Fanning Graves in Moycarkey Old and New Cemeteries Co Tipperary Ireland

Photos of Fanning gravestones in Moycarkey Old and New Cemeteries Co Tipperary Ireland.

 

Tipperary Studies has many Graveyard transcriptions on their site and they are adding more. They have Moycarky Cemetery transcriptions. They also have a lot of other interesting genealogical documents.

 

Moycarky Catholic Church Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky Catholic Church Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky New Cemetery CoTipperary Ireland (2)
Moycarky New Cemetery CoTipperary Ireland
Moycarky New Cemetery CoTipperary Ireland
Moycarky New Cemetery CoTipperary Ireland
Moycarky New Cemetery Ellen Fanning Ballytarsna CoTipperary Ireland
Moycarky New Cemetery Ellen Fanning Ballytarsna CoTipperary Ireland
Moycarky Old Cemetery Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky Old Cemetery Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky Old Cemetery Fanning-Rush of Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky Old Cemetery Fanning-Rush of Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky Old Cemetery Fannings of Cabra Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky Old Cemetery Fannings of Cabra Co Tipperary Ireland

Gravestone inscription for JOHN FANNING of Cloughmartin, who died age 78, 17 Apr 1986. Brother of Elizabeth Fanning, son of Michael and Johanna Fanning and the nephew of Kate Ryan. Buried in Moycarky Old Graveyard.

Gravestone inscription for THOMAS FANNING of Skehana, died 14 Dec 1922. Husband of Margaret Fanning, father of Martin Fanning, brother of Joseph Fanning & uncle of William & John Fanning. Buried in Moycarky Old Graveyard.

Gravestone inscription for JOSEPH FANNING of Skehana, died 15 Jul 1941.  Brother of Thomas Fanning. Father of William & John Fanning. Buried in Moycarky Old Graveyard.

Gravestone inscription for MARTIN FANNING of Skehana, died 7 Mar 1951. Son of Thomas & Margaret Fanning, nephew of Joseph Fanning & cousin of William & John Fanning. Buried in Moycarky Old Graveyard.

Gravestone inscription for MARGARET FANNING of Skehana, died 21 Aug 1957. wife of Thomas Fanning, mother of Martin Fanning. Buried in Moycarky Old Graveyard.

Gravestone inscription for WILLIAM FANNING of Skehana, died 4 Oct 1977. Son of Joseph Fanning, brother of John Fanning, nephew of Thomas Fanning & cousin of Martin Fanning. Buried in Moycarky Old Graveyard.

Gravestone inscription for JOHN FANNING of Skehana, died 28 Apr 1982. Son of Joseph Fanning, brother of William Fanning, nephew of Thomas Fanning & cousin of Martin Fanning. Buried in Moycarky Old Graveyard.

Moycarky Old Cemetery Johanna & Michael Fanning of Newtonn Littleton Co Tipperary Ireland

Moycarky Old Cemetery Hogans of Coolkip Co Tipperary Ireland (2)
Moycarky Old Cemetery Hogans of Coolkip Co Tipperary Ireland

Mary Hogan nee Sheehan was Big Bill’s niece, her mother was Sally Sheehan nee Fanning.

Moycarky Old Cemetery Hogans of Coolkip Co Tipperary Ireland
Moycarky Old Cemetery Hogans of Coolkip Co Tipperary Ireland

Patrick T Hogan’s sister Bridget married Michael O’Sullivan of Cattaganstown. She is buried in Moyglass Cemetery. Her death was reported in the Clonmel Nationalist:

Bridget O'Sullivan nee Hogan Funeral Notice Clonmel Nationalist 11th July 1928c
Death Notice for Bridget O’Sullivan nee Hogan in the Clonmel Nationalist 11 July 1928

Mrs Ed Fanning of Shanbally was her sister Johanna  Mrs John Fanning of Clondoty Loughmore was her sister Mary. Mrs O’Donnell of Fethard would have been her aunt Johanna nee Sheehan and Mrs Fanning of Thurles was most likely her aunt Ellen nee Sheehan who was a shopkeeper and publican in Quarry St Thurles.

The Bridget Hogan who died in 1982 may well be the Bridget Hogan of Coolkip mentioned in the paper, probably the niece of the Bridget who died in 1928.

 

The Burning of Lisheen Castle and John J Fanning of Lisdonowley, Co Tipperary Ireland 1921

John Fanning, grandson of Patrick Fanning and Margaret Cantwell of Lisdonowley, Co Tipperary,Ireland, was an IRA member and falsely rumored to be involved with the burning Lisheen Castle in 1921. The story goes that he fled to America but was followed and murdered there. He was not one of the three IRA men who torched the castle. He died somewhere in America in 1931.

Patrick Fanning (c1809-22 Sept 1895) the son of William Fanning and Hanera Cormack came to live at Lisdonowley and his descendants still live there. He married Margaret Cantwell and had 14 children.

Lisheen Castle
The restored Lisheen Castle

One of their sons James was the father of John Fanning born 1900 who was a member of the IRA and some have him being involved with the burning down of Lisheen Castle in 1921. After this he is said to have fled to America where he was followed and murdered. He died in 1931 so I am not so sure about him being murdered.

I have found John’s record of travel to America on the Ellis Island site. He emigrated, age 29, to New York on “The Carmania” from Queenstown (Cobh) on 28 April 1929. His mother’s name is given as next of kin and he was to stay with his aunt Mrs Margaret O’Donnell at 194 Court St Brooklyn New York. Margaret O’Donnell is most likely his mother Anne’s sister, Margaret Hogan.

In the recently released military transcripts John Fanning is listed as a captain of “D” Company in Moyne. These statements make fascinating reading as they give an incredibly vivid picture of what life was like around Thurles in 1920-21 during the War of Independence.

John Fanning of Lisdonowley
John Fanning of Lisdonowley 1900-1931
John Fanning IRA company Moyne
John Fanning IRA company Moyne

His descendants who I talked with recently cast some doubt on his involvement with the burning of this castle.

Lisheen Castle Burned

“At 11.20 on June 29 Lisheen Castle (Tipperary), the property of Mr. John F. O’Meara, corn merchant, Thurles, was maliciously destroyed by fire by a party of unknown civilians.”- Dublin Castle report.

Freemans Journal July 4 1921.

“Lisheen Castle was occupied at the time only by the caretaker, Patrick Sweeney. A number of men ordered him out, a drawing room window was smashed and petrol was thrown in. The deed was done by local IRA activists, whose names were known. Other buildings burned down around that time in Tipperary according to the Star report were Loran House, near Templemore, Derrycastle Bungalow overlooking Lough Derg, and vacant RIC barracks of Holycross, Shevry and Roskean.

John F. O’Meara was awarded £15,000 compensation the following October. The judge hearing the claim stated that he was satisfied that the O’Mearas intended to use it as their residence, and that it was an effective dwelling house at the time it was burned.”

(Taken from the Lisheen Castle website which has a excellent history of the castle and some wonderful photos in their gallery. The castle is also available to rent!)

I was reading a transcript of a talk given by Turtle Bunbury on Big House Families and Lisheen Castle was mentioned. This is the excerpt:

“Approximately 200 big houses were destroyed during the Irish Civil War, as well as 80 or so that went up in flames during the War of Independence. Some were destroyed because of hatred of the family. Some were taken out as possible enemy strongholds – Woodstock, in Co. Kilkenny, was one. Another was Lisheen in Co. Tipperary – I recently heard the tale of one of the Lloyds of Lisheen who had been a young girl when the house was burned and she came back to Ireland as an old woman and was introduced to an elderly man. He was one of the three lads that had set the castle ablaze. He apologized for burning the house and maintained it was not personal against the Lloyd family who were held in high regard by locals. “It was war. We were fighting for our country.” They did not want the British to have access to the castle which gave a commanding view of the area.”

I have been sent this extract which actually names those involved in the torching of the castle and John Fanning is not named. So that myth has been laid to rest. John Fanning of Lisdonowley was not one of the three.

Lisheen Castle was burned towards midnight on 29th June 1921, just days before the Treaty was signed in 11th July 1921! Lisheen Castle was burned to prevent it being used for military purposes by the English. On that night, Mr. Patrick Sweeney, the caretaker living at Lisheen Castle, was ordered out of the Castle by three armed men, Mr. William Conroy of Ballyerk, Mr. John Ely of Moyneard, and Mr. Denis Maher of Moyne, who torched the Castle. No furniture or possessions were in the Castle at the time of the burning. Newly weds Camilla (nee O’Brien) and John O’Meara did not restore it after the burning, although they were well compensated (£15,900) and so it remained a picturesque ruin”

Source: “Moyne-Templetouhy. A Life of Its Own. The Story of a Tipperary Parish”. Hayes, W.J., 2001, Vol II p 452 published by Moyne-Templetouhy History Group, Thurles and Tipperary Star 2nd July 1921 and 8th October 1921.

In the Bureau of Military History witness statements, Sean Scott, a commandant in the IRA, states that he received news that the British forces were about to occupy Lisheen Castle and so he ordered it burned. Scott was in the second Battalion Tipperary, the Second Tipperary Brigade. John Fanning was in the same battalion and was the captain for Moyne where the castle is situated.

The photo below is not of the second Brigade but the third but I included it for interests sake. I would like to get a photo of the second brigade if it exists and someone has a copy.

Sean Hogan's Second Flying Column Third Brigade Tipperary
Sean Hogan’s Second Flying Column The Third Brigade IRA Tipperary about 1920

John Fanning died in Brooklyn Kings New York on 28 Feb 1931 and was buried in St Johns Cemetery Queens New York, Section 25/Row N/Grave 74.Cemetery on 2 March. He was living at 255 Clinton St. Brooklyn New York. He was working as a clerk and was not married.

Grave of John Fanning from Lisdonowly in St John Cemetery Brooklyn USA. The above photo and the next were kindly taken by JP Rayder for Find A Grave.

St Johns Cemetery Middle Village New York
St Johns Cemetery Middle Village New York

 

In memorium Irish Press 28 Feb 1933

 

Irish Press 28 Feb 1935

Sheehans of Quarry St Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland Family History

Sarah Fanning 1816-1888 born Thurles Parish,Co Tipperary Ireland and married John Sheehan 1815-1881. She lived in Quarry St Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland and worked as a grocer and publican. She was my gggrandfather’s sister.

Sarah Fanning born 1816 was my gggrandfather’s sister.

After a puzzling lack of DNA matches with a known Sheehan descendant I checked Sarah’s Baptism record and discovered the priest had placed a cross next to the entry. This usually meant the priest did not believe the father married to the mother was actually the father of this child. Sarah’s brother Patrick’s entry also had a cross.

Sarah Sheehan is buried in St Mary’s Church graveyard Thurles Co Tipperary. She and her husband John Sheehan had a grocery/pub in Quarry St Thurles.

Thurles Site of John and Sarah Sheehan nee Fanning's Shop
Site of John and Sarah Sheehan nee Fanning’s Grocery Shop and Pub in Quarry St (renamed Mitchel St) Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland 2012
Sarah Sheehan’s Shop in Quarry St, now Michel St, Thurles in 2018 looking worse for wear.

Quarry St was later renamed Mitchel St. Quarry St ran parallel to Pike St which was renamed Kickham St. The two streets were linked together by Lime Kiln Lane later called Ikerrin Rd. Pudding Lane also known as Jail St is now known as O’Donvan Rossa St. Quarry, where Sarah Sheehan lived, refers to a small area east of the town of Thurles. It was also known locally as The Pike.

St Mary’s Protestant Church was erected in 1820. The original entrance to the church was in Lime Kiln Lane. Both Protestant and Catholics were buried in St Mary’s graveyard.

Thurles St Mary's Graveyard Sarah Sheehan's Gravestone (3)
Thurles St Mary’s Graveyard Sarah Sheehan’s Gravestone
Thurles St Mary's Graveyard Sarah Sheehan's Gravestone (6)
Thurles St Mary’s Graveyard Sarah Sheehan’s Gravestone

Below is the inscription on the grave:

Erected by Sarah Sheehan of Thurles in memory of her beloved husband John Sheehan who died 3rd August 1881 aged 66 years. Also to the memory of their dearly beloved daughter Sarah Sheehan who died on the 31st May 1886 in the 24th year of her age sincerely regretted Here also are deposited the remains of the above Mrs Sarah Sheehan who died 10th Oct 1888 aged 72 years Also Mary Ellen Ryan nee O’Donnell died 21st Dec 1916 aged 34 years.

The Sheehan gravestone has been updated and Johanna O’Donnell nee Sheehan added.

James Dwyer was married to Ellen Sheehan, daughter of Sarah Sheehan nee Fanning, sister of William Patrick Fanning, my great great grandfather. (Sarah and Sally are used for each other.) She would have been his niece.

James Dwyer of Thurles
James Dwyer 1859-1888 Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland

James Dwyer and Ellen Sheehan were married in Thurles Parish on 23/01/1883. He was a shopkeeper and his father William a farmer. Ellen’s father John Sheehan was a shopkeeper and her address is given as Quarry St Thurles. James Dwyer lived in Main St Thurles. Witnesses were Michael Dwyer and Sarah Sheehan. James Dwyer died young of Phthisis (consumption or tuberculosis), after being ill for four months. (The death record has him being 30 at time of death.)

James Dwyer probate from The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1920
James Dwyer probate 1889 from The Calendar of Wills and Administration 1858-1920

A few years later Ellen married her second cousin, Tom Fanning of Clondoty, Loughmore. They were married on 1/02/1891. Thomas Fanning was a farmer and Ellen Dwyer nee Sheehan a shopkeeper at 112 Quarry St  Thurles. Witnesses were Michael Fanning and Ellen’s sister, Josie Hogan.

Tom Fanning died in 1897 and is buried in Loughmore Cemetery.

Obituary for Thomas Fanning The Nationalist 18 Sept 1897 page 6

 

Ellen is listed on the 1901 Census at Quarry St Thurles as a grocer. She is age 45. In the household there are her nieces Sarah Hogan age 14 and at school, Josephine Hogan age 24 and a scholar and Mary O’Donnell age 20 and also a scholar. She has a son William Fanning aged 6. On the 1911 Census she is living with a servant who is a shop assistant. Ellen is described as a widow with one living child and her marriage as lasting five years.

1901 Census Quarry St Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland Ellen Fanning_0002
1901 Census Quarry St Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland Ellen Fanning
1911 Census Quarry St Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland Ellen Fanning_0002
1911 Census Quarry St Thurles Co Tipperary Ireland Ellen Fanning

Ellen died in 1943.

Ellen Fanning nee Sheehan death Irish Press 23 Oct 1943
William Fanning Quarry St Irish Examiner 10 Nov 1915
William Fanning Mitchel St Thurles death notice Irish Press 30 Dec 1947
William Fanning Mitchel St Thurles premises sale Irish Press 10 Jul 1948

 

 

 

 

Johanna O’Donnell nee Sheehan

Johanna was the daughter of Sally Sheehan nee Fanning. She was born in 1853 and died in Thurles in 1932. She married Thomas O’Donnell in Thurles on 8 Feb 1880.

Thomas O’Donnell Fethard 1856-1924
An older Johanna O’Donnell nee Sheehan 1853-1932

 

James Ryan & Mary Ellen O’Donnell

Mary Ellen O’Donnell, 1881-1916, was the daughter of Thomas O’Donnell and Johanna Sheehan of Fethard. She was the granddaughter of Sally Sheehan nee Fanning. She married James Ryan, 1881-1923, on 5 Oct 1909 in Thurles.

A mystery photo. Told it was Patrick Mary O’Donnell with a Hogan cousin and his wife. Not sure exactly who the couple are but struck by the woman’s resemblance to the above O’Donnell/Sheehan women.

 

Obit of Bridget O’Sullivan the daughter of Thomas Hogan died age 86. She was the sister in law of Mary Sheehan daughter of Sarah Sheehan nee Fanning.