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Good Day,

This is what I know from an old family document I found from my deceased mom. She spoke very little about her father James Cahir, She was the youngest of 5 growing up and he died at only 57. She only ever said his parents were both Irish that it was a tough life with no details given. I have this history below about his parents and grandparents and I am trying to put the peices together and how and why they came to America. How did his Grand Parents survive the famine and fever. What did he do for work. He lived to be 66 years old.

 I would love to visit Kilfenora one day, perhaps find a pictures of my family and perhaps find my Great Great Grandparents Grave in Kilfenora if it could be found.

My Great Great Grandfather- Thomas Cahir was born 1813 and Died 5/4/1879 born and died in Ballybreen, Kilfenora

My Great Great Grandmother- Catherine Cahir (McDonough)  Born circa 1820 and died ?  County Clare is all I have on her.

Their Son, Michael Cahir (my Great Grand father)  was born 1/1/1846 in Ballybreen Kilfenora. I found a record online that showed he migrated to the USA July 5th, 1866 when he was 20 years old. He died 10/20/1917 in Providence Rhode Island (Where I was born) I have found his grave in Providence. And his son (my Grandfather is also buried with him)

Michael Cahir son was James Cahir (my Grandfather).

James Cahir was born 11/9/1886 and died 6/17/1943 both born and died in Rhode Island. He was only 57 when he died. As I said again my mom rarely spoke of her father or her grandparents. She said she heard that the Irish life was hard. Thats all I remember. I dont have any picture of him or his grandparents. I have no story of how they came over. Did they come together? I cannot find anything on Michael's wife Catherine Cahir (Hanley) . All I have is she was Born  Feb 1856 "Ireland" and died 5/24/1941 in Providence RI. There is no grave for Catherine Cahir (Hanley). That I can even find in Rhode Island with her husband Michael. Maybe they did not add the names of everyone. So I am at least happy I have found their graves but would love to know how they came to America. I would love to know what my great great grandparents did in Kilfenora!

My Grandfather James married my grandmother Marie Cahir (deReyff). She lived till she was 95 ! I remember her very well growing up but she never spoke of the hardships of her grandparents in Ireland. She wouldnt speak of it.

Thats what I have. I know its not much but maybe someone in Kilfenora could know where My Great Great Grandparents are burried. I would go and pay tribute. I would like to see where my Great Grandfather and Grand Mother were born and see the crosses and would love to know the port that they left Ireland to come to America. To be so brave at 20!

Sincerely

Joan Beisel

 

user_157494

Sunday 29th Mar 2020, 09:28PM

Message Board Replies

  • Hi,
    This is "a" Michael Cahir death record, from Ballybreen, the same year you have for Thomas.
    https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_retu…

    This is site link.
    https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/
    Ballybreen, the registration district is Ennistymon, but you could also look under Ennis (the county town of County Clare)
    By 1911 there were only 2 Cahir people in the ares of Kilfenora.

    This site may help too.
    Good Luck

    Margot

    Monday 30th Mar 2020, 02:09PM
  • Dear Joan:

    You will find that the Clare Library will be of some assistance to you with the large number of online sources that they have.  Here is the link to the site with Kilfenora parish:

    http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilfenora.htm

    Under the above link you will see that the parish registers have been transcribed and I can see that James Cahir had 3  siblings and that the four baptism records are contained within this transcription as follows:

    1.  James Caher (note that Cahir can be spelled either with an 'i' or an 'e'.  Baptised 24 January 1852.  His parents were:  Thomas Caher and Kate McDonough.  Sponsors were:  Thomas Callaghan and Jane McMahon. 

    2.  Mary Caher baptised 12 August 1846.  Same parents.  Sponsors were:  Peter Barry & Judith Jordan.

    3.  Michael Caher baptised 13 September 1843.  Same parents.  Sponsors were:  Patt Mulquiny and Bridget Bermingham. 

    4. Thomas Caher baptised 21 February 1856.  Same parents.  Sponsors were:  Pat Quin and Mary Leenane.  

    I don't see a marriage record for Thomas Cahir and Kate McDonough in Kilfenora, which may indicate that Kate was from a neighbouring parish.  

    This family does not appear to be in the Ballybreen townland in the 1901 Census, although it is interesting to note that many of the other surnames of sponsors mentioned are there.  

    If you need any further assistance, please let me know.  You can email me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com

    All the best,

     

    Jane

     

    Jane Halloran Ryan

    Wednesday 1st Apr 2020, 12:01PM

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