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Killarney locals and their heritage: is it commonplace to have sought out one's own line?

KerryKillarney (Kerry)

Hello!

I would have thought that there would be native 'experts' who could wax poetic and be full of stories about their kin. Or at the very least, put their pencils to paper and recorded their line of ascendency. I would have thought that would have been done for the larger clans, just to illuminate who belongs to whom.

Is there a way to access family historians in Killarney? I descend from an O'Connor line (with a few O"Sullivan Bears sprinkled about) that did not peter out. They chose to remain and not immigrate for the most part.So they ought not have been difficult to keep track of.

Is there a mechanism by which to locate these family scholars? It goes without saying, that they would represent a prime reference, something we all aspire to document. I hope they do indeed exist!

In the interim, my line in Killarney goes as follows:

John Connor married Mary Sullivan in 1837 from which came the following children: Bridget, Daniel (my gx4father) Ellen, Patrick, Catherine, Jeremiah, and John jrn.

previous generation:

John Connor married Elizabeth Ferris in 1793from which came the following children: Deborah, John jnr, Eugene, Elizabeth, Mary, Thomas and Mary-Anne.

Previous generation:

John Connor and yet to be unearthed wife. Records are hard to find in this time frame. (1770's)

Any ideas greatly appreciated. If you know a JohnO'Connor in Killarney, ask them if they've traced their lineage. ;) Thanks so much!

IrelandXO member

5 replies

Maligana,

You ask about finding family historians in Killarney. Here’s a link to the local family history society:

http://kerryfamilyhistorysociety.weebly.com/contact.html

You ask a general question about whether it is commonplace to seek out your own line in Ireland. I live at the other end of the country and can’t comment on Co. Kerry, but in my area most families would not have researched their trees, and few would be able to go back much further than about 3 generations ie to about 1900. There are plenty of Irish families that are interested in family history but it would be stretching it to say they were commonplace.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Elwyn, 

                         Thank you for your reply and the link-every little bit helps! 

I must admit I am highly surprised that the folks in Ireland have not taken up this hobby! Having said that, I guess I am  one lucky lass to have had my line traced back to a Spanish prince! (Now I know where the Black Irish actually originate from.)

So global family reunions are likely even less commonplace, I dare say! ;) 

Ah, what a shame! 

Well back to the drawingboard for me! 

Again many thanks for the link. Wish we luck!

Kind regards, 

Maligana in Canada 

  

IrelandXO member

Maligana,

I suppose the typical Irish perspective is that they broadly know where their ancestors came from and so don’t always have the same interest. Plenty do, but speaking about the population as a whole, I couldn’t say there was the same level of interest as you find with folk from the USA, Canada etc.

The Black Irish is one of those mysterious terms that comes up from time to time. It’s completely unknown in Ireland and it wouldn’t mean much to most Irish people. It seems to have been invented somewhere else. It’s sometimes attributed to survivors of the Spanish Armada intermarrying with locals in the late 1500s. I think most of the survivors were either slaughtered or went home to Spain but even allowing for some staying, I can’t really believe that a couple of thousand Spaniards marrying into 3 million native Irish would have much impact on the overall gene pool, especially after 400 years have passed, but that’s what folk claim. Your Spanish Prince sounds suspiciously like another version of that anecdote.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Elwin, 

             I too am familiar with the Spanish Armada's attribution to the dark-haired Irish.  I agree that is a myth that has persisted, Having said that, my Spanish prince is no myth.  You see DNA has revealed that four separate groups invaded Ireland at different times.   This theory draws on the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a medieval Christian pseudo-history of Ireland along with the presence of Celtic culture, language and artefacts found in Ireland such as Celtic bronze spears, shields, torcs and other finely crafted Celtic associated possessions. The theory holds that there were four separate Celtic invasions of Ireland. The Priteni were said to be the first, followed by the Belgae from northern Gaul and Britain. Later, Laighin tribes from Armorica (present-day Brittany) were said to have invaded Ireland and Britain more or less simultaneously. Lastly, the Milesians(Gaels) were said to have reached Ireland from either northern Iberia or southern Gaul.[21] 

My family descends from King Milesius who had 8 sons, specifically his son Ir.  http://www.libraryireland.com/Pedigrees1/Ir.php

 

 

IrelandXO member

 

 

Elwyn & Maligana,

I happened to be on irishidentity.com yesterday looking at Kinnawe: Kinneavy, and the name above was Kirwan:One of the Tribes of Galway from O'Ciardubhair.  Ciar dubh means black.  Probably just a straight translation, and not a thread to anywhere else.

Also, I am searching a John Connors and some Sullivans.  Will start a new post Mcgillicuddy/Sullivan/Healy.                                      

Jan

janet.boyle@ic…

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