Some of the Learys

We just saw that Ellen's aunt Bridget Leary married John Shea of Miniflagh in 1874. 

I heard that some of their sons went to Chicago - my mother met some of them about 1939 when she went out to a family funeral in Chicago.

The children I found were:

1. James Shea of Moneyflugh was baptized 4 November 1879 - sponsors were Daniel Coffey and Mary Shea. I heard that he went to New York or New Jersey.
2. Michael Shea of Moniflugh was baptized 11 October 1881 - sponsors were Daniel Hallissey and Mary Leary.  I wonder if this sponsor Mary Leary was Bridget's sister that I found on the website?
3. John Shea of Moneyflagh was born 30 October 1883 and baptized 3 November 1883 - sponsors were James Leary and Bridget Neil. Was sponsor James Leary Bridget's brother?
4. Bridget Shea of Moneyflugh was born 23 October and baptized 28 October 1885 - sponsors were Jeremiah Shea and Joanna Crowley. This was Bernie Brennan's mother - we mentioned him above. He said that Bridget went to New York and New Jersey.
5. Mary Shea of Moneyflugh was born 22 October and baptized 27 October 1888 - sponsors were our Miles Moriarty and Helen Leary.
6. Julia Shea of Moneyflugh was born on 30 June and baptized 6 July 1890 - sponsors were James Leary and Bridget Leary. Which Learys were these sponsors?  Bernie Brennan said that Julia Shea went to New York or New Jersey.                                   
7. 18 May 1878 Jeremiah Shea of Moniflugh is baptized - he was the oldest child of Bridget Leary and John Shea, but I saved him for last. Sponsors are James Leary and Joanna Shea. Jer Shea inherited the homestead in Moneyflagh. He married Margaret/Mae Goddard. 

Johnny Murphy remembers Mae Goddard but not Jer Shea. Johnny Murphy talks about the time, when he was about 16, that a pig was killed in the Shea's old house with Mae Goddard in bed in the next room and the small children upstairs.

John Shea and Mae Goddard's house was bought and renovated as  a holiday home.

Jer and Mae Shea had: 

Paddy Joe Shea who inherited the homestead - he married Eileen from Waterville who died young from cancer on February 1981.  

                              MEM and Paddy Joe Shea

Paddy and Eileen had three children - Jerry Shea who is farming the home place, Margaret Shea who married a Falvey in Kenmare - they have 2 children, and Bina Shea.

Jerry Shea shearing sheep in Gortdromagh and two visitors.

Jer Shea's daughter Sheila Shea married neighbor Paddy Fitzgerald of Moneyflagh - he died in 1948 after a tragic accident while working for the ESB, I think. Sheila then married the tailor Michael Shea who died of arthritis on 28 September 1975 - he was 55 years old. Sheila died at 87 on 27 August 2008 of heart disease. 

Sheila had children with both husbands. I don't know them all. 

Michael Shea drowned. 
Jim Shea, born 28 May 1963, married Breda from Ballybunion and had a son James Shea. Jim worked for the Kerry County Council around Sneem - he died suddenly of heart disease on 10 August 2009 within a year of his mother. Breda and James are still in Sneem.

Breda's father, Jim Shea, Sheila Shea, John Paul Breen of Moneyflagh, MEM and my John Brendan Murphy.

Breda, James, and Jim Shea outside the house on Sportsfield Road.

    Breda and James Shea, MEM, and Sheila Shea at their house.

Jamesy Breen of Moneyflagh and Jim Shea in Breens' hayfield in Moneyflagh in 1984.

Gravestone listing Patrick Fitzgerald, Michael O'Shea (tailor,) his son Michael John O'Shea, Julia/Sheila Shea, and James Anthony O'Shea.

Jer Shea and Mae Goddard had another daughter. Peg Shea married her neighbor, Michael Fitzgerald of Moneyflagh - her sister Sheila's brother-in-law. They had two children. Mary Fitzgerald married and was living in the Tralee area. Pat Fitzgerald farms the home place. He married Pauline Frost  - they have several children and now grandchildren.

Pat Fitzgerald in Breens' hay field in 1984. Breens were his neighbors in Moneyflagh.

Jer Shea and Mae Goddard had another daughter - Mollie Shea - but I don't really know anything about her.

Their son, Jack Shea, married a Connell from Derrah. I believe they separated or divorced, and Jack returned to Moneyflagh. He used to come and stay in Gortdromagh at times. Nana Murphy used to do his laundry.

24 January 1888 Ellen Leary's uncle James Leary of Bohocogram marries Bridget Sullivan of North Gerah.

1. 20 November 1889 Mary Leary of Bohocogram is born to James Leary and Bridget Sullivan. She is baptized 27 November 1889. Sponsors are Michael Leary and Julie Leary.
2. 21 January 1892 Bridget Leary of Bohocogrum is born. She is baptized on the 23rd. Sponsors are our Miles Moriarty and Ellen Leary.
3. 17 February 1895 Patrick Leary is born - he is baptized 25 February. Sponsors are John Sullivan and Ellen Sullivan.
4. 16 January 1898 Julia Leary is born to James Leary and Bridget Sullivan. She is baptized 20 January 1898. Sponsors are Michael Leary and Julia Sullivan.
5. John Leary was 2 months old in the 1901 Irish Census - House 4 - grandmother Mary Leary is 60 years old.
6. Michael Leary was 7 years old 10 years later in the 1911 Irish Census in House 9 in Bohocogram.
7. James Francis Leary was 2 years old in this 1911 Irish Census.

We know Mike Leary inherits the farm in Bohocogram. He marries Nora Dorohy from Aranmore. They have several children but I only know the three sons who live in Sneem.

Jim Leary marries Josie who was a teacher in the Sneem School. They settle in Julia Leary's farm in Bohocogram.

Paddy Dennehy of Ardmore, Josie Leary, Jim Shea, Jim Leary of Bohocogram, Michael Burns of Seaview, and Sheila Casey of Loughane - at a party in Bohocogram in 1984.

Paddy Leary married Mary of Waterville - Paddy took over the Leary homestead.

Vinnie Leary married Catherine Shea of Goulanes. They settled in his mother's homestead.

MEM and Vinnie Leary

Catherine Leary, Vinnie's wife, and Mary Leary, Paddy's wife.

11 February 1890 Ellen Leary's sister Julia Leary marries Patrick "Patsy Cran" Currane of Ardmore. Henry Leary is their witness.  Julia marries and moves into the Currane homestead in Ardmore with her father-in-law Denis Currane and her mother-in-law Joanna Cahillane.  Denis is still listed as head of this family in 1901 - Patsy Cran and Julia have two children - Patrick and Abbigail. 

By 1911 Patsy Cran is the head of the family - the old pair is not listed. Julia has had 7 children but only 4 are living.

1. 24 February 1891 Patrick Currane of Ardmore is born. sponsors are Patrick Crowley and Bridget Leary.
2. 30 October 1892 Abigail Currane of Ardmore is born. Sponsors are Michael Leary and Johanna Crowley. Abby was my grandmother's best friend. My grandmother left Sneem in 1912 and did not go back until the early 1950s. She saw Abby at Mass but did not recognize her. She was sad that no one re-introduced them. Abby marries McCarthy of Upper Glenlough and they had:   

       Bridget McCarthy who married and lived in England.   
       Mary McCarthy worked in England but returned to live with      her brother in Upper Glenlough. She eventually retired to Seaview. 
                                                                                                                                            

   Danno McCarthy farmed the home place - he eventually retired to Seaview also.

My Danno Murphy and Danno McCarthy in Loughane about 1984.

MEM and Danno

3.  Denis Currane was 8 in the 1911 census - he was attending school.

4. Molly Currane was 6 in the 1911 census - I think she was born the same year as Uncle Mike John L.  Molly marries Peter Crowley of Beal/Bohocogram, one of the local postmen.  

Molly Crowley in front of her cottage in Beal in 1982.

Mollie and Peter Crowley had several children:

Nonie Crowley who marries, lives in England, and has 3 children.
Tess Crowley
Joan Crowley - never marries.
Bridie Crowley - never marries.
John Crowley who inherits the homestead and also works as a postman in Sneem. He retired to Tir na Og nursing home.

My aunt Hannie Huliston, Molly and John Crowley in Sneem in front of the Ould Ceiling in 1987.

I had a notebook full of information about the Learys that I had acquired over the years, but I left it in Gortdromagh when we moved back to Watertown - I never found it when we returned on visits. 

I hope this helps my family figure out how we are related to some of the "cousins" that they have met in Sneem.

Now back to Ellen Leary's young family.