Ancestors on Clare Island and in Louisburgh
The earliest ancestor I find in this parish is Thomas Gibbons of Tohermore, Bunnamahon, Kilgeever. That's on the southern side of Clare Island, out towards the furthest point of land. He was born around 1795, died in 1879 at Islandeady near Westport. His wife was Honor Ruddy. He may have had a second marriage as there appears other children born to Thomas Gibbons on Clare with a mother, first name Brigid. In all events, William Gibbons, born to Thomas in 1852, married Mary Malley, b. 1854, daughter of Owen Malley, on 22 Feb 1876. Three children were born to this couple on Clare Island at Tohermore, Catherine, Patrick, and John. The later died young. William and Mary left the farm and went to live on Bridge Street in Louisburgh on a property that had been in the Malley family . Eight more children were born there. They lived over the pub butcher shop where my son's grandfather, William Gibbons (2) was born in 1894. William (2) came to America in 1915, served in WWI in the US Navy, became a street car conductor in Brooklyn, NY and thence a NY City policeman, had 7 children, among them, William Gibbons (3) now deceased. The pub, after passing through several Gibbons peoprietors, became the Bunowen Inn.