would take it upon himself.
The consequence was that all the tenants agreed the terms offered, except one. He contended that he had not cut his turf on the place alleged, and as there appeared some doubt about it, the case was adjourned to ascertain the facts. All the parties paid before the Court rose, except a few who were not prepared, and they all submitted to fines of 1d and 6d, with costs, and 5s compensation. The other cases in court were of no importance, being mostly for poor rates.
1855 - Michael Callaghan, most likely Drumnacraig
1999 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney
1882 - William Pierce
1896 - Morgan Sweeney
1897 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney





1898 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney
1899 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney
1901 - Patrick Maher v John Sweeney
1902 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney fine
1902 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney
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1903 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney x 3
1905 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney
1906 - Patrick Maher
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1906 - Patrick Maher
1911 - Michael Campbell
1911 - Sarah Coll
1914 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney
1915 - Michael Campbell
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1915 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney v Patrick Maher
1916 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney v James Sweeney
1916 - 'Paddy Rosie' McAteer house burning
1918 - Michael Campbell turf
1918 - Patrick 'Johndy' Sweeney v Patrick Maher
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1929 - Campbell robbery
1930 - Bertie Maher v Daniel Coll
1930 - rates
1931 - John McAteer
1931 - Shiels v McAteer
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1933 & 1934
Daniel Coll v Daniel 'The Tailor' Kelly
Daniel 'The Tailor' Kelly v Brigid Ward
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1936 - McBrides v Fanny Paddy Nola
1938 - Bertie Maher well issue v Richardson
1951 - Weeds case
2004 - Drumnacraig Right of Way







Miscellaneous
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1866 – Whale in the Swilly!
A whale, of very large dimensions, has for few days back been disporting itself about the mouth of the Swilly, between Dunaff and Doaghbeg. A party of fishermen were out fishing, when the monster rose to the surface about hundred yards a head, and so great was the commotion in the water, that it was with the utmost difficulty their boat was kept from being overturned or swamped. They describe its appearance as like an island in the deep. Its presence in the lough is attributed to a plentiness of fish.
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1878 – The late Lord Leitrim – letter to the editor of the Londonderry Sentinel by John Maturin
l have read the letter of Thomas B. Grant inserted in your paper this day, relative to the management by the late Earl of Leitrim of his Donegal property, and having from my childhood been intimately acquainted with his Fannet estate, and seen the changes which have taken place from time to time for the last fifty years, in justice to the late Earl I must say that I agree in the main with the sentiments expressed by the writer of that letter. The late Earl’s father was considered by his tenantry a good landlord. And because he never, I believe, but once saw a very small portion his Fannett estate.
The tenants, so long as they paid their rents, were allowed to do as they pleased, holding their farms in rundale, cooped up in dirty villages, no roads, no law to be had within twelve or fourteen miles, no education—the people that time almost all speaking exclusively the Irish language, using slide-cars instead of wheel-carts, because no roads existed on the estate, although paying county cess for what they did not possess.
The people of that district called ‘The Bottom’ were looked on by the inhabitants of the upper district as little removed from barbarians, in which state, owing to long habit, they were content to live, knowing nothing better, living on potatoes, which there was always, until the year 1847, an abundant crop, depending for manure on the seaweed, which in the spring of the year is cast on the coast in vast quantities, from the stalk of which the people made large quantities of kelp, the produce of which helped to pay their rent. The mischievous system of rundale his lordship, after great trouble, succeeded in doing away with, and placing, to a great extent, each tenant on his farm with a house, breaking up the wretched villages, which were disgrace to humanity, filled with pools of stagnant water and dung-pits, rendering it difficult and dangerous to pass through them, especially Doaghbeg.
Strange to say, all these changes stirred up ill-feeling and discontent on the part of the tenantry. In those days the strongest clan ruled the weaker, trying their strength generally once a month at the Rosnakill market with stones and sticks. All this became changed at the instance of the late Earl. Roads have been formed through the estate. Petty Sessions established, also English schools, and now the people of that district called the ‘Bottom of Fannet’ are quite as intelligent the inhabitants of the upper district of Fannett (not part of the Leitrim property), the former which extends about eight miles from the entrance of Mulroy Bay along the coast to the entrance of Lough Swilly Bay.
That the late earl was whimsical in his temperament and had his peculiarities cannot be questioned; but I consider, for the reasons stated, that he was a much better landlord than his father, and had the real interest of his tenants at heart, although he often erred in judgment in the management of his estate in evicting tenants, and taking the ground into his own hands for pasturage. The people of the district are naturally quiet and inoffensive, if not provoked very much. The late Earl received weekly reports from all the bailiffs on his estate, and no act of trespass or infringement of what he considered his rights was allowed to pass unnoticed, and, if possible, unpunished, which was the cause of constant litigation with his tenants at Petty Sessions, and consequent ill-feeling towards the late Earl.
As regards the charge of immorality brought against the late Earl by a member of the House of Commons, I never heard of any attempt made by him, under coercion, to seduce his tenants' daughters in this county, although I have at times resided quite near him. I have no doubt that revenge, growing out of some arbitrary act of the Earl, prompted the dreadful murder. —l am, air, your obedient servant, Jobs Maturin. Newtown House, Strabane. 16th April 1870.
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1882 – Urris marching band land in Doaghbeg
A Day of Recreation in Innishowen — On Thursday last the Innishowen amateur fife and drum band crossed for recreation to the bottom of Fannett, accompanied by about 200 of the stalwart sons of Urris, in eleven boats, and landed in Doaghbeg. Immediately after their arrival they were met by several contingents from different parts of the district, and having hastily consulted as to their line of action, it was agreed that they should march in processional order through the neighbourhood. A procession was accordingly organised and got under way, and inasmuch as the day was that could be desired, the sun shining his full splendour and brightest effulgence, the gathering had a most imposing appearance. Having started from the village of Doaghbeg, they marched to a place locally known as Cooladerry Mountain, a distance about 2.5 miles, and a spot unrivalled for its wild and romantic scenery—the broad expanse of the Atlantic stretching from its base towards the north, long and beautiful stretches of green sandy banks forming its western boundary, while the green hills of historic Innishowen, in their majestic grandeur, appear in the eastern horizon.
The band having here played a few select airs the procession was again reformed, and marched towards Araheera, a village romantically situated the western bank of Swilly's dark blue waters. This place being the focus of attraction, a halt was made, when the band acquitted themselves creditably in the execution of a beautiful selection of national airs, the melodious softness of which, mingling with the low soft murmurs of the waves as they played in the sportive mimicry on the shingly beach of Pincher’s Bay, harmonized beautifully, and fairly enraptured the assembly. The day being now well advanced, the procession, numbering this juncture about 800 souls, got under way again and headed for Doaghbeg, when the Innishowen party took their departure amid the cheers, congratulations, and good wishes of the Fannett people. The greatest enthusiasm was manifested along the whole line of march. Loud and frequent cheers were given for Innishowen and its band, for Parnell and his followers, and the feelings of the entire party were interpreted in deep groans for the cowardly perpetrators of the vile murder committed in the Phoenix Park. The greatest order and decorum prevailed throughout the entire day
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Massmount Chapel
The roof beams at Massmount Chapel were made from logs taken from Doaghbeg by Myles Sweeney, Morass in the mid-1800s.
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1881 - Marriage Notice
February 1881; Sweeny and Doherty – February 1st at Massmount RC Church, by the Rev. John O’Boyle, P.P, Tamney, Charles Sweeny. Doaghbeg National School, to Bridget, only daughter of Mr. Hugh Doherty, Ballyheerin.
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1902 - Here is a short extract from the book ‘On An Irish Jaunting Car Through Donegal and Connemara‘, written in 1902 by Samuel G Bayne;
We left Colonel Barton's and drove along the coast for a few miles to Doaghbeg, where we stopped to admire a magnificent sea-arch called "Brown George," the most remarkable natural feature, perhaps, on the whole coast of Lough Swilly. Doaghbeg is a very primitive, native village and is the capital of the district called Fanet (sometimes Fanad). This was the birthplace of the Honorable P. C. Boyle, who has made his mark in Pennsylvania. Further driving brought us to Fanet Head, one of the most northerly points in Ireland, on which is erected a large light-house, one hundred and twenty-seven feet above high-water. This has a group of occulting lights showing white to seaward and red towards land. After inspecting the light-house, we took our last look at Lough Swilly, that lake of shadows with its marvelous scenic splendor, almost unrivalled also as a safe and deep harbor. I have seen the British fleet manoeuvered in its confines, and it could easily anchor every man-of-war in commission to-day, giving them all enough cable to swing clear of one another on the tide.
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1900 - Council letters
1905 - Council elections (Charles Sweeney)
1905 - Delegate concerns
1905 - James McAteer rates collector x 2
1909 - Sheep concerns








1912 - Brid O'Doherty
1913 - Fanad Branch - Home Rule fund
1914 - Sale of P.Sweeney oats
1916 - Doaghbeg Irish place name
1916 - Doaghbeg name in Irish






1922 - Feis
1926 - Whales (article missing some info)
1926 - Whales
1932 - Bishop McNeely visit
1932 - Mary Sweeney exams. Mary sadly passed away in 1933 from an illness.





1932 - Nuns and Priest visit
1932 - Sally McAteer prize
1932 - Seaweed
1933 - Bella Doherty marriage
1933 - Doaghbeg Mummers
1933 - Larry Coll
1933 - Tommy Richardson cow
1934 - Martin sisters visit








1934 - Sweeney house for rent
1935 - Boat ashore
1935 - Well and Pump
1936 - Domenick Richardson story
1936 - Una Canning trip
1936 - Well and Pump construction
1937 - Martin card drive
1938 - Doaghbeg song










1938 - Mary 'Neidy' Sweeney marriage
1939 - James McAteer bull purchase
1940 - Fanad council
1940 - Radio, Dallying in Doaghbeg
1941 - Africa Missions concert
1942 - Reverend visits
1943 - Laurentic tale
1950 - Doaghbeg Players








1950 - Dr.Frank McAteer appointment
1950 - Johnny Martin car sale
1950 - Mary Kelly
1951 - Doaghbeg Players x 2
1951 - Mickey and Mary Anne Martin anniversary
1951 - Tommy McAteer appointment
1952 - Dan Martin step dancing
1952 - Grace Doherty









1952 - Jim McAteer visit
1952 - Winnie Sweeney visit
1953 - Father John McIntyre
1954 - Doaghbeg Players
1954 - Jim Kelly Garda
1954 - Miss Sweeney Tamney PO
1954 - Play
1955 - Dr.Frank McAteer appointment








1955 - Sean Curran
1959 - Bridget Carberry (nee Sweeney)
1961 - Brid O'Doherty
1962 - Fr.John McIntyre visit
1962 - Weather issue
1974 - Anne Martin
1976 - Patrick and Sally Sweeney anniversary
1977 - Senior citizens
1978 - Bridget O'Brien house sale









1979 - School bus issue
1986 - Johnny Martin lands
1990 - Cassie McIntyre house for sale
1993 - Kevin Doherty wedding
1999 - Charlie 'James' Sweeney house for sale
2004 - Anna Heusaff novel
2004 - House sale
2018 - Daithi Friel










Road Improvement Works
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1844-1886


































1933 - Road repair
1958 - New road
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Workhouse Information
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Milford Workhouse entries (1840s-1870s)
1848 - Mary Duffy, Catherine Cullion & Nancy Doherty
plus multiple others
1855 - Mary McElroy
1865 - Ferry family
1867 - John Martin orphan
1872 - Edward McAteer
1874 - Friels
1875 - John McAteer warden for the district
1876 - John McAteer & John Ferguson Workhouse board
1877 - John McAteer Workhouse board
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Milford Workhouse entries (1880s-1890s)
1880 - Morgan Sweeney x 2
1881 - John Carr, Rose Sweeney,
1881 - Rose Sweeney, George & Owen Friel
1882 - John Sweeney
1885 & 1886 - Morgan Sweeney
1886 - Rose Sweeney
1888 - various Doaghbeg visits
1889 - John & Morgan Sweeney
1891 - Catherine McAteer
1892 - Ellen Friel
1893 - Ellen McAteer
1894 - Margaret Friel
1895 - Dolly Gallagher
1895 - Ellen McAteer
1895 - Scott family visit and home disinfectant
1896 - Morgan Sweeney x 3
1896 - Catherine Whoriskey
1896 - Charles Kelly disinfectant
1902 - John McAteer appointment
1905 - Bridget Doherty fever
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Other Records
Sometime between 1847-1871? - Patrick McCarron emigration
1916 - Denis O'Brien informal will
1918 - William 'Paddy Nelly' Sweeney Prisoner of War
1918 - Bernard Whoriskey/Caldwell WW1 Draft
1921 & 1927 - Edward 'Charlie Murrachu' Sweeney
1924 - William 'John Roe' McAteer
1925 - Giley 'Proinnsias Mhor' Sweeney
1925 - James 'Nola' McAteer
1932 - Hugh 'Charlie Murrachu' Sweeney will
1933 - Hugh Sweeney (son of Morgan) pension application
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Other Records
Coll info
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1908 - Frank Coll death cert, shortly after emigrating
1931 - Patrick Coll & Annie Duffy passport & wedding cert
1932 - Daniel 'Mhor' Coll will
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Miscellaneous
1847 Daniel McAteer Clerk Security
1900s Daniel 'Peig' Coll Workhouse visits
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'The Outer Edge of Ulster' - Doaghbeg references
In 1840, when Lord Leitrim's head bailiff was laying out new cuts in Doaghbeg, James Martin openly threatened to kill them and demanded to see 'the man in Doaghbeg that would put a spade in any of the ground he had occupied'. He warned the bailiff he was in St.John's before and had a loose foot still and could go there again. Upon hearing this, Martin's wife Honora, swearing in Irish to their three sons that the surveyor should not get out of the townland with his life, the bailiff ad surveyor downed tools and applied to the Constabulary for protection.
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Some more interesting documents
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1941 - John 'Charlie Una' McAteer US Army registration for WW2
1926 - Patrick 'PF' Sweeney naturalization. He travelled to America with John 'Charlie Una' McAteer in October 1925
1939 - Patrick 'Rosie' McAteer x 2
1926 - John 'Charlie Una' McAteer naturalization
1930s - Katherine Friel (nee Duffy)
1962 - Dan Martin travel card
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Leitrim Diary Entries and explanation
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12 May 1863
‘Went to Doaghbeg with Wilson [his bailiff], gave notice to Michael Martin No 10, Pollet and Pat’k Kelly No 8 that I would evict them; also to Wm McAteer, Doagh Beg, I would evict him and to Dennis Boyce of Ballinacrick that I would remove him for harbouring McGinley who was evicted.’
This is interesting, particularly in the context of the eviction of James McAteer Junior(Lot 1) in 1862, and Leitrim's entry about that event:
" It reads as follows:
James McAteer of No 1 farm in Doagh Beg evicted April 1862
(This was James McAteer Junior)
His relations are as follows:
William McAteer of Doaghbeg
No 6 & 14, Brother of James
Charles McAteer Ditto No 16 & 17 Brother in Law to Mary who held this favour
James McAteer No 2 Ditto No 34 Cousin
Owen McAteer Ditto No 35 Cousin
Daniel McAteer Ditto No 11 Cousin
Franci (e)s McAteer Ditto No 7 Cousin
Widow Mary? McAteer Ditto No 4 & 5 Cousin
The only William McAteer listed as an occupier in 1862 was Billy Eoin Bhig (John Roe's father). The reference to William as a brother of James Junior may have been a mistake, as there is no family record of William having a brother James. At the same time, James McAteer, Senior occupied Lot 7, per Griffiths, and was succeeded as tenant in 1863 by Charles McAteer(Charlie Eoin Bhig), a half brother of William's, suggesting, perhaps, a relationship.
The 1860's was a period of major unrest and evictions. The Derryveagh Evictions occurred in 1861 and there were also evictions on the Olphert estate in Cloughaneely.
William must have committed some transgression to warrant the threat of eviction - which was not actually carried out.
There was extensive changes with a number of plots in Doaghbeg in that period. The threat of eviction could have been fallout from resistance to the eviction the previous year.
Another, factor could have been that John Roe had recently married Sarah McAteer, Leatmore and her brother James was evicted around the same time.
Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be any rental records for Doaghbeg.
There are for a few townlands, including Doaghcrabbin. There were maps of the tenancies on the Leitrim Estate commissioned around 1837.