Patrick Conohy : Short Biography

The Family of Patrick Conohy and Catherine Fitzpatrick

Patrick Conohy and Catherine Fitzpatrick were born in the townland of Kilsallagh, in the Parish of Kilmore, County Cavan, Ireland.  They were married on March 3, 1835, probably at the church in Ballinanagh.  In the Spring of 1837 Patrick and Catherine Conohy emigrated to America, sailing  on the HMS Governour Troop. Why they left at that time remains a mystery, but it may have had to do with the Conohys having been dispossessed from their small farm by their landlord - a Mr. Fleming, of Belville. In any case, when they arrived in America they soon took the National Road westward until it ran out - residing in Edgar County, Illinois for a short time before settling in Marshall.  This little town near the Indiana border became their home for the rest of their lives.

Patrick Conohy was born about 1810, one of seven children of John Conaughty and Honora Brady.  The Irish surname O’ Connachtaigh has been anglicized into a variety of  spellings, but most often is spelled “Conaty”. Conohy is perhaps a phonetic spelling of the way Patrick’s family pronounced the name.  Some say that the name itself means “man from Connaught”. 

Patrick’s younger brother, Nicholas Conaty became well known in Ireland as a Bishop in the  Kilmore Diocese.  In his youth Nicholas was encouraged and supported by an uncle, the Reverend Nicholas Brady, of the priestly family of the Bradys of Drumnagar (Lara). Among the Conaughty and Brady families, it seems that in nearly every generation there was at least one son who became a priest, or a daughter who became a nun.

Catherine ( b. 1805 ) was probably the daughter of Peter and Mary Fitzpatrick, of Kilsallagh ( or neighboring Bellville )  She had at least eight siblings, including Margaret, Esther, Patrick, Lilly, Ellen, John, Peter, and Michael. 

Patrick and Catherine Conohy were said to have been the first Catholics in Clark County, Illinois, and throughout their lives, were associated with the promotion of the Catholic Church in Marshall.  In the early days itinerant  priests would lodge at their home, and Mass was said over the drop-leaf table in their living room.