Peter,
I have just come across your message today. My great grandmother was Catherine Costello, who married John Nolan, both of whom came from Knocknamalough - in fact they lived only about a quarter of a mile apart - married in New Zealand in 1865.
My name is Frank Nolan and I currently live in London. I have been following this Nolan Costello family for about 25 years. I do not think that I have any photographs of Costellos, apart from my great grandmother. One of my father's cousins is still alive aged 92 and I have got a lot of information from her, but I do not think that she knew your grandparents family. However she knew Annie Stack and the family of Edmond Costello - see below.
Catherine was daughter of Maurice Costello and Jane Day and was baptised at Abbeydorney Parish on March 26 1842. I visited the church last Easter and saw a copy of the baptism. There were also baptisms for a sister Mary - March 18 1836, Thomas March 12 1838, and Maurice November 3 1839. I did not find any further baptisms, but it was very difficult to read some of the old writing.
There was also a brother of Maurice Costello (husband of Jane Day) - Edmond married to Mary Devine, and I found two daughters baptised Honora 1836 and Mary 1843.
I was aware of several of Catherine Costello's siblings migrating to New Zealand. Jane Costello, married Hubert Ferguson on August 5 1865 - he was a prison warden and later an Inspector of Factories - lived in many places in new Zealand - Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland; Edmond Costello, married Kate Fahey March 24 1888 - first lived around Hampden, but mainly around Gore and died in Dunedin - Edmond - listed generally as a contractor. There may also be two nieces in New Zealand - one definitely - Annie Stack, who was the daughter of Elizabeth Costello - sister of Catherine, Maurice, Edmond and Jane - and Jerold Stack. Annie married Robert Gibb who farmed on the Taieri - she later lived in Dunedin. There was also another Catherine Costello daughter of Thomas Costello - perhaps another brother of the above - and Nora Cavanagh - who married Alexander Hoffman of Gore.
And then there is your great grandfather William Costello who married Bridget Flynn (or Glynn) at St Mary's Invercargil on November 1 1877. I have first found William on the electoral rolls in 1879 with a free hold section in East Gore, then in 1882 as a hotel keeper in Gore, 1883/84 at the Commercial Hotel in Gore, then 1885/86 at the Universal Hotel in Gore. By 1896 he is a farmer in Cheviot - it is a little confusing here as there are other Costellos in Cheviot as well. By 1908 they are settled in Rotorua, with William dying at Te Pu on July 8 1918 and Bridget on November 12 1914.
I have had some difficulty tracing their children, but what I have is something like: Jane Costello born Gore March 22 1879, Patrick John Costello born Gore December 25 1880 died France May 11 1917, Bridget Ann Costello born Gore August 1 1884, Maurice Costello born Gore October 8 1885 died Wairoa March 16 1936 - a horse trainer - married Annie? 1908, William Andrew Costello born Gore April 11 1889 died Gore December 9 1889, Thomas Stephen Costello born Gore December 26 1890, Mary Ann Costello born Gore June 6 1892, Margaret Catherine Ellen Costello born Gore October 12 1893 [I have baptism records for all of these except Patrick - Edward Costello is godfather for Jane, Annie Stack is godmother for Bridget, and Catherine Nolan likewise for the last - so links are there]. I think that there may have been two other children born in Cheviot, but with other Costellos, I have not looked further - perhaps Elizabeth May and William Joseph?? - this matches up with the number of children on William's death certificate. I was also aware that Jane may have married Thomas Dunn - which is where Peter Dunn must come from??
When I visited Kilgulbin last year I visited both the Nolan and Costello families - Eugene had died in 2002, but his youngest some Maurice is now on the farm. They were about to demolish the old house and build a new one next to it.
I have the Census records from Kilgulbin in 1901 and 1911. Eugene's grandfather was Denis Costello who was born about 1836 - again could not find the baptism for a Denis, BUT I am presuming that he is another brother of Catherine, Jane, Maurice, William who all migrated to New Zealand. They had children Daniel, Kate, Annie,... Eugene's father was Daniel, married to Kate, with children Kate, Denis, Madge, Jane, Christina, and Eugene (in 1911). The grandfather Denis was still alive in 1911.
There is still quite a bit on the land that the Costello's had from the Valuation rolls. The County Kerry Archive has a 1835 Tithe Appointment Book with Knocknamallough: tenants Maurice and Edmond Costello: acreage 81 acres, 2 roods and 24 perches. In the Griffith Valuation in 1853 Maurice Costello had land in Kilgulbin East - section 5A and B 42 acres, plus section 6B - house of 1 acre, while Edmond had section 6A - 38 acres - these add to about the 81 acres above.
Hope that this is helpful and you can fill in some of the gaps.
Regards,
Frank Nolan