Anyone in Ulster?

[Aachen1983]

I am trying to find out if anyone knows anything about my family. Their last names were Mooney and Gilpin and they came from county Fermanagh and County Down. If anyone has info I would most appreciate it.

[PaddytheTickler]

I'm not from Ulster but about 1 hour drive away. There are many thousands of Mooneys across Northern Ireland. Mooney is a traditional Irish name meaning wealthy or prosporous and originated from County Laois, a little further south.
Maybe you should check the spelling of Gilpin as its not a traditional Irish name. However, it may have been taken from Gilpatrick(meaning servant/follower of Saint Patrick) which is a very rare name today. I would think that if you got your hands on a telephone directory for the Fermamagh area in N.Ireland there would be but a handful of Gilpatricks listed(I mean like 3 or 4). I would recommend just calling these numbers and asking about your family history. You would be suprised what a close net community exists up there and also how fascinated people there will be they hear a strange American voice on the phone. Even if they are of no realation to you, they will propably be glad to help you and even take a personal interest in the matter.

Happy hunting.