This category contains information and records about the Fanning families from Thurles Co Tipperary. Related families from other parts of Ireland and general Irish historical background are also included here.
I have just come up as a DNA match to a descendant of the Fanning Stapleton family who came out to Australia in 1857 and 1858. They eventually settled in Esk Queensland. They had lived for some time in Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
The gentleman who matches me on Ancestry believes that John Fanning who married Judith Loobey was the brother of my grgrgrandfather William Patrick Fanning (Big Bill) of Sunnyside Bulla. He has joined my Fanning family with his on Ancestry.com. As yet I am not convinced that these two trees are connected.
I have just found the marriage record for John Fanning and Johanna Luby. They were married in an adjoining parish on 5 Feb 1825, in Boherlahan Parish. Judith Loobey came from Boherlahan and John Fanning from Moycarkey. Witnesses were John and ? Luby of Ballytarsna.
If John Fanning from Moycarkey was the son of Edmond Fanning and Judith Darmody born 1809 he would have been 16 years old when he married. This seems highly unlikely.
The only evidence or proof I have that this John Fanning who married Judith Looby is the son of Edward Fanning and Judy Darmody is my DNA match with this Fanning Stapleton descendant. But this match is quite small as we only share 8cms. This in itself could be okay but we don’t share any matches which is odd as I have two close Fanning cousins who are direct descendants on Ancestry and by rights they should have come up as matches. I have since found out that matches only come up if the people involved share at least 20 cms.
It is still quite possible that we are related but not as one of my grgrgrandfather’s brothers. On his tree he has many other Co Tipperary folk all living around Thurles where my grgrgrandfather was born.
I might add this family to my Ancestry tree and see if this produces any more matches. The offspring of John’s son Laurence and his wife Mary Stapleton were numerous. There must be many descendants of this family out there. Laurence Fanning and Mary Stapleton are in 58 trees on Ancestry!
I have two GedMatch numbers if any descendants want to see if we match. A029138 and T470174. My brother has done a Y chromosome test with FTDNA. His kit number is 120450. Early records are scarce so DNA matches may be the only way to figure out the relationship.
Here is some background on the Fanning Loobey Stapleton family. I’ll start with the children of John Fanning and Judith Looby. They lived in Moycarky near Thurles in Co Tipperary. John was a farmer.
Catherine Fanning born before 1830. I have no Baptism record for her as the Moycarky Church records start at 1830. Catherine came out to Australia in 1857 with her cousins, Walter and John Stapleton, on The Regina. her occupation was listed as cook. She paid a deposit for her brother Laurence Fanning and his family to come out in 1858 from Guernsey on The Mary Pleasants. Catherine was living in Surry Hills in Sydney. Her parents are listed as John and Johanna and deceased. She went on to marry George Ivory and died in Esk Queensland in 1878.
I have found the baptism records for four other children of John Fanning and Judith Looby.
Laurence (Larry) born Graigue baptised in Moycarky Parish 6 April 1830. Sponsors were Michael Looby and Mary Fanning. He married Mary Stapleton.
Ellen Fanning baptised 1 August 1832 in Moycarky Parish. Sponsors were John Donnelly and Mary Heffernan.
Mary Fanning, address Graigue, baptised in Moycarky Parish, 14 May 1834. Sponsors were Ed Donnelly and Anto Russell.
Johanna Fanning of Graigue baptised in Moycarky Parish on 3 Sept 1838. Sponsors were William Loughnane and Mary Cahill.
Laurence Fanning and his wife Mary Stapleton came out to Australia from Guernsey in 1858 on the Mary Pleasants. They arrived in Sydney from Liverpool on 16 Nov 1858 and settled first in Laidley Queensland and then in Esk Queensland. they came with three of their children: Johanna, Maria and John. John died on the voyage. Mary died in 1906 and Laurence the following year. They are buried in Esk. Laurence Fanning worked for the Queensland Rail.
I come up on Ancestry DNA tests as a match to a number of people who are descendants of Catherine Growden nee Fannon. Given the amount of DNA we share this has lead me to believe that Catherine is most likely the niece of my grgrgrandfather William Patrick Fanning.
Catherine’s parents were Patrick Fanning and Mary McGill. McGill was written on her daughter’s death record in 1938. But an earlier census record shows McGill was the beginning of a longer name. Unfortunately it is very hard to decipher the surname. It looks like McGilhlath???This census also says Patrick and Mary were married in Wisconsin. Their daughter Catherine Viola was married to Albert Orlando Growden in Ackerly Hardin Iowa in 1876 age 22. an we assume she was living their with her parents?
Patrick may have been my grgrgrandfather’s brother Patrick born in Thurles Co Tipperary in 1826.
The same people I match to are also matches with two of my close Fanning cousins.
Unfortunately I have not been able to find much information on Catherine and her parents. She was born 24 Oct 1854 in Jamestown Wisconsin and died in Riverdale Illinois on 12 May 1938. She married Albert Orlando Growden in Ackerley Hardin Iowa on 29 April 1876. She was 22 and perhaps living with her parents there.
I have looked for her parents’ marriage record and any births of siblings but have found nothing. I’ll keep looking but I am not very familiar with searching American records.
A descendant of Michael Fanning, Big Bill’s brother, is also a DNA match with a descendant of Patrick Fannon, the father of Catherine Viola.
I am hoping someone seeing this post may have some more information on Catherine, her parents and possibly siblings.
Obituary for Rev Hugh Mockler Parish priest at Clerihan Parish Clonmel Co Tipperary.The Freemans Journal 10 Feb 1910
I have included this obit for Hugh Mockler as Tom Fanning of Lissaroon who I am related to attended and is listed as a relative. I have been unable to find any connection between him or his wife Johanna Bannon and the Mocklers.
I am curious as I have come up as a DNA match with a Mockler. Maybe someone reading this knows how the Fannings and Mocklers are related.
19 Dec 1823, Margaret of Laurance Fanning & Bridget Tierney sp: Winifred Whitten
30 Apr 1841, Catherine of John Fanning & Bridget Cummins, Carriglnane sp: William Whalen & Cath Whalen
16 Sept 1842, James of John Fanning & Catherine Connolly, Chapel Lane sp: Tim Grady & Joan Grady; twin of Michael
16 Sept 1842, Michael of John Fanning & Catherine Connolly, Chapel Lane sp: John Kennedy & Hannah Connors
21 Jan 1848, Margaret of John Fanning & Margaret Connor, Whitepark sp: Ellen Deegan
26 Jul 1861, William of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery, Roscrea sp: James Fanning & Ellen Fanning
14 Nov 1862, John of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery Limerick St, sp: Thomas Fanning& Kate Slattery twin of Martin
14 Nov 1862, Martin of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery Limerick St, sp: ThomasFanning & Kate Slattery twin of John
3 Jul 1864, Eleanor of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery sp: John & Eleanor Birmingham, twin of Maria. Civil record has the father, Martin, as a shopkeeper & farmer of Limerick St Roscrea
3 Jul 1864, Maria of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery sp: John & Eleanor Birmingham, twin of Eleanor
13 Jul 1866 James of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery sp: John O’Brien & AnnaFanning. Civil record is James Joseph.
9 Feb 1868, Pat of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery sp: Philip Fanning & Anna Fanning
10 Dec 1869, Thomas of Martin Fanning & Maria Slattery sp: Jacobus McDonald & Anna McDonald
28 Jun 1873, Anne of Anne Fanning, RoscreaWorkhouse, sp: William Hayes
4 Sept 1876, Margaret of John Fanning & Honora Healy of Ballystanley Rathnavogue
When I was in Co Tipperary recently and met up with distant Fanning relations I was told the story of John Kearney.
John was the son of Sarah Fanning and Patrick Kearney. Sarah A Fanning was the daughter of Michael fanning and Catherine Ryan of Lissaroon.
Sarah married Patrick Kearney, an electrician, from Southampton England, on 15 May 1894. Francis Dwan and Stasia Fanning were witnesses at their wedding in Inch Church in Drom parish Co Tipperary Ireland.
I have been unable to find any trace of Sarah and Patrick Kearney after the birth of John in Drom Parish in 1895. I can only assume that they died in England.
John is in the 1901 and 1911 Census records staying with his uncle and aunt, Tom and Hannah Fanning, at Lissaroon. They did not have any children of their own.
Thomas Fanning & Johanna (Hanna) Fanning nee Bannon
The story I was told about John Kearney, pronounced Carney, was that his uncle Tom Fanning was going to leave the Lissaroon property to him. When he found out that John wanted to go to England with his mates, he told him if he went he would not inherit. John went and Lissaroon was left to the Mullanys.
Lissaroon Drom & Inch Parish Co Tipperary
John used to come back to Ireland to visit his cousins in Dublin but never came back to Lissaroon. He died in England and is buried in a pauper’s grave.
The man in the above photo is John Kearney in Dublin. The baby is Michael Fanning. The girl on the right is Angela who married Willie O’Sullivan. The woman holding the baby would be Ellen (Eileen) Fanning nee Bunyan and the other girls would be her daughters Pat, Margaret, Mary, Ann and Frances Fanning, the daughters of Michael and Ellen Fanning. Not sure in what order. John Kearney was a first cousin of the father Michael Fanning.
Parish of Bournea & Corbally Diocese of Killaloe Co Tipperary. Courageen a variant name for this parish.
8 Jul 1840, Andrew of Andrew Maher & Catherine Fanning, Oldcastle, sp: William & Mary Fanning
17 Jul 1844, John of Patt Carroll & Sarah Fanning, Loran sp: John Fanning & Ellen Fanning
21 May 1865, William of William Fanning & Sarah Guidera sp: William Kealy & Johanna Guidera. Parish of Cournaganeen (Bourney) Baptism record.
13 May 1883, William of Nicholas Fanning, farmer & tailor & Margaret Dunne, Corriga civil birth record baptised 13 Jun 1883.
10 Jan 1900, William Fanning, of William Fanning, farmer & Margaret Coonan, Gortnagoona, Parish of Killavinogue. Parish/district of Bourney. civil birth record.
Johanna Fanning, daughter of William Fanning and Honora McCormack of Lisaroon, married William O’Connell on Feb 11, 1850 in Inch Parish Co Tipperary.
Fanning family home in Lissaroon 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.
Marriage record of Johanna Fanning and William O’Connell Drom & Inch Parish 11 Feb 1850
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.
Obituary for Michael O’Connell Nenagh News 2 Sept 1899
Ballyduff House Co Tipperary 2018
Michael O’Connell 2 Sept 1899 Nenagh News
William O’Connell Obit Nenagh Guardian 4 Feb 1939
William O’Connell Tribute Nenagh Guardian 4 Feb 1939
Castleiney House Co Tipperary 2018
There are some O’Connell graves in St Patricks cemetery in Thurles but most are are buried in Loughmore Cemetery Co Tipperary:
Obituary for Rev Martin O’Connell Irish Examiner Aug 11 1916
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.
Obituary of John Mullany Irish Examiner 29 Mar 1900
John Mullany was the husband of Bridget Fanning. She was the daughter of Michael Fanning and Catherine Ryan of Lissaroon and my ggggrandfather’s first cousin once removed.
Bridget Mullany License Transfer Nenagh Guardian 9 May 1900
Bridget was often in court for breaches of the Licensing Act. The transcripts make very entertaining reading.
Nenagh News 13 Jul 1901
Nenagh Guardian 10 Jul 1901
Irish Examiner 29 Aug 1905
Thurles petty Sessions reported in the Irish Examiner 22 Sept 1909
Nenagh News 23 Jan 1915
Bridget Mullany nee Fanning 1854-1935
After her husband died Bridget moved to Moyne with her children.
The property purchased by Bridget Mullany in Moyne
Bridget, Mary Ann, Michael and John Joe Mullany outside Mullany’s Pub in Moyne Co Tipperary
Nenagh Guardian 4 Nov 1908 Thurles Court
Nenagh Guardian 9 Apr 1921
Funeral card for Bridget Mullany nee Fanning
Death Notice Bridget Mullany nee Fanning Nenagh Guardian 22 Jun 1935
