Monday, January 3, 2022


Photo taken November 7th 2011

I have created this website to document our family tree for my children Aoife and Niamh.

Throughout this site  I have included links to people's Facebook pages or businesses where possible. I have also included links to maps so you can see where you came from, so click a link and find out Who is Who :)

Family stories will be added over the summer hopefully so come back and visit again soon.

If you want me to add to the connections contact me at noeleenleahy at gmail dot com

Mary Tulvan

My grandmother, Mary Tolvin / Tulvan, was a foundling - an infant that has been abandoned by it's parents and is discovered and cared for by others.

She was found in an area of Donegal near Redcastle and in a townland of Tullynavin. This is only a few kms from Glentogher where my grandfather, Dan Smyth was from.



Family stories tell that she was found by a local farmer and adopted by the local Garda and his wife (or vice versa) The family that reared her were Hamilton. Her date of birth is recorded as August 28th 1875. She married Dan Smyth in the Sacred Heart Church, Carndonagh, September 3rd 1903. She died in 1960 in Carndonagh where she was living with her son Cornelius (my uncle Corney).





Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Mary Catherine Mc Grane

This is Mary Catherine Shine (nee Mc Grane)  holding her eldest child Mary Shine (later Foley) on St. Patrick's Day, 1912 in Medford, Massachusetts.
Mary Catherine Mc Grane

Francis William (Bill) Shine is the only surviving child of Mary Catherine and Hugh Shine. In email correspondence with his daughter, Mary Beth Shine, he recounts the following:

"I do recall (I,ve been told) that she came here as a young colleen and worked as a domestic in Cambridge for a family named Doyle. In those days,in order to enter this country you had to have employment guarenteed, and many Irish households who could afford it, hired these emigres.
             My father met her at a kitchen "feish", (sp)which was a party allowed by the employers to take place from time to time for the benefit of the help. They were married at St John's church on Mass. Ave. in Cambridge in 1910 or 1911. The picture is of my sister Mary who was the first born on St Patricks day in 1912.
            My earliest recollection was of feeling so sad at seeing her cry for the first time when she got a letter from home telling of the death of someone. I remember her hugging me and telling me not to cry. She was very devout and went to early Mass daily as often as she could.I also remember going with her on occasion when I suppose there was no one to look after me. It was alkways a thrill to be out in the dark of early morning, and a bit of a disappointment on leaving Mass to find dawn had broken.
            She was an excellent cook, and baker.When the brothers were away at CCC camp she baked all day Saturday baking beans and brown bread, regular bread, pies, and doughnuts to send to the boys. The old black iron stove was roaring all the time, it seems and there was usually potatoes baking in the back of the oven.
            Even through the depression,with eight children and a husband to feed she always managed to make good meals. We were fortunate that my father went to work as a lineman for the N.Y. New Haven and Hartford RR. and we were never on welfare which was so unusual in those days.
            I remember my FirstCommunion, and her exitement in dressing me in the outfit that we wore on that occasion. She was a loving person and did not tolerate any reference to"Niggers" etc ,which young boys said all the time. By the same token, my father never allowed my brothers to swear in the house in deference to her and my sisters.
             My brothers and sisters always brought people home at various times and every one seemed to love "MA". She became seriously sick, and was hospitalized. Of course I never knew how seriously. I remember her coming home on a Sunday, and being well dressed and I was so exited to see her again, and getting what would be a last hug and kiss, though I didn't know it at the time.
             She died in August of 1938 ,and the first years without her were difficult indeed. What few memories I have are of gentle love, a soft Donegal accent, furious industry, she knitted and crochetted constantly. We were never without mittens,hats and scarves, and no furniture was without doilies or dresser scarves."

What lovely but poignant memories Bill has of his mother.

Bill refers to CCC camp in his memories above. He later explained what CCC camp was:

"CCC, stands for Civilian Conservation Corps, an organization started by the Roosevelt Administration which provided work for young men in the forests and conservation areas, and doing two great things at once. Providing work for young men in a military atmosphere while being the first green workers. They lived in barracks and camps like they were in the army but doing forestry work instead of fighting. Most of the young men loved it and it helped bring the country out of the great depression. All my brothers were in it."

Friday, August 31, 2012

William Leahy

William Leahy is the son of Patrick J Leahy and Margaret Halpin, Hospital, Co Limerick was born in Baggotstown on June 25th 1916. On William's birth certificate Patrick's profession is given as "Teacher and Soldier". The birth was registered in the District of bruff in the Union of Kilmallock in Co Limerick.

William was baptised on June 28th 1916 and confirmed on May 1st 1928.

William studied at Rockwell College to become a Spiritan Priest. The archivist of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritan Order) confirmed that William is recorded as having made his first profession of vows (i.e., officially becoming a member of the Holy Ghost (Spiritan) Congregation) in 1936.


William was studying in France (or Belgium) during WW2 and suffered shell shock. He returned to Ireland but could not continue his ministry. The Holy Ghost archives record that sadly William sought and obtained a Dispensation from his vows on May 1942 when a member of the Rockwell College Community.

William spent the remainder of his days with his sister and brothers in Hospital, Co Limerick until his death.

He died in ....




Sunday, August 12, 2012

Mary Halpin


Mary Halpin was born  12/7/1873 and was the daughter of William Halpin and Alicia Quish. She was the elder sister of Margaret Halpin, Pat's granny, and sister to Msgr John Halpin.

In the 1901 census she is aged 26 and living in the Warrenmount Presentation Convent, Dublin. there were 12 sisters and 2 servants in the convent. Margaret Fottrell was the Head of Household, the Mother Superior.

In the 1911census Mary is registered as Sr Mary Aloysius Halpin. There were 15 sisters and 2 servants registered. Sr Mary Joseph Fottrell was the Head of Household, the Mother Superior.

Sr Mary Aloysius was Reverend Mother when her niece Josephine entered Warrenmount as a novice. The story goes that on a visit back to Ireland Rev John Halpin offered to take Josephine for a drive in the car and proceeded to drive her to Warrenmount to enter the convent! It is known that Fr Halpin made a visit back to Ireland in 1920 and if this account is correct then this would be the time that Josephine began her noviciate and the time that Sr Mary Aloysius was Reverend Mother.

Coincidentally, Pat's father Pa was only born in 1920.

I believe this photo below shows Sr Aloysius centre, with her niece Josephine (Sr Cecilia) to her left and her sister Margaret Leahy (nee Halpin), back row left.

(c) P Leahy



Msgr John Halpin 1870 - 1943

John Halpin was the son of William Halpin and Alicia Quish. Born approx 4th July in either 1869, as given in the Knockainey Church register, or 1872 as recorded by St Patrick's College, Thurles, or 1870 as recorded by Dubuque Archdiocese. It is not unusual for dates to differ. 

(c) P Leahy
College records show he was 15 when he entered St Patrick's College in January 1887. He came from Bruff, Baggotstown in the parish of Knockany in the Diocese of Cashel. He left the College in 1895 and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. 

John Halpin was ordained by Archbishop Reardon of San Francisco, CA, on June 13 1895 in St Patrick’s College and Fr Halpin then travelled to Dubuque to begin his ministry.


The passenger records for the ship Servia show passenger no 0724, Fr John Halpin arrived in America 19th September 1895. The ship departed from Liverpool but John embarked at Queenstown, now Cobh, Co Cork. He had two pieces of baggage. He was 24 years old. He was registered as a US citizen and was intending a ‘protracted sojourn’.

In 1920 Fr Halpin made a visit to Ireland returning to America on the ship S.S. Olympic. The journey took 7 days arriving in New York 28th July 1920. Records show he was naturalised in Maguskita, Iowa and his address is given as Fairbank, Iowa.

I believe Fr Halpin ministered in the Archdiocese of Dubuque from 1895 until 1931 when he was installed as Pastor to St Columbkille on the evening of Thursday October 8th 1931 by Msgr Barry. Msgr Halpin remained Pastor of St Columbkille's until his death in 1943. 

In the 1940 US Census Msgr John Halpin lived at 1240 Rush Street, Dubuque, along with another Iowa priest, Lawrence Craney and 3 housekeepers.

On the same street was the Presentation Convent. This close association with the Presentation Sisters is probably the reason why three of Msgr Halpin’s nieces became Presentation Sisters in Dublin.
Msgr Halpin’s death was reported in the local press and thousands queued to see his body. He was buried on 18th June 1943

Read more about Msgr Halpin in Dubuque here

Read more about St Patricks College here

Msgr Halpin in Dubuque


Dubuque 

In the book "History of St. Columbkille's Parish 1887-1962" written by one of St Colunbkille's associate priests - Rev. Cletus J. Hawes in 1962 , Chapter Six gives the following mention of Msgr Halpin:

"News of the appointment of Fr. Halpin as pastor to fill the vacancy created by the death of Fr. O'Brien was a source of new joy to the people of St. Columbkille's.  Fr. John Q. Halpin was born July 4, 1870 in County Limerick, Ireland, and was ordained by Archbishop Reardon of San Francisco, CA on June 13, 1895 at St. Patrick's in County Tipperary, Ireland.  After his ordination he came to Dubuque.  Msgr. Barry installed Fr. Halpin as the new pastor on Thursday evening, October 8, 1931.
 
Facing the new pastor was the difficulty of meeting payments on the $55,000 debt left from the purchase and renovation of the school in those prolonged days of the depression of the '30's.  Sister Gertrude writes, "Father Halpin's glory lies in the fact that he kept the parish together during the difficult years of the recession and the period immediately following it.  Through his leadership, in spite of the depression, the parish was able to continue the operation of its grade and high school and to make improvements where needed."  The Witness of December 12, 1931 reports, "A number of improvements were made on the rectory, the school, and the church of St. Columbkille's Parish.  In issuing directions that this work be done, Fr. Halpin provided employment to a number of workers in various trades and at the same time greatly improved the church property."

St. Columbkille's Parish shouldered the burden of operations despite the depression.  For years, the parish had not operated a school as other parishes, but once school operation was undertaken by the parish they exceeded the effort of other parishes with both a grade and high school.  Fr. Halpin continued the expansion of the high school for the boys with the result, as mentioned previously, that the first boys graduated from the high school in 1935.

Death came to Msgr. Halpin on June 15th, 1943 at the age of 72.  The Witness of June 17, 1943 wrote in great praise of the work of Msgr. Halpin and expressed the loss his death left to the Archdiocese quoted in part as follows, 'In the passing of Msgr. John Q. Halpin, the Archdiocese of Dubuque has lost one of the best and most distinguished of its splendid priesthood.  He was an apostolic orator of an eloquence that shone and flowed with the flame and inspiration of the Spirit of Love and Holiness and Truth...He was in the best tradition of the great tradition of those Irish priests who have wrought heroically for Christ in America.”

Fr Halpin trained in St Patrick's College, Thurles


St Patrick's College, Thurles

St. Patrick's College, Thurles, Co Tipperary, is a charitable institution operating under the patronage of the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. The College opened as an educational institution in September 1837, offering second level education in the humanities, with a limited contribution from the sciences, to students wishing to prepare for priesthood as well as careers in business and other professions. 

By the middle of the 1860s, the College had developed into a major seminary with the addition of a full Theological Faculty. During its long history of service to education, St. Patrick’s College has contributed significantly to society and Church in Ireland, throughout the rest of the English-speaking world and further afield. Fifteen hundred graduates of St. Patrick’s College have served as priests in dioceses in Ireland and throughout the English-speaking world.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Charles Mc Grane + Mary Ann Travers

Shared via Elizabeth Mc Grane who got it from Desmond Doran......

I don't have any dates for this but if it was taken when they were about 30 years old that would place it around 1895.

Charles Mc Grane and Mary Anne Travers from Ballinacarrick, Ballintra, Co Donegal.

All rights reserved - D Doran

Monday, July 2, 2012

Patrick J Leahy in Rathcabbin

The following compiled by Noeleen..........

In 1901, 23 yr old Patrick J Leahy was boarding with the Post Mistress in Rathcabbin, Co Tipperary. A search of the 1901 census for Rathcabbin does not show any other people registered as being a teacher in the area. He could not have been the only teacher at the school because in 1901 the school was a two story building, with the Gurteen Girls National School on the top floor, and the Gurteen Boys National School on the ground floor (or vice versa). Hence, there would have at least been two teachers.



I made a phone call to Fr John Donnelly, Rathcabbin today 2/7/2012. He told me that the present school (Rathcabbin National School) was opened in 1946 and was an amalgamation of Gurteen Boys and Gurteen Girls National Schools dating from 1833. When the new school was opened the old school records were not transfered to the new building. Pity :(

Fr Donnelly told me that the new school is on a different location but the old school building is being used as a private residence today. Worth a visit to Rathcabbin I think!!

He suggests contacting Ms Nancy Carroll, the retired Post Mistress for Rathcabbin, who incidently remembers the old Post Mistress, Anne Coonan who PJ Leahy lodged with. Ms Carroll is 80 years old and obviously born after 1901 but may have some local history for me.

I might just well follow up on this!! Put on my Detective Inspector cap again and find her details. Watch this space...........

Patrick James Leahy and Margaret Halpin

The following compiled by Noeleen.........

Unlike his farmer brothers in 1901, 23 year old Patrick James Leahy was boarding in the Post Office in the town land of Derry, district of Rathcabbin, Co Tipperary and is registered as a National School Teacher. The Post Mistress is Ms Anne Coonan 30yrs old and there is also a servant Ellen Gill. 

We know that Patrick was a teacher later in life so presumably Patrick was teaching in the local school. 

Rathcabbin is situated in the Parish of Lorrha-Dorrha , the most northerly parish in Co. Tipperary.  The village of Rathcabbin is approximately half way between the towns of Portumna, Co Galway to the west and Birr, Co. Offaly to the east. It is a rural area surrounded by rich, fertile countryside. The present school was opened in 1946 (see here for the school on Google maps) and was an amalgamation of Gurteen Boys and Gurteen Girls National Schools dating from 1833. Did Patrick teach in either of these schools? Why else would he be lodging as a boarder in such a small village? See the next post about teaching in Rathcabbin.

By 1911, Patrick was teaching in Barry, Glamorgan, Wales and was married to Margaret Halpin. 
PJ Leahy + family (c) P Leahy
 They lived in a six roomed house at 7 Palmer Street, Barry, Glamorgan. The 1911 Census of England and Wales indicates both Patrick and Margaret from Knockaney, Co Limerick, and had been married for 7 years. They had 3 daughters - Elizabeth 6yrs, Alice 5yrs, and Josephine 2yrs and one son Thomas 4yrs. The census indicates that there had been 6 children born alive but two had died. Patrick and Margaret must have been living in Barry for at least 4 years because while the rest of the family were residents from Ireland, Thomas and Josephine were born in Barry.

Elizabeth and Alice were registered as being from Croom, Co Limerick so we could presume Patrick moved to Croome to teach when he married Margaret.

Patrick and Margaret had married in 1904 but there is no evidence of Margaret in the 1901 Census of Ireland. It is believed she was a nun, which order has yet to be discovered.

So sometime between 1901 and 1904 Margaret Halpin left the convent. We do not know how they met or where they married. That is yet to be discovered..........


Sunday, July 1, 2012

Thomas Leahy and Eliza Mahony

Compiled by Noeleen.......

Thomas (b1821) and Bessie (nee Eliza Mahony b1841) Leahy had 4 sons - James, Thomas, Michael and Patrick, and one daughter Eliza.
The 1901 Census of Ireland provides the following information.......

On 31st March 1901 Thomas Leahy (father of Patrick James) was living in the town land of  Newtown, in the district of Hospital, Co Limerick, with his wife Bessie. (Bessie was registered as Eliza on the Baptismal records for their children).  
Thomas was 80 years old and Bessie was 60 years old. Their sons Michael, 30, and Thomas, 28, were living with them. All were registered as agricultural labourers although I imagine Thomas Snr and Bessie were retired. All were registered as Roman Catholics.

They appear to have lived in a small thatched house with no outhouses. The walls were made of wood or mud, or another perishable material. The house had three rooms with two windows to the front.

By the 1911 Census, both Thomas Snr and Bessie are not registered, we can presume they were deceased. The home in Newtown was then occupied by Thomas and Bessie's son Michael and his family: wife Kate 36yrs, son Thomas 6yrs, Lizzie 3yrs, and Kathleen 2yrs. Kate is registered as being from Co Cork. They also had a boarder living with them - Sarah Franklin aged 30yrs from Co Tipperary. She is registered as a scholar.

The home now had an additional out building - a Fowl house.

_________________


In the 1911 Census, Thomas Leahy Jnr, now 38, was married to Katie, also 38yrs, and they lived, still in the family environs, but in Fantstown, Bulgaden, Co Limerick. They had 4 sons - Patrick 5yrs, Thomas 4yrs, John 2yrs, and Michael 9months. They shared their home with 3 servants.

Their six room home was built of solid walls, stone or brick, with five windows to the front.

The farm had eight out houses - a stable, a coach house, a cow shed, two calf houses, a dairy, a piggery, a fowl house. This would be the reason why Thomas had one farmhand and two general servants living on his farm.

 _________________

In 1901 a James Leahy lived in the town land of Gortyknaveen, in Newcastle West District of Co Limerick, Monagay Parish with his wife Mary and their children -

Margaret 9yrs, Mary 7yrs, Thomas 5yrs, Ellen 3yrs, and Maurice 1yr. They had one female servant. The four roomed house was built of solid walls, had a slated roof, and 3 windows to the front.
The farm had four outhouses - a stable, a cow house, a calf house, and a piggery.

By 1911, James and Mary had two more children - James and Hanoria - but sadly Thomas is no longer listed, he must have died.

The farm now no longer has a calf house but does have an additional dairy house and a fowl house.

I assume this James to be  the son of Thomas Snr and Eliza (Mahony), Newtown, Hospital
_________________

I cannot find any information on their daughter Eliza. Presumably she married and is not traceable under the Leahy name.

_________________

In 1901, 23 year old Patrick James Leahy was boarding in the Post Office in the town land of Derry, district of Rathcabbin, Co Tipperary and is registered as a National School Teacher. The Post Mistress is Ms Anne Coonan 30yrs old and there is also a servant Ellen Gill. The Post Office closed in 2003, see here for news report. Presumably Patrick James was teaching in the local Rathcabbin National School. see here for the school on Google maps

There is an interesting story to tell about where he was in 1911............ 

Hugh Mc Grane and Nonnie Campbell


The following information contributed by Desmond Doran…..

Hugh Mc Grane, son of Charles + Mary Anne Mc Grane, Ballinacarrick, was married to Nonnie Campbell. Nonnie died during an operation to clear her fallopian tubes in the hopes that she would be able to have a baby. Through faulty equipment, air got into her bloodstream and she died.
Hugh never remarried. He ran a shop in Lifford, Co Donegal called  the Tyronconnell Stores.

Noeleen remembers Hugh liked his food, a drink and a dance! He was very nimble on his feet. He always made sure to come to Strabane every Christmas morning to visit the relatives and often went back to have his Christmas dinner with his sister Sarah and her husband Jim Behan, quite the worse for wear!!. Sarah did not tolerate Hugh's love of alcohol very well and I remember one Christmas that Hugh was driven back home to Lifford and dropped off at the door.....who ever was driving him made sure to get a quick exit before Sarah answered the door to find a well oiled Hugh!!!

Here is Hugh on one of the many Christmas mornings in Strabane :)

(c) All rights reserved