McEllistrem of Ballylongford, Co.Kerry
Spelling:
Universally spelt "McEllistrem" by the family in Ballylongford now,
and they believe that is what was on
the old shop door in Ballylongford
(demolished 1957).
They say it was NOT "Mac",
always "Mc".
Other branches in Co.Kerry spell it "McEllistrim".
Think "McEllistrim" is how
The O'Rahilly
spelt it in his son's middle name.
Spelt this way in
[Bourke, 1967].
"Mac Ellestrem" is on Richard's tomb at Lislaughtin Abbey in 1848
- the only contemporary record that we have
from the family themselves.
Grave of Richard Mac Ellestrem, Lislaughtin Abbey.
See full size.
See also alternative shot
and alternative shot
(these two photos courtesy of Richard Humphreys).
Photos 2006.
McEllistrem (and many spelling variations)
is thought to be a Norman family in Co.Kerry,
adopting a Gaelic-style surname.
There was a "Castle MacEllistrum" in
Tralee.
These MacEllistrums were dispossessed of the castle in 1579-1604
[King].
[Mary Barrett, née Patt]
said about our line:
"the Mc Carthys, Mac Ellestrems and Scollards are all from Ardfert",
Ardfert par, just NW of Tralee, Co.Kerry.
(todo) who are the Scollards?
The McEllistrems of Ballylongford thought that
the family of Tralee (presumably the family of Castle MacEllistrum)
was the ancestor of 3 branches:
(1) McEllistrem of Ballylongford;
(2) "McEllistrim" of Ballyduff, Rattoo par, SW of Ballylongford,
NW Co.Kerry;
and
(3) "McEllistrim" of Ballymacelligott, Ballymacelligott par, just E of Tralee.
The Ballylongford line begins with:
Richard McEllistrem,
or possibly Mac Ellestrem,
of Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
poss. originally of Ardfert, nr Tralee, Co.Kerry,
born est c.1780,
mar Mary Mc Carthy, of Ardfert, nr Tralee,
ran big business,
Main St, Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
shipping agents,
post office and general store,
did not approve of dau Margaret marrying Rahilly,
all the business (including ultimately the post office)
went with Margaret to Rahilly's shop,
chart of
their descendants
in
[Family tree by Mary Ann Hagen]
is inaccurate,
had issue:
-
Richard Mac Ellestrem, born 1805,
spelt "Mac Ellestrem" on tomb,
Mary Barrett (née Patt),
writing to
The O'Rahilly,
described him as
"your esteemed grand uncle",
died 10th Aug 1848, age 43 yrs,
bur impressive tomb,
Lislaughtin Abbey,
nr Ballylongford, a big vault, standing on its own,
on which is written "In life esteemed and beloved.
In death deeply and universally deplored.",
[Family tree by Mary Ann Hagen]
shows him with issue, but these are the issue of his brother Thomas.
-
Thomas McEllistrem, born est c.1810.
- Margaret McEllistrem,
born 1812, Ballylongford,
note the connection of the Rahillys to the parish priest
was through
O'Sullivan,
NOT through McEllistrem,
her family didn't want her to marry him,
they "eloped" to marry in Limerick,
but returned to Ballylongford and set up shop
(i.e. continued Rahilly family business),
mar est c.1836, Limerick,
(todo) search Limerick par records,
to Michael Joseph Rahilly
and had issue.
Close-up of grave of Richard Mac Ellestrem, Lislaughtin Abbey.
Photo 2006.
See full size.
Must be related:
-
"Thomas Mc Ellistrem",
Lislaughtin, nr Ballylongford,
listed as head of household
in
[Griffiths Valuation, 1852].
- James McEllistrem,
farmer, of Drombeg, Galey par, nr Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
illiterate [GROI],
mar Bridget Hurly and had issue:
- Catherine McEllistrem,
born 13 July 1865, Drombeg
[GROI].
Wonder if some relation of
Richard Rahilly's
grandmother
Mary Mc Carthy:
[Diary of Richard Rahilly] says:
"I got ill on 1st May 1866 and was not able to go to business again
until after my return from Dingle with Fr. Dan Mc Carthy
- 18th June 1866"
"McEllistrim" of Ballyduff,
Rattoo par, SW of Ballylongford, NW Co.Kerry:
The name "Richard" is found in the Ballyduff area,
SW of Ballylongford.
Could this be a cousin of Richard above?
Might this indicate that "Richard" in the family goes back to
a common ancestor in c.1700?
-
Richard McElistrum,
of Birhill(?), or Firhill(?),
must be Heirhill, Ballyheige par, W of Causeway, NW Co.Kerry,
mar Bridget Corkerin and had issue:
- Mary McElistrum,
bapt 16th Feb 1807
[Causeway RC par records,
i.e. civil parishes of Killury and Rattoo, NW Co.Kerry],
sp Eugene McEgan(?) and Margaret Corall(?).
- John McEllistrum,
farmer, of Ardoughter, Killury par, NW Co.Kerry,
mar Mary Hickson,
both illiterate [GROI],
had issue:
- John McEllistrum,
born 2 June 1865, Ardoughter, Co.Kerry
[GROI],
must have died young.
- John McEllistrum,
born 12 Aug 1871, Ardoughter, Co.Kerry
[GROI].
"McEllistrim" of Ballymacelligott,
Ballymacelligott par,
just E of Tralee:
This is the political family.
Supposedly distant relations, but no proven connection.
They turned up at the unveiling of the
plaque to The O'Rahilly
in Ballylongford in 1966:
Thomas McEllistrim
(and here),
born 1894,
of the family of McEllistrim of Ballymacelligott, nr Tralee,
FF TD for Kerry and Kerry North, 1923-69,
see election record,
died 1973, age 79 yrs,
had issue:
- Thomas McEllistrim
(and here),
born 1932, Boherbee, Tralee, Co.Kerry,
FF TD for Kerry North, 1969-87 and 1989-92,
Minister of State (Junior Minister) 1979-82,
see election record,
died 2000, age 68 yrs,
had issue:
- Tom McEllistrim
(and here
and here),
Thomas, born 1968,
FF TD for Kerry North, 2002 to date,
see election record.
- Anne McEllistrim
(and here),
FF local councillor for Tralee, 2003 to date,
see election record.
Miscellaneous families from
Co.Kerry:
- Gerard McEllistrum,
mar 22nd Aug 1797
[Tralee RC par records]
to Joanna Wild, of Derrymore,
wit Thomas Wild,
Christopher Wild,
Margaret Wild.
- Gerard McEllistrum,
mar 17th Jan 1802 [Tralee RC par records],
also duplicate entry under 26th Feb 1802,
to Catherine Sweeny
of Blennerville,
wit Daniel Sullivan,
Maurice Collins.
- James McEllistrum,
mar 2nd Oct 1807 [Tralee RC par records]
to Mary Commane of Ballynelly,
wit Michael Commane,
Thomas McEllistrum.
He is prob.
James McEllistrum,
born 1787, mar Mary ----,
emig post-1820 to Canada, had issue.
-
McEllistrum
surname discussion forum
- This is sometimes considered to be the same name as McAlister:
- Google searches for Ballylongford
with all likely spellings:
Send me additions and corrections to this site
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