Biographical  Introduction

 

 

 

My mother, Kathleen May Beard (nee Stack) was  born in Philadelphia, Pa., at the start of WWI in 1913 to  Richard Stack and Jane Moore Sayers.  Richard  b1881 was born in  the Townland of Newtownsandes, County Kerry, the first of nine children.  In the 1901 census he is shown living with the Kissane family as a farm servant on the same street as his parents.  His father , Richard Stack b:1856 is also a farm servant to the Kissanes.  He probably left the one room house of his father when he came of age to make room for some of his younger siblings as did his brother Daniel Joseph.

 

Probably with little hope for the future in Ireland he emigrates to New York City USA aboard the Italian ship Umbria out of Queensland in 1907. He arrived with $10 in his pocket and made his way to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to stay with his cousin Dan Mulvihill.  He next went to Berks County Pa where he found work at the State Asylum for the Criminally Insane.  There he met his future wife Jane (Jennie) Sayers, 12 years his senior, from Northern Ireland, County Antrim who also worked  at the asylum.    In 1910 they married and move back to Philadelphia where he obtained a job with the Pennsylvania Rail Road. ( I now possess his railroad pocket watch that he paid for with his garnished wages and  my son wore that watch at his wedding.)    He and Jennie raised four children:  my mother, Kathleen, my aunt Peg, my aunt Vida and his only son Richard, my uncle.  Uncle Richie had no children so this branch of Stacks has ceased.

 

https://stackstories.wordpress.com/about/jim-beard-how-did-my-irish-ancestors-survive-the-potato-blight-and-famine-years-1845-1852/

 

 

 

GRADY KEARNEY NTS

 

I am nee O’Grady.  American born 51 years ago to a first generation Bronx, New Yorker and a 1/2 first generation Yonkers, New Yorker.  Both of my paternal grandparents emigrated from Kerry, Ireland (Newtownsandes, now known as Moyvane, Kerry, Ireland) back in the early 1900’s.  Their surnames are O’Grady/Mulvihill and Kearney/McElligott, respectively.  My mother’s father was also a Kerryman from the parish of Firies.  His surname was Casey/O’Brien.  My mother’s mother was born in Manhattan and raised by two immigrant parents, Jeremiah Foley and Mary Guiney, also of Kerry and the surrounding area.  That gives you the skeletal background of where my ancestors are from.

 

 

 

The greater deal of thoughts and such may come directly from my father’s family since I have had the most exposure to information regarding them, either from firsthand experiences or through the stories told by my grand aunts and aunts.  Out of the 16 children that my Great Grandmother Kearney had (11 who saw their way to adulthood), I was lucky enough to have had more than a  passing relationship with half of them.    My own grandmother, Marianne,  and her sisters, Nora, Peg,  and Kitty were an integral part of my growing up.  Their brother Myles, a priest parished in Louisianna, played a minor part to them all.  Other grand aunts and uncles predeceased my arrival or stayed on in Ireland affording me incredibly limited, if any, exposure to them at all.

 

 

 

On my mother’s side, my exposure to my Casey/Foley roots was most limited.  My grandfather Casey died before I ever knew him, when my own mother was in her late teens.  I do not recall ever having met even one relative from his side of my family.  My grandmother, Helen Foley Casey, raised her kids alone from that point on, even putting her son through medical school.  Unlike the women of her generation, my grandmother was college educated (Barnard) and taught all of her life in the public school system of NYC.  Her own brothers, my grand Uncles Jerome and Dan, were seldom seen or heard from, though they lived relatively close to where we did.

 

https://fourgreenfields.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

GREGORY NTS

 

Fortunately, Grandpa’s first cousin Leo Gregory decided to sit down and compose a mini-family history after returning home from his sister’s funeral on January 22, 1986.  Whether he felt his own mortal coil slipping away or was responding to another’s prompting, who knows. But whatever motivated him to do it, I’m very glad he did. He titled his essay “Leo’s Meditations.” Here is how he begins:

 

 

 

“I was born on October 11, 1902 on a farm about five miles south of Easton, Missouri. My parents were Emmett and Julie (Kate) Catherine Garrahan. My dear wife, Elizabeth passed away last January the thirtieth and I now live alone in our retirement home which we built in the year 1971.”

 

 

 

I never met him and I don’t think I’ve ever seen his photo, but every time I read this I picture him coming home from the funeral, sitting down at a table with a pen in his hand and thinking about how to start. Leo passed away on February 4, 1995 and is buried at St. Joseph’s cemetery in Easton, next to Elizabeth.

 

Leo continues:

 

 

 

“My most distant ancestor of whom I have heard was John Gregory of New Tawn Sans, County Kerry, in the District of Tralee of S.W. Ireland. He was born about the year 1826. It is my belief that John, who was my great-grandfather, married Johanna Stack in the year 1848.”

 

 

 

https://usualvicissitudes.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

From Abbeyfeale on line

 

The West Limerick Heritage Network held a very successful event to mark Heritage Week in the Glórach Theatre last Saturday. The large attendance were treated to a talk by writer Felicity Hayes-McCoy on the role of women in social history, a film of an interview of Gerard Collins the former Justice Minister by Mary Shanahan who talked about his family involvement in the struggle for independence and a film from Limerick city archives. We were also treated to songs from the period sung by Ned Foley, Billy Lane and Jackie Harnett with music from Shauna O’Donoghue and Patie Boy Harnett. Patie Boy and his wife put together a country kitchen complete with Bean a Tí and cat with the help of Mike Shanahan and Sean O’Connell. Refreshments were provided by Rosemary Bennis from the Health Food Store in NCW. Well done to Suzzane Rowley West Limerick Resources, Margaret O’Connor O’Shea and Jenny McDonald who put so much work into the show and gave us a night to remember.

 

Jerry,

I need help with the following individuals. I know they are related to me through my Great Grandmother, Mary Margaret (or Margaret Mary) Hanrahan. Shewas born 1866 in Tarbert daughter of John Hanrahan and Catherine O'Connor.When she died here in Tennessee (USA) in 1940 the following people werementioned in a letter that was sent here to my Grandmother (and was kept allthese years) expressing sympathy over her death.Trying to find out how they were related to Mary Margaret but guessing theywere sisters or Aunts. Aunt Hannie, Mrs. Dan Keane who lived at CavuevaghKnochanvue, Aunt Kate who was Mrs. Y. Keane and lived at Leitvim WestNewtownsandes and Aunt Lon or Con who was a Mrs. Kennelly and lived at KeylodNewtownsandes Co. Kerry. Any idea who these people were in relationship tothe Mary Margaret above?Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Mimi MorrisBrentwood, Tennessee


Hi Jer,Yes, I have gotten a copy of the picture of my great-grandfather, Hugh andhis wife Bridget
this is only a small portion of the enlarged photo I have. Maureen and Sean Goulding (brother and sister, children of Hugh Goulding andMary Behane) are living in Knockanure. I stayed with Maureen and Sean duringmy

/goulding_behane_family.jpg John & Mary (Stack) Goulding and their children (Jack and Patricia) , alongwith John's mother Betty live in Knockanure too. Betty's husband JackGoulding passed away in 1995. Christy Goulding (son of Michael/Mick and Ellen (Heffernan)) lives inKnockanure as well. Watch www.goulding.net for more info, I'm always trying to add more. John ----- Original Message -----From: "Jer Kennelly" <dalyskennelly@HOTMAIL.COM>To: "John Goulding" <john@goulding.net>Sent: Friday, January 18, 2002 4:34 PMSubject: Re: Newtownsandes ON-LINE > Hi John> Did you see your Great-grandfathers photo when you were in> Knockanure.> Many of your Woulf and Fitzgerald relations went to the US.> In 1926 Ellen,Catherine and Maurice Wilmot lived in Knockanure. Also Pat> Fitzgerald, and John, Dora,Bridget, Denis, Hugh, Michael,Hannie&Hannah> Goulding all over 21yrs.> I would like to get bits and pieces on any locals.> Jer> ----- Original Message -----> From: "John Goulding"


Newtownsandes ON-LINE>>> > Hello,> > my name is John Goulding and I live near Chicago IL. Mygreat-grandfather> > Hugh Goulding (married to Bridget Fitzgerald) owned land in Knockanure> that> > he passed on to his sons Hugh, Sean and Jack. I recently had the> > opportunity to visit the family farms in Knockanure.> >> > I've reviewed your website with great interest - it is very informative:)> > I am curious to know if you have any details on the Goulding's or the> > Wilmott family. My grandfather, Denis Joseph Goulding married Catherine> > (Kitty) Wilmott (1928) after they emigrated to the US. Kitty was bornon> > Church Street in Listowel, and apparently, the house there was owneduntil> > recently (they ran a hatmaking business from the house).> >> > I have collected some data about my grandfather and posted it on my> website,> > please feel free to post a link to the pages.> >> >


http://www.goulding.net/tales_of_the_elders.asp> > Thank you for your time, and the great website!> >> > have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!> >> > John Goulding> > Jer, I thought this might be of interest to both of us. Apparently a MaryMcAuliff married a Dougherty in Knockanure. Do you know anything aboutthis? McAuliff, Lawrence At 625 W. 43rd st., husband of the late Ellen (neeCurtin), brother of Patrick, John, Timothy, Michael, and Bridget, Mrs.Catherine Dore, and Mrs. William Joyce, Mrs. Mary Dougherty. Native ofKnockshure [poss Knockanure], Co. Kerry. Funeral from St. Gabriel's churchto Mt. Olivet cemetery. --Oct. 7, 1902 (1) Richard
From: Paul & Barbara researchI am doing research on my Kenneally line in my familyMy great grandmother:Mary Agnes Kenneally born 10 August 1864 in London died 16 February 1935 in NYShe first married George Pflug and then August SchumacherHer parents are:Michael Kenneally born abt. 1830 in IrelandSarah McNamara born abt. 1834 in IrelandThey married abt. 1856 in IrelandSometime between 1865 and 1873 they left Ireland went to Canada (I believe) and ended up in New York City.I believe that Mary was one of 9 children and one of her siblings was named John born abt. 1865 also in LondonMichael had a brother named Patrick who also came to New York City and 3 brothers, William, Charles, and Joseph who went to California from Canada.If any of these make any connection in your family please contact me at pnbbolte@worldnet.att.netThanks,Barbara Hello: I am going to be attending a workshop in Listowel next week, and decided to try and locate my grandparents home. My grandfather was born in Newtownsands - is this town very close to Listowel. I haven't been able to find it on the map and was just wondering if Listowel and Newtownsands are one and the same. That's a mighty big coincidence. If you get a chance, please let me know. Thanks. Mary Costello Hi from Sydney Australia I have contacted this site before regarding the Mulvihill family I am trying to research.Since then, I have found out a little more regarding the family from Ireland. They were Thomas Mulvihill and wife Johanna Scanlon, his brothers Patrick, Michael and sister Johanna who married a Patrick Geary. Their father was Michael Mulvihill and mother Ellen Connell (O'Connell) from County Kerry. Thomas's death certificate said he was born in Newtownsandes.The reason I am writing again is that I have purchased a book called the Boro and the Cross, and have found a photo of a Michael Mulvihill (trainer) with Dainty Man. This photo bears a great likeness to some of my ancestors in that they all had protruding ears as his does. Do you know of someone, who maybe able to connect the two families together, I thought maybe the gentleman Colm O'Callaghan may know of some of the living relatives connected to the man in the picture. Also noted that there are many other Mulvihill's mentioned in the Book. I would very much appreciate any help you may be able to give regarding this query.Thanks in advanceDorothy Vowles Hi Jer,Thank you for this information. How can I tell if this is our Michael ( as there appears to be quite a few). Also thank you for the address regarding the Mulvihills of today. Will write to see if they can give us any more information. I do not know of the birth place of Geary. His name was Patrick Geary and he married Johanna Mulvihill.Thanks again, I would appreciate any further information you come across.From downtown SydneyDorothy Got interesting bits a while ago on various Stack's in N. Kerry. Still seeking info for Sr. Pius Farrell, S. Pres., Cork re her forebear Norry Stack.I came across a Roibeárd Ó' hÚrdail, lectures in something in Cork University. That could be Harrington in English, seems to have come from Béarra, he asked me if I knew his gr-aunt Mrs Nolan nee Stack, Moyvane(Francie's mother?) and Bob Robert. What were those two to Mike Stack(whose particulars Dick or I cannot get, not even his burial place), m. to my gr-aunt , your grgr-aunt Mary Dore? He mentioned something that his forebear was reared in Newtownsandes.He mentioned Harrington. This man could be in his 50's - food for thought!Sad about sudden death of the father of the 3 O' Shea football brothers.Say me to the family. Tom. Hello Pat,I was in Tralee and found a piece on Maurice Charles O Connell of the French Army and later joined the British Army. He was born 1762 at Tarmons South Kerry. Went with the army among several Kerrymen to the Sydney area. In April 1810 he married the daughter of Capt. Blight at Canterbury 10 miles from Sydney. Maurice was Knighted in 1835 died 1848, his wife died 1864 they had 7 children. A Street is called after Maurice. Any more information on him or his army comrades from Kerry.All the bestJer Dear sir, can you please help? my father was born in KNOCKANURE in the 1920-s i dont have very much info on him or his family.His name was Micheal Cronin and he had a brother Joseph. the parents died when mick was 14 and mick went to live in uk.Joseph was a farmer and had a good number of children. i think the parents of mick and joseph were joseph or john and kathleen the two brothers lived on a farm or small holding.i think some of josephs children still farm in the area. i would like to know about my grandparents when and why they died.thank you so much for your kindness. best wishes stephen cronin malta. Hi Stephen good to hear from you.Your Grandfather Jack Cronin was of Duagh and a soldier who married in Knockanure Nonie Kelliher . Jack died c 1940 got sick and died alone in a house which is now gone near Knockanure Church. Your Uncle Joe married in Ballyguiltenane , Glin Co Limerick. I believe he had a big family.Please send me your address and I will contact one of the children of Joe Cronin.Several of the Kelliher Family were Soldiers . They are said to have received several Medals.Keep in touch.Jer Kennelly Hi Tom Good to hear from you again. Harrington was his Stack grandmother a teacher born Carrueragh, her sister ? a teacher married Nolan at Moyvane House? I think they had several nuns a Christian Brother in Waterford ? May have been 10 or 12 in the family some went to USA one of them was over 6.5 ft tall. Was their mother Connell of Lixnaw. Dear Jerry,It has been a while since I wrote to you, but I do check back from time totime to your site, and read the guest book.You have some very interesting local information on that site of yours. I have an e.mail friend, who has O'Connell roots from Moyvane, and I figuredyou would be a great person to ask,if you or anyone in the area might know of the following people. Would you know of an O'Connell family of Murhur, Moyvane? Lived near thechurch in Moyvane, the names i have up to now are Richard O'Connell who wasa tailor by trade married to Nora Foley of Aughrim. Richard's father wasJohn O'Connell and his mother Mary Collins. Have you heard of this family?Would you know if Richard had siblings? If you have any information for me on any of the above names, I would loveto hear back from you.If don't know the families, do you know anyone else that I could write to inthe area that might know them. All the best fromB.C. CanadaKerry Kate My name is Margaret O'Connell and I live in Cheshire, England. I have recently been in touch with Kathleen Coburn who has given me some valuable advice regarding tracing my ancestors and also very kindly gave me your name as a source of information on the Moyvane area. The O'Connells of Ahalahana that you mention in your e-mail to Kathleen that lived in Kissane's Rea are my ancestors. I had heard of a connection with a Shanagolden but I didnt know that some of the family moved there. My grandfather Richard went there quite a lot so that makes sense. The death of a family member in an accident in the USA I am not too sure about but there was mention of a female dying in the USA from pneumonia. I wrote to the parish priest in Moyvane for the baptismal records of Richard and his siblings. The only names I knew were Richard and Daniel. On the records were Mary, Patrick, John, William, Ellen, Ellen, (2), Michael, Joanna, James, Daniel, Richard and Mary (2). My grandfather died when my dad was 10 so he didnt have any knowledge of his uncles and aunts. Regarding the Foleys, please pass on my name and address to Mr Foley. The details I have are scant but here goes. Nora Foley (my grandmother) married to Richard O'Connell. She was born in Aughrim. Father was Maurice Foley - mason. Do not know her mothers name. Siblings: Maurice (emigrated to Australia no date), Marie married to a Tom Roche. Do not know of any other siblings.

Thanks for the info every little bit helps. The Connell man from Ahalahana who went to USA and his daughter was killed, are you sure it was Richard? Just my grandfather was Richard and he stayed in Ahalahana, unless there was another Richard! Margaret >Hi Margaret,>Nice to hear from you.>I thank you may be related to Ahern's who worked in a Shipyard in>North>California.>The former Parish Clerk Connell of Tarbert may also be related to you>his>wife is very good at tracing relations I am not sure if she is still alive.>Write to the Family who live near the Comprehensive School Tarbert.>>Several of the Ahalanna Connell's went to USA c1920-30. Richard>Connell>went also I heard that his daughter was killed.>Connells were Melodian players.>You may like to write to the O Connell family Ahalanna they were>builders>and carpenters.>Jer

 

 

O'Briens of Kilmorna/Duagh/Abbeyfeale/Listowel & Lycracrumpane Kerry

 

Can anybody can assist with my O'Brien family tree? My O'Briens were Tinsmen(Tinkers) and travelled throughout Kerry but seemed to live in the Duagh/Abbeyfeale area. Perhaps you are related or know some of the characters? Honestly any info would be appreciated.

John O’Brien born abt 1843 in Kerry died 1920/30’s Kilcarra More nr Duagh buried Listowel married Honoria(Nora) Coffey abt 1875 - 1881 who was born abt 1851 in Kerry and died 1920/30’s Kilcarra More buried Listowel. The 1911 census shows that they had produced 10 children with 8 surviving John had numerous siblings. Two of his sons Richard and Timothy were killed in May 1915 in France/Flanders. They were privates in the 2nd Batt Royal Munster Fuseliers. Richard was married to Nora and his war record lists his birthplace as Lyreacrumpane with a contact address of Kilcara Duagh Kilmorna.Both bros are listed on the memorial at Le Touret France. Other known bros were Patrick, John(Sean) and Thomas.

Thomas born abt 1882 in Kerry and died 1952 in Tralee and was buried in Listowel. He married Bridget abt 1905 and buried in Listowel abt 1964 - 68. Bridget was known as Black Breda due to her dark hair.These were my grandparents.The 1911 cen shows that they had produced 3 children with 1 surviving (James born abt 1908) After 1911 Thomas & Bridget produced

1) Richard O’Brien abt 1920 – 1968 died in Limerick (my natural father) co-habited with Ellen (Nellie) O’Donoghue (Odun-o-who) b 1924 Charleville Co Cork died 1995 Battersea London (my mother)

Children: Richard (me) b 1943 Dungarven Waterford, Bridget b 1945 Croom d 2010 Sydenham London and Katrina(spelling) b & d 1947 bur Abbeyfeale

2) Nora d 1978? bur Listowel mar Michael O’Brien bur Listowel

Children: Michael and Margaret

3) Bridget mar Patrick Coffey

4) Thomas

5) Teige(Timothy))

6) Thomas

7) Michael

8) John (alive 1984) mar Katie O’Brien

Children: Philomena, Thomas and Margaret

Patrick had 2 known sons Sean and Paddy. Sean in turn had 4 boys and 8 girls.No info on Paddy’s or Sean's children.

regards

Dick O'Brien

 

 

 

LETTER: Fra Giovanni to a friend, Christmas, 1513.

“I am your friend and my love for you goes deep. There is nothing I can give you which you have not got, but there is much, very much, that, while I cannot give it, you can take.

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven!

No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant. Take peace!

The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within our reach is joy. There is radiance and glory in the darkness could we but see - and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look!

Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by the covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy or hard. Remove the covering and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power.

Welcome it, grasp it, touch the angel's hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me, that angel's hand is there, the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys, too, be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts.

Life is so full of meaning and purpose, so full of beauty - beneath its covering - that you will find earth that cloaks your heaven.

Courage, then, to claim it, that is all. But courage you have, and the knowledge that we are all pilgrims together, wending through unknown country, home.

And so, at this time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.”