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I am searching for information on Charles Rourke and Mary O'Connor (parents Mary Horgan and Jeremiah O'Connor) who were living in Lisheenacannina, Parish of Molahiffe, Kerry in the 1830s - 1850s. What I know so far ...

Charles Rourke (born c.1805) was a schoolteacher. Mary O'Connor belonged to a large family in the Firies area and most of her siblings emigrated - mostly to Nelson, New Zealand - in the 1850s.

Charles and Mary had 3 confirmed children - Jeremiah (baptised Molahiffe 1832), Mary Rose (baptised Molahiffe 1834) and Elizabeth (born 1841). Witnesses to Jeremiah's and Mary's baptisms were Patrick O'Connor, Mary Rhourk, and Ellen Rhourk - presumed to be Charles' brother-in-law and his sisters. Mary Rose Rourke later married William Clark in Dunedin, NZ in 1860, and Elizabeth Rourke married John Fitzgerald in Nelson, NZ in 1862. The only record I have of Jeremiah on NZ shores is as a witness to a Fitzgerald baptism in Blenhem (Elizabeth and John Fitzgerald had relocated from Nelson to Blenheim and were farming there).

In 1856 an Elizabeth and Mary Rhourk (sponsored by John and Patrick O'Connor) sailed to NZ aboard the John Masterman. They gave their address as Grawn-rowrough, Kiltalon nr Tralee. This is possibly Charles' sister Elizabeth and daughter Mary.

In 1859 Elizabeth Rourke (Charles and Mary's youngest daughter) and Elizabeth's cousin Garrett Barry sailed for NZ aboard the Golconda. Elizabeth was sponsored by Patrick O'Connor and Mary Rourke. Garrett was sponsored by Michael and Patrick O'Connor. Garrett and Elizabeth gave as their address Gurrane Rurrough, Parish Kiltallo,County Kerry and Guran Rowrough, Kiltalo nr Tralee, Co. Kerry (respectively). Garrett's and Elizabeth's mothers were O'Connor sisters. 

 Also on board the Golconda were Elizabeth's future husband John Fitzgerald and John's cousin, Denis Fitzgerald from Gortagullane, Ballymacelligott. Elizabeth, Garrett, John and Denis all settled in Blenheim, NZ. 

The O'Connors were instrumental in bringing out a large number of people to NZ by guaranteeing their fare. As well as the abovementioned these included: 1. Michael and Timothy Hargin (possibly Horgan); 2. John, Ann, and child Nolan; 3. James, Catherine, Mary, Michael and Ann O'Connor; 4. Edmund Howrane; 5. Edward and Michael Houran (Horan); 6. John Horgan, John Leary, and Humphrey Leary. The Hargins, Edmund Howrane, and the O'Connor party came from Grawn-sowrough, Kiltalow nr Tralee (no doubt the same phonetically spelt place as Garrett and Elizabeth etc); the Nolans had a London address; the Hourans had an address of Raugh near Castlemain Parish, Firies, and the Horgan/Leary party gave as their address c/o Rev'd Parish Priest of Firies. 

An Ireland Reaching Out researcher thinks that the Parish of Kiltallagh is the one referred to as Kiltallo, Kiltalo, Kiltalow etc. There is a Garraunreeragh mentioned in the Name Books of Griffiths Valuations and is paired with Garraudarragh (just outside of Molahiffe), but these places are in the Parish of Currans. This is the closest I have got to finding any reference of a place that sounded like the versions written by these early immigrants. It probably doesn't exist any more. 

If anyone has information on Charles Rourke and his relatives (especially Jeremiah) or on the O'Connors while living in Kerry (their NZ lives are reasonably well-documented) I would be really grateful. Charles Rourke can be found in Griffiths Valuations in Molahiffe but that is the only other reference I have for him.

Thank for reading,

 

Kiwigirl

Thursday 23rd Jun 2016, 05:43AM

Message Board Replies

  • Volunteers: Please see prior e-mail from March 1st, 2016 and responses including from our parish liaison in Tralee.

    Roger

    http://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/message-board/fitzgeraldrourkebarry

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Thursday 23rd Jun 2016, 04:09PM
  • Hi KiwiGirl, I have been trawling various sites trying  to learn more about my maternal Irish ancestry. 

    I note you have information about, what I believe to be, my Gr Grandmother's family the O'Connors.  My Gr Granmother was Johanna Ellen O'Connor born approx 7 miles out side Killarney (I actually believe it to be the Firies area actually). 

     

    I wonder if you would be interested in chatting a bit.  I am also a NZ'er, but currently living in UK and heading to Kerry later in Feb to try to put a few more pieces in my puzzle.

     

    Regards, Carol

    Monday 23rd Jan 2017, 06:51PM
  • Hello Carol,

    Thanks for your message. Yes I would be happy to chat ... my husband and I (it's his Irish heritage I am tracking) will be in Ireland March/April doing the same as you so it will be great to compare notes both before and after our trips. We are also waiting for our respective DNA results (through Ancestry.com) to arrive... expected in the next week or so... which will hopefully confirm a few suspicions we have about various people and Ian's connection to them. Have you gone down the DNA testing route at all? Please contact me directly at leoniefitzgerald60@gmail.com with any questions you have and I'll do my best to help.

    Best wishes,

    Leonie 

    Kiwigirl

    Tuesday 24th Jan 2017, 08:43AM
  • abbeylubber

    Monday 17th Apr 2017, 01:24AM
  • Thank you for this information. Very helpful. Regards, Leonie

    Kiwigirl

    Monday 17th Apr 2017, 07:39AM

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