Hi,
my great, great grandfather Francis O'Brien and his wife Mary (nee Hogan) and their four children Patrick John, Mary Ann, Catherine and Francis (aged 4 and my great grandfather) left Ireland in 1849 or 1850 and went to Sydney, Australia via Plymouth aboard the Joseph Somes (or Soames).
Shipping records indicate that they were from Lisdoonvarna (or near to) and that Francis Jnr was born there. Latter press obituaries in Australia indicate that they were from Smithstown, but that could have been the largest proximite town. Lisdoonvarna only comprised approx 200 people at the time, and was not used for census purposes until 1891 apparently.
I have found much information about their lives in Australia, but almost nothing of their previous life in Ireland. I have some information which indicates that Francis Snr's parents were a Michael and Catherine (nee McMahon) O'Brien, but have not yet been able to confirm that. Other information indicates that Michael and Catherine had another son, Michael.
If anybody can help me source information about this family's life in Ireland I'd be very appreciative.
Thank you
Chris Monaghan
Phone: 0409 900 128 (in Aust) or +61 409 900 128 (international)
Monday 17th Feb 2014, 04:37AM
Message Board Replies
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Dear Chris
Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and thanks for your message.
As you can see from the link below, Lisdoonvarna is located in the Civil Parish of Kilmoon:
There are two Smithtown townlands in Co. Clare, one in the Civil Parish of Drumline and the other in the Civil Parish of Kilshanny, shown below:
For the Civil Parish of Kilmoon the corresponding Roman Catholic records for the Parish of Killeany-Killymoon-Killileagh begin in 1854; in the Civil Parish of Drumline, the records for the corresponding Roman Catholic Parish of Newmarket begin in 1828 and in the Civil Parish of Kilshanny, the Roman Catholic Parish of Kilshanny records begin in 1854.
Even though you say your ancestor, Francis, left Ireland in circa 1850 aged 4 years, you could check www.familysearch.org or www.rootsireland.ie (a subscription site) as many people didn?t have an accurate date of birth, so you may be lucky with your search. You could also search the Tithe Applotment Books 1823-1837 for a record of Francis O?Brien. Although they only record the name of the head of household, it could prove useful.
Tithes: http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/index.jsp
Best of luck with your search
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support
Friday 21st Mar 2014, 02:47PM