Kerrigans, Kennedys, Glynns, and Flemings from Gort

Hi Diane,

My great grandfather was Denis Kennedy of Hawk Hill (Hill of the Hawk). He was born March 6, 1859 although I am not sure he was born in Hawk Hill, he certainly lived there as a young man. From the information you provided I would think he could be the brother of Stephen and Martin, sone of Mary Kerrigan and John Kennedy of Tiernevin. The only information we really have of Denis's family was that they lived in Hawk Hill as farmers, that he had brothers and that is where he left from to come to America some time in the mid 1880's.

As the story goes my great grandmother Mary Elizabeth Brady of Tiernevin was to be married to another man but was in love with Denis Kennedy. One day Mary went out for milk and never came back. This story was passed down in our family but a few years ago we connected with some Brady family who still live in the area and they basically told the same story. Apparently Denis and Mary left for Queenstown and came to America. I have not been able to locate them on any ship records but their first child was born in NYC in 1887 which would make Denis 28 and Mary 24 and confirm their arrival in America in the mid 1880's. We do not know if they got married in Ireland before coming to American or upon arrival in America. 

I have many Brady ancestors buried at Tiernevin and we have visted the area including the Hawk Hill area which is just up the road. 

Unfortunately I know nothing of Denis's family before Denis but the information you have provided is interesting and certainly opens up new areas to research. I certainly have information on them once they arrived and their descendants. 

Best,

David Sachs

Cleveland, OH

Thanks much for that, David. The Gort records show my greatgrandfather Fergus Kerrigan and a Mary Kerrigan were Denis's godparents in 1859. Since your Mary named a son Stephen and Fergus's father was Stephen, Fergus and Mary were likely siblings, or at least cousins.

As you may know, Martin joined the RIC, married in Cork, is in the 1901 and 1911 census. Stephen is also in the 1901 and 1911 census, married but no children.

The only grgrgrandparent I can't track down is the wife of Stephen, who as far as I can tell had only three children in the 1830s, Fergus, Michael, and Mary, suggesting she died young. Unfortunately, her children were born well before Gort baptismal records begin.

I hope to get to Tiernevin someday, but if you get back there first and spot some Kerrigan gravestones, I'd love to hear about them. Stephen and his children are buried at Kilmacduagh, but the grave markers are gone.

Diane in Illinois (dlculhane at cs dot com)

A quick correction on my previous post, David. I was never able to track Mary and John's son Martin, though there's a possible marriage for him in Gort in 1885. The RIC officer I found was named Denis, and I assumed he was the son of Mary and John because he was the only Denis Kennedy born in Galway about 1860 in the 1901 and 1911 census. However, if yours was born in March 1859 and grew up in Tiernevin, he's clearly the right one, as Mary and John's son was baptized in April.

Could you tell me the names of Denis's children and any relatives who might have joined him in America?

Diane (dlculhane at cs dot com)

As far as I know none of Denis siblings came to American so that makes sense if Martin and Stephen stayed in Ireland. 

Denis and Mary has 8 children, all born in NYC including Mary, Joseph, Lucy, Francis (my grandmother), Claire, Edna, William and Rita. I have a good amount of information on this generation and some on the next generation - the family clearly moved around and is hard to track.

I think / understand you may be in the Arlington Hts. area. If so I will be there in a few weeks (July 4, 5, 6th and 7th). If you are in that area maybe we can meet for a cup of coffee and I will give you a copy of what I have for this branch of the tree.

I am indeed in Arlington Heights and would love to meet you and share my Kerrigan history, including our mutual ancestors' run in the with law in 1852. Hopefully you can come for more than coffee. My husband and I are retired, so our schedules are flexible. See my earlier e-mail address.

Diane