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Phelan and Mahoney of Ballyragget

Hello All.

 

I'm making my second trip to Ballyragget in February.  Last April I stopped in Ballyragget on my way to see cousins in Galway and was able to visit the Donaghmore cemetery, where I did find a Phelan from Finnan--where my Phelans were from.  My great grandmother Eliza Phelan was born in Ballyragget in 1857. Her father was Martin Phelan, and her mother was Martha Hennessey.  (We haven't found much on the Hennessey family.) She married my great grandfather John Mahoney (also born in Ballyragget in 1857) in New York.  John Mahoney's father was Michael Mahoney and his mother was Margaret Doran (we don't know much about the Doran family).   I've included an image of Eliza.  I have also included the only image we have of Martha Hennessey. We heard some story that there is a companion image to this one, of Martha's husband Martin Phelan, that was taken by one of Eliza's siblings to Australia.  Of course, we would love to swap images with that cousin and we would love to see what Martin looked like.  

We are wondering if there might be any relations left in Finnan or Ballyragget.  We are sensitive to not bothering people, of course.  We do have some photos and stories about the Phelan and Mahoney family in New York.  

Thanks to all!

Trish

Trish McDermott

5 replies

Hi Trish! If you have not done so already, please fill out this form regarding your trip in February. https://www.irelandxo.com/meet-and-greet The images that you attempted to attach did not come thru and I believe it is because there is a systems issue on our end. The 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Donaghmore parish had a great number of Phelan households https://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/kilkenny/donaghmore.htm If you go to the business yellow pages, there are a number of Phelan businesses n Ballyragett but do they have a connection to you? Have you taken a DNA test? Roger McDonnell
Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Trish,
Not sure if you have this info:

RootsIreland shows three baptisms for children of Martin and Martha. The last two have the address of Finnan; the first has the address of Conahy. These two places are about five miles apart.

Church Baptism Phelan John 1843 Co. Kilkenny
Church Baptism Phelan Elizabeth 1857 Co. Kilkenny
Church Baptism Phelan Martin 1860 Co. Kilkenny

There was a baptism in Conahy parish for the following child, whose parents were Martin Whelan and Martha Hensy. Whelan/Phelan were basically interchangeable; they translate into the same name in the Irish language.

Church Baptism Whelan Nicholas 1838 Co. Kilkenny

I hope this is helpful.

glanvil3@aol.com
Thank you so much, Roger. The Griffith's Record is very interesting, as I can find all 4 family names, Phelan, Hennessy, Mahony and Doran. We don't know much at all about the Hennessy or Doran line. We think our Phelans are from Finnan. I'm going to have to figure out how close some of these other townlands would be, and then figure out how we can learn more or guess about which family came from which address. I do know my great grand parents Eliza Phelan and John Mahony took in one or two Walsh children in the US. They were extended family. It looks like Patrick Walsh was their Nephew. He was born around 1890 and is likely the child of Patrick Walsh and Ellen Mahony. It says their address is "the Geen" but I think that might be "The Green" or possibly the "Fair Green,"as I see there are Dorans and Mahonys from the Fair Green. And then I see there were Hennessey folks in Tinalintan. So I need to figure out where that is. All very exciting though, as I think we are getting very close! Trish
Trish McDermott
Thank you, Patricia, this is all very helpful! Trish
Trish McDermott

Hi, my name is Maura (O’Brien) VanHeest.  Eliza (b. 1857 Ballyragget) ) is a sibling of Nicholas Phelan (b. 1838 Ballyragget).  They had a nearly 20 year age difference!)  Nicholas m. Ellen Fetherston who had daughter Margaret (b.1873)  that married William John Sutton.  Margaret and William were my grandmothers parents.  I have some of the Eliza Phelan and John Mahoney family tree as well.  I remember going to a Sutton-Mahoney family reunion at Lido beach (NY?).  Thank you for the 2 pictures you shared.  Eliza was very beautiful.  She would  be my great great Aunt and Martha Hennessey would be my great great great grandmother (if I got that right!) 

MauraVH

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