My ancestors - O'Rahilly - Contents

Conn O'Rahilly

• References:
  • The journals of Sir John Benn-Walsh: Relating to the management of his Irish Estates, 1823-64, by Sir John Benn-Walsh, 2nd Baronet (later 1st Baron Ormathwaite), [Journal of CHAS], 79 (1974), 86-123; 80 (1975), 15-42.

Conn O'Rahilly,
of Upper Lisbaby, Co.Kerry,
Cornelius [Julia Sheehan],
born est c.1735,
mar Johanna O'Riordan [or Norah, or Riordan, dau of Daniel O'Riordan of Knockysheehan, Aghadoe parish, Co.Kerry],
"was a well to do man and was a cattle dealer as well, having all Upper Lisbaby to himself" [Julia Sheehan],
"old Con divided the farm between two of the sons, giving half to John, other half to Michael" [Julia Sheehan],

The eviction: he was the O'Rahilly evicted from his lands at Upper Lisbaby,
[Julia Sheehan] says: "Lisbaby was a part of Charles Mc Carthy's estate of Headfort, a branch of the Mc Carthy Mórs. This Charles Mc Carthy was always in want of money and he borrowed some money from a Mr. Martin Lalor, an apothecary and tithe collector in Killarney, and he gave him a lien on the townland of Lisbaby for the money he borrowed.",
"Lalor soon demanded the money and a litigation cropped up between them" [this would be c.1801] "which held for 7 yrs, during which the tenants paid no rent" [perhaps naturally, since apart from simply taking advantage of the situation, they might have been paying the wrong person],
"In the end Lalor gained the law suit and he evicted all the tenants out of the farm" [c.1808] "and let the land to new tenants",
Charles MacCarthy of Headfort died 1821 [Fitzelle, 1986],
"Martin Lalor" is listed as owning Lisbabe in 1853,
(todo) search [LR],

evicted c.1808 (age est c.73 yrs),
fl at time of his son Fionn's death (prob. 1809),
educated his grandson James, so prob. fl 1820,
had issue:

1. Fionn O'Rahilly,
   of Upper Lisbaby, Co.Kerry, eldest son,
   mar prob. c.1808 to Joan O'Keeffe [dau of Dermod O'Keeffe, of Knocknaskeha, Killarney parish],
   he "died soon after marriage before first child born" [Julia Sheehan], died in his father's lifetime,
   he is prob. "Faun Rahilly" of Knocknaskeha, whose will probate was granted 1809 (Ardfert and Aghadoe diocese),
   had issue:
   1. James O'Rahilly, born after his father's death (prob. 1809),
      educ by his grandfather Conn,
      wrote The Sons of Erin and several other songs,
      died without issue,
      "grew up, left home, and they never heard from him after" [Julia Sheehan].

   He must be the same as:

   Eugene Rahilly,
   mar Joanna Keeffe [or Johanna],
   listed as of Knocknaskeha, Killarney parish, at dau's bapt 1807,
   had issue:

   1. Honora Rahilly,
      bapt 4 May 1807 [Killarney RC par records].

   
   

2. Michael Rahilly, of Killarney,
   born est c.1765, Upper Lisbaby, Co.Kerry.

   
   

3. Denis O'Rahilly,
   of Knocknaskeha, Killarney par (see map),
   listed as "Denis Rahilly" at mar,
   mar 14 Feb 1804 [Killarney RC par records] to Johanna O'Sullivan,
   had issue:
   1. John O'Rahilly.

      
      

   2. Michael O'Rahilly,
      this is thought to be Michael Rahilly, tobacconist in Listowel, listed in [Pigot's Directory 1824],
      and tenant of Knockburrane, Kilfeighny parish, SW of Listowel (see map) from 1833 to at least 1853,
      the landlord [Sir John Benn-Walsh], writing 13th Aug 1834, says: "rode over to Knockburrane (part let) to Michael Rahilly £75 .. is a tobacconist in the town of Listowel. He has planted an orchard and made good improvements. He has also drawn stone to build himself a house",
      poss. married, 27th Feb 1839, to Sarah Lyons [of Broadford, Drumcollogher, Co.Limerick],
      [Griffiths Valuation, c.1852] lists Michael Rahilly as occupying 86 acres (with a house) at Knockburrane (he had the highest-valued house in Knockburrane), leased from Sir John,
      in contrast to his earlier positive writing, Sir John, writing later in Oct 1853, says: "I have allowed Rahilly another trial",
      died without issue.
      [King] says that "the Reillys (formerly Rahillys) of Knockburrane" are relations.

   
   

4. John O'Rahilly,
   born Upper Lisbaby,
   evicted c.1808,
   moved 1808/10 to farm at "Knockanemeris" (this must be Knockanimrish, Killaha par, see map),
   mar Elizabeth Moynihan,
   moved 1830/32 [Julia Sheehan] (think [Fitzelle, 1986] is wrong to say 1820-31)
   to Raheen West (part of Dónall 'ac Murchadha's old land, see map)
   had issue:
   1. Julia Rahilly,
      born 1818, Knockanemeris [according to information she gave],
      but she must be Julia Rahilly, of Knockanemeris, bapt 5 Apr 1826 [Glenflesk RC par records], dau of John Rahilly and Elizabeth Moynahan, which would throw other dates out, (todo) go through her dates again,
      mar 1842/44, (todo) search Kilcummin RC par records,
      to her 1st cousin Michael Sheehan.

   2. Norah Rahilly.
   3. Joan Rahilly.
   4. Ellen Rahilly.
   5. Mary Rahilly.
   6. James Rahilly, mar Catherine Barrett [dau of John Barrett of Ardnamadama (unidentified)].
   7. Denis Rahilly, died without issue.

      This generation adopted surname "Rahilly".