Simon Cooney / Counahan

Simon Cooney was baptised at Mallow on 15 April 1849 as Simon Counahan. His parents were Andrew Counahan and Mary McCarthy.  He married Catherine Sheehan on 8 Sep 1877 at Mallow.  She was the daughter of Maurice Sheehan and Margaret Singleton. Simon was a baker and they lived in Main Street. Their first child, Andrew, was born 0n 10 Apr 1879 at Mallow. The family emigrated to South Australia in 1880.  They were passengers on board the "Devon" and were sponsored by Mary Singleton who also sponsored a number of other relations / connections from the Mallow area.  Simon continued to work as a baker and later set up his own business of a bakery combined with a general store.  They had another five sons who were born in Adelaide, South Australia: Maurice, John, Simon, Joseph and Philip.  Simon (the elder) died on 7 Aug 1920 in Adelaide and his wife Catherine died in 1928.

Simon's sister Mary Cooney was also a passenger on board the "Devon"  in 1880 and a few years later she sponsored their youngest brother John to emigrate as well.  Mary later married Francis Guerin in Perth, Western Australa in 1898.  She and Francis had no children.  She died in 1925 and her death certificate gives the occupation of her father, Andrew Counahan, as "saltmaker". 

John Cooney was married in Quorn, South Australia in 1894 to Rose Lennon.  They had a family of three sons and two daughters.

The only family member remaining in Mallow was their sister Margaret, who married John Delaney in 1893.  They lived in the Counihan family house in Fair Street, Mallow.  They had a family of three sons.  Margaret died in 1931.

Andrew Coonihan died on 6 Jan 1896 at his residence in Fair Street.  He was about 84 years old.  His wife Mary had died the previous year on 19 Feb 1895.