Maggie Langan, the daughter of Mathias Langan and Penelope Byrne was born in the village of Mochara in the Parish of Shrule, County Mayo, Ireland on November 6, 1875. Maggie Langan immigrated to New York City circa 1890 where she married Joseph Walsh on May 14, 1895.

For more information on Maggie Langan after her marriage, click on Joseph Walsh now or go to the bottom of the page.

This photo was originally in the possession of Margaret (Maggie) Walsh Petersen, who gave it to Maria Lahiff Pedulla.

Written on the back

"Maggie Langan, my mother "

"Bellin and Murphy
Portraits
318 & 320 fulton Street

Brooklyn, N.Y.
Duplicates can be had at any time

This is from a color Xerox that belonged to Agnes Goehle Land. I do not know where the original is located.

If you have a copy of the original photo and would like to share it with the web site, please contact me at maggie@maggieblanck.com. Thanks, Maggie

Maria Lahiff Pedulla (the daughter of Agnes Walsh and the grandaughter of Maggie Langan) told me when we visited together in Tucson, Arizona in November, 2002, that this photo originally showed Maggie holding her infant son, Joseph, in her lap. She said the baby was dressed in dark colored "sacramental vestments". Based on Maria's information, I am fairly sure that this was a photo of Maggie and her deceased son, Joseph.

It was a common practice to take a photo of one's deceased child.

If you have a copy of the original photo with Joseph in it and would like to share it with the web site, please contact me at maggie@maggieblanck.com. Thanks, Maggie

Photo curtesy of Clare Walsh Esser

In April 2004, Walsh/Langan descendant, Martin Lahiff Walsh wrote:

"Maggie Walsh' signature was what struck me most. She was no a simple, ignorant wench from Mayo-God-Help-Us, as it was always given when asked."

Schools for the Irish native came to south west Mayo in the mid 1800s and almost everyone born in the area after that time went to school at least part of the time. Most of the schools that the Irish native attended were run by Christian Brothers or Sisters of Mercy. Both taught in Ballinrobe. Joseph Walsh and his siblings and Maggie Langan and her siblings were all literate.

The 1901 and 1911 censuses and other records indicate that almost everyone of the previous generation could not read and write. Mathias Langan's siblings, Bridget and Pat, was illiterate. I do not know if Mathias Langan was literate; none of the records indicate one way or another. His wife, Nappy Byrne Langan, was illiterate. I do not know if John Walsh was literate; none of the records indicate one way or another. His wife, Fanny Feeney, was illiterate. Most of the people in the 1901 census in Ballinrobe who were closely associated with John Walsh were illiterate. However, there is a possibility that John Walsh was literate. He was listed on several records as a steward. My feeling is that that may have necessitated some knowledge of reading and math.

Maggie was born in a rural area about 15 miles south of Ballinrobe. However, she spend most of her youth in the town of Ballinrobe. In fact, the Langans and the Walshes lived very close to each other in what is/was a small town. They must have know each other in Ballinrobe. My impression is that the Walshes might have been a little better "established". John Walsh was at various times listed as a gardener and steward. There are clear indications from the records that he was closely associated with people who had trades, in particular with a family of masons, the Lardners, who built the parish church. Another couple he was close to were Richard O'Donnell and Ellen Walsh. Richard O'Donnell was the town chimney sweep.

The Langans and related families were farmers and laborers. Mathias Langan's father, Mathias Langan, was listed as a "poor tenant". As was Penelope Byrne Langan's father, Michael Byrne. On the other hand, the Byrne family home in Mohorra was a bigger "cottage" than many in the area and they had a forth share in 64 acres, which doesn't sound like much, but it was more than a lot of people in the area had. There are several other factors that indicate the Langan/Byrnes were in a relatively good position. They didn't immigrate until the 1880/90 which indicates that they were okay where they were until that time. In addition, when they left the whole family immigrated, Mathias, Penelope and all of their children. That was not common. The Walshes were more typical; some of the children emigrated and some remained behind. Another thing that is quite odd about the Langans is that at least two of them returned to Ireland. Ellen, the wife of Martin Langan, returned to Ireland with her two children leaving Martin in the states. Mathias Langan returned to Ireland where he died in his 80s. While many Irish in America pined for the old sod, very few returned.

All in all, Maggie seems to have been a more or less typical Mayo woman of her times. The bulk of the population of Mayo was (and still is) rural. Maggie had the benifit of knowning both the coutyside and town life. She and her family were probably predominantly Irish speakers at home. However, her schooling would have been in English.

It must have been very strange to go from a small west Irish town to New York City. At least she had the comfort of her parents and siblings and in all likelihood a large number of friends and acquaintances from county Mayo.

Maggie clearly had a good eye for beauty and a good hand at sewing. Go to Lillie Walsh O'Neil and look at the exquisite communion dress of Lillie Walsh.

Immigration

The census records indicate that Maggie immigrated between 1889 and 1891 (so between 14 and 16 years of age). She left Ireland before the train arrived in Ballinrobe (1892) so the first part of her journey was on foot - probably either south through Galway or north to take the train from Claremorris. The most likely port of debarkation was Queenstown. Two older brothers, Pat and Martin, emigrated around the same time. However there are no indexed immigration records currently available which show a combination of Pat and/or Martin and/or Maggie (Margaret). There are two potential records for Maggie:

1. Maggie Langan, age 15, from Co. Mayo Ireland, to New York, on the Etruria, April 1890, from Queenstown.
2. Maggie Langan age 16, from Tuam to New York on the City of Berlin, April 18, 1891, from Queenstown

Taken from the post mortum photo with her children. See Photos of the children of Joseph Walsh and Maggie Langan

Date of photo unknown.