Luddy/O'Briens

I am seeking information about my father's maternal line. My great grandparents were from Mitchelstown. My great grandmother was Julia O'Brien (1841-1914) and my great grandfather Michael Luddy (1839-1916). They married at the old Michelstown Catholic church on 1st January 1860. Fr. William O'Brien officiated and the witnesses were Thomas Clancy and Margaret Cranwell (maybe an unusual name for a witness at a Catholic wedding?). Julia and Michael migrated to Adelaide, South Australia in the 1870's. I am not sure whether my grandmother Julia Ann Luddy (1877-1959) was born in Ireland or in Australia, as I can find no record of registration of her birth here in Australia. 

The Luddy's were an exremely musical family and my great grandfather Michael started a band here. They were very involved in the life of the Church in the westend of Adelaide. My great uncle became a hugely respected religious brother  and my great aunt a Dominican nun. My grandmother Julia had a magnificent singing voice and sang regularly at all the St Patricks day concerts and other gatherings.

We enjoyed our visti to Mitchelstown very much and look forward to the day we can return.  My search for family information was somewhat hampered by the fact that I was not allowed access to the church records, even though they were copies, but I had to rely on a very pleasant young women to do the searching. The local priest declared the records confidential, so I never really had the opportunity to follow through on leads. This was also coupled by the fact that the very interesting local historian was shocked I should be connected to Pa Luddy who 'burnt the castle down'  in the 1920's. I would appreciate anything that local knowledge can contribute to my understanding of my family history.

Best regards,

Julia Twohig