Keane Family from Portmagee

[Woodford87]

I would be grateful for any help locating my great great grandfather's family from the Portmagee area. His name was John Keane and was born circa 1825 in the Ferry/Doory/Portmagee area. I think his father was also John as I found him in the 1834 census in the area. I cannot find any possible siblings for John or his mother's name. My great great grandfather married Mary Murphy circa 1850. She may have come from Valentia Island and I have their childrens' names.

I have come to a brick wall. Any help appreciated.

[shanew147]

Unfortunately I think your John might have been born before the start of the local RC records... as far as I can see Portmagee would have been in Cahirciveen RC parish, which has baptisms back to 1845, and Doory was in Prior parish which has baptisms back to 1853.

I'm not sure where 'Ferry' is is located - have you details of this location ?

Never heard of an 1834 census - is that detail from Tithe records?



Shane

[Woodford87]

Ferry was near Portmagee. The baptism records for one of my relatives gives Ferry as his place of birth. I have tried to research this subject and have the following information: 'The Ferry would be in a townland named Imleach Mor.
It could also be spelled in English version Emlagh.
This townland would be in Prior or Ballinskelligs area.
The Ferry probably originated from the fact that there was a local boat service to ferry or take locals from Imleach to Ballinskelligs.' (From Cahirciveen Library)
Also,: 'The Ferry, west of the present bridge, was indeed a departure
point for Valencia, and the name continued in local usage.
I noticed one or two baptisms of children from "Doora Ferry"
in Prior parish registers in the 1870s.
A complicating factor in your case, is the fact that the village
of Portmagee is actually in the north of Doory towland and that
the townland of Portmagee is to the west of it.' (Padraig de Brun). I do find it is a bit confusing.
I believe Mr de Brun was involved in developing the website which answers your second question.

The Census of 1834 is part of a series of surveys instigated by Daniel O'Connell. The website is: http://www.igp-web.com/kerry/1834text.html. This is found on  the general County Kerry genealogy website:
http://www.igp-web.com/kerry/index.html. or http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~irlker/index.html

I hope that is helpful.

[shanew147]

Useful to know about that 1834 census... thanks

Portmagee town is in the townland of Doory, and the 1st Edition OSI maps (c1835) show a ferry going from the pier to Valentia.

see : Portmagee/Doory/'Ferry'

Problem is none of the RC records for this end of the ring of Kerry go back far enough for your Keane family. You can see the layout of the RC parishes and the dates for which records are available on this map on the Irish Times website : Co. Kerry RC Parishes

Prior is the RC parish which covered Portmagee and Doory, and presumably also 'Ferry', if this referred to Portmagee.


Shane

[shanew147]

There are two townlands name Emlaghmore West and East located on the Road between Ballinskellig and Waterville There are also townlands named Emlaghnamuck, and Emlaghdreenagh nearby.

see : Emlagh townlands (modern OSI map)

These are all in Prior Civil and RC parish, but would be close to Dromod parish, which included Waterville.


Shane

[Woodford87]

Many thanks for the information.
The 1835 map and the modern map both have Doory. For my family, the information from Cahirciveen Library about the ferry to Ballinskelligs is misleading as everything I know points to Portmagee and Valentia. I previously found what I thought was John's wife, Mary in Doory in Griffiths. Your information confirms my theory.

Thanks again.

[annclare]

Try a post on this site as there is a local person in Valentia who answers queries.

http://valentiaisland.yuku.com/forums/2/Genealogy
annclare

[Woodford87]

Many thanks, I will investigate further.

[johngolden]

Mary Murphy Keane was still alive in 1901 cesus and also in the 1911 census.

Your descendants are still alive in the Portmagee area.

Julia Golden was married to Charlie Murphy (brother of Mary Murphy married to John Keane) of Valentia and she was my great grand aunt.