History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf ·...

14
Your O’Farrell Family History

Transcript of History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf ·...

Page 1: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Your O’Farrell Family History

Page 2: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Name

As both (O')Farrell and (O')Ferrall, this name in

Irish is ÓFearghail, from the personal name

Fearghal, made up of fear, "man", and gal, "valour".

The original Fearghal or Fergal from whom the family

claim descent was king of Conmaicne and was killed

at Clontarf in 1014. His great grandfather Angall

gave his name to the territory they possessed, Annally in Co.

Longford. The present name of both the county and the town derives

from the family, the full name in Irish being Longphuirt Uí

Fhearghaill, O'Farrell's Fortress. They ruled this area for almost

seven centuries, down to the final catastrophes of the seventeenth

century, after which many members of the family fought with

distinction in the armies of continental Europe. Today the surname is

one of the most common in Ireland, with a wide distribution throughout

the country, though the largest concentration remains in the historic

homeland of Longford and the surrounding areas.

Throughout this document, the surname Farrell is often referred to as

O’Farrell and visa versa. For example, Sandra’s Great Grandmother

Julia Whelan married Michael Farrell in 1896. His father is also

listed as Michael Farrell on their marriage certificate. In the 1901

census, Julia is listed as Julia Farrell with her son Patrick Farrell.

However, in the 1911 census, she is listed as Julia O’Farrell with her

son Patrick O’Farrell. The O’Farrell surname seems to have stuck on

the maternal line since then. Conversely, on Sandra’s paternal line,

the O’Farrell surname seems to have been lost and replaced with just

Farrell when Sandra’s paternal grandfather dropped the O and became a

Farrell. The reason is not clear however rumour that it was something

to do with an unpaid debt.

Page 3: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

More often than not, Irish names were anglicised for socio-economic

reasons so O’Fearghail became O’Farrell and/or Farrell.

Carmel O’Farrell

Carmel O’Farrell was born in 5 Lower Mallow Street, Limerick on the

23rd April 1936 to Elizabeth ‘Moira’ O’Gorman (Rathmines, Dublin) and

Patrick Michael O’Farrell (Enniscorthy, Wexford).

Pat

O’Farrell

Patrick

O’Farrell

Julia

Whelan

Julia

Cowman

Patrick

Whelan

Michael

Farrell

Jane

Kelly

Michael

Farrell

Elizabeth

O’Gorman

Tony

O’Farrell

Carmel

O’Farrell

O’Farrell / Farrell Maternal Family Tree

Carmel O’Farrell’s original birth certificate

Page 4: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Carmel spent the 1st 8 years of her life at 1

Ballinacurra Terrence as her father Patrick

O’Farrell was stationed there with the Irish

Omnibus Company (IOC). The IOC was the company

succeeded by Great Southern Railway (GSR) in

Limerick and Patrick worked there as a

superintendent. When Carmel and her family

moved to Dublin they lived on Rathgar Road,

just behind the car showroom at 74 Rathgar

Road. Her father was working in Sligo at

the time. Her mother Elizabeth ‘Moira’ and

the children lived there until Carmel was about

13. Moira then bought a house in Castlepark in

Rathfarnham with her mother Teresa O’Gorman

(nee Doyle of Calverstown, Co Kildare. Carmel lived in Castlepark until

around the time she started working. Carmel’s mother and father Patrick

O’Farrell moved to 40 Hazelbrook Road, Terenure, Dublin. Carmel had 2

brothers.

Patrick ‘Pat’ Michael O’Farrell (emigrated to Australia in July 1955)

Born: 6th July 1934, Limerick

Married: 1) Dorothea Antoinette Perez on 13th November 1971, Victoria,

Australia. 2) Seaviyanti ‘Julie’ Elizabeth Holak on 21st December 2002,

Brisbane, Australia.

Children: Mark, Allan

Pat O’Farrell

in 1955 &

original birth

certificate

Page 5: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Anthony ‘Tony’ Joseph O’Farrell

Born: 28th August 1938, Limerick

Married: Mary Nolan on 3rd April 1970, Dublin

Children: Stephen, Jean, Conor, Karyn, Cristina

Carmel O’Farrell’s Father – Patrick O’Farrell

Patrick Michael O’Farrell was born on Island Road

Enniscorthy, Co Wexford on the 25th April 1900

to Michael O’Farrell (Horse Trainer) and Julia

Whelan. It states ‘x’ indicates Julia’s mark

which normally indicates that a person couldn’t

read or write but don’t believe this is the case

here. Julia came from what was considered a

‘well-off’ family and sang opera. Also, in the actual

census document overleaf, her father has noted she can ‘read and write’.

Patrick

Age 10

FL: Pat, Carmel and Tony in Ballinacurra

Anthony ‘Tony’ O’Farrell original birth certificate

Patrick

Michael

O’Farrell

original

birth

certificate

Page 6: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

In the 1901 Census (below), Patrick Michael Farrell (not O’Farrell) is

listed as living at 39 Island Street, Enniscorthy with his mother Julia

Farrell (not O’Farrell either), her father Patrick Whelan, her brother

Michael J. Whelan and a servant Mary Brady. Note that Island Street and

Island Road seem to be used interchangeably in various documents.

39 Island Road, Enniscorthy was on the main road that goes into

Enniscorthy from the Dublin direction (N11) and runs alongside the

river. Although the building no longer exists, No 37 is still standing.

Further investigation could be done to investigate these buildings

through land records, old photographs and county records on-site in

Enniscorthy.

Note that Patrick O’Farrell’s father Michael Farrell is not mentioned in

the 1901 Census nor is Patrick Whelan’s wife, Julia (maiden name

Cowman). This detail is covered later in this document.

1901 Census – from The National Archives

Page 7: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

10 years later, Patrick Michael Farrell, now an O’Farrell is listed in

the 1911 Census (below) as living in 4 Island Road, Enniscorthy with his

mother Julia, who appears to own a shop on the same premises. He is 11

years old and there are three boarders living in the house. Having

boarders living in a house was not uncommon at the time and if you

consider that Julia was a single mother raising her son Patrick, it was

probably partially born out of necessity.

The Census record shows that Patrick’s

Patrick’s father Michael Farrell is

still not living with the family. It

also shows that Patrick’s Uncle and

Julia’s brother Michael Whelan was

running a ‘Public House’ a few doors

down in No. 1 Island Road. This no

longer exists. 4 Island Road (pic 2016)

Currently under renovation by

present owners

1911 Census – from The National Archives

Page 8: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Carmel Farrell’s Maternal Grandmother & Grandfather

Julia Whelan & Michael Farrell

Julia Whelan was born in Island Road, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford on the 24th

July 1873 to Patrick Whelan, Publican and Julia Cowman.

The birth record doesn’t state what number in Island Road the family

were living at. An enquiry has gone into St Aidan’s Cathedral in

Enniscorthy to check if they have any more detail. Julia was baptised

in the Diocese of Ferns in the Parish of Enniscorthy on the 25th July

1873.

Michael Farrell was born on Christmas Day, 25th December 1866 in Hospital

Lane, Enniscorthy to Michael Farrell and Jane Farrell (nee Kelly). It

states that his father Michael Farrell is a servant. Hospital Lane is

nowadays a 10 minute walk from where Julia lived in Island Road.

Copy of Julia Whelan’s birth certificate from The General Register Office

Copy of Julia Whelan baptismal certificate from the www.irishgenealogy.ie

Page 9: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Michael Farrell was also baptised in the Diocese of Ferns, in the Parish

of Enniscorthy on 28th December 1866. Sponsors are recorded was Michael

Whelan and Mary Whelan.

The 1901 Census was the 1st complete census taken so it can be difficult

to ascertain where people resided before then (see note).

Julia Whelan and Michael Farrell were married in the Roman Catholic

Church of Enniscorthy (now St. Aidan’s Cathedral) on 27th April 1896.

+ The original census returns for 1861 and 1871 were destroyed shortly after the

censuses were taken. Those for 1881 and 1891 were pulped during the First World War,

probably because of the paper shortage. The returns for 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851 were,

apart from a few survivals, notably for a few counties for 1821 and 1831, destroyed in

1922 in the fire at the Public Record Office at the beginning of the Civil War.

Copy of Michael Farrell’s baptismal certificate from the www.irishgenealogy.ie

Copy of Julia & Michael’s Marriage certificate from The General Register Office

Page 10: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Michael Farrell’s father Michael Farrell (…not O’Farrell), is recorded

as being a gardener. It is yet to be determined why Carmel O’Farrell’s

father is Patrick O’Farrell yet he is the son of Michael Farrell and the

grandson of another Michael Farrell. Why the ‘O’ was introduced is

unknown when it was more fashionable to take the ‘O’ away.

Following their wedding in 1896, there is no record of Julia or Michael

that has yet been found until Julia appears in the 1901 Census with her

son, Patrick O’Farrell at the age of 11 months. Michael, his father

does not appear on either the 1901 or the 1911 census records. The

reason that Julia’s husband Michael is not present is a bit of a

mystery. What information is known is through family memories of

Patrick O’Farrell’s children who were young at the time the stories were

told.

Patrick (boy on horse at left pillar) at Screen Harriers Hunt (Wexford) in 1913.

A safe assumption that the Whelan relatives are in the photograph as

they were considered ‘well to do’ and ‘horsey’ people

Page 11: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

The family story goes; When Michael Farrell and Julia Whelan married in

Enniscorthy in 1896, shortly afterwards they left Ireland and emigrated

to America. This was not unusual at the time for many families as many

emigrated to America and Australia from Wexford to seek a better life.

However, the reason why they emigrated is not known. Julia appeared to

have a good life in Enniscorthy. In the 1901 census (below), her father

Patrick Whelan is listed as a publican. In the ‘House and Building

Return Form’ section of the Census record, it shows that the house he

was living in, No. 39 Island Road was a Public House. It appears that

Patrick Whelan also owns No. 40 and 41 which are classified as ‘Malting

House’. So, it doesn’t sound that there were no prospects for her and

they were clearly not destitute.

Nonetheless, she came back to Ireland at some point prior to the birth

of her son Patrick in 1900. Before or after the birth of Patrick in

Enniscorthy, she sought counsel from the local parish priest over

‘something’ major, and never returned to America. Her husband never

returned to Ireland and they never saw each other again.

I have been unable to locate any reference to Michael and Julia’s

travels to America or anywhere else. This is unusual as shipping

records are well documented. I consulted another genealogist and they

couldn’t find them

any reference to

them either. Work

would be required

to investigate

further.

Copy of 1901

Census from

The National

Archives

Extract from Slaters Royal National Commercial Directory - 1881

Page 12: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Patrick ‘Pat’ O’Farrell, grandson of Michael

and Julia, recalls when he was living in

Limerick and was probably about 10 years old

that his grandmother Julia received a telegram

informing her that her husband Michael Farrell

had died. This must have been around 1944.

Who sent the telegram is unknown and where it

came from is unknown – the impression was

given that his name was not to be mentioned

nor was his absence ever ‘noted’ by his

grandchildren.

To add a further twist to the tale, when Julia’s son Patrick Michael

O’Farrell married Elizabeth O’Gorman in 1933, his father is listed as

Michael O’Farrell (not Farrell) and under ‘Rank or Profession’ he is

noted as ‘Dead’. This is physically impossible in 1933 as the telegram

was received around 1944. He was clearly ‘dead’ to the family.

Pat O’Farrell in Australia suggested that maybe their ‘disappearance’

had something to do with the fact that Enniscorthy was the only town or

city outside Dublin to be seized by the Irish Volunteers in the course

of the Easter Rising in 1916.

Patrick Michael O’Farrell

(son of Julia & Michael)

Brass plate from a crystal

decanter, presented to

Patrick O’Farrell and his

new wife Elizabeth

Copy of Patrick O’Farrell and Elizabeth ‘Moira’ O’Gorman Marriage certificate from The

General Register Office

Page 13: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

There was a very strong Irish Republican Brotherhood presence in

Enniscorthy and there are stories about how often residents were told to

‘leave town or else’. Whether this is a factor is unknown. It could

also be possible that the relationship

between Julia and Michael was not welcomed

or approved by her father. Michael is

listed as a ‘gardener’ when they married

and his father is listed as a ‘servant’.

It may have been considered that she

married ‘beneath her’ and this may have

contributed to them leaving.

Julia moved to Limerick in about 1935 to

help raise her grandchildren Pat, Carmel

and Tony. She died in Ballinacurra,

Limerick in 1940 at the age of 65.

Her son Patrick O’Farrell died in Terenure, Dublin on 21st February 1969.

His death certificate states that he died of coronary thrombosis which

is blood clot in a coronary artery, arteriosclerosis which is hardening

of the arteries (5 years), hypertension which is high blood pressure (6

years) and 6 years prior to his death he had a previous coronary

thrombosis. He was 68 years old when he died.

Julia Farrell (nee Whelan) with

her grandson Pat O’Farrell

Bohreen Hill, Enniscorthy, 1937

Copy of Julia’s death certificate from The General Register Office

Page 14: History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Nameyouririshfamilyhistory.com/.../OFarrell...History.pdf · Michael Farrell was thborn on Christmas Day, 25 December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy

Elizabeth ‘Moira’ O’Gorman with her

husband Patrick Michael O’Farrell

Julia Farrell

(nee Whelan)

A major contributing factor in his death was probably cigarettes. He

was a very heavy smoker and in most of the pictures of him, he has a

cigarette in his right hand (even in the professional photo below).

Patrick Michael O’Farrell’s original death certificate

+ Julia‘s mother Julia Whelan (nee Cowman) is not found in any census records. There

is a death record for a Julia Whelan in 1893 which maybe her and this record has been

ordered from The General Register Office.

Original In Memoriam Card

for Patrick O’Farrell