My ancestors - Ryan - Contents

Coffey

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Monsignor James Coffey grave, Birdhill.

This Coffey family was apparently from near Toomevara (or Toomyvara), Co.Tipperary.
They were said to be possibly related to O'Meara of Toomevara.
Frances Tierney said John Coffey was meant to be related to Humphrys.

Patrick Coffey,
of "Derrybawn, Nenagh", Co.Tipperary,
this must be Derrybane, Ballymackey par, Co.Tipperary (close to Toomevara),
mar Mary Anne Scanlan,
had issue:

John Coffey.
He mar 22nd Nov 1864 to Anne Foley [bapt 31st Oct 1839].
He farmed at Boolaglass (or Boulaglas or Ballyglass), Youghalarra par, Co.Tipperary (SE of Portroe, W of Nenagh, see map and map).
"John Coffey" and "Anne Coffey" sp bapt of their nephew Joseph Foley 1895.
"Anne Coffey" sp bapt of her nephew Thomas Foley 1899.
Anne died 1 July 1929 [gravestone, Ballynahinch], age 89 yrs. NOT 1928.
She was buried with Foley graves at Ballynahinch, Co.Tipperary.
Their children included 3 nuns and 2 priests.
John and Anne had issue:

1. Pat Coffey,
   eldest.
   He inherited Boolaglass, farmed there.
   He mar Ellie Canigan [from near Thurles, Co.Tipperary, poss. Templemore].
   They had issue:
   1. Pat Coffey.
   2. (3 daus) Coffey.

   
   

2. Monsignor James Coffey.
   He went to New Zealand.
   Monsignor at St. Joseph's Cathedral, in Dunedin, New Zealand.
   [Obituary of Nora Humphrys, 1919] mentions her relative "Rev. Father J. Foley, Dunedin". This is clearly an error for Coffey.
   He died 1923, St. John's Hospital, Limerick, while on a holiday back to Ireland.
   He was buried in churchyard of Birdhill Church, SW of Birdhill, Co.Tipperary (see street view).

   
   

3. Margaret Coffey,
   Maggie, born c.1870.
   She mar 1900 to John Egan and had issue.

   
   

4. Michael Coffey.
   He worked as barman in Jim Humphrys' pub in Dublin.
   He went to New Zealand.
   He mar in New Zealand to ----. No issue.
   He died in New Zealand.

   
   

5. Fr. John Coffey.
   "John Coffey C.C." married his 1st cousin Annie McGrath in 1906.
   Listed as of Dublin at mar of Aileen Lane in 1912.
   Chaplain in WWI.
   Listed as Curate at St.Nicholas Without parish church, Francis St, Dublin, in [Thoms, 1919, p.808].
   [Obituary of Nora Humphrys, 13 Feb 1919] mentions her relative "Dean Coffee, S.M." (alive in 1919). (S.M. is Society of Mary.)
   "John Coffey C.C." married his mother's 1st cousin Mick Humphrys to his 2nd wife, Lucan, Co.Dublin, 26 Feb 1919.
   "John Coffey C.C." married his 2nd cousin Tim Lloyd to his 2nd wife, Dublin, Sept 1919.

   
   

6. Nora Coffey, Honora.
   She was educ Sion Hill, Dublin.
   She became a Dominican nun. "Mother Margaret". "Mother Margaret Mary".
   She went to New Zealand.
   She was head mistress, Dominican convent school, Dunedin, New Zealand.
   She died 1966, Dunedin.

   
   

7. Annie Coffey,
   Anne.
   She was educ Sion Hill, Dublin.
   She became a Dominican nun. "Sr. Mary Austin". "Mother Austin".
   She went to New Zealand.
   She died 1963, Dunedin, New Zealand.

   
   

8. Mary Coffey,
   born 1870 (by age on death cert).
   She became a nun in the Presentation Sisters.
   "Sister Mary Aloysius".
   Think she was at one time at Presentation convent school at Ballingarry, Co.Tipperary. Not there in 1901 or 1911 census though.
   She was at Presentation Convent, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary.
   She died 9 Feb 1915, Presentation Convent, Clonmel, age 45 yrs. See death cert from here.

   
   

9. Catherine Coffey,
   Kate.
   She mar Con Ryan [of Birdhill, Co.Tipperary].
   They possibly had issue (or other story is they had no issue and he was their nephew who they reared):
   1. Louis Ryan,
      baptised in Newport by Fr. Humphrys.

   
   

10. Josephine Coffey,
    Josie.
    She died unmarried.

Monsignor James Coffey.
See full size.
Courtesy of Orla Kuiper-Ryan.