Thomas4 Feury was born in 1843 in Lakyle North, Co. Clare Ireland. He died at Glenagragra, Co. Limerick circa 1927. He married Honora Kelly, daughter of Michael Kelly, on 28 Feb 1865 in Catholic Chapel of Killofin, Labasheeda, County Clare Ireland. She was born in 1843 in Co. Clare Ireland. She died after 1901 in Glenagragra, Co. Limerick Ireland. Thomas, who went by the nickname of ‘Ryan’ was known for being a bit of a prankster and one of his most famous practical jokes was to make up parcels and leave them on the public road for some passer-by (more than likely a cyclist as there were very few automobiles back then) to pick them up. I’ll leave it to your imagination as regards the contents of the said parcels.

1901 Census as follows –

(Daniel Higgins above being the son of Con Higgins, Glashapullagh, (Glasha) Athea.)

Thomas4 Feury and Honora Kelly had the following children:

i. MARY5 FEURY (daughter of Thomas4 Feury and Honora Kelly) was born on 23 Apr 1866 in Ballyguiltenane, Glin, Co. Limerick, Ireland. She died on 16 Dec 1906 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. On 09 Sep 1894 in Jersey City, Hudson, Mary Feury married WILLIAM JOSEPH MEADE. William was born on 06 Jun 1870 in Clounleharde, Ballyhahill County Limerick. He died on 07 Aug 1935 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. William was the son of Pat Meade, Clounleharde and Bridget Mulqueen.
William Joseph Meade and Mary Feury had the following children:

i. ANN NORA2 MEADE was born on 29 Mar 1897 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. She died in 1972.
ii. MARY E MEADE was born on 04 Oct 1898 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. She died in 1991.
iii. THOMAS S MEADE was born on 24 Dec 1899 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. She died on 06 Aug 1900 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA.
iv. WILLIAM JOSEPH MEADE was born on 16 Jun 1901 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. He died in 1965.
v. CATHERINE T MEADE was born on 10 Jan 1903 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. She died in 1980.
vi. JAMES MEADE was born in Oct 1904 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. He died in Dec 1907 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA.
vii. JOHANNA MEADE was born on 04 Oct 1906 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, USA. She died in 1987.
Notes for Johanna Meade:
After her mother’s death she went to live with Duff family. ( 1910 U.S.A. Census).
By 1920 U.S.A. Census she had the surname Duff.

(Ancestry says Dromrisk, but i’ve been told there were no Meade’s living there. George Langan)

ii. THOMAS FEURY (son of Thomas Feury and Honora Kelly) was born on 22 Feb 1868 at Ballyguiltenane, Glin, Co. Limerick, Ireland. (In some cases Glenagragra was given as Ballyguiltenane in those days.) He died on 14 Jan 1914 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick, Ireland. On 21 Feb 1903 in Church of the Immaculate Conception, Glin, Thomas married Catherine (Kate) Scanlon, daughter of John Scanlon Dromreask, Glin and Mary Dalton, from Knocknagorna, Athea. Co. Limerick. Catherine Scanlon was born at Dromreask in 1880 and died on 27 Jul 1963 in Dromisk, Glin, County Limerick. (There are variations on the spelling of Dromrisk, Dromreask) Notes for Thomas Feury: Thomas’ godparents were Michael Griffin and Mary Feury.

1911 Census for Thomas Feury family –

Roadway that passes by Feury’s. 

Photo 2007.

Thomas Feury and Catherine Scanlon had the following children:

i. JOHN6 (JACK) FEURY (son of Thomas Feury and Catherine Kate Scanlon) was born in 1905 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick Ireland. He died on 22 Sep 1990 in Glenagragra, Glin County Limerick. Jack inherited the home place and married Mary O’Connor, Turraree circa 1940. She was born in 1913 at Turraree Upper, Glin Co. Limerick. She died on 26 Nov 1992 in Glenagragra, Glin County Limerick. Mary was the daughter of Patrick O’Connor, Turraree and Johanna Sheahan, Knockdown. Patrick O’Connor was the son of Tom O’Connor. Patrick was known by the nickname of ‘Paddy Holy Man’. Mary O’Connor had three brothers and one sister – Jack & Tom O’Connor whom remained single and lived next to Danny Faley’s, Turraree. Patrick (Paitin) who married Maureen Nash and Ellen (Nell) who married Matt Tierney, Templeathea. Matt Tierney’s mother was my grand-aunt. (George Langan)

Old homestead of Jack Feury. Photo 2007.

The original home of Jack’s grandfather Thomas, was at the rear of this one.

John (Jack) Feury and Mary O’Connor had the following family of 7 -:

(i) Tom7 Feury joined the Christian Brothers, later left and emigrated to England.

(ii) Mary Feury emigrated to England and married there and had a family. Mary died on December 22nd, 2020 at Hoddesdon, Heffordshire, England.

Left Mary Feury with Breda Langan, Glenagragra

at Glin coursing c1956/7.

(iii) Jackie Feury R.I.P. Aug 31st, 2020, emigrated to England where he married Margaret Enright, daughter of Jack Enright, Glenbawn, Ballyhahill. They were later to return and are now residing in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. Jackie’s son Richard Feury was fatally injured at Garryduff, Barna, Newcastle West on Sunday Sept 12^th 2010 on way home from Listowel races. (three people lost their lives in this accident)

(iv) Paddy Feury  R.I.P. May 1st, 2018, remained single in life and lived in the home place.

(v) Richard (Dick) Feury who was in my brother Patrick’s class in Ballyguiltenane National School emigrated to England. He now communicates between Glenagragra and England.

(vi) Female Feury married Male Moloney and resides in Moyvane, Co. Kerry.

(vii) Mickey Feury, R.I.P., Jan 19th, 2002, my school pal and dear friend who was a class behind me in Ballyguiltenane National school, joined me at the Tech’ in Abbeyfeale in the summer of 1966. We cycled to the village of Athea from where we got McDonald’s school bus to bring us on the remainder of our journey. Mickey graduated with an apprenticeship to Rockwell College, Co. Tipperary, where he qualified as a chef.  He later relinquished the chef business and took up farming instead in the family dairy farm that was bequeathed to him by his late father. Sadly, he received fatal injuries whilst crossing the ‘Mail’ road at Lyons’s funeral home, Derra, on January 19^th 2002.

On January 26^th 2002 I dedicated the following to my good friend -:

Tribute To Mickey Feury.

He’ll be mourned in Glenagragra in Moyvane and in Knockdown

He’ll be mourned in Newcastle West and in far off London town.

For my good friend Mickey Feury has sadly passed away

Now he sleeps down in Kilfergus beneath the cold dark clay.

Mickey has departed and has left us full of sorrow

The circumstances they were tragic but in this world there’s no tomorrow.

His passing will be remembered forever and a day

Now he sleeps down in Kilfergus beneath the cold dark clay.

Memories never ceasing I can vividly relate

To Ballyguiltenane school together from nineteen and fifty eight.

To Abbeyfeale thereafter got the bus from sweet Athea

Now he sleeps down in Kilfergus beneath the cold dark clay.

Christmas holidays, what excitement as we hunted for the wren

With our good friend Tommy Windle we didn’t need ‘Moloney’s van’.

Mickey, our honest cashier ne’er a penny went astray

Now he sleeps down in Kilfergus beneath the cold dark clay.

On Sunday’s after worship games of football we’d begin

Often cycled to the village took the long road down to Glin.

He played the game so simple a towering figure in his day

Now he sleeps down in Kilfergus beneath the cold dark clay.

Our teenage years were passing and we wanted something more

Mickey entered Rockwell and I sought Templemore.

We graduated with distinction our professions took us away

Now the ‘chef’ sleeps in Kilfergus beneath the cold dark clay.

Yes ! they took him to Kilfergus down by the hills and sea

Down where the birds are singing, where soft winds whistle free.

They dug for him a lonely grave and there he sleeps today

My good friend Mickey Feury, beneath the cold dark clay.

Mickey Feury 1985.

Jack Feury.

Mary Feury.

ii. MARY6 FEURY (daughter of Thomas5 Feury and Catherine Kate Scanlon) was born on 10 Mar 1906 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick Ireland. She died before 1911 in Dromisk, Glin County Limerick Ireland.

iii. MICHAEL6 FEURY (son of Thomas Feury and Catherine (Kate) Scanlon) b. 1908 inherited the Connor farm in Dromreask, a family that he worked for over the years. There was Luke, Frank, Thade and Biddy Connor in the family. Their mother was a Shine woman. According to Griffiths Valuation 1851, Luke Connor had the said farm, which consisted of houses, land and bog that he had rented from the Landlord, Goggin. It is the belief that the Connor’s originally came from Templeathea as Luke Connors in 1852 was a sub-tenant of Redmond Roche of Templeathea West even though he had acquired the Dromreask farm by then. Naturally enough he wanted a farm of his own so he may have held on to the sub-tenancy for a while after getting hold of the said Dromreask farm. You will note that the O’ was dropped from the surname O’Connor. Back in the 17^th century many Irish families but not everyone did this in an effort to make it easier to seek employment as O’ indicated being of ‘Gaelic’ descent and thus under English law passed in 1623 one was forbidden to use their Irish name. Mick Feury married Catherine (Kit) O’Connor, from Duncaha, Tarmons, Co. Kerry, a sister to Dan O’Connor, Glenagragra and they had one son in family –

Tom7 Feury. (known as small Tom Feury to distinguish himself from his uncle who was also called Tom Feury who resided with them, See Tom hereunder)

Indeed the same Mick Feury inherited his father’s stratagems and introduced them to us youngsters back in the 1960’s. Many is the Sunday Mick would join us on the ‘Kerryline’ roadway as we neatly parcelled up some horse manure and left it on the said roadway for some poor unfortunate passerby. The real thrill derived from this prank was the fact that we were all hiding inside the ditch or up on some tree watching developments as they unfolded. One particular person that comes to mind that fell for our wind-up was none other than John Sheehan of Knockdown who might have been cycling home from last Mass in Athea on the day.  I think Tom Geoghegan, Turraree also fell victim to our schemes. Tom, who had a motorcar at the time, would be visiting his sister Bridget who was married to Amsie Griffin at Blaine. Indeed, I also remember a few strangers stopping to pick up their ‘presents’.  Mick Feury was the first person to show me the auroraborealis (the northern lights) in the night sky. I didn’t know what the man was talking about as he pointed to the magnificent lights and the most amusing thing about it to me was the way Mick pronounced auroraborealis. Mick was a funny man. I left home in 1972 and didn’t see Mick for about five years and I suppose in the meantime I had put on a bit of weight. Anyway I happened to meet Mick on the roadway one evening and after he eyeing me up and down for a few seconds, looked me in the eye and addressed me as follows -: ‘By J but do you know what, you’re fallin’ into flesh, ha’. Mick Feury died May 21^st 1991 age 83yrs. His wife Kit died March 7^th 1993.

Tom7 Feury ‘Small Tom’ 1985.

iv. BRIGID6 FEURY (daughter of Thomas Feury and Catherine Kate Scanlon) was born on 12 May 1909 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick. She died on 23 Dec 1996. She married DENIS MULVIHILL. He was born in 1900 in County Limerick and they lived in Shanagolden. Birdie was a priest’s housekeeper for many years. I remember well an incident involving Bridie during the big freeze of 1963. There was one particular day during that inclement period; Birdie had the occasion to visit her sister Nonie in Glenagragra. Having been dropped off by hackney at the roadside gate she proceeded to make her way up the snow-covered road to the house. The snowdrifts on the road were so high and deep that Birdielost her bearings so to speak, resulting in her veering off the said road and as a result being almost buried up to her waist in the massive drift. I can still hear her cries for help ringing out o’er the valley and can see my grandfather Paddy Langan going to her rescue. Birdie lived out her final years with her sister Nonie in Glenagragra. Ipaid them a visit in 1992 and took a photograph of the two lovable sisters, which later appeared in the B.R.J. 1992/93 p140.

v. NORA6 FEURY (daughter of Thomas Feury and Catherine Scanlon) was born on 10 Nov 1910 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick Ireland. She married her near neighbour  Dan O’Connor Glenagragra in 1944. Nonie wasn’t a person for going out very much apart from going to Mass on Sunday’s and Holy days etc. I remember one particular very fine summer’s day in the late 1960’s when we were footing the turf on our Co. Council bank up in Higgins’ mountain. The bank of turf that I refer to was located by the old mud road. Dan O’Connor had a bank of turf next to us and low and behold who arrived on the scene only the said Nonie. It was my first time ever seeing her in the bog. My mother happened to be helping us on the day in question and I remember her saying to Nonie how good it was to see her out in the bog enjoying the fresh air. Says Nonie –  ‘Yerra Delia ‘isn’t pure Ballybunion’. Nonie died on September 12th, 2002.

Left Nora (Nonie) Feury O’Connor and her sister Brigid (Birdie) Mulvihill.

vi. MARY6 FEURY (daughter of Thomas Feury and Catherine Kate Scanlon) was born in 1911 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick. She died in Brisbane Queensland Australia. She married William Henry Tromans in 1942 in New South Wales, Australia.

vii. THOMAS6 (TOM)  FEURY (son of Thomas Feury and Catherine Kate Scanlon) was born in 1912 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick. He died on 05 Dec 1974 in Limerick Regional Hospital, County Limerick. Tom who remained single in life went to live with his brother Mick in Dromreask. Tom was a very placid and timid person who went about his daily chores not bothering anyone. When televisions came our way back in the 1960’s, Feury’s was one of the first houses locally to have installed such a luxuary. It was there that my brother Eddie and I would go at night to watch our favourite programme, be it ‘The Virginian’, ‘The Long Hot Summer’ or some Western fiction movie. Come the month of August when the ‘All Ireland’s’ commenced half the townland would descend upon that hospitable family. I remember Tom sitting quietly in the corner of the hearth relaxing after his day’s work on the family farm.

viii. ELIZABETH6 (LIZZY) FEURY (daughter of Thomas Feury and Catherine Kate Scanlon) was born in 1913 in Glenagragra Co. Limerick. She died in 1914 in Glenagragra, Co. Limerick.

1911 Census for Thomas Feury & Catherine Scanlon.

Residents of a house 12 in Glenagragara (Kilfergus, Limerick)

 

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion
Furey	Thomas	43	Male	Head of Family	Roman Catholic
Furey	Catherine Scanlon	30	Female	Wife	Roman Catholic
Furey	John	6	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Furey	Mary	5	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Furey	Michael	3	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Furey	Bridget	2	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Furey	Nora		Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Furey	Thomas	69	Male	Father	Roman Catholic

/////////////////

iii. MICHAEL5 FEURY (son of Thomas4 Feury and Honora Kelly) was born on 06 Feb 1870 in Co. Limerick, Ireland.
Notes for Michael Feury: Michael’s godparents were James Fuery and Anastasia Griffin.

iv. BRIDGET5 FEURY (daughter of Thomas Feury and Honora Kelly) was born on 24 Jun 1873 in Co. Limerick. She died in 1895 in Glenagragra, Co. Limerick.