Cíall Agus Neart
(Wisdom and Strength)
♱
ERECTED BY THE VERY REV JAMES
HENNESSY O’CONNELL PP MELBOURNE
AUSTRALIA TO THE MEMORY OF HIS
GRANDFATHER EDMOND O’CONNELL
AND HIS FATHER JAMES O’CONNELL
DIED JUNE 3 1868 WHO WAS ALSO
FATHER OF CHEVALIER MICHAEL
O’CONNELL KNIGHT OF POPE PIUS IX
DIED JULY 1864 AND SISTER MARY
BRENDAN O’CONNELL DIED NOV 4 1904
PRESENTATION CONVENT LISTOWEL RIP
Exactly who is buried in this tomb, the inscription doesn’t make clear. What we do know is that Edmond is the earliest recorded name we have found of the New Zealand branch of our O’Connell Clan. Family Lore says we were “O’Connells of Causeway and Riversdale.” Riversdale was an early name for Kilmorna House in Knockanure Parish. There is a Church of Ireland (COI) marriage license for Edward O’Connell of Gale Parish and Frances Wall, on the 25 May 1795 in Kilnaughtin Parish.[1] Because of the Penal Laws, licensing a marriage within the COI was the only way a Catholic could ensure the inheritance of his protestant wife. They would almost certainly have had a ceremony within the Catholic church but these records no longer exist. The witnesses to this record aren’t that clear as the image has been cut off but they look like John Sand… and Richard W… (possibly John Sandes and Richard Wall). Their children were:
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James O’Connell, bc. 1800, m. in 1836 Anna Hennessy in Ballybunion parish, d. 3rd June 1868, at Lahardane, aged 68, leaving issue.
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Richard O’Connell, bt. 18th December 1802 in Listowel Parish, p: Edmondi O’Connell and Phanita Wall sp: Joannis Conell, Margreta Wall.
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Maurice O’Connell, bc. 1808, m. Ellen McElligott on the 5th of February 1853 in Abbeydorney parish, d. on the 26th of April 1889 in Victoria, leaving issue.
Frances Wall must have died sometime before the 1820’s as family lore says there was a second marriage in Ireland and that we were now “O’Connells of Ballyegan.” The baptism records for Edmond O’Connell and Bridget Costelloe’s children show they were originally of Lackaboy, held 1823 by Barry Gunn Esq., but moved to Ballyegan, held 1825 by John Raymond, sometime around 1836. They had the following children:
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Julia O’Connell, bc. 1825. m. 23rd January 1845, Ballybunion, John Purtill. wt: Michael Purtel, Maurice Sweeney.
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Catherine O’Connell, bc. 1831. m. 1st September 1852, Ballybunion, Martin Griffin. wt: Maurice Sweeny, Denis Connell.
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Margaret O’Connell of Lacabee, bt. 24th August 1832, Ballybunion. p: Edi. O’Connell, Bridget Costelloe. sp: Bridget Lynch.
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Honora O’Connell of Lakabee, bt. 4th November 1833, Ballybunion. p: Edmundi O’Connell, Brigida Costillo. sp: Michael Mulvihill, Mary Mulvihill.
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Johanna O’Connell of Ballyegan, bt. 14th October 1838, Ballybunion. p: Ed. O’Connell, Bridget Costelloe. sp: Juliana Gallivin.
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Robert O’Connell of Ballyegan, bt. 5th April 1841, Ballybunion. p: Ed. O’Connell, Bridget Costello. sp: Juliana Gallivin.
Edmond and Bridget retired to Ballydonoghue townland in Galey parish where they were leasing a house and gardens from Dr. Raymond in 1850.[2] Ed must have died soon after, leaving Bridget as the head of the household when she appeared in Griffith’s Valuation, leasing from Samuel Raymond, in 1851.[3]
Sources:
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NLI COI Parish Registers/Marriages/Kilnaughtin/25 May 1795. ►
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NAI Valuation Books of Ireland/Tenure Books/Ballydonohoe/1850. ►
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Griffith's Valuation of Ireland/Ballydonohoe/1851. ►
References:
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FITZGERALD, Kathleen. Edward O’Connell and Letitia Gildea. 2002. ►
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FORD, Dennis. Eight Generations: The Story of Our Family. iUniverse, 2011, pp 30-41. ►