Researching my O'Keefe (Keeffe) ancestors

HiDennis

My name is Doreen, and I am involved in the Ireland Reaching Out Project in the Ballyhoura area.  I will pass your message on to the community group in Mitchelstown who may be of assistance to you.  Im glad you enjoyed your visit to Ireland.  I know of an interior designer named Myra Ryal who is from Doneraile, Co. Cork.  It s  a long shot, but she may be a relative.  You will find her on facebook . http://www.facebook.com/myra.ryall

Regards Doreen

Thank you for the reply, Doreen.  The Ireland Reaching Out concept is a great idea.  My wife and I hope to return again but it probably won't be this year.  We were a year early for "The Gathering".  I have a cousin, however, who is planning a trip in the fall.  I am hoping that someone has compiled the family records for the Mitchelstown area O'Keeffe's.  Our family emmigrated from Mitchelstown in 1838.  I am very curious why they might have left for America, and if they were traveling with others from Mitchelstown on the same ship.  I'm not positive if Elizabeth was a Ryal or a Reily.  I have found both names for her and am not sure which is correct.

Thanks again,

Dennis

Hi. I hope I am not interrupting. I am a little lost. One of my three ancestor lines are a Catholic family from Mitchelstown. They came to Australia around 1839/1841 and opend up farmlande on the Western slopes of NSW, They became a large respected [group of] families. I believe the household head was a John O'Keeffe, his wife Catherine Flemming. A son John was born around 1795 and married a Mary Thornhill 30/01/1830 at Mitchelstown.  I think "brother" John and his family came abroad the Portland 11/03/1841 He established a NSW property called "NEWTOWN or NEWTON" [the name may be relevant to a Mitchelstown locality]. My dilemna is that three older brothers are noted, namely John, Jerimiah and William BUT no mentionis made of Luke who we believe to be another older brother born around 1791 at Mitchelstown. He married a Mary MacCarthy before coming to Victoria around 1839  then on to NSW 1841 to be with live/farm with the other family members at NEWTON.Luke and Mary had amongst others, a son Daniel, born Ireland 1830. Did any of this show up in your Okeeffe research? My grandmother was an Okeeffe, grandaughter of Daniel. Any feedback will be appreciated. Kind regards John Morris.

Hello John;

Good to hear from you.  I have not been able to find much information except for the ship passenger list of the Barque Lafayette in July 1838 from Liverpool to Baltimore, Maryland.  Looks as though my GGGGrandfather, David O'Keefe and his wife, Eliza Ryal (or Reilly) came to America with their children, William, Johanna, Patrick, Maurice, and Thomas.  From the State Archives of the Catholic Church at Annapolis, Maryland, I found that Thomas was from Mitchelstown, County Cork.  This past October I found his baptismal record at the Parish Center at Mitchelstown.  Also, the Mallow Heritage Center found a marriage record for David Keefe and Eliza Ryal at Kildorrery Parish.

The dates of your ancestors match up fairly close to mine.  Your John could have been a first cousin to my David, however the first names of the children are different.  I have not found a Luke or Jerimiah in the family names of my O'Keefe's.  There was a Daniel 2 generations later here in York County, Pennsylvania.

I am hoping that a researcher from Kildorrery or Mitchelstown Parish will find a link to connect the O'Keefe's back in the late 1700's, but records back then are scarce.  If I had access to, and the time to go through the Baptismal records, Marriage Records, and Cemetery Data,  I might be able to find a connection.  But it will be a while before I can make another trip to Ireland.  Good luck in your research and keep me informed if you find anything.

Sincerely,

Dennis Seitz

Hi dennis I am doing research into my o'keefe side as well. my gggggrandfather and gggggrandmother were mentioned in your post above eliza ryal (or variant) and david keefe. I was wondering if you found out any more information or perhaps could talk. I anxiously await your reply.

Heather Phillips.

btw my grandfather is the son of Raphael Daniel o'keefe, son of Daniel p o'keefe, son of Thomas o'keefe, son of david keefe (okief)