Keefes around Kilmeen?

Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out and apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

You could have a look at the Griffith's Valuation and later Census to see what number of the family name are listed there and have a look at the online phone book:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/

http://www.eirphonebook.ie/

Do you know if John had any siblings?

Clare Doyle

Genealogy Support 

Thanks much for your reply.  I've already combed through all the records I've been able to find online, but I haven't yet looked for present-day O'Keefes.  That I will do as I am hoping to travel to Ireland later this year.  Cork will definitely be part of the trip as we are certain John came from County Cork...exactly where we have no idea.  My current hope now is to find someone with a similar family story...two twin girls who ran away to America with a John O'Kief.  (We have every possible spelling of O'Keefe on my GGGrandfather's various US records--Kief, Keef, Keefe, etc.)  The family story goes that John "dropped the O in the ocean" as one way to avoid being followed.  The girls he left with were twins from a wealthy Protestant family (according to the stories, their father was a Lord).  Their last name was Bateman, though I even have my doubts that the girls' last name really was Bateman (it may have been their mother's name) as apparently, they were panic-stricken that their father would track them down.  In any case, if nothing else, perhaps you have suggestions on my upcoming trip as I hope to visit Ireland in September.  I would love suggestions on the Cork part (and more)! Best regards, Patty

Hi again

The National University of Ireland, Galway have extended their Landed Estates Database to include parts of Munster and it is a good resource if you wanted to concentrate on the Bateman link - even to discount it. Their website is available here and they have a very good set of links to other primary sources and archival repositories:

http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/estate-show.jsp?id=…

Best wishes

Clare

Genealogy Support