My ancestors - Foley - Contents

Foley

Foley of Limerick city.

References:
- Notes by Patricia Lavelle in [PAT/1, p.4 and p.5] See also [PAT/13, no.5].

Irish speaking

Honora Foley was said to be Irish-speaking.
She is written as Honora "Fowloo" at marriage.
Foley in Irish is "Ó Foghlú".
"Fowloo" is an Anglicisation of "Foghlú".
"Fowloo" is found in a number of places as a variant of "Foley".
This supports the idea that Honora Foley was Irish-speaking.

The marriage of James O'Mara to Honora "Fowloo" (Foley) in 1841 in the register of St.John's, Limerick.

"Hanah Fowloo" sp the bapt of John O'Mara in Limerick in March 1842.
We are not sure who she is but this is more evidence pointing to Irish-speaking Foley.

Discounted - Foley of Clonmel story

There was a story that Honora Foley was from Clogheen, near Clonmel, Co.Tipperary, where her family owned woollen mills.
As discussed on the Casey page, this is clearly confusion of the family of James O'Mara's wife, Foley, with the family of his mother Casey, who were of near Clonmel.
No Foley is listed in CLOGHEEN or CLONMEL in [Pigot's directory, 1824].
No Foley is listed in CLOGHEEN or CLONMEL in [Slater's directory, 1846].

Foley of Limerick

All evidence says Foley are of Limerick city.
James O'Mara moved to Limerick before 1839, and married in Limerick in 1841 to what must be a local girl.
We think Foley are from Limerick, and have no connection to Clogheen or Clonmel.

It was previously thought that it was a sister of James O'Mara who married Lynch.
But the Lynch baptisms clearly show the mother as "Mary Foley", i.e. a sister of James' wife.

As to the name of the Foley ancestor, he might be John Foley. His O'Mara grandsons are called Stephen (after St.Stephen's Day), then Peter (after O'Mara grandfather), then John.
His wife might be Bridget or Mary Anne or Catherine. See his O'Mara grand-daughters and Lynch grand-daughters.
But perhaps it is better not to speculate.

---- Foley.
He must have lived in Limerick city because his two daughters marry in Limerick in 1836 and 1841.
He had issue:
1. Mary Foley,
  born 1814.
  She mar 28 Apr 1836 to Andrew Lynch [born 1806] and had issue.
  They mar at St.John's, Limerick. Mar wit by Mary and Thomas Barrett.
  See entry from here.
2. Honora Foley,
  born 1822, or poss. 1818.
  She is "Honora" on grave and at marriage.
  Most of her children's baptisms have her as "Honora". Though some write her as "Honor" and "Norry".
  [GROI] lists her as Hanora at Joe's birth 1864 and Honora at Nan's birth 1866.
  Norrie Buxton remembered her as "Norrie Foley".
  She is the origin of the family name Norrie. See her granddaughter Honora O'Sullivan.
  She mar 2 Oct 1841 to James O'Mara [born 1817] and had issue.
  They mar at St.John's, Limerick. Mar wit by Thomas Durkin and Julia Sullivan.
  See entry. See full size.
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Possibly another sister:
1. Katie Foley.
Possibly another sister:
1. Hanah Foley.
  "Hanah Fowloo" sp the bapt of John O'Mara in Limerick in March 1842.

Honora Foley, must be c.1868.
From this picture.

Possibly our family

Because of possible family names (see discussion above) the family might be one of these:

John Foley,
mar Catherine Keane and had issue:
1. Mary Foley, bapt 29 Aug 1814 [St.Michael's RC par records, Limerick].
2. Daniel Foley, bapt 8 Jan 1816 [St.Michael's RC par records, Limerick].
John Foulowe,
mar Bridget Nunan,
had issue:
1. Patrick Foulowe,
  bapt 1 Jan 1805 [St.Mary's RC church, Limerick city].
John Foley,
mar Bridget Cosgriff,
had issue:
1. Margaret Foley,
  bapt 3 July 1809 [St.Michael's RC church, Limerick city].

Miscellaneous Foley of Limerick

Daniel Foley,
mar Margaret Molony and had issue:
1. Mary Foley, bapt 8 Apr 1815 [St.Mary's RC par records, Limerick].
Francis Foley,
mar Eliza Grady and had issue:
1. Mary Foley, bapt 28 July 1817 [St.Michael's RC par records, Limerick].

Miscellaneous Foley of Clonmel

Jacob Foley (maybe just James written in Latin),
mar Maria ---- (maybe Mary written in Latin)
and had issue:
1. Mary Foley, bapt 16 Feb 1816 [St.Mary's RC par records, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary].
James Foley (also written in Latin as Jacob),
mar Joann O'Mara (or Joan Mara)
and had issue:
1. Michael Foley, bapt 19 Sept 1819 [St.Mary's RC par records, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary], sp William Mineham and Judith Woodlock.
2. Margaret Foley, bapt 1 July 1823 [St.Mary's RC par records, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary], sp Michael Flint and Margaret Foley.