Bernard Kelly from Rossard

Hi Joe - Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

I can find 2 baptism records for a Bernard Kelly in Wexford one baptised in Enniscorthy on 24-Oct-1853 and the other baptised in Enniscorthy on 22-Sep-1862. Either of these could be your Bernard (or might not!) - I wouldn't be too concerned that they are not exactly referring to 1859 unless you know for sure that this was his exact year of birth.

Do you know if he had any siblings/any other info about him?

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support

Hi Joe,

'Barney' was born to Thomas Kelly and Winifred Byrne of Rossard on 31st July 1857. He was baptised on the same day and his sponsors being James Carroll and Bridget Leary. This information is contained in the parish registers of Bunclody, which was then known as Newtownbarry. You can access the registers through the National Library of Ireland website. Couldn't see any further reference to them in it. The 1901 Census for Rossard has Winfred Kelly, aged 70 and a widow with a daughter Mary Anne Kelly, aged 35, living with her. Winfred may have died 1906/07, Civil registration records. No Kellys in Rossard in 1911 Census. 

Nick.

Nick,

Thank you for this information. My great-grandfather named his son (my grandfather) Thomas, so I suspected there would be others named Thomas.  I will follow up this link.

Thank you again,

-Joe

I am beginning to plan a trip to Ireland in 2020. I intend to hike the Wicklow Way and then spend time near Bunclody visiting the Kilmyshall cemetary and hiking Black Rock mountain. My question for the group is; Are there any genealogical sources I should visit while in Ireland, that would only be available in person, and not onliine?

The family roots which I am trying to trace are consistent with what Nick outlined above.  My great-grandfather was Bernard Kelly (b.1857) from Rossard, whose parents were Thomas Kelly and Winifred Byrne.  I have since learned from genetic testing, that I am linked to a Thomas Kelly and Bridget Kelly who were very likely siblings of Bernard, who also emigrated to America. I can find no trace of birth records for them, but the online baptism records for Newtownbarry have a gap from 1851 to 1857, which is very likely when they were born.  I have also been unable to establish a link between the Thomas Kelly (b.1803) and Bernard Kelly  (b.1798) in the Kilmyshall cemetary, and my great-grandfather Bernard or his father, Thomas, although the names Thomas and Bernard are very commom in the family line.

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated.
-Joe Kelly