This Messages page is a space for visitors, members, and friends of the Creggan History Society to connect with one another — to ask questions, share discoveries, leave comments, or simply say hello.
Whether you’re tracing your ancestry, researching a local townland, recalling an old story, or reaching out from across the globe, we welcome your contribution. This page is here to encourage dialogue and build a living community around the history of Creggan and the Upper Fews.
A Place to Share and Ask
Every week, we receive messages from people seeking information about long-lost relatives, family homes, or parish links. Others write to share photos, documents, or memories that have been passed down through generations. These exchanges are often as illuminating as they are moving — revealing unexpected connections and bringing forgotten stories back into the light.
On this page, you are invited to:
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Ask a genealogy-related question (e.g. surname searches, townland origins, burial records)
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Share personal memories of the Creggan area
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Leave a message if you or your ancestors came from here
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Offer corrections or extra information on Society content
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Reach out to connect with others researching similar lines
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Comment on a lecture, article, or event you’ve attended
This is not a formal research service, but we do our best to respond, and others may reply too. The community aspect is key — sometimes, the answer you’re looking for may come from another visitor.
How It Works
You may use the message form below to post a short note or enquiry. Please be clear and concise — including dates, names, or locations if you’re requesting help. If your post is a response to someone else’s message, feel free to refer to their post date or surname.
Messages are moderated to ensure respectful discussion and prevent spam or inappropriate content. This means your message may take a day or two to appear. Once approved, it will be displayed publicly on the page for others to view and, if relevant, respond to.
You may choose to include your email address if you wish to be contacted privately, but this is entirely optional.
If you prefer to contact the Society directly or privately, please use the form on our Contact page.
Guidelines for Posting
To keep the tone respectful and welcoming, we kindly ask that all users follow these simple guidelines:
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Stay relevant – messages should relate to the history, people, or places of the Creggan area
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Be courteous – respectful language and tone are expected at all times
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Keep it brief – if your message is long or detailed, consider emailing us directly
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Protect privacy – avoid posting sensitive or private information about living people
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No commercial posts – this is a community page, not for advertising services or products
We reserve the right to edit or withhold messages that do not meet these criteria.
Common Topics
Here are some of the topics that often come up in the Messages section:
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“My great-grandfather was born in Cullyhanna — any idea where I can find baptismal records?”
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“Does anyone know the history of the Lennon family in Crossmaglen during the 1800s?”
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“I visited the area last summer — thank you for keeping this history alive.”
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“We found a photo marked ‘Clonalig School 1913’ — happy to share if of interest.”
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“Looking for others researching the McCreesh family from Tullynavall.”
If you are unsure whether your message is suitable, feel free to post — our moderators will review it and offer guidance if needed.
The Value of Your Message
Even a brief comment or enquiry can spark meaningful connections. Many long-lost family links have been re-established through messages like those posted here. Others have led to article contributions, collaborations, or discoveries that enrich our collective understanding of the past.
You may never know who will read your message — a distant cousin, a fellow researcher, or someone holding the very piece of information you’ve been searching for.
Every post helps build a bridge between people and place, past and present.
Sharing Stories and Discoveries
If you’ve made a breakthrough in your family research, visited a site of ancestral interest, or uncovered a new source of local history, we’d love to hear about it.
Selected stories may be highlighted in our Journal, included in a future exhibition, or featured in an online spotlight. With your permission, we may even invite you to contribute a short article or reflection for publication.
Your voice is an important part of the historical record.
Thank You for Reaching Out
The Creggan History Society has always been rooted in community. While archives and articles are vital, it is the lived experiences of people — their questions, recollections, and voices — that give our work real depth and humanity.
Thank you for taking the time to visit and share. Whether you’re researching from a distance or walking the roads of Creggan today, you are part of the continuing story.