To make a long story short my grandparents left Belfast in 1965, they had 7 kids at the time and 3 more when they moved to Canada.

I just came across this subreddit and I was wondering if anyone’s parents or grandparents remember the McDonald family who lived on Falls Rd.

My grandfather was George McDonald, born Protestant but converted to Catholicism for my Nan.

My nans name is Julia, but she goes by June; maiden name McGrillen. I’ve attached a photo of what they all would have looked like back then, any recognition would be more than appreciated but I know this is a bit of a shot in the dark.

by Iuile02

13 comments

  1. Best of luck finding out but you’d have more luck trying Facebook groups which highlight the history of Belfast the majority on this sub would be very young

  3. > 7 kids at the time and 3 more when they moved to Canada

    > My grandfather was George McDonald, born Protestant but converted to Catholicism for my Nan.

    And, Jesus, but he took the Catholicism seriously, too.

  4. You can look up birth’s deaths and marriages on ancestry.com usually without paying just the free trial.

    Might be able to find out what parish they lived in

  6. Have you considered getting in touch with the local Catholic churches on the Falls Rd.

    That Local History FB groups as has been previously mentioned

  7. Can’t help you with any information, but Christ do your grandparents look young! For a moment I thought this was a picture of only the children!

    Also cannot believe how much the girl second from right (the eldest?) looks like one of my childhood friends. Same cheeks, smile, nose. You don’t have anyone by the name of Galbraith in your family tree, do you? The resemblence is honestly spooky!

  8. You really should be checking Catholic Church records, they’d have this information.

  9. When’s you grans birthday year (and grandad) or what age now? My mum’s from the falls road, she is 79 now. Grew up Nansen street. I can ask her.

  10. You’ll have better results if you narrow down where on the Falls Road, or if it was a street off the Falls Road.

  11. Did some random searches on Ancestry as I’ve paid for it and doing my own family tree. Do you know George’s birth year? I can see a George Mcdonald born in 1930/40s in Clonard Gardens, near Clonard Monastery just off falls road.

    Could not see anything for a Julia Mcgrillen

  12. I found his grave stone in 1977, thou I imagine your family may have uploaded it to ancestry! 😉

  13. https://preview.redd.it/0qhgomn836mc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c6bd8b439538d2b8df5d8214e9060dc2a7524a8

    More Info I’ve provided that I think might be helpful:

    My nan was born in March 1934 to Sarah (Sadie) McLaverty and John McGrillen and my papa was born in July 1928 Elizabeth Dougan and Charles McDonald.

    my nan and several other moms were in the paper for being the first to vaccinate their children against polio! My nan and on of the kids in the first row all the way to the right.

    ​

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