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Looking for Moores and O'Sullivans in Kerry and Galway

Kerry

James O'Sullivan and Margaret Moore married in Sydney, NSW, Australia in 1888 in a Catholic Church. Their marriage certificate states they were both born in Ireland, no county given.

James O'Sullivan was 30 at time of marriage. His parents were reported to be Owen O'Sullivan, a farmer and Honara Kane. He died in Sydney in May 1919 at the reported age of 56. Ihaven't found any evidence of his passage to Australia. Ancestry hastwo possible indexes for a death of a James O'Sullivan in Sydney in 1919 Each index has one corresponding parental christian name, not both nor any maternal surnames. A coroner's report in June 1919 about the death ofa 59 year old James O'Sullivan, which may or may not be him, reports birthplace as Kerry. My aunt who said she got the information from her mother is reported to have said she was told he was born in Galway.

Margaret Moore was 23 at time of marriage. Her parents were Thomas Moore, farmer, and Ellen Dalton. I found a 16 year old Margaret Moore on apassenger list arriving in Sydney in July 1885. I have no way of knowing if she is my great grandmother. She died in Sydney in 1931 at the reported age of 69. My aunt reported that Margaret was born in Kerry.

I have been searching on and off for several months and despite purchasing their marriage certificate have been unable to find any evidence connecting them to locations in Ireland as there is always something lacking or sus about names and/or dates. I would really appreciate if someone is in a position to help.

Iam planning a trip to the UK and Scotland next year to see my ancestral haunts and would love to include Ireland.

Many thanks

indie48

2 replies

Kerry:

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and sorry for the delayed response.

I searched the Roots Ireland indexes www.rootsireland.ie and locate a possible baptismal record for Margaret Moore in Co. Limerick. The index record I located was for a Margaret Moore baptized in 1861 in the Athea RC church records. Athea corresponds to Rathronan civil parish which is in western Co. Limerick on the border with Co. Kerry. (It is possible that she lived in Kerrry and went to church in Limerick). The parents for this record were Thomas Moore and Helen Dalton. 

Roots is a pay site to view the transcriptions of their records and they now require you to purchase a subscription.

I also looked at the 1850 Griffiths Valuation head of household listing for Rathronan parish and there was a Thomas Moore in Glensharrold townland. Whether this is the same Thomas Moore on the 1861 baptismal record is hard to tell. http://www.failteromhat.com/griffiths/limerick/rathronan.htm

The search for James O'Sullivan is more difficult. O'Sullivan/Sullivans are primarily found in Co. Kerry and Co. Cork. I looked at www.irishgenealogy.ie which is a free Irish government site that has church record for Co. Kerry, part of Co. Cork and also Dublin. I did some searching for a James O'Sullivan with a father Owen and mother Honora Kane but was unsuccessful. Perhaps you could also search to see if you can find a record that I missed

I also searched the Roots indexes for all of Ireland for James from 1856-1860. I did locate an 1857 baptismal record in Co. Meath for a James with a father Owen, however, Kane and Honora did not work. I'm guessing this is a different  James but who knows.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Thanks for your thorough searching, Roger.  I'm new to the intricacies of Irish religious and civil boundaries so it really  helps to have some assistance. 

I looked on the irishgenealogy site and couldn't find James.

When I have a bit more time in a few weeks I'll join rootsireland and chase up your reference to Margaret Moore in Athea.  I also have some ancestors and ? relatives in Donegal and will use that opportunity to see if I can add to my knowledge of them too.  They  left a better trail and had known relatives in the 1911 census .

Many thanks again.

indie48

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