Family of Michael Fennell and Ellen O’Connor.

Michael Fennell, nicknamed ‘Cud’ (1863-1939) and Ellen O’Connor (1876-1968) had 11 children as outlined hereunder by Angus Somerville, son of Margaret Fennell Somerville. Angus contacted me by email in March 2020.

”Mary (May) Fennell. Born, May was born in 1900,

Kathleen (Kath) Fennell.

Johanna Fennell (to us Jo, previously Hannah),

Bridget (Bridie) Fennell 1905

Michael Fennell (Mick),

Nora Fennell,

Eileen Fennell.

Margaret Fennell, born1913.

Elizabeth Anna (Lizaanna),

Emily Fennell.

John Fennell.

The first 3 lived to 80,79,80 years of age. My mother Margaret died in June 1986 at 72. Eileen reached 88, the rest 90 or more.”

Angus went on to say ”Mick Fennell, being eldest son had the whole inheritance, married a second cousin Mary Prenderville and had lots of children. Angus’ parents in the 70s bought some of his land and had a house built there, next door to Mick’s newly built cottage on the O’Brien part of the farm. Of Mick’s children, Mary Fennell (b ????), who married Sammut, has lived most of her life in London, but the others have only ever left Ireland for a short spell. Michael (Mikie) Fennell who married Mary Normile, Glenagragra (Scort), daughter of Mickey Normoyle  is now head of the family and he was in England  once for a year, at the time Angus was there, but he never met him. Apart from Mikie, his elder sister Bridie Fennell (1939-1974) and the one who died as a baby, I met all of the others.”

”Mick, Lizanna and John Fennell stayed in Ireland, the rest went to London, and several joined the St Francis rambling club in Kent, where at least 2, Nora and Margaret, met their spouses. They settled in a ring on the western and southwestern fringes of London. May did not marry, so she established a routine of visiting each of her siblings once a month. So far 4 other cousins have died but the many who remain are still in touch directly or indirectly. Only 4 have left these islands, Mick’s remaining eldest daughter, who is in Australia (in UK until retirement) and 3 O’Briens (Lizanna’s) in USA.”

Angus went on to say -”Of those you may possibly have heard of, Matthew Shardlow, who edits Buglife and has appeared on TV as an expert on insects, is the eldest son of Michael, in turn eldest son of Nora (as it happens, my godmother). One of my nephews, Peter Coyne, has also been on TV doing an operation. One of Matthew’s brothers has been doing some family research, so if the name Shardlow comes up again you will know where it came from”.

My mother was great friends with her classmate Emily Fennell (above) and often stayed nights back in her home but even-though the curse of emigration took Emily to England still, they remained very good friends. When Emily would come home to Glenagragra she would stay several nights back in Glasha with mother, however, over the passing of time they sadly drifted apart and did not see one another after that. I hope that they are now unified once again, joyfully rejoicing with the angels and saints in God’s glorious kingdom. Emily’s  brother Mick Fennell b1907 whom I knew very well was a great poet.  Mick passed to his eternal reward on January 4^th 2000 aged 93yrs. Mick was a nephew of Ned Fennell born 1865 who was appointed teacher at Ballyguiltenane school in 1886. (For more information on Mick Fennell see Book ‘Year of the Elderly’.)

Liz Anne Fennell a sister to the aforementioned Mick Fennell.  was married to Michael O’Brien from from Killeaney, from a place there known locally as ‘the yard’ Michael bought Michael McGrath’s place in Glenagragra. Michael McGrath was married to Catherine Normile. The O’Brien’s relocated to a farm at Altavilla, Askeaton and the said Mick Fennell built for himself and his wife Mary Prendeville a new cottage in part of the vacated farm. Michael O’Brien had two brothers –Pat and John. The three brothers went under the a.k.a. – ‘Dublin’, ‘Bac’ and Citeog’. Michael O’Brien died July 31^st 1972 age 60yrs. (Mary Prendeville was a cousin to Anna Prendeville who was married to John Langan, Cahara, my grandfather Langan’s 1st cousin. My mother Delia Langan Lynch received her Primary education at Ballyguiltenane National School under the tutorship of Maggie ‘Dave’ Connolly, Glenagragra who was the head mistress there. Her classmates included – Emily Fennell, Glenagragra, (sister to Mick Fennell above) Kathy Morgan Moran, Glenagragra mother of renowned hotelier Tommy Moran, Toureendonnell, Athea, Agatha O’Connor, Ballyguiltenane and Mary ‘Mikeen’ Culhane, Ballyguiltenane who married Bill Hayes, Fairystreet, Athea. The four girls were 16yrs of age when they received their confirmation and remained on in Ballyguiltenane ‘till they reached 7^th class. Mother received post primary at the Technical school in Listowel but she didn’t stay there very long as she had the majority of the curriculum learned during her time in 7^th class in Ballyguiltenane. During her short time in Listowel, she stayed in B/B at a two-storey house on the left as one enters the town.

My mother knew Emily’s father and mother very well, her father was Michael Fennell, born 1863 and her mothert was Ellen O’Connor, daughter of Edmond Connors from Glenalappa who was married to Mary Windle. On Feb 15th, 1896 at Newtownsandes church, Ellen O’Connor, daughter of Edmond O’Connor, Glenalappa, Moyvane, Co. Kerry married Michael Fennell, a farmer from Ballyguiltenane, son of John Fennell, the witnesses being – E. Fennell & Johanna O’Connor. (The Fennell’s live in Glenagragra and not Ballyguiltenane) John Fennell was married twice, his first marriage to Scanlon from Kinard, Glin. John Fennell’s second marriage to Catherine Morgan b1834 from down near Ballybeg, Glin and who in 1901 was a widow. Ellen O’Connor, born February 16^th, 1876 at Glenalappa, Moyvane, Co. Kerry and died at Glenagragra on June 27^th, 1968. Extracts from Ellen’s diary can be found in B.R.J. 1980 p58 & 75. Edmond Connors’s mother was Aherne. The Fennel’s came to Glenagragra from back near Tarbert having originally arrived there from Co. Clare.

1901 Census for Fennell’s of Glenagragra as follows – Johnny Fennell husband of Catherine not listed – presumed deceased.

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion
Fennell	Catherine Morgan	67	Female	Head of Family	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Michael	38	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Edmond	36	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Ellen O’Connor	24	Female	Daughter in Law	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Mary		Female	Grand Daughter	Roman Catholic

1911 Census for Fennell’s of Glenagragra – now listed under Ballguiltenane Upper.

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion
Fennell	Michael	48	Male	Head of Family	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Ellen O’Connor	35	Female	Wife	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Mary	10	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Catherine	9	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Hannah	8	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Bridget	5	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Michael	4	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Norah	2	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Fennell	Eileen		Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic