Thanks for all that. I had most of it. But it took me two weeks or more to get it!
Also, Richard Feeney was in the station in Ballinalack in 1901 (R.F.). No wonder his eye fell on the postmistress's granddaughter. Small village. And now we know her grandfather had been in the same station (probably died in either 1897 or 1899).
The enigma is Maria, and now her sister Margaret. I think Maria was married in Longwood, Meath (Killyon) in 1873 (Jun 6). But why there?
Where was Margaret born, if not in Kells? I might try Delvin for her as well.
The other discovery has been other siblings, Edward (1852), but in Ballinalack, also Catherine (1856), Thomas (1860, maybe but mother's name was given as Mary), and James (1864).
The big discovery in this thread has been the discovery of the excellent records on Genealogy, which revealed John was a Constable.
I would like to follow up his RIC records, but I am hitting a blank wall with that. Any suggestions or directions?
If John Flynn wed in Athboy in 1849, he could have been assigned to Delvin, either before or after that, and then transferred to Ballinalack sometime after the birth of Maria and before that of Edward. But then, where was Margaret born?