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Researching my O'Keefe (Keeffe) ancestors

MeathMitchelstown (Meath)

My wife and I made our first trip to Ireland from October 5-22, 2012.  We had the best vacation imaginable.  The first 10 days we traveled with a coach tour around the North and West Coast.  We visited Belfast, Dunluce, Donegal, Sliebh Liag, Glenveigh, Achill Island, Westport, Galway, and of course the Cliffs and the Burren.  We then rented a car and spent the next 7 days from Doolin to Glenbeigh to the Skellig Islands, to Killarney.  The most memorable part of the trip for me was visiting County Cork, specifically Mitchelstown, Mallow and the Galtee Mountains.  The Parish Secretary at Mitchelstown was very helpful in locating the baptismal record of my GGGrandfather, Thomas O'Keeffe, son of David Keeffe and Eliza Ryal.  Thomas was baptized 20 April 1828.  She also located the baptismal record of Thomas' brother, Maurice, 24 April 1824.  This family emmigrated to Baltimore, Maryland on the Barque Lafayette in July 1838.  We spent 3 days in the Mitchelstown area, visiting the O'Keeffe Castle at Dromagh, driving The Vee around to Lismore, and driving around the Galtee Mtns. to the Glen of Aherlow.  At St. Fanahan's Well we met a woman who was most helpful and friendly.  She was also a genealogist and she invited us to her home to share what information she could find on my O'Keeffe ancestors.  The warm hospitality of her and her husband will long be remembered.  After we arrived home, I received records from Mallow Heritage Center, that confirmed the findings at Mitchelstown, plus a marriage record from Kildorrery Parish for my GGGGrandfather, David Keeffe, address Mitchelstown, and Elizabeth Reily, address Ballysonac, on February 5, 1812.  Witnesses to the marriage were John Kennedy and Jeremiah Lyne.

I have recently joined Irelandxo, Kildorrery and Mitchelstown Parishes with the possibility of connecting with other O'Keeffe Researchers.  The wife of David Keeffe, from Mitchelstown was listed as Elizabeth (or Eliza) Ryal (or Reily).  Also, the name Lyne is frequently listed with the witnesses of baptisms.  The names of the children of David and Eliza who emmigrated to the States are Arthur, William, Johanna, Patrick, Maurice, and Thomas.  There were also 2 daughters, Mary and Ellen, who probably married and stayed in Ireland.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Dennis Seitz

Dennis Seitz

9 replies

HiDennis

My name is Doreen, and I am involved in the Ireland Reaching Out Project in the Ballyhoura area.  I will pass your message on to the community group in Mitchelstown who may be of assistance to you.  Im glad you enjoyed your visit to Ireland.  I know of an interior designer named Myra Ryal who is from Doneraile, Co. Cork.  It s  a long shot, but she may be a relative.  You will find her on facebook . http://www.facebook.com/myra.ryall

Regards Doreen

Ballyhoura CIrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for the reply, Doreen.  The Ireland Reaching Out concept is a great idea.  My wife and I hope to return again but it probably won't be this year.  We were a year early for "The Gathering".  I have a cousin, however, who is planning a trip in the fall.  I am hoping that someone has compiled the family records for the Mitchelstown area O'Keeffe's.  Our family emmigrated from Mitchelstown in 1838.  I am very curious why they might have left for America, and if they were traveling with others from Mitchelstown on the same ship.  I'm not positive if Elizabeth was a Ryal or a Reily.  I have found both names for her and am not sure which is correct.

Thanks again,

Dennis

Dennis Seitz

Hi. I hope I am not interrupting. I am a little lost. One of my three ancestor lines are a Catholic family from Mitchelstown. They came to Australia around 1839/1841 and opend up farmlande on the Western slopes of NSW, They became a large respected [group of] families. I believe the household head was a John O'Keeffe, his wife Catherine Flemming. A son John was born around 1795 and married a Mary Thornhill 30/01/1830 at Mitchelstown.  I think "brother" John and his family came abroad the Portland 11/03/1841 He established a NSW property called "NEWTOWN or NEWTON" [the name may be relevant to a Mitchelstown locality]. My dilemna is that three older brothers are noted, namely John, Jerimiah and William BUT no mentionis made of Luke who we believe to be another older brother born around 1791 at Mitchelstown. He married a Mary MacCarthy before coming to Victoria around 1839  then on to NSW 1841 to be with live/farm with the other family members at NEWTON.Luke and Mary had amongst others, a son Daniel, born Ireland 1830. Did any of this show up in your Okeeffe research? My grandmother was an Okeeffe, grandaughter of Daniel. Any feedback will be appreciated. Kind regards John Morris.

IrelandXO member

Hello John;

Good to hear from you.  I have not been able to find much information except for the ship passenger list of the Barque Lafayette in July 1838 from Liverpool to Baltimore, Maryland.  Looks as though my GGGGrandfather, David O'Keefe and his wife, Eliza Ryal (or Reilly) came to America with their children, William, Johanna, Patrick, Maurice, and Thomas.  From the State Archives of the Catholic Church at Annapolis, Maryland, I found that Thomas was from Mitchelstown, County Cork.  This past October I found his baptismal record at the Parish Center at Mitchelstown.  Also, the Mallow Heritage Center found a marriage record for David Keefe and Eliza Ryal at Kildorrery Parish.

The dates of your ancestors match up fairly close to mine.  Your John could have been a first cousin to my David, however the first names of the children are different.  I have not found a Luke or Jerimiah in the family names of my O'Keefe's.  There was a Daniel 2 generations later here in York County, Pennsylvania.

I am hoping that a researcher from Kildorrery or Mitchelstown Parish will find a link to connect the O'Keefe's back in the late 1700's, but records back then are scarce.  If I had access to, and the time to go through the Baptismal records, Marriage Records, and Cemetery Data,  I might be able to find a connection.  But it will be a while before I can make another trip to Ireland.  Good luck in your research and keep me informed if you find anything.

Sincerely,

Dennis Seitz

Dennis Seitz

Hi dennis I am doing research into my o'keefe side as well. my gggggrandfather and gggggrandmother were mentioned in your post above eliza ryal (or variant) and david keefe. I was wondering if you found out any more information or perhaps could talk. I anxiously await your reply.

Heather Phillips.

btw my grandfather is the son of Raphael Daniel o'keefe, son of Daniel p o'keefe, son of Thomas o'keefe, son of david keefe (okief)

IrelandXO member

 

 

My name is Colgan I have  Keefe's in my family name from MITCHLESTOWN. Through my mothers line Cahill her grand father Thomas Cahill 1839  1913 married Hannah O' Keefe of Robert Street Mitchlestown. Just inside the gate of the Catholic church is a family grave stone for the O Keeffe's  Thomas O Keeffe died 2nd Feb1898 age 84 and his wife Eliza age 62 died Jan`1889 also their daughters Mrs Nora Mulins  Mrs Eliza Finn mrs Mary Casy and grand sons Con Cahill William Casy and of James O keeffe died 26 June 1937 and sister Kate died died 21 Feb 1949.  I understand some part of the Mullins ended up in Chicagp  I wonder if you have any possible co0nnections to the above. my e mail chggf@btinternet.com Out of interest to you I know the Lismore area very well as i lived in the townland for about 12 years and I am based in London  I look forward to hearing from you.  ciaran colgan

over sight  there were nine Cahills born into Hannah's family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Casey

Additional n ote I Have on third party record a Thomas O keeffe1814  1898 and Eliza O Halloran  18 27  1889 grandson Con Cahill 

Casey

Record 1901  James  47  and Kate  37 brother and sister lived NO 3 Robert St Mitchlestown.

Casey

THOMAS O KEEFFE 1898 (84Y)   /   ELIZA NEE O HAALORAN 1889  (62Y)

NORA ( MULLINS)....USA       KATE 1949      ELIZA ( FINN)    JAMES 1937     MARY (CASEY).....USA  HANNAH

TOM CAHILL1837/1913 / HANNAH 0 KEEFFE  (.......  1920)

WILLIAM     MARY KATE   ELIZA   JOE  HANNAH   NONIE   MARTHA  THOMAS  JAMES   JOHN

CHGGF@BTINTERNET.COM

 

Casey

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