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My OShannessy Ancestors from Shanagolden

Limerick

Hi, I am doing my Family History Research and have a Great Grandmother who migrated from Shanagolden to Melbourne, Australia here in 1868.

She & her family came on the "White Star", from Liverpool in 1864-68. Her name is Annie Agnes OShannessy, (1857-1933). Her parents also came, named Patrick (1807-1873) & Catherine.(1814-1900). Also came children, James, Honora, Bridget(?), Sarah & Mary(?).

By the information I can find here, some of the children mentioned above had "died" before the family migrated, but I am unable to confirm if this is so. Maybe Mary & Bridget died earlier in Ireland, but I cannot confirm. Maybe some headstones there may tell?

Also, I would like to know if any Descendants of this family are still around over there, and to be in touch with?

Many Thanks & Stay COVID Safe, James Howe, Melbourne, Australia.

 

James Howe

1 reply

Hi James,

My knowledge of current families living in Shanagolden is limited, I live circa 30 miles from the area, even though my late mother grew up there on a farm. I am not sure what level of research you are at, but without venturing to 'teach you to suck eggs', have you checked out the 1911 and 1901 census returns from Shanagolden for OShannessy. There are a few variations of the surname, the principal spellings in English are O'Shaughnessy or Shaughnessy. The next place to look is in Griffith's Valuation of 1852 for Shanagolden. I found an Andrew and Simon Shaughnessy on Main Street renting two premises, presumably shops of some kind. In Ballynash (Bishop) a Daniel Shaughnessy was renting a house and in Ballinree a Michael Shaughnessy was renting 43 acres 1 rood and 38 perches from Lord Monteagle, which would have provided a comfortable living for a family, even in the immediate aftermath of 'An Gorta Mór' the Great Hunger.

The easiest place to check out these sites for Shanagolden is on Townlands in Ireland. Google www.townlands.ie and click on County Limerick and the Barony of Shanid, which has 31 Townlands or the Civil Parish of Shanagolden which has 11 Townlands. Baronies were large tracts of land which the Norman invaders carved out for themselves in the 12th century. The ancient ruin of Shanid Castle stands sentinel over the entire region, it was once the impregnable fortress of the Norman dynasty of Fitzgerald. Fitz comes from the French word 'Fils' meaning 'son of' the equivalent of Mac or Mc in the Irish language. The boundaries of the Civil Parishes do not always follow the outline of the Roman Catholic Parishes when you are checking pre1864 Catholic Church records on the National Library website www.registers.nli.ie

I hope a local volunteer with local knowledge can give you better information,

Stay safe and well,

John

PS the word for 'Bye' in the Irish language is Slán, phonetically pronounced Slawn as in yawn, and in everyday spoken Irish means 'healthy or well' which is very apt for the times we live in.

John Kennedy, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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