Hi Barbara,

I noticed Alice and Mary on this list:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~maddenps/G...

The list indicated that Mary lived in Headford possibly indicating that the girls were living somewhere else at the time.

The workhouse for the Headford/Killursa area was in Tuam about 15 miles away. That place would have been avoided at all costs.

The Griffith's Valuation taken in 1855 indicates that there were no Hannans, Hanans or Hannons in Headford only five years later.

The closest location to Headford with Hannans was the village of Annaghdown roughly midway between Headford and Galway City.

I agree that it is highly likely that there were brothers and sisters, two children families were very rare in those days. Most church records in the area begin in the 1860's when civil records became a requirement for Catholics.

A lot of information for the area, including Griffith's can be found on http://www.lalley.com/

Most likely the other children immigrated also. And young girl and women did not always have to be nominated. The authorities were actively recruiting female "orphans" to immigrate to Australia.

Hope that is of some help.

- John