McInerney 1898 postcard from Killawinna to Belgium
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 8:02 am
I struggled with the location in Quin where the postcard was written, as not so familiar with County Clare locations, but after much trial and error it is clearly "Killawinna, Quin".
The postcard must have spent the last 100 years or so mounted in a stamp collection as the back of the card has damage from when stamp hinges were removed on the top and bottom center of the card. The bottom of the "Y" in "Your affect sister" was removed as well as the first half of the first initial. But enough of the initial remains to conclude that the sister sending the postcard to John J. McInerney at Au Petit Seminaire, St. Trond was "M. M. McInerney". With the mention of brother James McInerney, it was fairly easy to identify the McInerney family of Killawinna:
Cornellius McInerney, of Cloundouna, farmer, age 24, son of "Nash" McInerney married Ellen Lawlor, of Killawinna, age 26, daughter of John Lawlor, on 23 February 1868 at the Roman Catholic chapel at Doora; church witnesses Patrick Lawlor and Thomas McInerney; civil witnesses Thomas McInerney and Mary McInerney.
1.0 Cornelius McInerney, baptized 21 August 1870, sponsors Pat Lawlor and Hannah Lawlor.
Cornellius McInerney, a widower, of Killawinna, farmer, son of Ingatius McInerney, married Mary Hogan, of Balloghboy, daughter of James Hogan, on 7 February 1872 at the Roman Catholic chapel at Doora; witnesses John MacMahon and James Hogan. <Killawinna, Doora, House 1, House 2>
2.0 James Ingnatius McInerney, baptized 28 April 1873, sponsors Michael Hogan and Maggie Hogan.
3.0 Bridget McInerney, born 20 June 1874 in Killawinna per civil birth record. <Killawinna, Doora, House 1, House 2>
4.0 Patrick Joseph McInerney, baptized 27 February 1876, sponsors James Doolaghty and Margaret Hogan. <Killawinna, Doora, House 1, House 2>
5.0 John McInerney, baptized 17 March 1878, sponsors Pat Lawlor and Delia McInerney.
6.0 Mary McInerney, born 19 January 1884 in Killawinna per civil birth record. In 1911 census known as Mary Margaret McInerney. <Killawinna, Doora, House 1, House 2>
The 1898 postcard was written by 14 year old Mary Margaret to her 20 year old brother John at Au Petit Seminaire in St. Trond. She had very strong writing skills. With the mention of 24 year old James not having written in a fortnight, perhaps he was also overseas. Mary Margaret mentions having sent her brother a six pound box of cocoa, perhaps as a birthday present as John turned 20 on 17th of March. But surely a rather odd gift choice to send cocoa from Ireland to Belgium, a country famous for their chocolate?
Killawinna townland is adjacent to Corebeg Townland and a short walk to St. Brecan's chapel at Doora:
James Doolaghty (Delahunty) of Corebeg was the baptism sponsor for Patrick Joseph McInerney of Killawinna in 1874. James Delahunty is very likely the brother of John Delahunty, the sons of John Doolaghty and Bridget Glynn Doolaghty of Corebeg. The shooting of John Delahunty in 1882 near Knockanean National School and subsequent trial of Francis Hynes for his murder, is being investigated further here:
http://www.ourlibrary.ca/phpbb2/viewtop ... &start=315
edit: reload postcard that went missing.