Author: Kathleen

Johanna Fanning, daughter of William Fanning and Honora McCormack of Lisaroon, married William O’Connell on Feb 11, 1850 in Inch Parish Co Tipperary.

I came across this daughter when I realised that the priests of Drom Parish were entering the residence name places in the marriage registers. These unindexed registers are now online and free at https://registers.nli.ie/. Placenames being included on a few registers is incredibly helpful for family researchers.

Knowing that couples were nearly always wed in the bride’s parish I looked for Lisaroon in the margins of the Drom mariage registers and came across Johanna from Lisaroon. As far as I can tell there has only ever been one Fanning family in Lisaroon (Lissaroon) townland in Drom Parish, so she had to be a daughter of William Fanning and Honora McCormack. Harder to find grooms as they were married in the bride’s parish.

For a number of years I have been listening to Fin Dwyer’s Irish History podcasts. I love these podcasts and highly recommend them. He has recently got Irish Newspaper Archives to sponsor his work. They offered a discount to his listeners which I took up. (Just be careful you don’t get auto renewed at the end of your discounted month as I did!)

It was such a worthwhile investment of resources and time looking through these newspapers. I found all sorts of fascinating and interesting stories and facts about my ancestors. I found a couple of extensive obituaries on the O’Connells.

Johanna (Judy) Fanning and William O’Connell lived at Clonomocogue in Co Tipperary North and had four boys:

Michael was born on 6 Mar 1851 and his sponsors were Martin Eviston and Mary Duggin.

William was born on 11 Apr 1852 and his sponsors were Tom Fanning and Honora? Connell.

Denis was born 16 Jan 1854 with William Fanning and Margaret Eviston as his sponsors. His twin John was sponsored by Pat Fanning and Honora Eviston.

Most of the O’Connells are buried in Loughmore Cemetery in Co Tipperary.

There are some O’Connell graves in St Patricks cemetery in Thurles but most are  are buried in Loughmore Cemetery Co Tipperary:

I have been trying to trace the “cousins” listed as attending the funeral of Rev Martin O’Connell. They are all related, but not as directly as cousins suggests, but still a source of further connections. As Martin O’Connell was 64 when he died in 1916 his “cousins” go back quite a long way and some of the connections I’ve made can’t be conclusively proven.

Denis O’Connell DC of Loughmore was his brother. Their parents were James O’Connell and Mary Carroll. (O’Connell was written as Connell in earlier records).

James O’Connell of Oldbawn Cottage Loughmore and Martin O’Connell, Daniel O’Connell and James Eviston, all of Loughmore, are all Martin’s nephews. James the son of Mary Eviston nee O’Connell and Martin Eviston. Mary being the half sister of Denis.

Annie and Ellie are daughters of Martin’s brother Denis. Mrs James O’Connell Denis’ daughter in law. Mrs John Sheedy is Mary Sheedy nee O’Connell; Mrs Patrick Maher  is Catherine Maher nee O’Connell; Mrs James Doherty is Elizabeth Doherty nee O’Connell. All daughters of Denis and Ann O’Connell.

Mr Michael O’Connell of Maryborough was the son of William O’Connell and Bridget Coffey of Castleiney and was a doctor.

A Thomas Duggan of Borris married a Julian Connell of Loughmore on 2 Mar 1829.

Tobias McGrath was the son of Michael McGrath and Mary Fanning who were married in Drom Parish 12 Feb 1861.

John Connolly was baptized 12 Aug 1864. His parents were William Connolly and Ellen O’Connell. Address given as Main St Templemore.

A Michael Lannigan was baptised in Aug 1819 in Templetuohy. His parents were John Lanigan and Bridget Connell. Sponsors were Judith Connell and James Kinahan.

On 23 Dec 1838 Michael Maher was baptised in Loughmore Parish. He was the son of Michael Maher and Mary Connell. There was also a James Connell who married Mary Maher in 1840

There was a marriage in Loughmore Parish on 9 Jun 1801 between Richard Quinn and Mary Connell witnessed by Michael Connell and Sally Quinn. In 1805 Denis Connell was baptized in Loughmore Parish. His parents were listed as Jeremiah Connell and Bridget Quinn with John Delahunty and Mary Ryan as sponsors. On 2 Feb 1826 there was a Richard Quinn married to a Mary Connell. Both from Castleiney.

D McCormack of Oola was married to Bridget O’Connell nee Coffey’s sister.

E. Fanning listed as a cousin was Edmund Fanning who married Hanoria Molloy in Littleton Parish on 11 Feb 1902. His address given as Holycross and hers as Ballybeg. He lived in Glenreigh in Holycross. Francis Dwyer and Bridget Fanning were witnesses. Edmund was born in Loughmore parish at Kilcoke on 23 Dec 1848. His parents were James Fanning and Judith Hoare. Judith Fanning nee Hoare is buried in Holycross Cemetery. She died 20 Apr, 1879, aged 68. her husband James Fanning died 2 Oct 1885 aged 77. Their other son was the Rev James J fanning who died 10 Sept 1909, aged 65. His nephew was Rev P Fogarty. The brother of this James Fanning was the Rev John Fanning buried in Loughmore Cemetery. He was born 10 Nov 1805 in Loughmore and died 13 Aug 1891 in Glenreigh Holycross.

I have not been able to figure out how Edmund Fanning of Glenrieigh and Kilcoke is related to Martin O’Connell.