Irwins of Feenagh

This is a Death transcription record of Michael Irwin who was born in Feenagh Limerick. He died on the 5th.June 1882 in Toowoomba Queensland Australia. His father is listed as William Irwin. He married Honoria Horrigan who was born in Kanturk Ireland abt 1830. They married in England aby 1855. I would like to hear from anyone from his family as I have a story to share about him.

In researching the Lyons, McKasy and McAuliffe families in the Milford area of co Cork just south of limerick and east of Drumcollier, Limerick, an old handwritten letter dated 1880 (just after the death of Patrick Irwin New Orleans) was passed to us in MD from a McKasy family in Burnsville, MN. The letter was obviously written in an attempt to claim some heritance.  These families, as early catholic tenant farmers at Gibbings Grove, Milford immigrated to LeSueur MN between abt 1855-1860.  SEE https://www.wikitree.com/index.php?title=Irwin-6490&errcode=saved  ;

Patrick Lyons of Milford married Mary Irwin, daughter of Edward Irwin and Mary Mulane of the Parish of Feenagh, County of Limerick, Ireland. Edward is reported the Uncle of Patrick of New Orleans.  Patrick Lyons had followed Patrick Irwin to New Orleans and was never heard from.

Hi Mike,

Interested in where you sourced information on Patrick Irwin's uncle.

Hi Bertelsen,

Interested in hearing further details  about Michael Irwin born 1835. I have details on three William Irwin's living in Feenaghin that period  but none of them match his details. All of them had sons named Michael.

Hi all, 

I am a descendent of the Irwins and I still live in Feenagh in Co. Limerick, presumably in the same house that Patrick Irwin of New Orleans originated from. I would love to know any more information that you have on the Irwins, and  I could be of any assistance to you.

Hi All

I am not an Irwin, but i was researching my grandfather Dan Buckley. Sometime in 1921 according to military records, Daniel “and his family took over, under some contractual arrangement, the reviving and working of a farm for John Irwin of Feenagh. Dan was, at the time a drill instructor and undertook local IRA company activities". His father had a farm in nearby Tooreenagreana. I can see names of a Pat Irwin from the same company (E Company Feeagh) who went to Australia at some stage after the war (as did my grandfather. He was listed as a volunteer in 1921 (but not on the list in 1922). Just wondering if anyone in Feenagh knows more of John, Pat or this "contractual arrangement"

Thanks

Linda

Hi Linda,

The John Irwin (1859/1935) you refer to had a 240 acre farm in Gortmore, Feenagh. John had no direct descendants so he may have had an arrangement with Dan Buckley to manage the farm for him as he would have been sixty two years old in 1921. After John died the farm was inherited by his nephew William Dick Irwin. The farm is still in the ownership of his grandchildren.

John had inherited the farm from his father William (1805/1864), who was an extensive farmer and was active in local politics being a member of the local authority, (The Board of Guardians ). He was also an active supporter of the Repeal Movement and The Land League Campaign. 

William had four other sons besides John. They were William, Richard, Michael who were farmers, and Edward who was a Cistercian monk in Roscrea.  

Michael who lived in Highmount, Feenagh had five sons one of whom Patrick emigrated to Australia.

This Patrick then would have been John of Gortmore's first cousin.  

Regards,

Edward Irwin

ps My great great grandfather Edmond (1808/1882) was a brother of William of Gothmore. 

Thanks Edward - that is helpful to know...puts a small piece in the very large jigsaw puzzle of family history

Linda

Linda, I was not aware that there was an IRA company (E Company) in Feenagh during the war of independence. Do you have some details or references to it.

The only local activist that I am aware of was John Quaid a first cousin of my grandmothers.

He was an IRA judge during that period. His house was burned by the Black and Tans in 1921.

Edward

Edward

I have records of the company and the names of the men. This is the list of men for the 1st date of 11 July 1921, My grandfather has a record of service 1971 - 1921. There was also a 2nd critical date of 1 July 1922 and it also had a list of people in E company 3rd Batt (only 30 men by then including my grandfather). These records were used to establish pensions as the First Dail recognised the IRA as a legitimate army.

Linda

Linda

Thanks for sending me the records.They are most interesting.

I recognise some of the people listed as they were alive when I was growing up in the 1950's.

I was unaware of their involvement in the IRA.

There was a book written by Tom Toomey a local historian about the War of Independence in County Limerick that you may be interested in.

Bibliographic information

Linda,

Attached list of County Limerick recipients who received pensions.

Appears that only one of E company Feenagh got a pension Charles McCarthy.

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1956-02-08/45/

Perhaps it was hard to get a pension or not many applied?

My Grandad must have heard about being eligible for a pension and applied (with a letter of recommendation from people in Australia) but it was sent from Australia in January 1934 and arrived in Ireland on March 1934. Unfortunately, the cut off for applications was the 9 Dec 1933, so they refused the application. Reading about his history - he could have certainly done with that money!

I will see if I can get that book - thanks for the recommendation. I have a book by Mossy Harnett called Victory and Woe which gives a good indication of some of the activities etc during that time.

Linda

LINDA,

Yes I believe that it was very difficult to get those IRA pensions. It was unfortunate that your grandfathers application was late.

In relation to his association with John Irwin there was a practice at that time called Dairying, whereby someone would take over the management and operation of a dairy farm and share the profits with the owner.

I have attached an account of an IRA ambush in Dromcolliher in May 1921.

It is probable that your granddad would have been involved in it.

https://dromheritage.ie/Ambush.html

Edward Irwin

Thanks Edward. I had found that detailed ambush account. Dan was an Instructor for the Brigade. There isnt much direct information about that Company but it did say generally and they “held weekly drills and parades and on certain occasions received special instructions from Brigade officers”. They “‘re-organised in March 1919’ (and Dan Buckley was on that list) and “continued secret drilling biweekly and sent quota to barn Ballingarry vacated RIC barracks. Mails were also captured in the area and censored”. Not sure if you can read this but this is the reference to John Irwin and the "contractual arrangement"

Linda

Dear Edward,

Hello cousin!

My name is Jane Irwin. My grandfather was Michael Irwin from Highmount, a son of Michael Irwin who was one of the sons of William Irwin (1813-1864).

My grandfather, who died in 1973, was therefore a brother of the Patrick Irwin who went to Australia. I know he had siblings Jack Irwin and Mrs Lane.

I have been trying to sort out the Irwin connections, but with so many of the Irwins having the same names, I struggle to figure out the relationships, especially given that I don't know Limerick well.

The information you posted is very interesting and fills some gaps.

Was your great great grandfather from Ahadagh?

I would love to learn more.

Thank you,

Jane Irwin

Hi Jane,

Could you message or What's App me, and I will send you a short history of The Irwins of Feenagh that I wrote last year.

Michael of Highmount's family included William, Michael, Edmund, Patrick, Jack and Ellen.

My grandfather Edward T was a grandson of Edmond of Ahadagh.(1806/1882). His brother was William of Gortmore from whom your side of the family is descended.

Their father was also a William (1777/1846). Difficult to follow with all the Williams. There were seven of them alive at one stage.

Hello edwardirwin, I just found your message from last year re Michael Irwin. I have attached a story that I wrote about his family in Australia. My e-mail address is bert.margo@live.com.au

Regards

Bert

Hi Edward,

I would love to read your history of the Irwins, thank you. I am new to this site so am not sure how to send a message directly.

I had little contact with my father's family and have no idea what became of his aunts and uncles, but I have managed to put together some information using the internet and old newspaper reports.

Best wishes,

Jane

Hi Jane,

My telephone number is: 00353872666655.

If you message me your email address I will send you a copy of the history.

As its a family history I do not want to send it through Ireland Reaching out which is a public site.

Edward

Hello Edward, I did attach a file not sure if you read it or not. That story is of Michael Irwin, however my 2 X gg grandfather was Henry Irwin. I would appreciate any information on the Irwins. My e-mail address is bert.margo@live.com.au

Regards

Bert

Hi Edward,

I have sent you my email address - I am up in Dublin, so not too far away!

Many thanks, Jane