THE O MAHONY SOCIETY

NEWS FROM IRELAND, January 2002

I have done very little research since I arrived back in Kinsale late November, due to my role as Chairperson of the Battle of Kinsale Winter School. So I have no up-to-date information regarding the Irish archives. However, the earliest day I could have to research in the Cork Superintendent Registrar’s Office was in August. This legal office covers the mid-Cork area from Macroom to Youghal, including Kinsale and Bandon. I am told that by the time my first appointment day arrives, the Irish vital records will be completely computerized, and that one will be able to research in all the legal areas by computer. At the moment, one could only research the records held at each office. This meant that one needed to have some idea of the Registrar’s District, at least. For those of you who use the IGI Ireland, British Isles Vital Record Index, and the Family History Library web-page <http//: www.familysearch.org> the location shown is the Registrar’s District, and is a much better location clue than the Birth, Marriage and Death indexes, which show the Poor Law Union, including several Registrars’ Districts.

O MAHONY COLLECTION - II

Documents of Muintir Mathúna held by

Nora M. Hickey

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH RECORDS

I have O Mahony entries from the following Roman Catholic parishes in Co. Cork and Co. Kerry. It would be much appreciated if you collect all O Mahony/Mahoney records whilst researching your own ancestry in any particular area, and presenting the results to the Muintir Mathúna Collection. With this cooperation from members, a useful O Mahony archive will exist, and will be of great help in tracing the elusive O Mahony ancestor.

Fathers only means that only the O Mahony baptisms were recorded, and the children with O Mahony mothers were not collected..

*                 Presented by Eileen Mahoney McConnell, the records are mostly of the O Mahonys of Donoure townland.

#              Surname Index prepared by Paddy O’Keeffe, of Bantry. His papers are lodged in the Cork Archive Institute, South Main St., Cork.

Co. Kerry

O MAHONY FAMILIES collected:

James & Margaret O’Mahony, Glandore, including son Timothy [1905-1976] who married Eileen Smiddy

MISCELLANEOUS

Louis Whyte: The Wild Heather Glen James & Jeremiah O Mahony, Kilmichael Ambush

The Flax Growers Bounty List, 1796

FAMILY HISTORIES

Recent Acquisitions, donated by Hugh D. Mahoney:

[1]        A Letter from Tim O’Sullivan of Newcestown to his nephew Edward Mahoney, South Boston, dated 10^th April 1951. This letter supplements the information about Jeremiah O Mahony, presented by Ed and Beverly some years ago.

[2]            Obituary of Edward Mahoney, 1932-2000: Edward’s grandfather was born in Newcestown, eight miles from Bandon. With his wife, Beverly, Edward hosted a very delightful evening during the last O Mahony meeting in Melbourne, FL.

O MAHONY BIOGRAPHIES

O MAHONY NEWSCUTTINGS

O MAHONY Obituary Notices

Margaret Forde O’Mahoney                widow of Jerry   mother of Dan, Mary, Jerry & Finbar                Butlerstown & Ilford, Essex

O MAHONY data from the Family History Library [FHL]

This collection includes printouts from the IGI Ireland, Ancestral File, and the British Isles Vital Records Index [Ireland is part of the British Isles in the geographical division of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. This data is still to be listed. Much of this printed information should also be found on the web page: http://www.familysearch.org

 GRIFFITH’S Valuation, c. 1851

I have indexed the O Mahonys listed in this survey. I used the fiches prepared by All-Ireland Heritage, a far more accurate collection than that found on the commercial CD-Rom produced some years ago. The latter contains several mistakes and much flawed. The information given by the fiches was the occupier, townland, civil parish and Ordnance Survey Map # for Co. Cork. I have included the Barony, the Roman Catholic parish, the District Electoral Division and Poor Law Union in the database. As one accesses records one needs all this information.

This information should help in working out an O Mahony ancestral location, but it does not provide a short cut. For example, there are 200+ Johns listed! Therefore, it is vitally important to investigate all possible sources for location information in the country of emigration.

TITHE APPLOTMENT BOOKS [TAB] 1820 – 1840s

I do not yet have a complete list of O Mahonys from this record. Virginia Mahoney of St. Paul, MN, has looked at many of the West Cork civil parishes for O Mahonys in the TABs, and has given copies of several civil parishes.

The above lists are far from complete, and work continues to organize the Muintir Mathúna Collection. The dating of the list is June 2001.

O MAHONY Journal, 2001.

Three of the US journals that I mailed in Ireland were returned by USPS and An Post. Two did have the forwarding addresses, but I have been unable to re-mail that belonging to Bethann Mahoney, member #968, who has moved from Via Palomita. If any member has her new address, please let me know, and I will mail her the journal. Email address is nmhickey@indigo.ie; telephone # is +353 21 477 3440; and mailing address is Church Square, Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland.

BOOK REVIEWS [brief]

Merci Beaucoup: A Story of Courage and Compassion

Johanna O’Mahony Walters, born in Bandon, published in early December, Merci Beaucoup: A Story of Courage and Compassion. This was a history of Kinsale Convent of Mercy, 1844 – 2002, and its appearance was very timely as the Mercy nuns of Kinsale will be shortly living in the new convent on Winter’s Hill. A more complete review will – hopefully – appear in the 2002 Muintir Mathúna Journal. Johanna was the third of six children whose parents ran the Kilmichael Bar in Bandon. At the age of eighteen she entered the Convent of Mercy, Kinsale, and spent ten years there as Sr. Gertrude. Her favourite saying is “Life is either an adventure or it is nothing”. She now lives in Wales with her husband David and her son Neil. Her previous books, Tales of Travel and Trust – Our Celtic Heritage and Tales of Awe and Wonder – Our Medieval Heritage are published by Veritas, Dublin.

Merci Beaucoup: A Story of Courage and Compassion is available online from Boland’s Kinsale (www.bolandkinsale.com).

Rosscarbery Past & Present, volume 3.

Another publication arrived on my desk this week. The third volume of Rosscarbery: Past & Present was recently launched at the Celtic Ross Hotel. Among the attendance was Michael O’Mahony of Downeen. This 144 page edition contains several interesting articles of local history and several local photographs. A report of the First Autumn History School was included. This was held in September, and was based on the life and works of William Thompson. The journal contains several articles of local interest including that by the Parish Priest, Father Pat Walsh, on Parish Registers. Biographical articles include Sean Hayes 1886 – 1928, Joseph E. Kenny, MP. And Paul Daly, stonemason. This volume was edited by Patrick O’Donovan and may be obtained from Fachtna O’Callaghan, Barley Hill, Rosscarbery, or the Pilgrims’ Rest Bookshop, Rosscarbery, owned by Cal Hyland. The price is 10 euro.

Other journals available around this time of year include the Bandon Historical Journal, obtainable by mail from Mr. Pat Canniffe, Bawnishall, Hare Hill, Bandon, Co. Cork. The ninth edition of the Mizen Journal is in preparation.