Hi Matthew
I wonder if the person you are thinking is Frank Counihan, who was founder and editor of the Munster News. He was born near Killarney, Kerry, about 1807, according to an article in the Old Limerick Journal, No. 10, “A Brief History of the Munster News 1851-1935”, by Brendan Burke:
http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/olj%20 ... %20014.pdf
The association of the Counihans with Co. Clare comes about when Frank Counahan’s son, John F. Counihan, M.D., marries Jane Borough from Querrin near Kilrush, Co. Clare. They were married in Dublin, on 3rd Jun 1873. The record gives John F’s father as Frank Counihan, Editor, and gives Jane’s father as Randal W Borough, Querrin. The name Randal was given to one of the children of John F. and Jane. Their children were baptised in St Senan’s parish (Kilrush).The 1901 census shows John F., aged 56, Jane, aged 51, and 6 children – Randal, John and William are living in another house in Kilrush. According to the 1911 census, John F. and Jane had 16 children altogether of whom 12 were still alive. You will notice that John F. gives his birth place as Co. Kerry in both censuses. Only 5 of the 12 surviving children are still living at home in 1911. Maurice, aged 16, is in Clongowes Wood secondary school, Co. Kildare. Randal, aged 35, is living in Bindon Street, Ennis; occupation: Medical Doctor and Surgeon. He had married Norah Digby French in Kilrush chapel in 1904. She was the daughter of Robert Digby French, a clergyman of Church of England. Mary Helena had married John Sillers, of Bedford Park, London, a property owner. I don’t know where the other 4 children had gone to by 1911.
John Francis Counihan, Physician and Surgeon, died in 1922, at River View, Ennis, aged 78; informant: J.H. Counihan, his son.
Later records show that Richard Counihan, M.D., married Enid Glynn, of Pella House, Kilrush, in 1926. William Counihan married Harriet Healy, from Moyarta, in 1911. He gives his occupation as Farmer. Jerome Counihan, M.B(?), married Mary O’Meara, in Ennis in 1915. There must be plenty of descendants living in Clare today. Dr Frank Counihan, a well known doctor in Ennis - died 2014, aged 91 – may be a descendant of the original Frank Counihan.
The 1911 census shows two other Counihan families living in Co. Clare (in the parish of Feakle), and there were some Counihan families living in south Co. Galway. Murf, your Gerald Counihan may belong to one of those families - I haven't done any searching.
Sheila