Burials in Kerry

[dragonlady403]

MIKECHRISTOPHER;
Thanks very much for that information!  I wrote recently to the parish pries at the SS Stephen & John Church... I didn't realise there was another St Stephens!  Is that still operating?  Should I also write to that Parish priest separately ?

Re the gravesites  - that makes it a bit more difficult.  I assumed the older graveyard would be near the church.  I have check various sources for RC graveyards in the 1800's around CastleIsland - but there seems to have been quite a few in the area which, frankly, I find surprising for such a small town. Not sure how best to approach that one frankly.

That being said... I do believe Timothy Murphy latterly resided at #1 Pound Street in CastleIsland.  They also seem to have rented land for a forge in that area as well I think. I also think Timothy Murphy b before 1831 may have died 1887.  But that is still speculative at the moment.  Frankly, I am not particularly confident in my details - but they seem plausible.

Re the O'Connors - yes I think that is the corrrect marriage information for Patrick and Ellen "Fenton". The problem is it provides little information (although I note Firies is the location which is definitely likely and seems to validate the data I have already!). It is also helpful to have  Ellen's mother's name.

[mikechristopher]

No problem at all

Did you manage to get a response from them?  I have emailed a couple of times but got no response - haven't yet tried good old fashion letter.

St Stephens is no longer operating and just found it was last used as a church in 1964.  It was then resurrected to become an arts centre.  http://www.rootschat.com/links/01jf1/

The church does have a graveyard albeit I dont believe it could have catered for everyone in the town so apart from the Kilbannivane grave yards (not sure when they first started off) not sure where else everyone was buried as not managed to get back to early 1800s on my Castleisland links as of yet.

Do you mean Pound Road?  It wouldn't surprise me that they would have rented land elsewhere as would have had no land on Pound Road as right next to the main street - in fact St Stephens Church would have been near enough right behind the house.

With regards to the O'Connors - it does provide little information unfortunately  - the only way to get more information would be to contact the Parish and hope you can manage to get more out of them.  The names listed on there are not necessarily parents - they were just witnesses however with the names matching its likely they are relatives somehow - maybe siblings etc. Its difficult to know.  Unfortunately even looking back at the nli scan its the only names given as per attached.

[dragonlady403]

Yes sorry they lived at #1 Pound Road and records seem to indicate Tim Murphy rented 2-3 properties including a forge, which may haven been for his son's use.

I mailed the letter to the priest this week so would anticipate he would have it by Wed.  We  will see how it goes.

I think I am going to put up a separate post for the O'Connor's because I need more information about the area as well.

I wonder if the CastleIsland Library might have more loca info re burials etc?

[mikechristopher]

Certainly no harm in asking! I could never quite understand why there were so many graveyards around - I know most recent family ones of mine have been buried in Kilbannivane - St Johns (seems to be mainly new graves in there).  So would be interesting to know if they used certain ones across certain years etc or if it was just a case they ran out of room so opened another one. 

Let me know how you get on as have a wealth of family links to this area even now so am interested

[dragonlady403]

I will keep plugging away at it and let you know how I get on!  Any Murphy's in your lot from Castleisland?

[mikechristopher]

I have a few but not from around Castleisland - some from Knocknagoshel and some Cork.

I do however have quite a few O'Connors but none from Firies way as far as im aware.

[dragonlady403]

  OK - I will follow up with the library to see if they have anything that might be helpful.

[catherinelawrence]

I recently saw your information re Kerry Graveyards and had a look at the site . My great grandmother came from Ballylongford . Her family name was Scanlan I have searched the site at Aghavallan and Lislaughtin Abbey but note they are all from 1960 . Do you know if there are any much earlier burial records please ?I did visit there a few years ago but did not have any luck tracing any relatives

[dragonlady403]

Hi Catherine - sorry I don't have any more information on this topic really.  Finding burial records in Ireland can be a real challenge...It might be more helpful for you to post your specific request separately?