Kenna and Cleary Connections

Hi All - On a recent visit to Bundoran for a conference, I discovered Ireland XO.  What a wonderful idea!  I have been tracing my family history on my paternal grandmother's side, and Clara from the Clare Roots Society has sent me some links and some direct information.  Here is what I know - prhaps you can help me dig a bit further.

My great grandmother, Margaret Kenna was born to Thomas Kenna and Sarah Cleary in Ogonnelloe Parish, Ballybrohan, County Clare in 1873, and she died in the US in September of 1939.  She had 6 or 7 siblings.  As far as I know they were Nellie, Norah, Thomas, Ellen, Mary, and Josephine.  Mary may have died in childhood, and Thomas, I beleive, died as a young man when he either fell or was pushed off of a ferry boat (quite possibly in the US).  I've been looking in the Ogonnelloe Parish records, and feel that Thomas Kenna's parents may have been Tom Kenna and Bridget Hogan.  I'm wondering if anyone can verify this.  If Tom Kenna's father's name was Lot, we have the right man.  Lot Kenna was definitely in the family history.  On Sarah Cleary's side, I don't have much to go on, although the librarian I mentioned did locate her death certificate.  Sarah Cleary was born in 1839, and died on March 21, 1883.  I would love to find out more about her history.  

I would also like to trace my paternal grandfather's side, although I have even less information there.  His name was John Patrick Kenney, born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1903, and his parents, both from Ireland, were Patrick Kenney and Ella O'Conner.  I don't know when or from where Patick and Ella emigrated, but I do know they had 8 or 9 children, more than half of whom died of TB in Brooklyn.  Their names were Veronica, Lawerence, Mary, Anna, Ella, Ceceilia, Edward, and John Patrick (my grandfather, who was only 27 when he died).  They also had a baby named James who only lived about 6 months.  

My husband, Tom, and I, along with my brother, Jim, will be coming to Clare for a visit from August 20 - 27.  We're actually renting a cottage in Quilty, but plan to spend at least a day in the Ballybrogan/Ogonnelle area.  If anyone is available to say hello or show us around, we would be most grateful.  Thanks so much for all the hard work you do!  Looking forward to seeing you this summer.

Best,

 Sue Kenney