Mary (Molly) Noonan : Short Biography

Mary Noonan, was born in 1863 at Barleymount West, several miles outside of Killarney, Co. Kerry, to Cornleius Noonan (sometimes Neenan) and his wife, Honora Dwyer, who appears to have hailed from Farranmanagh, Milltown, Co. Kerry.

Mary emigrated to NYC in 1886 with her older sister, Julia Noonan, probably preceded by their older brother, Patrick, and others of their siblings. An older brother, Jeremiah seems to have emigrated to Manchester, NH, earlier, possibly in company with some of his Dwyer uncles/cousins. Ultimately Patrick, Cornelius(married Ellen O'Connor of Currow), Julia (married her American cousin, Jeremiah Hogan), Mary, Daniel (married Annie Prendiville of Castleisland), Honora (married Timothy Collins of Killarney), and Johanna (married John O'Brien of Castleisland) would settle in either NYC or Brooklyn. Sadly at least 5 of the 8 Noonan siblings would succumb to tuberculosis as would a goodly number of their children.

Mary married Patrick Hickey of Clounaman, Ballylongford, in North Kerry in October of 1888 at St. Peter's Church on Barclay Street in NYC. They would have the following children: Edward, Hanora, Johanna, Julia, Margaret, Patrick, John, and Mary.  

Per the recollections of her grandchildren, it is believed that Mary worked as a domestic servant in NYC prior to her marriage.  The family used to say that they were "32nd" cousins of the Tilyou family, founders of the famed Coney Island amusement park called Steeplechase. Gerorge TIlyou's mother was an Ellen Mahoney, who may have been from Milltown, Co. Kerry so there may have been a connection through Mary's mother, Honora Dwyer of Farranmanagh.

Mary was remembered by her children as a wonderful mother, She died of TB on the morning of November 18th, 1914, at 167 Nelson Street, while her young son, John, was serving the 6:30 AM Mass at the nearby church of St. Mary Star of the Sea. 

In the photo below from about 1912, Mary Noonan Hickey is on the far right. Her daughter, Hanna, is on the far left. Next to Hanna is Mary's younger, sister, Hannah (Mrs. John O'Brien) and next to Mary herself is her niece, Mary Ann (Molly) Collins, the daughter of Mary's sister, Honora(Mrs. Timothy Collins), who was orphaned and lived with the O'Brien family before becoming a Sister of the Good Shepherd.

 Johanna Hickey, Johanna Noonan OBrien, Mollie Collins, Mary Noonan Hickey Coney Island c1912