Maguire (McGuire) Family

Hi Roger, that you for your prompt reply. I am visiting County Westmeath in May and your information will be very valuable indeed. Many thanks, Therese

Hello Therese,  my name is Sue from Melbourne in the state of Victoria Australia and John Maguire, son of Michael and Catherine, was my g g grandfather. His brother James and two sisters also migrated to Warnambool in the west of Victoria Where many Irish families settled. I have read The Strange Story of Sarah Kelly by Vera Hughes published in 1988 by The Newtown, Moate, co. Westmeath. I found it on Amazon but there must be copies in Irish Libraries. This confirms John’s participation in Sarah’s death. My late Aunt Jenette researched the Australian family tree and we have a small amount of information about it which I could copy and send if you like. We also have John’s farm diary which I can transcribe. 

Kind regards 

Hello Sue, thank you for your reply. I would love any information you have on the McGuires, and also John’s farm diary. Do you know Lyn Bentley who lives in NSW? She is also a descendent of John McGuire. I live in Terang, Victoria. My personal email address is theresemoloney57@gmail.com. Many thanks, Therese.

Hi Therese,

I am also a great grandson of James McGuire, currently living in Melbourne.  My wife and I are at present in Ireland, staying at Athlone.  Yesterday (Tuesday 30 July 2019) we went to Ballinderry Townland, near Rosemount, and met some local people who knew where the McGuire properties are.

Michael Maguire (who was married to Catherine Connor) apparently had a brother, and their two families lived side by side.  They didn't know the brother's name.  We saw what was described to us as their 2 dwellings.  One house still remains, has been modernised and is currently occupied (although the owners were out when we called in).  The other house is only evidenced by several stone walls, including a gabled end, and several outhouses and a wellhead.

We then visisted Fr. Jimmy Murray at the Carmelite complex at Moate, who showed us the Tubber and Rosemount Parish records, and also mentioned the alleged involvement of Michael's sons in the death of Sarah Kelly, and showed us a copy of Vera Hughes' book.  We have not yet read the book but will try to find a copy and do that.

The man who currently rents the land on which the house ruin is located, and who owns the land next to the modernised house, says the McGuires owned their lands as freehold.  If that is correct (and he gave us the land title descriptions so we can check), it is difficult to understand why they would be involved in her death, as we understand the claim in the Hughes book is that Kelly may have been a persecutor of her tenants.  If the Maguires were her tenants that would make sense.  If they were freeholders, you would have to query why they would do such a think in order to assist her tenants.

More research is needed and we will report back as we discover more.  Regards, John McGuire