KEEFE descendant visiting Kildorrery 15th June 2013

Hi Rosyln

I looked up the early church records and the only entry for a child born to a Denis Keeffe and a Catherine Heffernan was Joanna born 26/10/1825 at Labbamologa, Kildorrery.  That was the only Denis Keeffe married to a Catherine. Could Joanna be a sister of Denis and Ellen.  The baptismal records for Kildorrery start at 1824 so if Denis and Ellen were born before this there may not be any record.

If you want to contact us when you come we would be very hapy to meet you in Kildorrery and give you any help we can.  If you send your email address to kildorrery@ireland xo.com I can send you my contact number.

Best wishes and safe journey

Brenda

Hi Roslyn;

I'm catching up on some genealogy and found your letter.  How was your visit to Kildorrery last June?  I would love to hear about it.  My wife and I visited Ireland for the first time in October, 2012.  We stayed at Mitchelstown and Mallow for 4 days.  My O'Keefe ancestors came from Mitchelstown to Baltimore, Maryland on the 11 July 1838 aboard the Lafayette.  David Okief and his wife Eliza (Ryal, Reily) Okief had been married at Kildorrery Parish on 5 February 1812.  They later lived on Mulberry Lane in Mitchelstown.  Their son, Thomas Keefe was baptized at Mitchelstown Parish 20 April 1828.  Other siblings of Thomas who immigrated to America were William, Arthur, Johanna, Patrick, and Morris.  There were 2 other daughters of David and Eliza who apparently stayed in Ireland, or else had married.  We found baptismal records at Mitchelstown for Mary Keeffe (31 March 1815) and Ellen Keeffe (2 March 1817).

Looking forward to a reply from you, and a possible connection between David and Eliza with Denis and Catherine.  Hopefully we will make a return visit to Ireland someday, and visit Kildorrery.

Dennis Seitz

Re O'KEEFFEs in Kildorrery / Mitchelstown

We had a wonderful visit in 2013. Brenda and other locals were very welcoming, friendly, hospitable, and tried to make a connection for me. We didn't quite get any definite link between various bits of information, just some possibilities and likelihoods. But we had a marvelous time trying, and certainly learnt a lot about the area and the O'KEEFE family. There is obviously a connection somewhere, but we'll probably never be able to pin it down. It was very special and a great joy to get to know as much as we did and to walk in the area and see the hills and streams that my ancestors would have known.

Roslyn Brooks, descendant of Denis O'KEEFE from Kildorrery

~~Re O'KEEFFEs in Kildorrery / Mitchelstown

We had a wonderful visit in 2013. Brenda and other locals were very welcoming, friendly, hospitable, and tried to make a connection for me. We didn't quite get any definite link between various bits of information, just some possibilities and likelihoods. But we had a marvelous time trying, and certainly learnt a lot about the area and the O'KEEFE family. There is obviously a connection somewhere, but we'll probably never be able to pin it down. It was very special and a great joy to get to know as much as we did and to walk in the area and see the hills and streams that my ancestors would have known.

Roslyn Brooks, descendant of Denis O'KEEFE from Kildorrery

Hi Dennis

Roslyn's reply was sent on to me from IrelandXO and I have copied it here for you.

Best wishes

Brenda

Kildorrery Ireland Reaching Out Group