Share This:

My wife’s gg grandparents were John Hogan Foley (c1817) and Elizabeth Davis (c1815-1883) of Newcastle West, Limerick. Their known children were:

1. Thomas Foley, (Baptised 14 Dec 1842),

2. Mary Foley, (Baptised 21 Nov 1843),

3. Daniel Foley, (Baptised 18 Jan 1845),

4. John Joseph Foley, (Baptism 23 Feb 1847-1912/1913?)

5. Denis Foley, (Baptised 17 Dec 1848),

6. Matthew Foley, (Baptised 6 Oct 1850),

7. Josephine Foley, (Baptised 6 Jan 1852),

8. Josephine Foley, (Baptised 14 Mar 1855),

9. Elizabeth Mary Davis Foley, (15 Apr 1857-15 Dec 1924)

10. Mary Foley, (15 Apr 1857-21 Nov 1858)

11. Thomas Foley, (Baptised 18 Apr 1859),

12. Joseph Davis Foley (c 1859-18 Aug 1914)

John Hogan Foley predeceased his wife. He may have died in Naas, Co. Kildare. She and at least 4 of their children, Denis Foley, John J. Foley, Elizabeth Foley and Joseph D. Foley migrated to Dublin in the 1870s and 1880s. Elizabeth Davis Foley died at Whitworth Row, off Coburg Place, Dublin in October 1883 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

John J. Foley and his wife, Isabella Gore and Joseph D. Foley later immigrated to the US; John J. Foley to Attleboro, Massachusetts and Joseph D. Foley to Troy, New York.

Denis Foley and his wife, Catherine Doyle may also have immigrated to the US as they are not recorded in the 1901 or 1911 Irish censuses. They had at least one child; John Thomas Foley (1874-1875) who is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Elizabeth Foley married Richard O’Keeffe (1866-1926) in 1886 and lived in Newtown Park, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Josephine Benson, a daughter of John J. Foley and Isabella Gore wrote a letter to her first cousin, Eoin O’Keeffe, younger son of Elizabeth Foley and Richard O’Keeffe in October 1931 in which she stated that she had gotten his address “from our Foley cousins in Rathkeel”. This suggests that one of the Thomas Foley’s above or Daniel Foley lived into adulthood, married and had descendants in Rathkeale or Newcastle West or Abbeyfeale. If any of them read this message and recognise the details supplied perhaps they could provide more information on the Foleys who stayed in Limerick?

JohnB

Friday 1st Aug 2014, 09:20AM

Message Board Replies

  • John:

    I found two Foley records in Rathkeale in the 1901 census. The first appears to be the Denis above born in 1848. The second could be a widow of one of the other brothers. In 1911, Denis is not there but the widow is still living in Rathkeale.

    Roger McDonnell

     

    http://www.irelandxo.com/group/county-westmeath/messages/oxburgh#commen…

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Limerick/Rathkeale_Urb…

     

    http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Limerick/Rathkeale_Urb…

     

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Friday 1st Aug 2014, 03:24PM
  • Hi Roger,

    Thanks for that. I'll look further into those records.

    John Brennan

    5.8.2014

     

    JohnB

    Tuesday 5th Aug 2014, 10:47AM
  • Since my post of August 2014 I've discovered that Matthew Foley married Ellen Sheahan (c1850- 26 Feb 1939) , a daughter of Michael Sheahan, shopkeeper in Rathkeale on 19 November 1870. According to her death notrice, Ellen Foley nee Sheahan was buried in the New Cemetery, Rathkeale. Among Matthew and Ellen Foley's children were Elizabeth Foley (c1871-28 June 1956) and John Joseph Foley (24 April 1885).

    Elizabeth Foley married John Daniel Cregan (c1866-26 Apr 1936), of Newcastle West on 18 February 1908 in the RC Church of St. Joseph, Rathkeale. They are buried in St. David's Cemetery,Newcastle West with their children,  Bridget Josephine Cregan (1909-15 Mar 1924) and Helen Cregan (c1914-2 Apr 1991). Their other child, Fr, Donal Cregan CM (16 May 1911-13 Oct 1995) is buried in Castlelnock, Dublin.

    John Joseph Foley married Johanna Madden (c1883), a daughter of John Madden (1852-1885) and Mary Walsh (c1855) of Ballyhahill, Limerick on 25 May 1913 in the RC Church, Sandymount after which they lived in Rathkeale where they had a drapery shop. Johanna was also known as Josephine and/or Josie Foley. She and John J. Foley had at least 2 sons, Matthew John Foley (1918) and John Michael Foley (1923). Any help in making contact with descendents of the latter would be gratefully appreciated.

     

    John B.

    6.1.2016

     

    JohnB

    Wednesday 6th Jan 2016, 04:18PM
  • John:

    I looked at the online Irish phonebook for Foleys in Rathkeale. http://www.eirphonebook.ie/#  The online directory only has a portion of Irish phone users. I noticed one Foley record in the Rathkeale area. Our privacy rules prevent me from sharing the information directly but you can look up the record. Make sure you use the Residential Tab.

    Roger

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 7th Jan 2016, 08:23PM
  • Roger, belated Thanks to you. The person concerned doesn't appear to be relevant to my query. I know that John Michael Foley, (7 Sept 1923-1 Apr 1984), son of John Joseph Foley referenced above, unfortunately died at a GAA hurling match in Semple Stadium. Apparently, he and his wife and son and daughter had a pub on Main Street, Rathkeale which at one stage had a wooden statue of a chinese pirate on its frontage. If my interest in conversing with them on family history could be conveyed to his son or daughter I would be very grateful as I would like to share information with them about the wider Foley family and ascertain what information they might have on Matthew Foley (1850) and his siblings.

    Incidentally, could you confirm that references to the 'New Cemetery, Rathkeale' actually mean St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Rathkeale?

    Thanks in anticipation.

    John B.

    3.9.2019

    JohnB

    Tuesday 3rd Sep 2019, 03:06PM
  • Hi John!

    I live in the States and don't know about the cemetery in Rathkeale. Why don't you contact the parish and see if they can clarify

    http://www.limerickdiocese.org/parish.html?pa=47

    Roger

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Wednesday 4th Sep 2019, 05:44PM
  • JohnB

    I'd like to talk with you about my ancestor Daniel Mathe Foley (I use his name here as a screen name) who I believe was John Hogan Foley's brother. I'd love some help figuring this out!

    I have the brothers as being from Tipperary though at some point mine moved to Cork, and perhaps had some early time in Dublin as well.

    Ed

    Daniel Mathew Foley

    Sunday 22nd Mar 2020, 12:28AM
  • To the attention of John B.

    I refer to your posts dating from 2016 & 2019. I happen to be one of the descendants you are seeking.

    John Joseph Foley (1885) is my grandfather, Josephine Foley nee Madden (1883) is my grandmother, Mathew (1918) my uncle.

    My name is Patricia FOLEY, I am the daughter of John Michael Foley, (7 Sept 1923-1 Apr 1984).

     

     (For reference the 'New Cemetery, Rathkeale' is indeed now known as St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Rathkeale)

    Please advise if you are still interested in reaching out.

    KInd regards,

    Patricia FOLEY

    Patricia F.

    Sunday 6th Oct 2024, 02:59PM
  • Hi Patricia,

    Yes, I'd love to converse with you as you may be able to answer questions I have about Matthew Foley and his siblings, Daniel and Thomas Foley as well as his daughters; Ellen and Margaret Mary Foley. I can be contacted at brennanjm53@gmail.com. Looking forward to chatting with you.

    Best Wishes.

    John Brennan.

    JohnB

    Monday 7th Oct 2024, 08:35AM

Post Reply