Roger McDonnell (and Breeda also!)
Thank you Roger for responding to Breeda's post. I live in the United States and am the great granddaughter of Margaret O'Keefe mentioned above (bap 23 Mar 1837 from Capanelan, Durrow, Laois) whose parents were Michael O'Keefe and Mary Costelloe). Margaret emigrated to the US (not sure exactly when) but was married in San Francisco in about 1868 and had 4 children there. Through several DNA matches of descendants of Michael O'Keeffe (mentioned as Breeda's husband' (Gordon)'s great grandfather) and who settled in Millstreet, County Cork, we have come to find that my great grandmother, Margaret, and Gordon's great grandfather, Michael, (married to Julia Melligan) are siblings thus making Gordon and I third cousins as we share 2x great grandparents, Michael O'Keefe and Mary Costelloe. There are many other cousins through this Michael (wife Julia)'s other siblings who are also DNA matches. (There are just too many Michael's in this family though making it often conffusing!) I have obtained Michael O'Keeffe's (wife Julie) military records and through census records 1901 and 1911 found that Michael was indeed from Kilkenny and Laois.
Michael O'Keefe and Mary Costelloe were married in Freshford, Ossory, co Kilkenny on Feb 5, 1825
The children that I have located on rootsireland.ie are as follows:
John bap 28 Jun 1826 Luice, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny
Mary bap 2 April 1829 Troyslane, St Canice's, Co Kilkenny
Margaret (Keife)bap 23 Mar 1837 Capanelan, Durrow, Co. Laois
Peter bap 23 April 1840 Capanelan, Durrow, Co. Laois
Bridget bap 15 Nov 1843 Caponelan, Durrow, Co.Laois mother listed as Mrs. Keefe (others show Mary Costello)
Michael bap 24 Jan 1849 Durrow, Durrow, Co. Laois
Michael's military records confirm year of birth and also that his mother was living in Durrow, Laois. On Michael's marriage record to Julia Melligan, in July 1882, it shows his father, Michael,(married to Mary Costello) as a land steward and as being deceased.
I have not looked at the Griffith's valuation yet. I am interested in finding any descendants of the other siblings of Margaret and Michael (John, Mary, Peter, or Bridget) or death records of them. Perhaps there are no descendants? Any suggestions?
I am also looking for any information on Michael O'Keefe and Mary Costello(e). Are there any records on land stewards that might be available?
Thank you so much! Hope this isn't too confusing and that you or someone else can help.
Lynnette Bates
