The 1852 Griffiths valuation show that a Michael & John O’Connell are living in Glenagragra, Parents – Unknown1 Connell. They both have a number of plots of land, some of which are occupied jointly and others which they share with other families. Mike Connolly established that Michael & John O’Connell were brothers and has researched the O’Connell family much of which I have included  here -;

Michael 2 O’Connell.

John2 O’Connell.

Michael2 O’Connell.The earliest Parish record that can be located is for the marriage of Michael2 O’Connell. The Athea Parish Register has the following entry for the 18th February 1846:

‘Michael Connell of Glin and Catherine Lynch of Athea Parishes having obtained a dispensation of 4° & 4° degrees of cousin unity – present as witnesses John Lynch, George Lynch, John Higgins and many others. Catherine was the sister of John and George Lynch of Glashapullagh.

Medieval canon law The first prohibited degree of consanguinity was a parent-child relationship while a second degree would be a sibling relationship. A third degree would be an uncle/aunt with a niece/nephew while fourth degree was between first cousins.

The dispensation of 4 x 4 degrees means that Michael and Catherine were first cousins which means that they had common parents.  Which means Catherine’s mother was an O’Connell or Michael’s mother was a Lynch. From the various records it is known that Michael and Catherine had at least five children who were  as follows…….

John3 O’Connell born circa 1846.2

Mary3 O’Connell born 1850.

Catherine3 O’Connell born 1857.

Johanna3 O’Connell born 1859.

John3 O’Connell b1846.

John3 O’Connell born 1846, died Sept 20th, 1923 aged 77 years at Glenagragra, Mary (Mollie) Flavin present at his death. John being the eldest son took over the family farm. On Feb 17th, 1885 John married Mary Fennel from Glennalappa, Newtownsandes.  They were married at the Annunciation RC Church Newtownsandes on February 17th 1885 and the witnesses were James and Johanna Fennell. John’s father Michael Connell listed as deceased and Mary Fennell’s father William Fennell was living. Mary’s parents were William Fennell 1841-1885 and Ellen Connell 1831-1906. William and Ellen were married at St.Bartholomew’s RC Church, Athea in 1861.  The 1901 Glenagragra census records John O’ Connell as 52 and Mary Fennell as 34 years old which means she was born around 1867. The Murher Parish record shows that Mary was baptized on 30 March 1862 which means she was actually 39 years old. Mary died from cancer on Aug 15th, 1939, aged 75 years, Paddy Flavin present at her death in Glenagragra. John and Mary did not have any children. Mary’s niece Mollie McInerny aged 6 is living with them on the 1911 census John is 66 and Mary is given as 29 years old – this should probably be 49 as they have been married 26 years. It is unlikely that these ages are accurate as Michael and Catherine did not marry until 1846. John and Mary did not have any children. The farm was inherited by Patrick Flavin, the eldest son of Daniel Flahavan and Joanna O’Connell. It was arranged that Patrick would marry Mollie McInerny the niece of Mary Fennell, Patrick being the nephew of John Connell. William Fennell and Ellen Connell had a daughter Johanna Fennell born on June 18th, 1866. William Fennell died on circa 1885, cant find a death cert for him, his wife Ellen Connell Fennell died on June 27th, 1906 at Glenalappa, aged 75 years.

Mary3 O’Connell 1849-1917

Going by the 1901 Census, Mary3 O’ Connell was born circa 1849 and died Jan 16th, 1917 aged 68 years. She married Jeremiah Connolly born circa 1836 and died at Glenagragra on May 1st, 1934 aged 98 years, son of John Connolly from Glensharrold, Carrickerry, marriage date, Feb 13th 1872, the witnesses were Thomas O’Shaughnessy & Mary Connolly. Both parents were alive. The 1911 census records that they had 8 children only two of which were still living. Paddy Faley informed me that Mary met her death in rare circumstances. Say’s Paddy,‘’back in those days, the threshing of oats was carried out in the kitchen with flails. Most of the houses back then had very large kitchens, which proved ideal for the task on hand, and Connolly’s was no exception. It was around the Christmas time of the year and Jer agreed to allow his house to be used by the local wrenboys for their wren dance. This meant that the threshing had to be postponed for a few days in order to have the kitchen ready for the dance. The threshed oats was piled up at the lower end of the kitchen with the un-treshed sheaves piled against it. Jer and his family had the occasion to be away from home on a particular day and on returning, he found his wife Mary to be missing. Several hours had elapsed and with still no sign of his wife, Jer decided to set up a search party to try to locate her whereabouts. They searched the entire farm and enquired locally but still no trace of Mary. Tom Lynch, a neighbour of the Connolly’s (Tom later lived in a cottage at Blaine Bridge) came up with the brainy idea that she may have fallen down between the sheaves and corn in the kitchen. They removed the sheaves and to their utmost dismay, there they found her lying dead on the floor. It would appear that she had climbed to the top of the sheaves hoping to find some eggs that the hens may have laid up there and in doing so fell head first down between the corn and the sheaves. As she was unable to set herself free, she ultimately smothered and died’’. (George Langan/Mike Connolly)

As stated, Jeremiah Connolly and Mary3 O’Connell had eight children. The eight children were:

NB. Ballyguiltenane given as the birth place for the family, Glenagragra was often referred to as Ballyguiltenane in those days.

(1) Mary4 Connolly born ? cant find birth cert. No information on Mary.

(2)Michael Connolly, born March 4th  1875 at Ballyguiltenane. His father Jeremiah’s occupation given as a labourer. No information on Michael.

(3) James Connolly born April 1st, 1877 at Ballyguiltenane. No information on James.

(4) Kate Connolly born Aug 12th, 1879 at Ballyguiltenane, died Dec 13th, 1880, her father Jeremiah Connolly present at her death. Her father’s occupation now given as a small farmer.

(5) Jeremiah Connolly born circa 1882, emigrated to the U.S.A.

(6) Patrick (Paddy Jer) Connolly born May 15th,1884, married twice, firstly to Ellen Windle from Barniegue, Carrickerry, a sister to Johnny Windle. Ellen Windle born circa 1891, died on June 17th 1923, her brother John Windle present at her death in Knockfinisk. (An O’Donnell family now live in a new dwelling next door to Johnny Windle’s old homestead.) Paddy Jer Connolly & Ellen Windle had two daughters and one son namely –

i.Jeremiah Connolly. Jeremiah died over at Windle’s, his mothers people in Barneigue when he was 1 year old, he never saw Glenagragra.

ii.Catherine Connolly. Catherine married Jeremiah ‘Jer’ Mulvihill from Glenalappa. (Jeremiah Mulvihill had a sister Kathy Mulvihill who was married to Tom Scanlon, Glasha, Athea, Co. Limerick)

iii.Mary Connolly. Mary contracted T.B. and died from the ailment at the age of 14yrs.

Paddy Jer Connolly’s second marriage was on Feb 13th, 1934 at Glin to Bridie Shanahan, daughter of John Shanahan,  Scort and  Ellen Faley, Glasha, Paddy’s age given as 50 years and Bridie’s age given as 33 years. The witnesses were William McInerney and Bridget Quinlivan. Ellen Faley was the aunt of renowned poet Paddy Faley. John Shanahan’s father was Thomas Shanahan.  John Shanahan aged 35 years and Ellen Faley aged 35 years when they were married on Jan 29^th1898 at Glin church, the witnesses being Daniel Faley, Turraree and Bridget Shanahan.

1911 Census for Shanahan’s of Glenagragra (Scort) as follows –

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion
Shanahan	John	52	Male	Head of Family	Roman Catholic
Shanahan	Ellen Faley	54	Female	Wife	Roman Catholic
Shanahan	Bridget	10	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Shanahan	Mary	8	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Shanahan	Ellen	6	Female	Daughter	Roman Catholic
Shanahan	Bridget	73	Female	Mother	Roman Catholic

Jack Connolly, Ballinamadough also informed me that his father the previously mentioned Patsy Connolly and Paddy Jer Connolly,  were 2^nd cousins. Family from Paddy Jer Connolly and Bridie Shanahan as follows –

(i) Paddy Connolly the present occupant who married Gretta Greaney, daughter of the legendary sean nos singer Con Greaney, Rooskagh. Paddy went to his eternal reward on Sat June 13th 2020 aged 80 years..

(ii) Eileen Connolly who married her neighbour Paddy Dalton, Scort.

(iii) Bridie Connolly who married Jer Mulvihill from Glenalappa, Moyvane, 1^st cousin to the Jer Mulvihill who married her half sister Catherine Connolly. The two Mulvihill families lived in the one farmyard.

(7) Daniel Connolly born May 2nd, 1889, emigrated to the U.S.A. and joined the police there. He was shot in the course of his duty and died some years afterwards as a result of the said gunshot wound. He came home on a visit to Glenagragra before his death.

(8) George Connolly born Nov 17th, 1892, went to work at his cousins the Dalton’s of Park, Kilcoleman and remained there ‘till his death. Can’t find a death cert for George.

It was the late  Paddy Connolly (above) that gave me the information on his family.

1901 Census for Jeremiah Connolly. The age 79 is incorrect as he is listed as 74 years of age on the 1911 Census.

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion
Connolly	Jeremiah	79	Male	Head of Family	Roman Catholic
Connolly	Mary Connell	61	Female	Wife	Roman Catholic
Connolly	Jeremiah	19	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Connolly	Patrick	17	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Connolly	Daniel	11	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Connolly	George	8	Male	Son	Roman Catholic

1911 Census as follows –

Surname	Forename	Age	Sex	Relation to head	Religion
Connolly	Jeremiah	74	Male	Head of Family	Roman Catholic
Connolly	Mary Connell	62	Female	Wife	Roman Catholic
Connolly	Patrick	27	Male	Son	Roman Catholic
Connolly	George	18	Male	Son	Roman Catholic

See also Connolly Family Glenagragra at  https://langangeorgedotcom.wordpress.com/ 

It would appear that John O’Connell, (brother of Michael O’Connell who was married to Catherine2 Lynch) had a son Patrick Connell, Glenagragra Upper (Scort) born circa 1845 who died July 14th, 1931, aged 85 years, known to all and sundry as Pats Connell.  On February 11^th 1868, Pats Connell married John O’Connor’s sister Mary Connors 1843-1925. Mary’s age given as 24 and Pats as 22. The witnesses were Thomas Sheahan (brother to Mary Sheahan who married Thomas Connors) and Bridget Cregan. Mary Connors Connell died on Jan 1st, 1925 at Glenagragra aged 82 years as hereunder.

Catherine3 O’Connell (1857 -1938) m John O’ Connor (1850 -1896)

Sources: Elizabeth O’Neill granddaughter and Peter O’Connor great grandson of John O’ Connor and Catherine O’Connell, also Patrick N.O’Neill son of Elizabeth O’Neill at – Patrick N.O’Neill

John O’Connor was born circa 1850 at Ballyguiltenane, Glin, son of James O’Connor & Margaret Flahavan. The exact date is not known as his baptism is not recorded in the Parish Register as it does not start until December 1850.  What is known is that John emigrated to New Zealand in 1877. He sailed on the James N. Fleming in July 1877 from Greenock in Scotland arriving in November 1877 in Otago, New Zealand. He traveled out with John O’Shea, Maurice Culhane and Patrick Sheahan. It is believed that John O’Shea was the brother of  Ellen O’Shea who married William Lynch the son of John Lynch and Mary Walsh of Glasha. (see Lynch William further on) Maurice Culhane was the son of Thomas Culhane & Mary Nolan from Ballyguiltenane, Glin and Patrick Sheahan was the son of Patrick Sheahan & Ellen Hanrahan from Tullyleague, Glin.

From Otago, John moved to Canterbury and took up work in the area. On December 31st 1878 at Shands Track Catholic Church John married Catherine3 O’Connell the daughter of Michael O’Connell and Catherine2 Lynch of Glenagragra, Glin. Catherine3 O’Connell was born at Leitrim Middle, Moyvane, Co. Kerry 1857/58 and died at Kingston Crossing, New Zealand Aug 14th 1938. The connection with Leitrim Middle was through  Daniel Flahavan and Johanna O’Connell.    Catherine traveled out to New Zealand on the ‘Marlborough’ from Glasgow to Bluff in August 1877. She emigrated with her cousin also called Catherine (Kate) O’Connell. The Passenger list records that both Catherine’s came from Co. Limerick.   Catherine3Connell was baptised at the Immaculate Conception Church in Glin on January 17th 1857. Only one godparent is listed and she is Mary Coonery.  John & Catherine, therefore would have known each other before emigrating since Catherine’s mother Catherine2 Lynch was the sister of George2 and John2 Lynchof Glasha  and George2 Lynch’s wife Mary Flahavan  was the aunt of John O’Connor. Catherine (Kate) Connell, who was born about 1856 and died in 1924 in New Zealand at the age of 68 years, was the daughter of Dennis Connell & Mary Beahan from around Ardagh. Catherine (Kate) Connell married Henry Windle, who was born on 11 February 1852, the son of John Nicholas Windle and Ellen Connell of Knockfinnisk, Athea, Co. Limerick. This Ellen Connell was a relative, if not a sister to Michael & John O’Connell, Glenagragra. Two  of Henry Windle’s  sisters Johanna Windle b1858 and Mary Windle b 1860 also went New Zealand  sailing on the Victory arriving in Otago on 23 December 1883.  (George Langan/Patrick N.O’Neill/Mike Connolly)

In 1882 John and Catherine moved to Longridge Village, Kingston Crossing to join John’s brother, Michael O’Connor who had emigrated to New Zealand the year before John in 1876. Michael had drawn a ballot lot of 200 acres. The brothers went into partnership on the farm and both families settled there, along with other families who had emigrated from Glin and Athea. The other families included two of George2 Lynch and Mary Flahavan’s children Catherine3 Lynch (who married her first cousin Michael O’Connor in 1878) and George3 Lynch who married Johanna McCarthy. John O’Connor and Catherine2 O’Connell had eight children of whom five survived. See hereunder –

John O’Connor 1850 – 1896		m1878	Catherine3 O’Connell 1858 -1938
Margaret4 O’Connor     1880 – 1939	Michael4        (Morgan) O’Connor       1884 – 1918	James4 O’Connor    1886 – 1938	Catherine4  O’Connor       1889 – 1970	John4 O’Connor   1894 – 1953
m	m	m	m	m
Richard Ferris	Not married   Killed in Action WW1	Not married	Nathaniel Nicholl	Mary McCartney

John O’Connor died March 21st 1896 at Kingston Crossing, Southland, New Zealand at the age of 46 years as a result of falling from his horse while traveling from Kingston Crossing to Balfour (Henry Windle gave evidence at the inquest of the death of John). His death record indicates that he had been in New Zealand 17 years and had married Catherine3 O’Connell in  Lincoln, Canterbury at the age of 30 and had three sons and two daughters. Catherine continued to manage the farm bringing up her five children in difficult circumstances. She expanded the farm purchasing more land in the area and eventually bought her brother-in- law Michael’s share of the original block. Catherine3 O’Connell O’Conner died in 1938 at the age of 80 years old.

Letter of Kate Flahavin to her aunt Catherine (Kate) O’Connell O’Connor.

Turraree,

Athea,

27.3.1930.
Dear Aunt Kate,
Just a line hoping it will find you in good health, as you are the only Aunt I now have from mother’s side R.I.P. I’d like to hear that you would be getting on well. I have 3 aunts at father’s side Aunt Mary is about 80 years it is a big age, & she is in fair good health. Old Mike Windle of Glenagragra was buried a short time ago he was 90 years of age his wife is still living. Patrick Lynch of Glosha was buried also, he would be a first cousin of yours his brother Jim who lives in the shop is still living & he is over 80 years. Jer Connolly that is your sister Mary’s R.I.P. husband is still alive he is about 92 years of age. You feel lonely now Aunt Kate without your dear friend Mary R.I.P. Windle. I had a letter from Mrs Nicholl & she gave all news, John Windle is alive, we gave him the news & he felt lonely he has nobody but himself left now. I answered Mrs Nicholls letter, this old man of the Windles is as deaf as his dear sister, so you could get nothing out of him so he asked me to write to ye & do the best I could. I have no more to say at present, but hoping to hear from you soon again.
Wishing you & yours every day’s happiness,
From your loving niece
Kit Flahavin.

Fatal Accident at Balfour.

MATAURA ENSIGN, ISSUE 114, 24 MARCH 1896

Family from the John O’Connor & Catherine3 O’Connell union, 8 as above and as follows –

(1)Margaret4 O’Connor born Feb 9^th, 1880-July 28^th, 1939 who on  Jan 11th, 1905 married Richard Ferris from Gore, Southland, New Zealand.Margaret is buried in Gore cemetery, Southland, New Zealand.  See Ancestry.  Family of 7 as follows –

i.James Joseph5 “Jim” Ferris, b. 1906, Gore, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 29 Apr 1974  (Age 68 years).

ii.John “Jack” Ferris,   b. 1907,   d. 3 Jan 1968  (Age 61 years)

iii.Catherine “Cath” Ferris,   b. 11 Aug 1910, Gore, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 19 Dec 1987, Gore, Southland, New Zealand   (Age 77 years)

iv.Richard “Dick” Ferris,   b. 25 Nov 1910, Gore, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 29 Sep 2008, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand   (Age 97 years)

v.Mary “Maimie” Ferris,   b. 19 Jan 1913,   d. 17 Sep 2002, Gore, Southland, New Zealand   (Age 89 years)

vi. Leslie Michael “Les” Ferris,   b. 1917, Gore, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 14 Sep 1978, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand   (Age 61 years)

vii.Margaret Ferris,   b. 24 Oct 1919, Gore, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 11 May 2014  (Age 94 years)

(Patrick N.O’Neill)

(2)?4 ‘Connor died in infancy. 1882

(3) Michael4 ‘Morgan’ O’Connor 1883-1918. Michael was killed in action in the first World War. He was a rifleman (36883) in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and was killed in action on April 20^th 1918 and is buried in France at Martinsart in the Somme in the Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension, Carne No. 2, Row No. 1, Grave 8.   At the time of his death his family were living at St. John’s St, Gore, Invercargill, New Zealand.

See link hereunder provided to me by Patrick N.O’Neill, great great grandson of Catherine Lynch

19770623 – NZ Ministry of Defence – 36883 Michael Morgan O’Connor and 47285 Paul John O’Connor

 

(4)James4 O’Connor 1886-1938)  b. 1886, , Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 5 Feb 1938, Kingston Crossing, Southland, New Zealand   (Age 52 years). James remained single in life.

(5)?4 O’Connor diedf in infancy.

(6)?4 O’Connor died in infancy.

(7)Catherine4 (Kitty) O’Connor born 1889, died on July 21st, 1970 at Gore, Southland. On Aug 13th 1921 at Gore, Southland, New Zealand Kitty married Nathaniel ‘Bunny’ Nicholl born April 27th 1889 at Kingston Crossing and died  on Nov 13th 1967 at Kingston Crossing. Their daughter Elizabeth4 Agnes Nicholl (born Dec 20th 1925 at Gore, Southland) and her cousin Mary Walsh came on a visit to Ireland whilst on a Holy Year Pilgrimage to Europe between August 1950 and January 1951 and stayed at Flavin’s, Glenagragra and at O’Connors, Ballyguiltenane. Elizabeth  married John O’Neill from Dunedin, New Zealand on August 1951. See photograph hereunder that Elizabeth took of Kate Barrett, Turraree, Glin and Mike Griffin Glenagragra, Athea while on said visit. The photograph was given to me by my good friend Jerry Griffin, Glenagragra. Elizabeth, who was a qualified nurse died on March 11th 2013 and is buried in Dunedin, Otago. Also in the family – John Charters “Jack” Nicholl,   b. 6 Jun 1922,   d. 16 Nov 1998, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand   (Age 76 years). Catherine Mary “Kay” Nicholl,   b. 29 Jan 1924,   d. 8 Oct 2002, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand   (Age 78 years). (Patrick N.O’Neill & George Langan)

 

Kate Barrett, Turraree, Glin & Mike Griffin, Glenagragra, Athea.

Photo taken December 1950 by Elizabeth Nicholl O’Neill, New Zealand.

Note  the snow on the road and on the tyres of the bicycles.

(Photo by kind permission of Gerry Griffin, Glenagragra.)

(8)John Thomas4 O’Connor,   b. 15 Oct 1894, Longridge, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 4 Dec 1953, Waimea, Southland, New Zealand   (Age 59 years). On June 22nd, 1922 John married Mary Agnes McCartney,   b. 15 Sep 1902, Longridge, Southland, New Zealand ,   d. 25 Jul 1984, Gore, Southland, New Zealand   (Age 81 years). (Patrick N.O’Neill).

Photo courtesy of Patrick N.O’Neill

Johanna3 O’Connell 1853-1937

Johanna3 O’Connell born 1853, baptised April 12th, 1853, died from heart disease on March 12th, 1921 at Turraree, Glin, aged 67 years, her daughter Katie Flavin present at her death. Johanna married Daniel Flahavan on Jan 12th, 1889, the eldest son of Patrick Flahavan, Turraree Upper and Elizabeth Mulvihill from Leitrim Middle, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. The witnesses for the marriage were, Path Connell & Mary Connolly. Whilst they were not directly related Joanna’s uncle George2 Lynch was married to Mary Flahavan, Daniels aunt. Daniel Flavin was born circa 1854 and died at Glenagragra on April 19th, 1942, aged 88 years, his daughter Katie Flavin present at his death. (See Dan Flavin b1855 further on in blog)

John2 O’Connell.

It would appear that John2 O’Connell, (brother of Michael2 O’Connell who was married to Catherine2 Lynch) had a son Patrick3 Connell, Glenagragra Upper (Scort) born circa 1846 who died July 14th, 1931, at Glenagragra, aged 85 years, known to all and sundry as Pats Connell.  On February 11^th 1868, Patrick Pats Connell married John O’Connor’s sister Mary Connors 1843-1925. Mary’s age given as 24 and Pats as 22. The witnesses were Thomas Sheahan (brother to Mary Sheahan who married Thomas Connors) and Bridget Cregan. Mary Connors Connell died on Jan 1st, 1925 at Glenagragra aged 82 years as hereunder.

Mary Connors was born circa 1843 and died on Jan 1st, 1925 at Glenagragra aged 82 years. Mary was the daughter of James O’Connor c1810-1890 and Margaret Flahavan c1815-1885. As already stated Patrick (Pat’s) father was John O’Connell, he lived in Glenagragra and shared three plots of land, two with his brother Michael2 Connell (Michael who married Catherine2 Lynch, Glasha) and one with Henry Wingle (Windle). Eventually John’s plot was taken over by his son Pat’s and then by Pat’s son Michael.

The 1901 and 1911 census shows that Patrick3 O’Connell & Mary Connors are living in Glenagragra and that he was born in Co. Kerry. This does not necessarily mean his family was from Kerry. He may have been born in Kerry because his mother may have returned home for the birth. However there is no baptismal record  for any parish in the Diocese of Kerry for the period 1840 – 1850. The Griffith’s Valuation and canceled Land Books records indicate that John2 Connell his father lived in Glenagragra. Whether the family originally came from Kerry is not known. The canceled land books first records Patrick Connell as occupying plot 10b of 16 acres in Glenagragra in 1891 with a house valued at 5 shillings.  Honora Connell occupies plot 10a, Daniel Nolan plot 10c and Patrick Mulvihill plot 10d. Whether Honora is related to Patrick is not known.

The 1901 census records Patrick using the family name O’Connell rather than Connell. Patrick is recorded as being 58 years and Mary as 60 years (giving birth years as 1843 and 1841 respectively). There are two children recorded as being at home at the time of the census – Catherine4 Connell aged 18 years (born 1883) and Jeremiah4 Connell aged 15 years (born 1886).  On the 1911 census Patrick is given as 72 years and Mary as 69 years (now 3 years younger than Patrick). This would make their birth years 1839 and 1841. This is unlikely as Patrick difference is 14 years between the two census returns but Mary’s is only nine years. The only child recorded on the 1911 census is Michael4 (Mehal) Connell who is aged 34  (born 1877). Mary Ahern is recorded on the census as being a boarder age 9 years old but she is in fact their grand-daughter. Patrick and Mary are recorded as being married for 44 years) and have had a total of 9 children born alive but only indicate that one child is living. It is now known that this is not correct and that in fact  there were eight children alive in 1911 and one child Mary who had died  and so the record should have read 9 children born alive and 8 children surviving.  What is known is that Michael4 (Mehal) Connell born on June 12th, 1873 inherited the farm and lived there until a few months before his death in 1964 at the age 90.  The old house he lived in was falling down and he was living in very poor conditions. He lived his final months in the old O’Connor house in Ballyguiltenane and was cared for until his death by his cousin Ita O’Connor and her husband Johnny Kelly.

On their son Jeremiah’s passport application in 1922 states that he is returning home to visit his mother and father. There are no marked graves for either Patrick or Mary in any of the 11 graveyards in and around Glin, Athea, Moyvane, Ballyhahill or Tarbert.  It is assumed that like Thomas & Mary O’Connor are buried in Kilfergus graveyard. What is known is that Michael, their son is buried in an unmarked grave behind the headstone of James & Margaret O’Connor in Kilfergus Graveyard in Glin. (Mike Connolly)  The known family of Patrick3 O’Connell & Mary Connors (9) as follows: 

(i)James4 O’Connell b1869.

James was born on Jan 10th, 1869 at  Ballyguiltenane. James emigrated to the US in 1896 and went to live in Ansonia, New haven, Connecticut.  James married Mary Lynch in Ansonia in 1899. Mary was born on June 14th, 1876 and was the eldest daughter of Matthew Lynch and Bridget Culhane from Ballynagoul, Glin, Co. Limerick. Matthew and Bridget were married on Feb 9th, 1875 at Newtownsandes Church, Co. Kerry, the witnesses being Maurice Walsh and Edmond McMahon. Matthew’s father was John Lynch, a farmer and Bridget’s father was Pat Culhane from Leitrim Middle, who was also a farmer. Bridget Culhane was the daughter of Patrick Culhane and Honora Enright of Leitrim Middle, Newtownsandes.  Bridget’s brother Thomas Culhane was married to Margaret Hegarty and their eldest daughter Bridget Culhane married James Lynch of Glahapullagh, Athea, my great grandfather.  Mary Lynch was therefore a 1st cousin to Bridget Culhane.

James and Mary are recorded on the 1900 US Census  living at 42 High Street, Ansonia, New haven, Connecticut. James and Mary were still living at the same address in 1910 as James petition for naturalisation is recorded  as 7 October 1910 with this address.  However there is no 1910 census record available. On the 1920 Census, James and Mary are living at 9 Rigg Street, Ansonia.  There are seven children listed on the census as follows -.

Mary Agnes4 Connell b. 1900

John4Connell  b. 1902

Catherine4 Connell b.1903

James4 Connell b. 1904

Bridget4 Connell b.1908

Anna4 Connell b. 1914

Margaret4 Connell b.1918

In the 1930 Census they are recorded as living at 14, Rigg Street, Ansonia.  James3 Connell died  on 31 August 1956 in Hewitt Memorial Home, Shelton, Fairfield County, Connecticut at the age of 87. His wife Mary Lynch died on 26 May 1949 at 14 Rigg Street Ansonia, New Haven County, Connecticut at the age of 73. (Mike Connolly/George Langan)