O'Rourke

Thank you Bill this is really helpful. It has been extremely dfficult to find out any information from the family as there is a lot of hearsay but no one left alive to verify. I was only able to get a birth record once the WW1 records were released recently. Denis James (the Grandfather of my husband) signed up to the Army in 1915 in Southampton at the age of 39. He was assigned to the Royal Engineers Inland Waterways and Docks Division. He also served in the 425 Agricultural Corp from 1917. He spent 23 days in hospital with Influenza in 1918 so was lucky to survive. Before 1915 I have no idea where he was or what he was doing. By finding this birth record I am trying to work from this. Yesterday I heard that Denis had fallen out with his family as a young man, but where he went is a mystery. His Father apparently went to Dublin and ran a pub possibly called the White Star, but I have nothing more than that.

Is it possible to trace the Meara family any further? I would like to also find out where James Rourke came from. I haven't as yer found him to be local to the Borrisokane area. If you have any ideas as to where I could resaearch from here I would be very grateful. Thank you for your help.

Kind regards

Sarah O'Rourke

Thank you so much Bill I will.

Kind regards

Sarah

Sarah I just came accross your post here as I am searching for my great grandparents who came from Kilbarron. My dad was Raymond O Rourke son of Patrick O Rourke. My grandfather had a brother Denis O Rourke who went to England fought in the war. Denis marroed a Catherine Duff. I have contacted other relatives and I am trying to put it all together but I think your husbands grandfather is part of the same family.

Hello Marie

I would be very interested in any info about your family tree, it has taken a lot of searching to get what little I have on the Rourkes/O'Rourkes of Kilbarron. Our Denis was born in Bellview, Kilbarron in 1876. His parents were James Rourke and Mary Meara/Mara. I have no details about his life from birth until 1915 when he signed up to the Army in Southampton in 1915. In 1916 he married a local girl and lived in Southampton until his death in 1945. He did have a brother Patrick. On quickly checking your info I have found one marriage record for Denis O'Rourke and Catherine Duff in Gloucestershire in 1944. This wouldn't be the same Denis is ours. Where are your Dad Raymond, and you from? I don't have a Raymond listed in my tree. If you would like to talk more, please email me at : orourkes@hotmail.com where I can give you more of what I know.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes

Sarah

Sarah Denis was a brother of my grandad Patrick O Rourke because my grandads brother married a Cathrine Duff. I am getting more information this week from my dads first cousin so as soon as I get it I will email you what I have. Your husbands grandad Denis was an uncle to my dad Raymond. Denis was a brother to my grandad Patrick. This is exciting.x

Now Catherine I just read again that its a different Denis. I wonder are they related?