My great grandfather William Michael Quirke

Hi Margie,

Subscription site - www.rootsireland.ie has a record of a "Michael William Quirke" - Parents: Thomas Quirke and Mother: Kate Morrissy. Birth 11th June 1848 - Limerick. I did not find any record of a baptism.

If you wish to continue with obtaining a baptismal certificate, I recommend that you email Limerick Genealogy at research@limerickgenealogy.com. It is a commercial enterprise.

State records in Ireland did not begin until January 1st 1864.

Regards,

Thank you so much Mc Coy. Much appreciated.
AM Biggs

Hello, 

I see that somehow I only left my name on Feb 7, 2021. I had typed out a very short note.

That night I g-mailed a Quirk or Quirke descendant who lives in So Africa asking her if she'd like to join  the discussion here.

She has not replied to me. I had put up a tree using the few names that she had for her family on an Ancestry tree. I do the large part of my research at Ancestry.

Ancestry does not have So African records so I would have told that woman that I'd guess that the Mormon or LDS free site Familysearch.org would have access to So African records. 

Since I did not get a reply, I forgot about all of this. 

I had also intended to check my copy of the Co Tipperary genealogy done by the Rev Walter Skehan, His Notes, Vol 43, held by the Thurles Tipperary. 

I believe that the following Mchl Qurke was the first cousin of my 2X great grandfather Thomas Quirk born Tipp 1802 died Wisconsin USA, 1882, 

Per Skehan: Quirkes in Clonmel 

(i). Michael Quirke (aadfa), baptised 15th Sept. 1860.  Lived at Drangan and later at Hibernian Hotel, Fethard.  Farmer, auctioneer (Firm of Stokes and Quirke) and hotelier.  Died at Fethard 25th Sept. 1942.  Married 1890 Maggie Britton of Cloneen who d. 18th Nov. 1933 aged 70.  Both are married in Drangan Chapel yard.  Michael educated at Rockwell – one of the early students there.  Then worked for a time on farm, Ballyvadlea.  Went to Australia about age of 24, to John Stokes.  On return took shop in Gladstone St., Clonmel (now, 1954, Pat McGraths) and married.  As children (Bill) got bad health in Clonmel he sold business and took farm at Cloneen.  Later took a shop in Drangan, and later still took Hibernian Hotel, Fethard.

Issue:-

(A). William (Bill) Quirke (aadfaa), born 1894.  Senator in Eire:         pg 70        Secretary General of Fianna Fail Party.  Born Clonmel.  Has an estate in Co. Meath: partner in firm of Stokes and Quirke, Auctioneers.  Married Clare Riordan an American lady.  Lives: Quirke, 38 Anglsea Rd., Ballsbridge, Dublin.  While out hunting with Ward Union Hunt in Co. Dublin, Senator Quirke had a heart seizure and collapsed and died 5th March, 1955.

Issue:- 2 children

((1)). Eliza Quirke (aadfaaa) born Dublin, Oct. 1928: married John H. Lovatt-Dolan B.L. Dublin in June 1950 (of 1 Louvain, Roebuck Rd., Dublin 14, in 1968).

((2)). Michael Quirke (aadfaab), born Dublin, 3rd June 1930 bapt. in Westland Row 5-6-’30: sps:- Peter O’Donnell and Alice Mety: married 22-4-1953, a lady from California, Marjorie Hanlon.

B). Patrick Francis (Frank) Quirke B.E. (aadfab), born Clonmel 29-2-1892: died 13-10-’51.  Farming and Auctioneering at Mocklerstown, Clerihan.  Married Mat. Gnes Duggan, a school-teacher of Flemingstown, Glenmoore, Co. Kilk.  Mrs Quirke was run down by a motor car in Clonmel on Wed. 9th Oct. 1957 and died of injuries 10th Oct. in Cashel Co. Hospital.  Interred at Clerihan church grounds.(i). Michael Quirke (aadfa), baptised 15th Sept. 1860.  Lived at Drangan and later at Hibernian Hotel, Fethard.  Farmer, auctioneer (Firm of Stokes and Quirke) and hotelier.  Died at Fethard 25th Sept. 1942.  Married 1890 Maggie Britton of Cloneen who d. 18th Nov. 1933 aged 70.  Both are married in Drangan Chapel yard.  Michael educated at Rockwell – one of the early students there.  Then worked for a time on farm, Ballyvadlea.  Went to Australia about age of 24, to John Stokes.  On return took shop in Gladstone St., Clonmel (now, 1954, Pat McGraths) and married.  As children (Bill) got bad health in Clonmel he sold business and took farm at Cloneen.  Later took a shop in Drangan, and later still took Hibernian Hotel, Fethard.

At Ancestry I DNA matched a definite descendant of Michael Quirke and Bgt Morrissey with the last name Britton who lived in Australia. He was listed in Skehan. 

At My Heritage I believe that I matched a descendant of my great grandfather Thomas Quirk's brother William Quirke who stayed in Tipperary.  I have an 1864 letter saying that Wiliam's son married the daughter of Ned Wall. The match in New Zealand descends from the marriage of a Mr Quirke who lived in Jossestown, nr, Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland of Tipp to an Ellen Wall. 

Regards,

Mary 

Hi Mary
Thank you so much for the great records and lineages.
Regards
Margie Biggs nee Quirke

Thanks for that Margie Biggs  and Mary M. Quirke-Thompson. My Grandfather, Tom Doran, a native of Drangan wrote a bit about how Michael Quirke improved the local cattle stock and brought his skills learnt abroad (he thought in Australia) to Drangan. Your very helpful note has confirmed that and I can now add it to my research if that is ok with you. Bill's brother Frank was at school in Drangan with my Grandpa Tom.

I am pleased that something that I shared from Rev. Walter Skehan's Notes, Vol 43 confirms comments written by your grandfather Tom Doran a Drangan native. Please refer to anything that I have said anywhere you care to.  

I see in Skehan that Ellen Stokes Quirke had an older brother John who went to Australia. (See below for his entry in Skehan.)  It is interesting to learn that Michael Quirke almost definitely brought back information that improved the breeding of Drangan area cattle. 

Tangential: Ellen Stokes Quirke's older brother John Stokes is listed in Skehan as [ (c). John (aadc), born 2nd June 1839: bapt. 4th June 1839: sps:- Wm. Nowlan and Mary Skehan (Drangan Register). Went to Australia. Married Elizabeth Keely. John died 1911. Several children. Issue:-  (i). Mary Ellen Stokes (aadba), girl, born Australia.  Married J.N.H. Atkyns, a solicitor.]                                                                                                              Regards,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mary 

Hello Margie,

Have you read 'QUIRK GENEALOGY and FAMILY HISTORY' by Terence T Quirke, Jr?

That's probably going to be a big help to you as it lists a vast number of your family from William Michael Quirke's father, Thomas Quirke, onwards.

It's about 600 pages.Terry Quirke was was also descended from W. M. Quirke. One of your family should have a copy as I think Terry mailed copies to all.he had located.

All the best,

Peter Quirk

Peter Quirk,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I belong to the FB Quirke Ancestry and DNA private group. I gave members the link to this thread. I don't find the work by Terrence Quirke, Jr. on the Internet. How can one access a copy, if s/he does not know someone who was sent a copy of the 'QUIRK GENEALOGY and FAMILY HISTORY' by Terence T Quirke, Jr.?                                                                                                                                                                                                              Regards, Mary

Peter Quirk,                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I got the book to come up after I read the author's obituary which had the complete title "Quirke Genealogy and Family History: Of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland; India, New Zealand, England, Australia, South Africa, and the United State". Amazon says "Hardcover Currently unavailable.  We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock."  The admin of the Quirke Ancestry and DNA group at Facebook found that LDS has the book in its holdings in Salt Lake City, Utah. The notes at the Family Search entry say: "  Thomas Quirke was born 3 September 1808 in St. Mary's, Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. His parents were Michael Quirke and Mary Keating. He married Catherine Morrissey 6 February 1826 in St. Nicholas Parish Church, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, Ireland. They had eight known children. Thomas died 14 January 1886 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. Descendants lived mainly in Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. Descendants in the United States lived mainly in Illinois, Texas and Colorado." I attached a PDF of the information at Family Search for at https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1275691?availability=Family…;        Mary

According to the book written by Dr Terence Thomas Quirke, your great grandfather and  my great grand uncle William Michael Quirke  was baptised 11 June 1848, St Michael's , Limerick City. https://www.ancestry.com.au/interactive/61039/02416_03_0219/2688826

William's sister, Frances Mary Teresa was my great grandmother. :)

Lyndall

Lyndall,  I was excited to learn of the research by Dr Quirke. Thank you for looking into my Quirk line as I do not have access to the Quirke genealogy. As you would know the surname Quirk Quirke first O’Cuirc is found all over Tipperary. I was hired in 1980 to research my own Quirks in Wisconsin under the direction of  a forensic genealogist. He needed assistance in finding the heirs of a Quirk who died in New York state. I established that the deceased was my father’s second cousin. And an whole new world of relatives opened up for my Quirks.

Thirty years later I made contact with a Quirk researcher who told me that my great grandfather’s Quirke cousins were listed in the Fethard genealogy done by the Rev Walter Skehan*. Later the gravestone that my great grandfather and his brother paid for in 1864 (per a letter held by a Texas library) was discovered at Railstown, Tipperary. And now I am using DNA matching to descendants of the Quirkes in Skehan to confirm my relationship to them.  

Based on what I mentioned, I strongly believe Michael Quirk born in Coolmoyne in 1832 was my great grandfather. He was the son of Thomas Quirk “Tom” and Anastacia “Anty” in Tipperary, “Ann” in Wisconsin nee Hackett. My research benefitted from having Thomas, Ann, Michael, Thomas’ sister Mary Quirk Lonergan from the late 1840s live  very close to where I have always lived.

So while I’d love to share Quirke ancestors with you, I regret that I do not. If you belong to Facebook, I hope that you will join the “Quirke Ancestry and DNA” private group. It is for all who have an interest in the Irish surnames Quirke and Quirk.  It is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/288533261658106     For those who have access to public Ancestry trees my direct ancestor tree is at https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/160026456/person/262094071603/facts I usually don’t added records to it. Such records are on my private Ancestry tree linked to my DNA test. I did add Michael’s baptismal record just now.  * Link to Rev Walter Skehan, Notes Vol 43 with QUIRKE partial (PDF)  Size 800,000K  Date: Apr 2021  Contributor: Mary Quirk-Thompson  Originally transcribed by Kathleen Fanning http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/tipperary/famhist.htm

Regards, Mary

To Margie.

Are you related to Martin Timothy Sutherland Biggs? Let me know as I think that would be your line.

I can try and get hold of Terry Quirk's daughter and see if there are any spare copies of the QUIRKE GENEALOGY AND FAMILY HISTORY volume around. I have located my copy and looked up Biggs in the index.

All the best,

Pete

Church record of baptism of William Michael Quirk by the Rev. George Butler on June 11th 1848 at St. Michael's RC church, Limerick. Baptismal sponsors: Peter Farrell and Jane White. Left hand page.

Credit: catholicparishregisters@nli.ie - National Library

Regards,