Dunne, Molen and Power

I am planning a visit to Ireland in 2017 and am trying to find out more about my ancestors before I go. This is what I have found and I am hopeful that someone may recognise a name or maybe a connection!  I have pretty much exhausted my research from Australia and New Zealand.  There are connections tio Kilfinane, Kilbehenny, Mitchelstown.

Denis Dunne and Mary Power (3x Great grandparents)

Through checking Parish Registers I found 3 children born to them:

1. Johanna christened on the 28th August 1826 at St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick Sponsors Ellen Coughlin and Edmond Power
2. Edmond christened on the 25th July 1828 at St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick Sponsors Catherine Power and Edmond Power
3. Denis (my 2x great grandfather) was born in Kilfinane, Limerick. I found a christening record for Denis 19th October 1833 at St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick, Ireland.  His sponsors were John Power and Mary Power. Denis died on 11th June 1916 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia aged 90. Given the age when he died his birth year was 1826 not 1833 so some confusion here!

This family lived in Ballynatona (noted on parish record).  Perhaps the spelling is Ballinatona, which is in County Cork.  I have found the name Power, linked to Ballynatona, and to Edmond, James, John and Patrick having leased land.

Denis Dunne and Margaret Molan (2x great grandparents)

Denis gives Clonmel, Limerick as his birthplace on his marriage certificate (I note Clonmel is in Tipperary but close to the border of Limerick.      He was christened on the 18th July 1858 at St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick, (Sponsors David Molan and Johanna Kiely).

Denis died on the 4th March 1936 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.  This christening record does not tally with his age on the emigration record or his death certificate which indicates 1860.  However, given the sponsors name think I have the right person.

Denis married Honora (Nora) Clifford in February 1852 in Kilfinane, Limerick. Nora may have died around 1856 in Limerick aged about 23. They had one son, Patrick who was born around 1855/1857 in Waterford. He died in 1907 in Australia (information obtained from his marriage and death certificates).

Denis then married Margaret Molan, daughter of David Molan, who was a weaver and Margaret Toomey on 30th August 1857 in Kilbehenny Roman Catholic Church in Limerick.  Margaret was born in Mitchelstown, Cork. (Note in family bible. This may mean that was where the Molan family came from but the entry is unclear). Margaret was christened on the 19th June 1825 at St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick, (Sponsors William Molan and Honora O'Brien).

Denis and Margaret’s children are: Denis (my great grandfather), Johanna (christened 30 July 1862), and William and James who were born in Queensland, Australia.   Denis and Margaret emigrated from Ireland to Queensland in 1863 with 3 children Patrick (5) (from Denis’s first marriage), Denis (3) and Johanna (1).   

The family story is that other Molan family emigrated to Australia but I have not yet found any connections.

Parish Records identified 3 other children for David Molan and Margaret Toomey

Johanna Molan christened on the 21st February at 1827 St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick Sponsors James Toomey and Catherine Hanrahan

Thomas Molan christened on the 29th January 1829 at St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick Sponsors Frank Bailey and Honora Heelen

William Molan christened on the 29th August 1830 at St Joseph’s Church, Kilbehenny, Limerick Sponsors William Molan and Bridget Lonergan

This family has their place of residence as Coolboy, which I understand is near Kilbennney.