Click on the thumbnail photos below for an enlarged image.

This is the Mulhern family home in Meenreagh, Killybegs, County Donegal, Ireland. This is the house my great-grandfather Peter and his four siblings were born and raised in by their parents Thomas (abt 1820-1886) and Mary (abt 1825-?) (Haggerty) Mulhern.
I had the opportunity to visit the place in October 2002 during my trip to Ireland, and was amazed that it is still standing after almost 200 years. Peter's sister Mary was born here in 1833, but I have no idea how much earlier the house was built. I'm sure the corrugated roof was an improvement, at some time replacing an original thatched roof. Also, the masonary siding probably covers up original wall construction. The property is no longer in the Mulhern family, and is now being used by someone for raising sheep. Many thanks to my distant cousin Kathleen Mulhern Brophy of Athlone, Ireland, for her assistance in directing me to the location of the Mulhern property.

Thomas and Mary had five children: Mary, Peter, John, Patrick and Thomas. Three brothers Peter, John and Patrick emmigrated to the U.S. while Mary and Thomas stayed in Ireland.

This is a photo of Peter and Sarah (Ruddy) Mulherin and their six surviving children, including my grandfather Andrew Joseph (on the right). The two oldest daughters Mary and Agnes are in the back, the oldest son Thomas is on the left, youngest son Peter in the middle. Their youngest daughter Ella is in Sarah's lap. Ella was born April 1888, so the photo had to have been taken in the latter part of 1888.

These are photos of Peter and
Sarah (Ruddy) Mulherin and their descendants.

1. Peter A. Mulherin (1841-1905) (my great-grandfather) (photo courtesy Iva Hanlon). This is the earliest known photo of Peter, date unknown.
2. Sarah A. (Mulherin) Mehm (1912-1986) (my mother) (photo courtesy Iva Hanlon). First Communion photo. Taken about 1920?
3. Ella V. (Mulherin) Gildea (1888-1980) and brother Peter A. Mulherin (1886-1947) (photo courtesy Iva Hanlon).
4. Mary (Ruddy) McBride (abt 1868-?) (sister of Sarah Ruddy, my great-grandmother) (photo courtesy Iva Hanlon).
5. Andrew J. Mulhern (1879-1937) (my grandfather) (photo courtesy Jack Klinges).

6. Sarah A. (Ruddy) Mulherin (1850-1917) This is the last known photo of Sarah before she died. (photo courtesy Iva Hanlon).
7. Mulhern siblings, left to right: Ella, Peter, Agnes, Thomas and Mary. My grandfather Andrew J. passed away before this photo was taken.
8. Andrew J. Mulherin, Theresa (Gallagher) Mulherin and my mother Sarah (Mulherin) Mehm (in car). (photo courtesy ?).
9. Coal Cracker's Band. My uncle Peter Mulhern (1900-1970) (third from left) and Andy Ruddy (?-1942) (second from left) are the only one's identified in the photo. (photo courtesy Pete Mulhern, son of the Peter Mulhern in the photo. No indication when the photo was taken, no date for the newspaper article).