A circle of writers, Kilrush - are they in parish records?

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Sduddy
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A circle of writers, Kilrush - are they in parish records?

Post by Sduddy » Mon May 21, 2018 3:36 pm

Eilis Ni Dhea writes in The Other Clare, Vol. 17, 1993, on Michael Hanrahan, scribe and writer in the Irish language, and on a circle of fellow-writers, who were living in the Kilrush area in the middle of the 19th century. Her article dwells mainly on their work, but she also gives such biographical information as she has found on the men themselves.
Of Michael Hanrahan, she says that he lived in Ballyket from about 1830 to 1875, or later. Twenty of his manuscripts have survived, one held in Harvard, two in John Rylands, Manchester. One held by the Royal Irish Academy contains a poem dedicated to his fellow-poet, Tomas O Cruadhlaoidhe (Thomas Crowley) of Ballynagun, Kilmacduane. In his writings, Hanrahan also mentions Murrihy, Dromelehy, and ‘the Healies on the lands of Clochan Beagh beyond Cree Crioch’. And mentions also a Thomas Madigan and a Garret Fitzgerald, both of whom he considers to be good poets. Michael Hanrahan spent some time in Scotland – a poem he wrote there is dated 1848. At another time he was living in Moore Street, Kilrush.
Eilis Ni Dhea includes two O’Connors, Patrick and Maurice, in the circle of writers. A manuscript of Patrick O’Connor’s is held in Cork University, and a copy of his book of prayers is held in the National Library. It was written in 1835, and owned for a time by Father Jonathon Furlong, Kilrush, who was patron to O’Connor and to two others, Michael Mongan, Carrigaholt, and Michael Piggott, Kilmurry McMahon.
She also includes Michael O’Sullivan, who collected the poetry of Munster. O’Sullivan gives ‘Cill Ruis’ (Kilrush) as his address in one m.s. – nothing else seems to be known of him.
She also includes Martan O Griobhtha (Martin Griffy) and says that only five of his manuscripts have survived, one of which is in Cambridge. One is dated 1844 – this was owned for a time by Standish Hayes O’Grady. Griffy’s version of the poem ‘Laoi Mheargaidh’ impressed one John O’Daly, who said of it that it was ‘written in 1845 by an intelligent blacksmith named Griffin in Kilrush, in the County of Clare’.

Maybe some of the above are to be found in the parish registers. Among the marriages I see a Michael Hanrahan, Ballyket, who married in 1829 - his wife’s name is not given. In the baptisms there’s a Michael Hanrahan, Ballyket, father of Mary who was baptised on May 14, 1837. The mother’s name is M. Conners.

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: A circle of writers, Kilrush - are they in parish records?

Post by Sduddy » Wed Nov 10, 2021 11:38 am

The title of the article by Éílís Ní Dheá is “Micheál Ó hAnnracháin agus a Chomhscríobhaithe in gCill Ruis.” Among the writers she mentions is Mártán Ó Gríobhtha.
I did not find a record of the death of Martin Griffin, but I think this marriage record (1867) must be for a daughter of his: Feb 16 1867: Marriage of Sinon Molony, aged 27, Blacksmith, Vandeleur Road, son of Martin Molony, Labourer, to Maria Griffin, aged 20, Vandeleur Road, daughter of Martin Griffin, Blacksmith, in Kilrush chapel; witnesses: Thomas Mahony, Mary Griffin: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 223690.pdf
- a Mary Griffin, daughter of Martin Griffin, Henry Street, was baptised on 16 Apr. 1844: (In my transcription of baptisms, I have mis-transcribed this record, giving the mother’s name as Michael Sullivan, when, of course, Michael Sullivan was the name of one of the sponsors. The mother’s name is not given. But, by looking at other baptisms, I suspect she is Margaret Lillis).

The 1901 census shows Sinon Molony aged 62, and Maria aged 56, and five of their children, living in Vandeleur Street, Kilrush Urban DED: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/r ... 000482238/
The 1911 census shows that Sinon amd Maria Moloney had ten children of whom nine are alive. There must be a great many descendants of Mártán Ó Griobhtha, and maybe some still living in Kilrush.

I was reminded of Mártán yesterday when I was looking through An Duanaire 1600-1900: Poems of the Dispossessed, arranged by Seán Ó Tuama, with verse translations by Thomas Kinsella (The Dolmen Press, 1981). One of the illustrations (No. 30. Page 274) is a photo of a page of his script. The captions says, “Page from a manuscript in the learned Irish tradition, written by a blacksmith in County Clare in 1857. Mártan Ó Gríofa, gabha dubh [blacksmith] i gCill Rois a scriobh an ls. seo.”

In her paragraph on Mártán Ó Griobhtha, Éilís Ní Dheá says, "Tá lámhscríbhinn eile le Mártán Ó Griobhtha ina bhfuil bailiúchán de laoithe Fianniachta móide cóip de Chúirt an Mhéan Oíche i seilbh phríobháideach i gCorcaigh. Luaitear an bhliain 1857 leis an láimhscríbhinn seo …” (There is another manuscript by Martin Griffin, in which there is a collection of lays of the Fianna, along with a copy of The Midnight Court, in private ownership in Cork. The year 1857 is mentioned in connection with this manuscript …”. This means that Martin was still alive in 1857.

Martin is also mentioned in a paper which was read to the Merriman Summer School held in Kilkee, September 1970: “The Irish Language in County Clare in the 19th Century,” by Caoimhín Ó Danachair: http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/NMAJ%2 ... achair.pdf

In that article, Caoimhín Ó Danachair says,
In a manuscript in the Royal Irish Academy are contained a number of essays on the state of the Irish Language in various parts of Ireland. One contributor, Proinsias Ó Cathain, writes, with reference to County Clare: “The manner in which the foregoing Irish Manuscripts are kept alive and preserved among the people is remarkable [….]. As regards the manuscripts, he tells us:
“I have at present in my possession an Irish Manuscript of 300 pages containing a great number of Irish songs and poems, composed by different Authors, transcribed by a Blacksmith named Martin Griffin, late of Kilrush, in the County of Clare”; and he goes on to list the 188 poems which are included in it.” (page 47)
Reading through the article, I was intrigued to see that a Tadhg MacMahon (related to the Clonina McMahons) gave Petrie several songs (see end of page 45), among which is Péarla an Bhrollaigh Bháin (The Snowy Breasted Pearl). I imagine that this song, as sung by John McCormack (for instance), is quite different from the song that was sung in West Clare in the mid 19th century: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXVwDEPJ7jc.
This article I found in clarelibrary.ie suggests that Petrie doctored some of the items given to him. And also suggests, I think, that Tadhg MacMahon may have found the song in Dublin rather than in Clare: "Petrie and the Music of Clare", by Brendan Breathnach: https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... clare2.htm.

Well, I’ve drifted away momentarily from Mártán Ó Griobhtha, but hoping to find out more about him.

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: A circle of writers, Kilrush - are they in parish records?

Post by Sduddy » Thu Nov 11, 2021 11:08 am

I’ve looked again at the baptism of Mary Hanrahan on 14 May 1837,(daughter of Michael Hanrahan, Ballykett), and think now that the mother’s name might be M. Comins, rather than M. Connors, as I stated in my first posting. There are some other baptisms of children of Michael Hanrahan and Mary Commins/Comyns, but this is the only one that gives Ballyket as the address.

Moore street is mentioned by Éilís Ní Dheá as one of the addresses for Michael Hanrahan, so I think this might be the record of his death: 27 Sept 1881, at Moore Street, Michael Hanrahan, married, aged 81, Clerk and Pensioner; Informant: J. Hanrahan, Moore St., Kilrush: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 843855.pdf

This must be the death of Michael’s wife: 17 Dec 1881, at Moore Street, Mary Hanrahan, widow, aged 79, wife of a pensioner; informant: J. Hanrahan, Moore Street: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 843857.pdf
This might be a son of Michael Hanrahan: 25 Dec 1893: Death of John Hanrahan, Kilrush, Bachelor, aged 50, Scriviner. An inquest held on 28th Dec 1893 concluded that he died of Bronchitis accelerated by exposure on Dec 25: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 698052.pdf

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: A circle of writers, Kilrush - are they in parish records?

Post by Sduddy » Sat Nov 13, 2021 10:46 am

Upon reading "Petrie and the Music of Clare", by Brendan Breathnach, I became curious about Frank Keane (Proinsias Ó Catháin). Breathnach says,
In a manuscript collection of literary stories and poems, which he began compiling in the Autumn of 1844, Keane signs himself Francis Keane of Kilfenora, Co. Clare; otherwise Proinsias O’Cathain ó Baile Atha Cliath anois, acht, roimhe seo, ó Chill-irrach, Cill-Chaoi, Contae an Chlair, Eirinn. [from Dublin now, but, before this, from Cill-iarrach, Kilkee, County Clare, Ireland].
I think “Cill-iarrach” is Kilfearagh.
I found the record of Francis’s second marriage (in 1869, to Jane Bates) and it shows that his father was Patrick Keane, Weaver, but does not give any Clare address – just his Dublin address, Newmomen Avenue (Dublin): https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 190292.pdf

8 Mar 1870: Birth of Jane to Francis Keane, Attorneys Clerk, and Jane Bates, 16 Newcomen Avenue: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 232555.pdf

The preview of An Irish-Speaking Island: State, Religion, Community, and the Linguistic Landscape in Ireland, 1770-1870, by Nicholas M. Wolf (2014), has a mention of Francis Keane, but shows only the endnote and not the text; the text is on page 235, which is not included in the preview.
Endnote No. 59 (of Notes for pages 232-235): Francis Keane [Proinsias Ó Catháin] “Essay on the Present State of the Irish Language and Literature in the Province of Munster, “ RIA MS 12 Q 13 (1126), p. 109.
https://books.google.ie/books?id=l37VBQ ... in&f=false

Francis Keane must have been born in the 1820s at the latest, so the Kilfenora baptisms are of no use (beginning at 1836). Also, I wonder if “Kilfenora” is a mis-transcription of Kilfearagh; or, when he says “Of Kilfenora,” is he alluding to an ancestral homeplace? If not, then Francis appears to have moved from Kilfenora to Kilfearagh some time before moving to Dublin. Maybe Eugene O’Curry was instrumental in his move to Dublin. I wonder if Francis Keane’s first marriage took place while he was living in Kilfearagh.

In “Traditional Music Sessions from County Clare: Live Sessions – the Musicians"
(https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... icians.htm) there’s a biographical note on John Kelly, Rehy West, Cross (born 1912), which connects him with Frank Keane:
One of his grandfathers was Johnny Keane and John heard from his father that he was connected with Frank Keane, from whom George Petrie collected music.
The record of John’s birth gives his parents as Michael Kelly and Elizabeth Keane, Rehy; Delia Keane was the informant: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 605461.pdf
The 1911 census shows Michael and Elisa (aged 23) with three very young children. The record of the marriage of Michael Kelly, from Rehy, to Lizzie Keane, from Kilcloher, in 1908, gives Lizzie’s father as John Keane: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 654608.pdf
The 1901 census shows Eliza living at home in Kilclogher, aged 12, with her parents, John, aged 50, and Mary, aged 45, and her siblings (including Felix aged 18) plus her aunt Nora Moloney, aged 71. The record of the birth of Felix gives his mother’s name as Mary Brennan.
The marriage of John Keane, Kilcloher, Kilballyowen, to Mary Brennan, Scattery Island, took place on 15 Feb 1880. The record gives John’s father as Thomas Keane, Farmer: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 033252.pdf

It may be that this Thomas Keane was a brother of Francis Keane.

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: A circle of writers, Kilrush - are they in parish records?

Post by Sduddy » Sun Nov 14, 2021 11:04 am

I wanted to find out more about Michael Mangan, but have not found anything that I can be sure relates to him. Looking at the transcription of the Carrigaholt parish marriage register, donated to Clare Library, I see that a Michael Mangan, from Carrigaholt, married Johanna Cahilll, from Kilcredane in 1852. This Michael, of course, may not be the writer/scribe: https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... ptions.htm

I found this marriage record of the marriage, in 1871, of Michael Hanrahan to Bridget Mangan, in which Bridget’s father is given as Michael Mangan, Smith. But there were many Mangans who were blacksmiths, so, again, this Michael may not be the scribe:
27 May 1871: Marriage of Michael Hanrahan, Law Clerk, aged 25, Ballyerra, son of John Hanrahan, Workhouse Porter, to Bridget Mangan, aged 20, Servant, Kilrush, daughter of Michael Mangan, Smith: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 165388.pdf

Michael and Bridget do not seem to have had any children born to them. Bridget died in Oct 1873 and Michael married again in Jan 1874:
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 255042.pdf
Second Marriage: Michael Hanrahan, widower, to Mary Curtin, in Jan 1874: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 141816.pdf

In his preface to an outline of the contents of manuscripts found in a hole in a wall in a Mangan house near Carrigaholt at the beginning of the 20th century, Prof. Pádraig Ó Riain does not give the name of the householder: Lámhscríbhinní Gaeilge i gCill Chaoi le Pádraig Ó Riain (https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... _index.htm. ) In 1901, there is one Mangan household living in Doonaha East and two Mangan households in Doonaha West, Moyarta DED, so I can’t tell which one he is referring to. The collection of manuscripts, once found, became scattered before it could be conserved, but some of it is held in the Sweeney Memorial Library in Kilkee. I have made a translation of Ó Riain's preface, as there may be some people who are as interested in this stuff as I am, but who have no Irish:
(beginning of my translation) The committee of the Sweeney Memorial Library in Kilkee bought seven of these manuscripts in 1966 and the eighth one was given on permanent loan to the library the same year. MS 1-7 were found in a private house near Carrigaholt and Ms 8 was in conservation in the O’Curry College there. Basically, they all belong to the same collection and it was a large one, apparently, when Peter Hanrahan [*] came upon them at the beginning of this century. He recounts, in his book, Fé bhrat an Chonnartha (lch. 116), that there were three books “in a hole in the wall” in O’Connell’s house, and they were beginning to rot. They were large books, seemingly, but they have been scattered since that time. A man named Mangan is in the house now, but his wife is an O’Connell. The O’Connells were from Limerick or Kerry originally, but they married into that house over a hundred years ago, and it is from the MacMahon family, who were in the house previous to that, that most of the manuscripts have come from. There is a hundred years of history of that family in particular to be found in these manuscripts, and two hundred years of history of the families in general who lived there.
As I have said, the collection was scattered at the beginning of this century [20th], but I have not succeeded in finding exact knowledge in regard to that. It appears that Seán Ó Ceallaigh, T.D. presented two manuscripts to O’Curry College, but one of those has disappeared without trace. A manuscript (G 977), written by Michael MacMahon in 1839, reached the National Library less that 10 years ago and there is a possibility that it belongs to the collection found in that house in Carrigaholt. Another manuscript (G 676) is in the same library, written by Mahon MacMahon for Anthony Curry, but it is thought this one did not come from the house.
I examined the manuscripts before they were bought for Kilkee library. I noticed an important letter along with what is now held in Kilkee library, but I am told it has since been lost. However, I had made a copy of the part that seemed to me to be of importance, and it is worth giving it here: ‘To …(?) describing in the foregoing a MS. song book written by Revd. David Mac Mahon [sic; recte O Mahony] … known as the Briathar [sic] Mor or Big Friar … he lived at Donaha for several years before his death and lived there as Friars of the olden time … viz by the generous … contributions of the people. He died at Donaha about the year 1820 at a very advanced age and his remains now lie buried in the little burial ground of Kilcrona Church. I can remember him myself and must ….say from the recollection I have of him that the sobriquet of ‘Briathar [sic] Mor’ was not misapplied … I know this grave which lies at the …(?) of the above church without a slab … Matthew MacMahon Lisheen Crony 10 July 1863”.

I thank Fr. Séamus Ó Deá [James O’Dea], C.C., of Cross, Ennis, Co. Clare, who took a large part in finding the manuscripts and who helped me greatly. (It was Joseph MacMahon, Limerick, who informed Fr. O’Dea regarding the existence of the manuscripts in the house.) I received assistance also from Alf Mac Lochlainn, Archivist at the National Library, Treasa Ní Eidhin, Librarian of the Sweeney Memorial Library in Kilkee, and Buadhach Tóibín, Headmaster of O’Curry College, Carrigaholt. (end of my translation).

* Peadar Ó hAnnracháin (1873-1965), poet, born near Skibbereen, Co. Cork.

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: A circle of writers, Kilrush - are they in parish records?

Post by Sduddy » Sun Nov 14, 2021 12:00 pm

Well, I see now that I made a very basic error there. The work done on the manuscripts by Pádraig Ó Riain was completed in 1969, so, when he speaks of a Mangan house he is not speaking of the household that occupied it at the beginning of the century. It was when I was looking for records for Matthew McMahon (who, in 1863, wrote the letter about Friar Mahony) that I realized my mistake. When Matthew died in Lisheen in 1893, the informant was his sister Hannah McMahon, Lisheen: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 701371.pdf
In 1901, Hannah is living in Lisheencroney, Moyarta DED, aged 73, described as Aunt of the householder, Matthew Connell: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/r ... 000474882/
Hannah died in 1902: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 601924.pdf

Matthew O’Connell married Bridget Hedderman in 1912: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 600685.pdf

The O'Connell headstone in Kilcrony graveyard shows that Matthew died in 1932 and that Bridget died in 1965: https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... ptions.htm

The record of the death of Bridget O’Connell (née Hedderman) in 1965 gives the informant as her son-in-law, James Mangan: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 088514.pdf

So the house the manuscripts were found in is in Lisheencroney. There is probably no connection at all between the McMahon family and the Connell family, who lived in that house, and Michael Mangan, poet, wheelwright, schoolmaster, dancing master.

Sheila

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