Information on my Great Grandparents

Dear Michael

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

According to information on the Clare website below, 'The church of ?Our Lady, Star of the Sea? was dedicated on the 10th of October 1858. At first the ark was brought to the site and was used until the church was ready. It was later placed inside the church doors to the left, until the present building to the house was added. So, if James and Margaret were married in 1857 before the church building was dedicated, then they may have been married but there may be no way of know for sure. RC record for the parish don't begin until 1878 unfortunately.

I have included a link to the Clare Local Studies Library that is very relevant for those with Clare ancestors: http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilballyhone.htm

In relation to why they may have left, hardship is probably the foremost reason. The site below gives an indication of what life was like in the prelude to the Great Famine

http://www.dochara.com/the-irish/food-history/the-irish-potato-famine-1…

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support

Clare/Michael:

Kilballyowen Catholic parish comprises the civil parish of the same name but not exactly.
This parish and the next (Carrigaholt) were in one union up to 1878 when they severed. The line of severance does not exactly coincide with the civil parish boundary but approximates thereto. The Registers prior to 1879 are retained in Moyarta (i.e. Carrigaholt). The Registers at Kilballyowen both Baptismal and Marriage are complete from 1879. For dates prior thereto see Carrigaholt.

Carrigaholt - Now so called. This comprises the civil parish of Moyarta subject to what is written above. The Marriage Register commences for the united parishes at January 1852. The Baptismal Register begins February 1853. The separate registers for Kilballyowen are kept in that parish as from the date of severance, 1879. No gaps in the Registers have been reported.

Only the pre-severance registers from Carrigaholt have been microfilmed and Murray Ginnane has transcribed these and made them available on clarelibrary.ie and elsewhere.

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Thank you!
Clare

Hi Michael

I've only just found this website in the last 24 hours. I am also descended from James Brennan and Margaret Quealy. They are my 2XG Grandparents. I don't know when they left Ireland, but I believe that they arrived in Brisbane 28th May 1863 on "Golden Dream." The couple's ages are given at 26 and 20 years respectively. There are other Brennans on the same vessel. I am assuming that Mary aged 4 is their oldest daughter (although I could not find their oldest son, Michael on the list. He was born about 1862?) There is also Thomas aged 24 and John aged 21 (I assume they are either brothers or cousins of our James). In addition there is Honora Brennan and maybe she is either a twin sister, or married to Thomas or John? 

Margaret Thwaite

Hi Margaret

I will contact the original poster in case she hasn't yet seen this

Best wishes

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Hi Margaret - Thank you for your information.  It was new to me.  I have my GF (James Brennan) birth certificate. His parents were James and Margaret Brennan (nee Quealy). James was born in Townsville, Australia on 28 May 1880.  It states his siblings were: Mary aged 21, Michael 19, Catherine 17, Daniel 15, John 12, Eliza 10, Gertrude 8, Margaret 6 and Maude 3.  There was a younger sister  Ellen.  James married my GM on 23 Dec 1918 and lived in Cairns where my Mum was born on 31 Jan 1925.  James died in Cairns on 7 Dec 1946 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Cairns.  Margaret Brennan (nee Quealy - my GGM) died on 11 Sept 1933 in Brisbane aged 91 years and is buried in Brisbane in an unmarked grave at the Toowong cemetery. Her daughter Margaret Brennan informed Births, Deaths and Marriages of the death.  She was living in Brisbane at the time: - Melbourne St, South Brisbane. If you have any further info, I would love for you to share it.  I live in Toowoomba, Australia.  Cheers...Michael Rees