I am not sure who to thank for this revelation!!  But this is a great help!  My 2nd great grandmother is Mary Ann Nihil ()Nihill/ O'Neil)...born in 1832.  We had a birth certificate (or facsimile----do not know where it is now) that showed her father as Thomas and mother  as Margaret Simms or Simons (could not tell from the handwriting).  And we were told the name was more than likely associated with County Clare.  Now, we have a better clue as to the location.  Any further light you can shed on the Nihill-Nihil-O'Neil family would be greatly appreciated.  Your Nihill story is quite illustrious.  Mary Nihil married Robert Keays/ Keyes and settled in iOntario....Bornholm and Kennicott.....near Mitchell/ Stratford  THANK YOU so much for your help! 

My great Grandfathers (Michael mc Keogh) had an older sister called Hanora mc Keogh. 

She was baptised 10th may 1840 - christened in Lisbonny County Tipperary . Raised however in Lower Ryaninch in Ballina (Tipperary), across the river from Killaloe (County Clare).

Died 9th  october 1909 in Portrane Asylum North co. Dublin. She suffered with her nerves.

Hanora married John Niall/ Nihill. (married in Killaloe,  married 26th  November 1860. He died in 1894. 

She lived with Michael in Irish 1901 census.

Kids: Herbert Cleveland (marred 3 times), 

Eugene is Hanoras brother in law.? (England doctors, maybe) 

William George (died in England 1934  – took over Uncle John Keoghs doctor practice in New street, Killaloe .

Michael (j Mitchel married twice) 1873-1956 died in Drishoge Tipp.

Honóra Niall was called Nora. She was Mitchell Nialls mother,  Eileen Malone was his daughter. Sheila and Brian are Eileen's children. 

John Niall died in 1894 (it was in the paper). Dr John keogh was his brother in law. Dr Eugene Niall his brother and a few other people were mentioned in the article. Mitchell made a mistake on the date. Mitchell his wife Edith and 2 children Eileen and Sheila arrived back from Singapore in September 1920 his occupation given as government servent. Possibly when the people arrived in Singapore they must have been quarantined. In the station where he was in charge. He worked on John's island. 

I don't know what John Niall occupation was. One the nialls one of them had 3 children who were all doctors and worked from their home. 

Lua niall was Herbert Nialsl son. The lived in great Western square phibsboro then Herbert moved to Tipperary. Died there. There are a lot of doctors in the Niall family and the McKeoghs as well. 

I have some photos of Nialls, would you like me to attach them to thread?

Can you break down the family tree from Hanora and John?

Kieron mc keogh

I am a direct descendent of Matthew Nial (he's my great grandfather's grandfather). Joseph is my great grandfather's father. Jack is my great grandfather. If there's any more information about them I would love to see it especially any Irish heritage.

Kieron McKeogh, I just saw your coment on this thread today. I would love to see the photos of the Nialls that you have. There is a strong family resemblance running though several generations of my Nial family line. It would be interesting to see if that is true with your Nialls. I have a family tree on Ancestry. It is public and I believe you can find it by searching on the surname Nial.

afrosaxon, Do you know the dates and places associated with your Nial line? In Ireland both Nihill/Nehill/Niall are fairly rare surnames. In my research County Clare and particularly Killaloe have the highest concentration. I have heard of famiy who emigrated to Australia in addition to my line that went to USA. 

Hi afrosaxon,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.  This has been one of the great family mysteries.

Mary Ann Nihill/ O'Neil was born around 1832.  The daughter of Thomas and Margaret Simms (or Simmons---the names were handwritten on the document I have since lost.)

She married Robert Keays/ Keyes....most likely in Ireland.  

Robert was born (stated as March 17th----isn't that sometimes a "guess"??) 1827 in County Limerick...(don't know town, perhaps Abington where records show his father, also Robert and grandfather were born)....Limerick County, of course, shares the border with County Clare.

They emigrated to Perth County, Ontario...don't know exactly when....but all of their children were born in Ontario. beginning in 1855.  

I certainly appreciate your time and expertise.

Thanks so much, 

Mike 

Hi afrosaxon,

Thank you for taking the time to contact me.  This has been one of the great family mysteries.

Mary Ann Nihill/ O'Neil was born around 1832.  The daughter of Thomas and Margaret Simms (or Simmons---the names were handwritten on the document I have since lost.)

She married Robert Keays/ Keyes....most likely in Ireland.  

Robert was born (stated as March 17th----isn't that sometimes a "guess"??) 1827 in County Limerick...(don't know town, perhaps Abington where records show his father, also Robert and grandfather were born)....Limerick County, of course, shares the border with County Clare.

They emigrated to Perth County, Ontario...don't know exactly when....but all of their children were born in Ontario. beginning in 1855.  

I certainly appreciate your time and expertise.

Thanks so much, 

Mike