Thank you Frances for replying.
Yes I do have Joseph Spillane's marriage certificate. He lists his father as John Spillane, a sailor.
His death certificate repeats the John Spillane as father, and adds Ellen Spillane as mother. I have had some suspicions about that one. It seemed a big coincidence that both he and his wife had parents named John and Ellen, I wasn't sure I could trust that bit of info.
His birth date is also questionable. Each time he was asked to supply a birth date, it changed. Varied between 1877 and 1881 and always a different month and day. My guess was that he might not actually have known when it was and just made up an answer when he had to supply such information. His school record does not list any date of birth.
The school was the Myrtleville/Crosshaven National School and I have a copy of his register from that school. Entrance 1885. Age at last birthday: blank. Religion: Roman Catholic. Residence: Crosshaven. Parent: Orphan. Last school attended: Crosshaven, County Cork, Level I. Perhaps because he was an orphan, his attendance was very erratic. 1886 - 10 days. 1887 - 101 days. 1888 - 175 days. 1889 - 183 days. Struck off record in March of 1890.
If this information suggests a new avenue to pursue . . . I thank you.
