Bridget Callanan Monahan : Short Biography

Born Bridget, (baptized Biddy), she was the oldest of 8 children born to Patrick Callanan and Margaret Kelly of Bullaun. She married Michael Monahan of Cahernagarry with whom she had six children; Mary (1878), Patrick (1880), Catherine//Kate (1881), Michael (1883), Roger (1885) and Jane (1887).  She raised her children alone after the accidental death of her husband in 1888 when on his way to the fair he was crushed against a wall by his own horse that was avoiding a runaway horse in Loughrea.  Children Mary, Roger and Jane emigrated to Hartford, Connecticut. In Hartford, Roger married Nora Curran; Mary married Mick Clancy of Cornafurrish, County Offaly; and Jane took vows and became Sister Maria Michael of the Sisters of Mercy order.  Kate Monahan married Thomas Rogers and settled in Cahernagarry. [Their son Jimmy Rogers ultimately inherited the Monahan farm and the old homestead served as an outbuilding when I saw it in 1972.] Bridget's two bachelor sons, Patrick and Michael, stayed on the farm with her.  Her sister Mary Callanan married Larry Doyle of Cahernagarry and they had six girls.  Their daughter Agnes emigrated with Jane Monahan to Hartford aboard the same ship.  Bridget's sister Margaret Callanan married Patrick Grogan and moved to Grange. Her brother William died in the Ballinasloe asylum. Her brother James emigrated to New Zealand married and had one son.  Her brother Patrick stayed in Cahernagarry and married Delia Farrell.  They had eleven children with a number of them emigrating to the New York City area.