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When visiting Thurles in 2016 I was able to meet with a genealogist at the Source One Library. He was very helpful but suggested I find out my families nickname based on the number of Ryan surnames in the Thurles area. He stated that once you get that information, it would be easier to identify past/current family lines and drill deeper into your history. Unfortunately we have been unable to identify what our specific Ryan nickname is.

My question is there specific Ryan nicknames in the Thurles/Tipperary area based on location, clan(mine is O'Mulrian), occupation, education? What cultural/social/area can help identify relatives based on this nickname within the Ryan surname?

In my case we know specific names, 3 generations of John Ryan's starting w/ my Great Grandfather. location, Liberty Square/Pudding Lane and some business associations. Would my family be associated with the "Johns" based on their first names?

If any of the researchers could give some insight on these local nicknames and how they came about and be identified. I think it would be a great help for those of us who have some grasp of our past and how it ties into some current individual groups that reside in the community.

Hope the question is somewhat relevant and thanks in advance for any info that can be provided.

Patrick Ryan 
Phoenix, Az.

pryan

Sunday 14th Jun 2020, 11:10PM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi,
    You ask.......
    My question is there specific Ryan nicknames in the Thurles/Tipperary area based on location, clan(mine is O'Mulrian), occupation, education? What cultural/social/area can help identify relatives based on this nickname within the Ryan surname?
    Nicknames could be made from a number of things, occupation or area. You would really have to know them. 
    This came up a few weeks ago, for Hogan nicknames.
    examples.........as I did know these people.
    Hogans of the Lough..............they lived near the lough
    Hogans of the mount..............they lived in Mount Falcon.
    Hogans of Congor...................they lived near Congor Church on the hill.
    Now others had names...............
    Sugary Darcy....................he spoke with a very sweet voice!
    Rouser Kennedy...........he owned a Mill and would rouse people up to go to work.
    The Rabbit ..................a jockey and was small with large teeth. (I better not say his name as he is still alive)

    Looking at the 1901 Census Ryan's  all in diferent houses in Pudding Lane, are these your family?
    Thomas a Carpenter............possibley known as Tommy Chip or Chippie he was 50
    James .................general labourer he was 32
    Michael   (looks like) farm steward  he was 73
    Patrick...........general labourer he was 70.
    In Church Lane
    James ..... a boot and shoemaker he was 57.   

    Have you any death years as you could get their occupation from the records (these are on line depending on the year)

    My nickname was "ear ache" as I spoke too much!

    Margot  
     

    Margot

    Thursday 18th Jun 2020, 12:30PM
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    Margot,

    Thank you for the reply. I do have quite a bit of family history I am trying to piece together and this nickname issue can kind of tie it together.

    My information to you was only partially right. The family house was/is on the corner of Pudding Lane and Main St facing Liberty Square. It is currently the AIB Bank. My Ryan family had a mercantile store at the sight for many years 1830-1900?, and had a fertilizer/Guano business there also. Slaters business listed under John Ryan(2 generations) at the location. My gg-grandmother, Margaret(Hickey) Ryan ran a grocery store next door. Family also had a "spirit" store nearby. My great-grandfather that came to the states was the 3rd generation John E Ryan. He was given his inheritance and told to leave.  I know one of the Ryan nicknames in Thurles was "John's" but don't know if it relates to my family. I was told there were several variations of the Ryan nickname in Thurles. 

    Several family members died from a tuberculosis outbreak in the early 1880's. I believe John D Ryan(2nd John)was still alive in 1901. The only direct family member that was still in the Thurles area was g-aunt Mary Ryan. She married Andrew Callanan and they had a farm and shop on Friar St. She passed away in 1943. It was mentioned in her obituary she had an extended family(no biological kids) still in the area at the time of her passing. So there probably is some family clan still in the area.

    There was a local genealogist by the name of Jim Condon that knew the family links well but he had passed away prior to my visit in 2016.

     

    Any further suggestions or directions would be great.- Pat Ryan

     

     

     

     

     

    pryan

    Friday 19th Jun 2020, 03:28AM
  • Hi, Have you posted a request in the last few weeks re:Callanan?
    Andrew Callanan rang a bell.
    Margot

    Margot

    Saturday 20th Jun 2020, 09:30AM
  • Tracing a Ryan family tree is extremely difficult in Tipperary as almost every household has the Ryan surname within their family tree.

    I know a lot of Ryan nicknames can also incorporate another surname, often a maiden name so I'd advice going through any marriage certs that you may have uncovered.
    For example, I'm from the Cashel area and in my family tree we have Ryan-Hurleys and Ryan-Clearys and then there are other Ryan's who are differentiated by occupation e.g. Ryan-Masons, Ryan-Coopers, first name e.g. Ryan-Con or Ryan-Neds and some even by their address e.g. Ryans of Bawnmore.

    It's quite possible the only way that you might solve your issue is literally through trial and error using all the family names, occupations and any other possible hints that you may have within your family information.

    Hope this is helpful.

    Fiona Taylor

    Saturday 20th Jun 2020, 06:37PM
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    Margot,

    No, I did not post in regards to Andrew Callanan. I will look for the post.

    If it helps here is the info I have in regards to Andrew Callanan(1850-1935) married to Mary Ryan(1864-1943).

    He lived on Friar St(West End). He was involved in the 1st historical meeting in Thurles to put together a hurling league in Ireland around 1880's. His 1st wife passed away along with several family members of Tuberculosis. He married my great aunt, Mary Ryan around 1890. 1901 census shows he had a daughter, Margaret Callanan(Maher 1889-1973)from his fist marriage and two nieces. I believe the nieces had lost both parents to illness. My understanding is he and my Aunt raised the girls as their own and did not have any biological off spring. Andrew stayed very active with Hurling until he passed away. Both were successful in business and when my aunt passed away she was beloved by both Callanan and Ryan families. I have a picture of him but not my aunt.

    I know there are Callanan's like my Ryan line are still in Thurles, but it would take some time and luck to identify ties.

    hope that helps some-Pat Ryan

    pryan

    Sunday 21st Jun 2020, 03:21AM
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    Fiona,

    Thanks for the reply. Your insights are helpful and especially looking at the Marriage certificates. I know the family was fairly prominent shop owners in Thurles for years on Liberty Square, possible tie to the Ryan Hotel. My hope is that someone related to my family line from Thurles sees this and it may ring a bell. My late uncle had visited several times and said he had met a cousin that was an attorney in town and another that owned a Ryan bar in Thurles. Also a long family business tie to a Molloy family from Holy Cross. Unfortunately I never was able to get specifics.

    I was planning an extended trip over with my family this fall but the pandemic put that on hold until next year. We did stay in Cashel for 3 days in 2016 and the people were great. Other local family lines are Killenaule(Hickey) and Quirk(Toem).

    Thanks again and will put your suggestions to work-Pat Ryan

    pryan

    Sunday 21st Jun 2020, 03:48AM
  • Noel Ryan's pub is still on Parnell St., Thurles and it has been run under that name for a very long time; however, I'm can't be 100% certain if the current family of owners are just trading under the name still or if your Ryan family continue to run it. It might be worth looking the establishment up and getting in contact with them.

    Regards Callanan and the hurling connection, there's a current player on the Tipperary hurling team and he's Seamie Callanan from just outside the town of Thurles in a place called The Ragg; it's in Bouladuff in the parish of Drom and Inch. I think these Callanan's have strong links to Thurles town though so it's quite possible they belong to the family which you are referring to.

    My instincts are telling me both these families are the people you are looking for but obviously I cant be 100% certain.

    Hope this helps.
    Fiona.

    Fiona Taylor

    Monday 22nd Jun 2020, 09:42AM
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    Fiona,

    I believe that is the pub that my uncle referred to. His visit was in the mid 90's so the ownership could have certainly turned over. Ironically one of my other Uncle's was an author who lived in San Francisco, Noel Ryan. The current Callanan connection to Andrew is probable but not a direct one. He only had the one biological daughter.

    One of the most puzzling things I have found is there are no records of burial in the Thurles area of any Ryan ancestors other than Mary Ryan(buried next to Andrew Callanan). Mary's older sister, Honoria(1858-1883) had taken her vows as a nun(Sister Margaret Buchanan) died of TB and simply no record of burial. Same with her brother James (1863-1885)TB and the mother Margaret(1833-1882) TB. They all just disappear.

    Anyway Thanks for all the input, it definitely helps.

    all the best, pryan

    pryan

    Monday 22nd Jun 2020, 09:15PM
  • miroc84

    Tuesday 22nd Dec 2020, 06:51AM
  • I have created a list of Ryan nicknames (from Tipperary) with locations, dates, and sources. But I haven't looked at many records that would include Thurles.
    https://illumdig.substack.com/p/too-many-ryans

    DanielRyan

    Tuesday 23rd May 2023, 01:59PM
  • Attached Files

    Mention of a Ryan attorney rang a bell. This information might be helpful.

    Patience

    Monday 12th Jun 2023, 10:51AM

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