Neil family of Annagh, Galbally and the O'Dea family, possibly of Kilteely Parish
Hello all,
Firstly, a big thank you to MaryTV and Carolyn for helping me earlier this month with a query about my great-granduncle Fr Michael Barry who emigrated to Butte, Montana.
I have a new query regarding the same family line. I am trying to do more research on Fr Michael's and my great-grandmother Mary Leahy's (née Barry) maternal grandparents.
My great-grandmother's parents were Edmond Barry (1851-1926) of Glenlara (Glenlary), Glenbrohane, and Mary O'Dea (1846-1919) of Annagh, Galbally. After their marriage they moved to the adjacent townland of Ballinvreena, Glenbrohane. Mary O'Dea (or sometimes spelt Dea, Dee or Day) was born in 1846 to Michael O'Dea and Honora Neil (or sometimes Nail or Neal). I am unsure where exactly Michael O'Dea comes from as he clearly takes over the Neil farm in Annagh in Galbally at some point after his marriage as he appears a tenant in Annagh in Griffith's Valuation of 1852 and there are no remaining tenants from the Neil family. If I go back another generation I can see who I believe is Honora Neil's father, Conor Neil, is a tenant in Annagh in the 1830 Tithe Applotment Books along with a Patrick Neil. They both lease land in the townlands of Annagh and Galbally. It is possible that the last remaining male members of Honora's family either died or emigrated but I have very little information about her siblings. I have found a Patrick, Judy, Bridget and Mary but there may have been others.
Michael O'Dea I believe was born in about 1813 but where exactly I am not sure. He died on 20th June 1885 in Annagh but he is buried in the graveyard in Kilteely in plot that contains several O'Dea headstones. I imagine he came from Kilteely Parish but it's difficult to ascertain exactly how he is related to the other individuals in the adjacent graves and I'm unsure where to start looking for a baptismal record. His grave is LI-KTLY-0061 at historicgraves.com and graves 0062 to 0069 are all O'Dea.
Honora Neil was possibly born either in June 1814 or June 1816 to Connor Neil and Mary Ryan. There are entries for both dates in the Galbally-Aherlow parish baptismal records, the earlier record appears to state Honor rather than Honora and it indicates that Connor Neil is of Annagh, while the later entry in 1816 states Honora with the same parents' names but there is no location given. It's possible that an earlier child died and she was simply named after her but I also wonder if she is daughter of Patrick Neil of Annagh. I haven't been able to find any connection between Honora and Patrick though so I've stuck with Connor as my possible 4-times great-grandfather. Honora died on 16th January 1892 at her daughter Lizzie O'Dwyer's residence in Drishane which is a townland near the village of Donaskeigh, not far from Tipperary Town.
I would be grateful if anyone has any information or advice on the O'Deas and Neils. I imagine that most of the Neils emigrated as the land on the Annagh side of Galbally is pretty poor and still is today, since it's prone to flooding and is quite boggy. I'm not sure I have all her siblings' names and I haven't been able to determine if they emigrated.
I am attaching a snapshot of this line of my family tree from Ancestry if it's any help.