According to the information recorded on the Doegen speaker questionnaire in September 1931, Séamus Ó Cuireáin was born at Gort a' Choirce, and was aged 68 at the time of recording in 1931. His father was a farmer from Gort a' Choirce and his mother came from Inis Bó Finne. In response to questions, he stated that he spent at least the first 20 years of his life at Gort a' Choirce. Subsequently he spent 8 and a half years in Australia and 4 years in America, and 8 years going to Scotland, presumably in that order. Since then he had lived around Gort a' Choirce. His occupation was given as a farmer. His address in 1931 was An Árdaidh Mhór, Gort a' Choirce. Irish was his mother language, and he could also speak English. He had not attended primary school, and could not read or write. Comment was made on his enunciation: "voice weak, not very clear."

Séamus does not seem to have been living at home in the 1901 census; he may be one of the several people of the name, born in Ireland, unmarried, and of around the right age, to be found in the Scottish census of 1901. On 16/02/1904 at Gort a' Choirce, James Curran of Gort a' Choirce, bachelor, married Isabella/Nábla Gallagher of An Árdaidh Mhór, spinster; their fathers, Edward Curran and John Gallagher, were both farmers; the witnesses were Neal McHugh and Sarah Gallagher. In 1911, Séamus was found at An Árdaidh Mhór: James Curran 46, his wife Isabella 43, and their children Edward 6 (known as "Ned Shéimidh") and James 1. The couple had been married for 7 years, and 2 of their 3 children were living (the third child was Bella, born 1906, died aged 14 months). The head of the household was Isabella's unmarried brother, Denis Gallagher 45. All the adults spoke Irish and English; neither of the children spoke English.

Séamus' parents were living at Gort a' Choirce in 1901: Edward Curran 71, his wife Sarah 60, son Patrick, 26, dau Catherine 24, gdau Ellen Halferty 4, cousin Catherine Doogan 65, and servant James Woods 10. All except Ellen Halferty spoke Irish; Sarah, Catherine Doogan and James Woods spoke only Irish. And in 1911: Edward Curran 83, his wife Sarah 80, son Patrick 40, dau-in-law Mary 37, grandchildren Edward 1, and Daniel 5mnths, and a boarder Kate Doogan 80. The old couple were reputedly good dancers, earning the family the nickname "Clann Chuireáin na gcosa luatha".

From genealogical information on the internet, Séamus' parents were Edward Curran (whose father was called Séamus Mhaghnuis) and Sarah Coll. A fuller listing of their family may include Mary, Nellie, Hugh, Séamus, Kate, Rose, Patrick (b 1867), John (b 1871) and Edward (Neidí Beag, b 1873). Apart from the three last-named, the order of the others cannot be ascertained with confidence. Their births may precede civil registration (1864), but it is strange that none of them can be found in the baptism records for Tullaghobegley East (1849–1861).

In 1880, Nellie married Daniel Halferty of Galdonagh near Manorcunningham and moved there. In 1896, Mary married James McFadden from Ceathrú Cheanainn, and they settled at Ráith. In 1899, Edward married Cecilia Gallagher (Sighle Mhéidí) of Caoldruim; after some time in Scotland they too moved to Manorcunningham. In 1901, Kate married James Coll from Inis Bó Finne, and they ran a shop in Gort a' Choirce and Machaire Rabhartaigh. In 1908, Patrick married Mary Mulhern from Cill Ulta; among their family was Hughie (1912–2001), later headmaster of Gortahork school. Séamus, Hugh and one other were in Australia but returned to Donegal, while Rose remained in Australia, where she married James Berkley in 1901. Hugh and John were unmarried. Hugh farmed in British Columbia. John died in an industrial accident in Maryhill, Scotland in 1895.

Another Edward Curran was present as a head of household in An Árdaidh Mhór in both 1901 and 1911. In 1901, there was Edward Curran 38, wife Mary 30, children John 8, Patrick 6, Hannah 5, Grace 3, Manus 1. In 1911, there was Edward Curran 50, wife Mary 44, children John 18, Patrick 16, Hannah 14, Manus 11, James 9, Edward 6, Mary 4, Jily 3. Edward and Mary (née Coyle) had been married 19 years by 1911, and all 9 children were living. Grace Curran 13 is living with her widowed grandfather Patrick Coyle 82 at Bealtaine Íochtarach in 1911. This Edward Curran was known as Neidí na Locha, and his father Pádraig na Locha was a brother of Séimidh's father Neidí.