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Looking for info on McCarthy Family/ Tralee

KerryTralee (Kerry)

 

My Paternal Great Grandmother was Mary McEnery (Born 3-18-1869 Dromartin Father- Timothy, Mother-Catherine).......She married John McCarthy...he was a Soldier in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Soldier#3369. I know from Census that they lived on Rock St, and then at Boherbee Barracks. They had quite a few children, My Grandfather, Michael St. John McCarthy was the youngest, born in 1902. His siblings included John Joseph,Henry,Maurice,Timothy, & Christine Mary. On the 1911 Census it shows that Mary McEnery McCarthy's Brother Timothy Joseph McEnery (age 34) was staying with them.

My Grandfather Michael joined the Irish Volunteers in 1916 and records show he left military service in 1923.  I found his headstone here in the US....it says...."Old IRA Tralee" on it. He married my Grandmother Bridget Flynn in 1925 in Ireland, they left for America soon after that, but separately. My Grandmother Bridget was active in Cumann na mBahn. I believe she was jailed at some point between 1916-1925, but am still researching that. My grandmother returned to Ireland with my Father & Uncle in 1935 to care for her Mother Bridget Browne Flynn(Browne Clan in Lixnaw). At the start of WWII my Grandmother sent her boys back to America she was not a US Citizen and was not allowed to leave for some years after that.

Looking for any info available.

Coleen

IrelandXO member

19 replies

I have contact with a local historian who might know the family Coleen. This will take maybe a week.

Great to hear from you and to see how much work you have already done.

Martine

IrelandXO member

Hi Martine

Yes, I have read those, quite sad. My Grandmother & Grandfather were there in Tralee during that seige. I have been handed down a story that 2 Black & Tans had grabbed my Grandfather, Mike McCarthy, and my Grandmother (They weren't married yet then) Bridget Flynn ran in the house, got a gun and shot the 2 Black & Tans dead in the street. I also heard a story that my Grandmother had been in jail at some point during these years.

We have family research centers here, which is where I have to get to in  order to check through those records...probably after Christmas!

I have a picture of my Grandmother Bridget in her 70's on her last trip back to Ireland, her Sister's family was there with her and they got a headstone for my Great Granparents Bridget & Jeremiah Flynn...(Jeremiah actually died in England in 1898..his body was never returned, but they put him on headstone)

I'm hoping to get over in 2014 for a 2-3month visit/research trip. I only have good info on the Flynn side, and not much more than names and dates on the McCarthy side!

I appreciate your help, and it is getting close, so if we don't chat again before Tuesday, I wish you & yours a Wondrefull & Merry Christmas!

 

Coleen

 

IrelandXO member

Happy New Year to you Coleen. I have just made contact with the local historian. He himself has not heard the story of your grandfather and grandmother but as we say here, he knows a man who might! He said to say thank you for all the details you gave us as it will make his search easier. So now we just need to wait until he makes contact. 

He said to tell you that it is not at all unusual to find fathers who were soldiers or in the Royal Irish Constabulary with sons in the old IRA. People who remained in Ireland often didn't talk about their Civil War activities as it caused great rifts in families. Even now many people are cautious even when talking about their grandparents in that period. 

Have you found  any  living relations in Tralee or Lixnaw?

Talk soon

Martine

IrelandXO member

Hi Martine!

I haven't found any living relatives there.........yet....! I did get some info on one of my Grandfathers Brothers, John Joseph(Jack) McCarthy....he lived in Tralee his whole life...died in 1977 at age of 79...had quite a few children...researching stuff daily!

 

I was contacted last year through Ancestry.com by the Granddaughter of MY Grandmother Bridget's sister Lillian's daughter, Maureen. (that's a mouthful!) I am actually going to meet her next week. She knew my Grandmother and father as well! I am hoping to get some good stories from her!

I was in the dark as to my paternal history till about 50 yrs of age...so I am a bit behind in that history!

Thanks again for your help!

 

Coleen

IrelandXO member

Hi Martine

I think I stumbled on a bit of info today...My Grandfather's Brothers, Maurice, & John Joseph were Kerry Footballers...Maurice was on the Championship team in 1903.........

I just keep digging!

Coleen

IrelandXO member

Hi Coleen, there was a Jack Mc Carthy who was a barber in the Square in Tralee. He might not be your relation of course.How did you get on with your cousin? 

Martine

IrelandXO member

Hi Martine! My visit with my Cousin Maureen (1st cousin, once removed) was fantastic!! She told me I look Alot like my Grandmother Bridget McCarthy! We had a great time She told me that my Great Grandparents, John & Mary McCarthy lived next to the post office(Mary McCarthy was Postmistress then), she said the house still stands  today...2 story........she told me the McCarthy's were a bit better off than some in town.

I will do some digging, and try to find out if Jack McCarthy was that barber...his info says he lived at 3 Day Place, Tralee.

Take care! Talk soon!

Coleen

IrelandXO member

Yes, I had those...drawing blanks on Maurice, John McCarthy's father...I was able to get a bit further back on Mary McEnery though.

Yes, I belive the post office in Tralee that was in use early 1900s. The McCarthy family of John & Mary McEnery  McCarthy lived there, and Mary McCarthy was the PostMistress.

I know, how exciting it would be to find a living relative!

Thanks so much! I'm off to make a cheesecake for my husband's Birthday, which is today, but he is working so cheesecake tomorrow!

Coleen

IrelandXO member

Hi Coleen,

This may be a picture of  Mike. Our local historian found the picture in the book Memoirs of Billy Mullins 1983

Mike Mc Carthy is listed as second from the left in the front row.

Great excitement here!

Martine

IrelandXO member

That is awesome!! It looks like a pic from early Rising...My grandfather Mike Joined in 1916 I believe...

I am also researching and planning a trip to Tralee, most likelyin the spring of 2014...I am so excited with everything I am finding out.

! I have pics of Mike McCarthy Jr (grandfather) from early 1950 in US. I will attach.

What a wonderful, lovely help you are Martine, Thank you!

Coleen

L-Michael McCarthy III (Uncle)

M- Michael McCarthy II (Grandfather)

R- Jeremiah McCarthy (Father)

IrelandXO member

The picture is headed Officers Training Camp, South Kerry 1915, he was very young. 

Let me know in good time before you visit Coleen and I will try to arrange a meeting with our VERY humble local historian. (He doesn't even describe himself as an historian!)

M

IrelandXO member

For sure Martine! I am looking So forward to coming to Ireland........................Research, relaxation, and seeing as much as I can in a month!

IrelandXO member

Dear Coleen,

Have you seen that the Irish Army have released online a census of soldiers for 1922

http://census.militaryarchives.ie/results.php?firstname=&lastname=&age=&location=Ballymullen&button=Submit

I don't know if your John would be in it but I thought it would interest you anyway.

I think you probably have enough information now to write to St. John's Parish Church, Tralee

http://www.stjohns.ie/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=145

or have you already done so?

Can you update me on what you need to know now?

I look forward to hearing from you

Martine

IrelandXO member

Hi Martine

I have looked through that census...I found 3 seperate records on my Grandfather Michael McCarthy, and I went through and looked at every McCarthy and did not find any of his brothers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

here is info I have on my Paternal Grandfather. I have not been able to find any info past the name of his Father, Maurice.

John & Mary McCarthy of Tralee. John McCarthy( b.1860 ) married Mary McEnery(b.1869) at St. John's Parish Church, Castle St.,Tralee, Co. Kerry. in 1890.

 Marriage for MARY MCENERY & JOHN MCCARTHY. 11 Jan 1890 Tralee Johns address given as BOHERBEE(borders Cork/Kerry)Fathers: Timothy McEnery & Maurice McCarthy

 

They had 6 children that I Know of, Maurice(b.1891) Timothy(b.1891), Christine Mary(1896),John Joseph(1897), Henry(1899), & my Grandfather, Michael St John McCarthy (he was the youngest, born in 1902) Michael St John McCarthy married Bridget Flynn in Tralee in 1925 and both came to US in 1926. They had 3 sons, John (who died as a babe) Michael, and my Father, Jeremiah Thomas McCarthy(b.1932-d.2001) I am Coleen, Jeremiah's Daughter. This is info I have on Mary McEneryBaptism of Mary McEnery of Dromartin. RC Parish of Causeway Kerry Born 18th March1869. Baptised 25 March 1869 Father: TIMOTHY McENERY. Mother: CATHERINE MCCARTHY.Marriage for Timothy McEnery & Catherine McCarthy (Mary McEnery parents) Timothy of KILFEIGHNEY & Catherine on 23 Jan 1864 RC Parish LIXNAX. Children of this couple: Johanna. 10Nov 1864 Lixnax John. 18Nov 1865 Thomas 23 Dec 1866 Parish Lixnaxto  Mary 18 March 1869 Parish Causeway Timothy Joseph 14 April 1877 Rock St Tralee Co Kerry Denis 23 Feb 1881 Tralee I am looking for any cousins still in area, and stories on family. I'm not sure what info to look for in church records? Coleen

 

IrelandXO member

Hi Coleen, thanks for laying out what you have so clearly. Since I last wrote you I had a chance meeting with someone who may be able to help us. Give me a few days to see if there is some connection with your family.

The church records that might help would be any marriage records for 

Maurice or Timothy 1891

Christine Mary 1896

John Joseph 1897

or Henry 1899 which could lead us to your cousins.

This would be an onerous search though for the volunteers in the RC Parish so let me see if this person I met can help first.

Another avenue of research would be http://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ for a small subscription you could search for newpaper entries of your family members, obituaries/memoriams/anniversary remembrances

There are no Mc Enerys listed in the telephone book for Lixnaw.

Fingers crossed I might be onto something

Martine

 

IrelandXO member

Oh, I will check out he news archive for sure ....I hadn't seen it before...I have been trying to find somewhere online I could look through old newspapers!

Keeping my crossed! Thanks so much!

Happy weekend!

 

Coleen

IrelandXO member

Coleen,
I think we may be related through my maternal great grandmother Christine who was a McEnery from Blennerville outside tralee. Her mother was the post mistress in the village. Christine's father was a soldier in the Canadian Army from what i understand and my grandmother Mary, Christine's daughter still lives in Tralee!
Hopefully you will receive this...

ciaramcostello…

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