Humphrys genealogy

Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.


My ancestors - Cashel - Contents


McSwiney

The family of Marion McSwiney, 2nd wife of Blennerhassett Cashel.
Probably pronounced "MacSweeney".
Possibly related to the revolutionary MacSwiney family of Cork.
  

Death notice of William Morgan McSwiney's mother, Limerick Chronicle, 5 Aug 1862.
Shows that his father was from Cork.


  
Morgan McSwiney,
of Cork.
"Morgan" is a name in the McSwiney family that is buried at Kilmurry, SE of Macroom, Co.Cork, going back to at least 1771.
He mar Marianne ----.
Morgan died pre-1862.
Marianne died in 1862 at her son's house, 135 George Street, Limerick.
See death notice in Limerick Chronicle, 5 Aug 1862.
Morgan and Marianne had issue:


  1. William McSwiney,
    William Morgan McSwiney, born 1819.
    He might be the William McSwiney who married 1stly to Maryanne O'Callaghan, who died Sun 22 Oct 1854, at their house, Brunswick Street, Limerick. See death notice in Limerick Chronicle, Wed 25 Oct 1854.
    He mar 6 Mar 1859, to Helena Cussen [born 1833, think NOT Helen].
    They mar at St.Michael's RC church, Limerick city. See mar entry from here.
    See her entry in Cussen tree by Laura Lentz.
    Living 1862 at 135 George Street, Limerick, when his mother died at his house.
    His dau died 1863 at 135 George Street, Limerick.
    He was grocer and wine merchant, George St, Limerick, as at son's birth 1865.
    His dau died 1866 at "133 George Street".
    Listed in [Directory of Cork and Munster, 1867] as William McSwiney, Brunswick St (now Sarsfield St), Limerick city. He is listed under Grocers on p.382. He is listed under Wine and Spirit merchants on p.393.
    He was grocer, Brunswick St, Limerick, as at son's birth 1868.

    Helena fell ill and was admitted to Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin.
    Her will dated 28 Sept 1883, just 2 days before death. See p.1 and p.2. From here. She is of 133 George Street, Limerick. Now in Dr Steevens' Hospital.
    She died 30 Sept 1883, Dr Steevens' Hospital, Dublin, age 50 yrs.
    See death cert from here. She is shopkeeper's wife, of 133 George Street, Limerick.
    William McSwiney, of Brunswick St, was admitted as a member of the Catholic Institute, Limerick in Jan 1887. Could be him or his son.
    William died 14 May 1895, St.Vincent View, 6 Mardyke Walk, Cork, age 76 yrs.
    See death cert from here. He is widower, retired merchant.
    See notice in Limerick Chronicle, 16 May 1895.
    William and Helena had issue:


    1. Morgan McSwiney,
      twin, bapt 7 Apr 1860, St.Michael's RC church, Limerick city.
      See bapt of twins from here. Also here.
      Not mentioned in mother's will 1883. Might have died young.


    2. Kate Emily McSwiney,
      twin, bapt Catherine Emilia, 7 Apr 1860, with brother at St.Michael's RC church, Limerick city.
      She died Mar 1863, 135 George Street, Limerick, age 2 yrs 11 months.
      See death notice in Limerick Chronicle, 10 Mar 1863.


    3. John McSwiney,
      bapt 25 Nov 1861, St.Michael's RC church, Limerick city. See entry.
      Not mentioned in mother's will 1883. Might have died young.


    4. Helena McSwiney,
      twin, born Apr 1863.
      bapt 1 May 1863, St.Michael's RC church, Limerick, sp Morgan and Christina McSwiney.
      See bapt of twins from here.
      Helena died 27 Mar 1866, 133 George Street, Limerick, age 2 yrs 11 months.
      See death notice in Limerick Chronicle, 29 Mar 1866.

        
      
    5. Mary Anne McSwiney,
      twin, born Apr 1863,
      bapt 1 May 1863 with her sister.

      Mary Anne McSwiney must be Marion McSwiney:
      The daughter Mary Anne McSwiney above must be identical with our Marion McSwiney who married Cashel. Reasons are as follows.
      • Mary Anne is not otherwise found. She is not mentioned in mother's will 1883. She might have died young. Or (more likely) she is Marion.
      • The birth/bapt of Marion is not otherwise found. And all of the other children's baptisms are found in St.Michael's church.
      • Marion was born 1865 according to marriage and grave.
      • Admin of estate would have her born 1867 and death cert would have her born 1873. But those dates are impossible since she would not then say age 33 at marriage.
      • So she must be born 1865 or earlier. But 1865 clashes with her brother.
      • So we are looking at 1864 or earlier. Looks like she must be Mary Anne.

      Mary Anne is probably identical with this dau of William and Helena:

      Marion McSwiney,
      apparently bapt 1 May 1863 (see previous).
      Census says born Limerick city.
      "Marian" in mother's will 1883.
      "Marion Clare" in census. Called "Aunt Mal" by step-relations.
      "William McSwiney" (her father or brother) was admitted a member of the Catholic Institute, Limerick in 1887.
      Marion possibly got to know Blennerhassett Cashel before 1893, when he was in Limerick and active in the Catholic Institute, Limerick.
      Blennerhassett moved to Cork 1893.
      Both Marion's parents died by 1895.
      Blennerhassett's wife died 1896.
      At mar in 1898, Marion is living 18 Liberty St, Cork. This was her brother Edward's house.
      She mar 26 Oct 1898, Dublin, to Blennerhassett Cashel [bapt 18 June 1848] and had issue.
      His 2nd marriage. He was age 50 with children ranging from teenage to married.
      They mar at St.Augustine and John, Thomas St (near Christchurch), Dublin. See mar cert from here.
      Both living in Cork but married in Dublin for some reason.

        
      
    6. William McSwiney,
      born 13 June 1865, George St, Limerick.
      See birth cert from here.
      He was bapt 18 June 1865, St.Michael's RC church, Limerick city. See bapt entry from here.
      Mentioned in mother's will 1883.
      He would be "William Morgan McSwiney" who wit his sister's mar 1898.


    7. Edward McSwiney,
      born 6 June 1868, Brunswick St, Limerick.
      See birth cert from here.
      He was bapt 14 June 1868, St.Michael's RC church, Limerick city. See entry.
      "Michael Edward" on birth cert. "Edward Michael" on bapt cert and in mother's will 1883. "Edward" on mar cert. 1901 census is "Edward Michael" and just "Edward".
      At mar 1899 he is living Liberty St, Cork. His sister's marriage 1898 shows this is 18 Liberty St.
      He mar 6 June 1899, Dublin, to Brigid O'Donnell [Delia].
      See mar cert from here.
      She is "Delia" in census. But this is the same person, not a 2nd marriage. Because 1911 census says they are married 11 ½ years.
      They are listed in 1901 census at 18 Liberty St, Cork. He is "apothecary", "student of medicine".
      His sister's marriage shows census no.18 is identical to street no.18.
      They are listed in 1911 census at 18 Liberty St. He is "Pharmaceutical Chemist". No children. Signed "Edward MacSwiney".





The baptism of the twins, 1 May 1863.
This must be the baptism of Marion McSwiney.


 
William McSwiney, Brunswick St, Limerick.
Listed under Grocers (left) and Wine and Spirit merchants (right) in [Directory of Cork and Munster, 1867].



Thought to be Marion McSwiney.
Note her eldest grandchild was born 1927.
See larger and full size.
Courtesy of Mitrina Ryall.



Thought to be Marion McSwiney with grandchildren.
See larger and full size.
Courtesy of Mitrina Ryall.



Marion McSwiney and her grandson Jack McGrath.
17 Knockrea park, Douglas Rd, Cork.
Photo c.1938.
The house was called "Carna" after Carna in Connemara (see map) where they spent holidays.
See larger and full size.
See other shot and other shot.
See wider shot and wider shot.



Marion McSwiney.
Detail of above.


  

The revolutionary MacSwiney family

The revolutionary MacSwiney family of Cork may be related to Marion McSwiney's family above.

This family used the spelling "McSwiney" in earlier records (John's marriage and children's birth certs and 1901 census).
Later standardised to "MacSwiney".
Pronounced "MacSweeney".

  

Is the revolutionary MacSwiney family related to Marion McSwiney's family?

Blennerhassett Cashel married in 1898, as his 2nd wife, to Marion McSwiney.
Marion was born in Limerick, of a family originally from Cork, and which had returned to Cork before 1895.
The Cashel family also became good friends in Cork with the revolutionary MacSwiney family of Cork.
In particular, Blennerhassett Cashel's children by his 1st marriage, Alice Cashel and Kathleen Riordan, became friends and comrades from at least 1911 of the revolutionary MacSwiney family of Cork.
So is Marion McSwiney's family related to the revolutionary MacSwiney family?
Maybe:
  1. Both from Co.Cork.
  2. Apparently both linked to Kilmurry, Co.Cork.
  3. Would explain how the Cashels got to know them.
  4. At her marriage in 1926, Helen Cashel (dau of Marion McSwiney) is listed at 5 Eldred Terrace, the same house that the Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney (died 1920) formerly lived in. We know they were friends, but this might indicate they were actually cousins.
  5. However, caution that the whole friendship may date to when Alice Cashel and Terence MacSwiney both worked in the Cork Municipal School of Commerce in 1911. And then it would be cemented by politics and the revolution. There might be no family relationship at all.
  

John McSwiney,
mar Catherine Falvey,
had issue:


  1. John McSwiney,
    or MacSwiney,
    born 1836, Co.Cork.
    Said to be born on a farm at Kilmurry, Co.Cork (W of Crookstown, SE of Macroom, see map).
    Kilmurry is Kilmurry RC par. See par records.
    The 1904 obituary of his brother Eugene MacSwiney says Eugene came from Bandon, Co.Cork (a bit SE of Crookstown).

    John went to England.
    He mar 1871 in England to Mary Wilkinson [English Catholic].
    (todo) See mar of John McSwiney and Mary Wilkinson, [GRO.UK] 2nd qr 1871, St Olave Southwark, vol 1d p 350.
    They lived in England for a time.
    Returned to Ireland 1879.
    Lived in Cork city.
    After his business failed John emigrated alone to Australia in 1885. (His brother Eugene was already there.)
    Mary stayed in Cork.

    John died in Melbourne, Australia, 19 October 1895, age 59 yrs.
    His Australian death record lists his parents.
    See grave in Melbourne, which shows he is the father of Terence.
    See Mary and children listed in 1901 census at Saint Mary's Terrace, Cork.
    See the children listed in 1911 census at Knockrea, Blackrock, Cork. Census return in Irish.
    John and Mary had issue:


    1. Mary MacSwiney, born 1872.
      She was educ at University of Cambridge (Teaching Diploma).
      In 1916 she and her sister Annie founded the nationalist school, St. Ita's School for girls, Cork (Scoil Ite). It was modelled on St Enda's. Taught through Irish.
      Mary was a Sinn Fein TD 1921-1927.
      She was jailed in the Civil War in 1922-23.
      She was arrested 4 Nov 1922 in a Free State raid at the house of Nancy O'Rahilly. She was in jail with Nancy and Nell Humphreys and Sighle Humphreys. See Sighle's memoirs of prison 1922-23.
      She died 1942. See DIB.


    2. Terence MacSwiney, born 1879.
      See birth cert from here.
      He mar 1917 to Muriel Murphy [born 1892].
      They lived at 5 Eldred Terrace, South Douglas Rd, Cork.
      See a tribute to him painted near Eldred Terrace in 2020. See search.
      Sinn Fein TD 1918-1920.
      Lord Mayor of Cork 1920.
      He died on hunger strike, 1920. See DIB.
      Muriel died 1982.
      They had issue:

      1. Maire MacSwiney, born 1918.
        She mar 1945 to Ruairi Brugha [son of Cathal Brugha and Caitlin Kingston].


    3. Annie MacSwiney,
      Anne Mary, Eithne, born 1883, Cork.
      See birth cert from here.
      Co-founded Scoil Ite in Cork in 1916 with her sister.

    4. Sean MacSwiney,
      John Terence, born 1886, Cork.
      See birth cert from here.
      Sinn Fein TD 1921-1922.
      He died 1942.


  

Sources yet to be consulted


  

MacSwiney papers

MacSwiney papers at [UCD Archives]. IE UCDA P48a and P48b and P48c.





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