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I am a novice to Irish family history research.  My husband is descendant from Con/Cornelius Kennedy who immigrated to Australia in 1854. Con was the son of Roger/Rody Kennedy and Mary Maher who married in 1824 in the Parish of Borrisoleigh. The marriage register includes the townland names for bride and groom, Castle Hill and Knockaneevan (sp?) respectively ( https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632667#page/161/mode/1up ). 

Five of their children have been identified in the Borrisoleigh baptism registers: Margaret b.1825, Biddy (Bridget) b.1827, Con. (Cornelius) b.1830, Mary b.1832 and John b.1833. Different townland names are recorded in the baptismal register for each of the children: Castle Hill, Killomoyne, Knockacillan, Ileigh and Currabeha, respectively. I have presumed these to be places of residence at the time of baptism. Con’s baptism record can be viewed at https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls000632668#page/32/mode/1up

Antipodean descendants of Roger Kennedy & Mary Maher who visited Ireland in 2000 made a visit to the Tipperary Family History Centre and were advised that Roger’s parents were Thomas Kennedy & Mary Kilmartin (Guilmartin) of Knockacullin (Parish of Newport).

In 2001, my husband received a copy of his Kennedy family tree and it is only now that we are retired and have a trip to Ireland on our radar, that we are delving a bit deeper. We have several of Brian Patrick Kennedy’s books which are a good point of reference and we plan to attend the forthcoming annual Kennedy gathering in Rearcross. We wish to have a better understanding of which family members remained in Ireland and have been pouring over the registers & various records.

There are gaps in the Newport registers from about 1804-1812, however we have been able to trace eight children to Thos. Kennedy & Maria Kilmartin (including Rody b.1801) in the registers that are now available online.

We can now also trace one of Rody’s younger brothers, Denis and his family, through to a son, Thomas and his family who were resident in Knockacullin in both the 1901 & 1911 censuses. We can follow the naming conventions (more or less) with Denis’ family, and also with Rody’s sons’ families, however the naming conventions are blown out of the water with Rody’s own family which makes me question whether the Rody Kennedy who married Mary Maher in Borrisoleigh is the son of Thos. Kennedy & Mary Kilmartin of Knockacullin.

I have come across so many Kennedys & ors. with the same names that I am only just now beginning to question this further.

  1. In Rody and Mary’s marriage record, the townland for Rody is noted as Knockaneevan (this townland is in Borrisoleigh parish). If Rody is from Knockacullin why is Knockaneevan recorded, unless this is an error. 
  2. The first born son to Rody & Mary is Con/Cornelius, not Thomas and the second born son is John. Should we be looking for a Rody Kennedy whose father is Con/Cornelius from Knockaneevin? 
  3. If Rody & Mary were resident in Knockacullin in 1830 when Con/Cornelius was baptised why is the baptism recorded in the Borrisoleigh register when Knockacullin is in the Newport parish? If Knockacullin relates to Rody’s place of birth, what is the significance of the other four townland names for his siblings? 

If anyone can help to explain the above, we would be most appreciative. All links to the various registers can be provided, as required for details. Many thanks, Peggy

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 12th Mar 2018, 04:11AM

Message Board Replies

  • Dear Peggy:

     

    Many thanks for your post to the Ireland Reaching Out message board and for your detailed information.  Welcome to the site!

    We have a number of volunteers in the Tipperary County area and I am going to forward this post to them so that they can reply to some of your questions.

    It is wonderful to hear that you and your husband will be making a trip to Ireland in the near future and please keep us posted as to your travel plans so that we may assist you further.

    Thank you for your interest in Ireland Reaching Out.

    Kind regards,

     

    Jane.

     

    Jane Halloran Ryan

    Monday 12th Mar 2018, 01:06PM
  • Many thanks, Jane for your quick reply.

    We are very much looking forward to our visit.

    Kind regards, Peggy

    Monday 12th Mar 2018, 08:00PM
  • Attached Files

    Hi Peggy,     Welcome to County Tipperary . . where Jane (above) has asked my assistance . . if possible . . to advance your search . . 

    Your conondrum . . is complex . . but your research to-date is SUPERB . . and yes. . Ireland's Townslands and placenames are very confusing . . 

    I am 20 miles away from the Borrisoleigh area and hence . . . of little use when it comes to LOCAL knowledge . . . 

    I feel you need a researcher . . . close in on the Borrisoleigh area . . . who may be able to help you . . . maybe when you get to the area on your visit . . . 

    http://historicgraves.com/graveyardsmap

    http://historicgraves.com/graveyard/inch-old-graveyard/tn-inch

    http://historicgraves.com/graveyard/upperchurch/tn-upch

    The above are the only Graveyards . . Borrisoleigh area . . professionaly IT recorded . . . you might have a browse through . . . 

    I had a search for those placenames you mentioned . . to little success . . even on old Ordenance Survey maps . . again they must be very local . . 

     

    I sorry I couldn't have been of more help . . . but . . good luck with your further ' digging ' . . wherein gold may eventually be found . . 

     

    Cheers . . Eamonn.

    Eamonn M. Horan, Volunteer Ireland Reaching Out ☘️

    Wednesday 28th Mar 2018, 02:06PM
  • Hello Eamonn, Thank you for your quick response. Would you be able to point me in the right direction for research assistance? Kind regards, Peggy

     

     

     

     

     

    Wednesday 28th Mar 2018, 08:43PM
  • Hi Peggy,

    I live in Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary, about 25 miles from Borrisoleigh and the Kennedy name in your message  caught my attention.

    Not sure that I can be of any immediate help to you but I am involved in the Irish Kennedy Heritage Group and will be at the Kennedy Clan gathering in Rearcross in July.

    I'm guessing you have already got your hands on Brian Patrick Kennedy's book The Mountainy Kennedys Vol 2 . Brian will  be in Rearcross and  is an absolute encyclopaedia of information re our Kennedy heritage. Brian's 6 published books deal with the Kennedys of Upper and Lower Ormond but he will be launching his latest book, 'The Dispersal of the Kennedys in Ireland' in Rearcross in July which just might include some new info - fingers crossed.  

    Look forward to making further contact with you.

     

    Tom Kennedy

    Wednesday 4th Apr 2018, 08:54PM
  • Hi Tom,

    Many thanks for your post. We have several of Brian's books; perhaps his next one soon to be launched will be of further help! We will be at Rearcross in July as well and look forward to meeting with you. Meanwhile, I am trying to ensure that we are on the right track with my husband's family line before we arrive in the area.

    Regards, Peggy

     

    Thursday 5th Apr 2018, 01:26PM

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