herlihy

HERLIHY FAMILY OF KILLORGLIN, COUNTY KERRY,

AND NEW ZEALAND

HERLIHY COAT OF ARMS

HERLIHY - EARLY HISTORY

The name derives from "Ohlarlatha", meaning literally "underlord". The family was settled in the area called Ballyvourney (Baille Bhuirne in Gaelic), until about 1700. This is a mountainous area of Western Cork, near the border with Kerry; and it is a valley area in the hills behind Macroom, with the Derry Nasaggart Mountains to the north. It was rough country that surrounded them which is probably why they retained the chieftainship long after the Norman and English invasions - it was easier for those new-comers to leave it alone. Because of the small area they occupied it is likely that all who bear the name are related.

SHRINE OF ST GOBNAIT, BALLYVOURNEY, CO. CORK

"St Gobnata" founded a convent in Ballvourney, Cork (home of the Herlihy's). My grandfather Timothy's mother was Gobinet Connor, obviously named for St Gobnait. St Gobnait is the patron saint of beekeepers.There are several prehistoric remains; one is "St Gobnait's House", the remains of an ancient iron foundry. Another unusual piece of architecture is a stone carving of Sheela-Na-Gig, the ancient goddess of fertility. It is above the entrance to St Gobnait's Church.

SHEENA-NA-GIG

The Herlihy's of Ballyvourney were anciently cattle herders and horse riders, with a great love of hunting and fighting; but also of poetry, prophecy and story-telling. They were guardians of the Shrine of St Gobnait (Gobinet). Modern pilgrims still visit the "Tomb of the Three Brothers" who were of the Herlihy "clan". Many became priests and one became Bishop of Ross, circa 1580, dying in the Tower of London.

They were a family of scholarship and poetry, but handy with a sword when necessary - there is mention of a Herlihy accompanying O'Sullivan Bere in his march to Ulster after the Battle of Kinsale, 1601.

Cromwell, after he deposed King Charles of England, invaded Ireland in 1649 to smash the power of the Irish chiefs. From that time the Irish lost their lands to landlords brought from England. Before Cromwell, the family was known throughout Ireland for its learning. Before the invasion 12,000 acres in the Ballyvourney are of Cork was owned by ten Herlihy families. They claimed descent from the Erainn, the first Celtic peoples to have settled those parts several thousand years before. After Cromwell, the Colthurst family settled the area and the Herlihy's began to spread into Co. Kerry and other places of Co. Cork.

The Herlihy's held festivals of poetry in their homes, particularly at Tigh na Cille ("The House of God's Servants"). Their poems recorded times past and ancestry.

Two famous Herlihy's are James Leo Herlihy (USA) who wrote "Midnight Cowboy" and Dan O'Herlihy, the film actor.

BRIDGE TO KILLORGLIN
LEADING TO THE GAP OF DUNLOE

KILLORGLIN - is the name of the village and parish in Co. Kerry from which Timothy Desmond HERLIHY departed to cross the world to New Zealand. It is in the administrative districts (Baronies) of Trughanachny and Dunkerron. It was also called Castle Conway after an English family of that name who settled there in the time of Elizabeth I. Other parishes in these Baronies are Kilcolman, Castleisland and Tralee.

Historically Kerry was occupied by three main family groups - O'Connor (North), Moriarty (Middle), O'Sullivan (South). The area called Desmond was a distinct Earldom within Kerry, which included Killorglin. In Irish it was "Deasun", used firstly as a surname from Norman times and later by those with allegiance to the family, as a Christian name.

Timothy who came to New Zealand had Desmond as a second Christian name, as did his mother, presumably to distinguish them from Herlihy's or Connor's who lived in other parts.

The Fitzgerald family were Earls of Desmond in medieval times. The last of this family was Gerald Fitzgerald, the 15th Earl who was murdered on his retreat among the Kerry Mountains in 1583, after his place of hiding had been betrayed to the English. He had sacked English residences as a direct challenge to Elizabeth's government and consequently named a traitor, and outlawed.

Killorglin, today is an area of mixed farming of corn and stock. It has a well-known salmon fishery. Puck Fair on August 11-12 is a great annual event, when a puck goat is decorated and placed in its main street. Visitors come especially from overseas to this fair.

PUCK GOAT

A wild puck goat is reputed to have saved Killorglin from invasion by Cromwell, by racing through the town with its herd. Puck Fair is the oldest fair in Ireland and horses, cattle and other stock are still sold on fair day (11 August).

ANCESTRY AND DESCENDANTS

It is impossible to know when our family made their migration from their Ballyvourney homeland to settle near Killorglin, but it was probably sometime between 1700 and 1800. The Herlihy's near Killorglin have a preferred Christian name of Timothy. With that in mind I have obtained details of all of the Herlihy's who lived in the vicinity of Killorglin, who are recorded in "Griffiths Valuations, 1852". This forms a kind of census and all of these families could have been related. I also have the 1901 and 1911 Census of Ireland returns for our Herlihy's.

The Roman Catholic register for Killorglin dates from 1880. Earlier registers were destroyed in the "troubles" of 1922 when the Registry House in Dublin was burned. That has caused difficulties for people with Irish ancestry.

PATRICK HERLIHY who was born circa 1815 is the earliest known ancestor who can be traced with certainty. He was a farmer at Gortloughra in Killorglin Parish, probably growing grain and livestock. In 1852 he was leasing land from John Tuohy. He died before 1875 when Timothy and Gobinet (below) had taken over the Gortloughra property (probably 1874).


GORTLOUGHRA (Where the Family Homestead was)	GORTLOUGHRA (Ruins of the Family Homestead)

His children:-

Shelia (whose grandson is John GLEESON of Shanara, Beaufort, Killorglin).

Patrick, who emigrated - possibly to the USA - no further trace.

TIMOTHY HERLIHY, born circa 1842. Mixed farmer of Killorglin, married Gobinet CONNOR (who was also recorded as Deborah Desmond O'CONNOR). Gobinet (who is Deborah O'Connor on the 1901 Census) describes herself as a farmer and widow, so Timothy must have died between 1890 when Bridget was born and 1901 (probably about 1895). Gobinet appears to have been born about 1840 but I am having no luck in discovering her parents or birth place, though on the 1901 Census she states she was born in Co. Kerry.

The children of Timothy and Gobinet (Deborah) above. Seven children did not survive early childhood. On the 1901 Census Deborah says she had 10 children, three now living.

NAME	BORN	DIED	COMMENTS
Michael HERLIHY	30 September 1873	Died Young	He was born at Coomsloghane, Killorglin. His mother's name on the baptismal certificate is ABEGAIL.He was possibly called Michael as he was born the day after the Feast of St Michael, the Archangel. This was a very common practice in Ireland. From traditional naming patterns the firstborn boy should have been named PATRICK after his father's father. If there was a previous birth then Michael could have been named after his maternal grandfather.
Anne HERLIHY	23 June 1875	Died Young	Born at Gortloughra, Killorglin. Mother's name on that baptismal certificate was Gubby Connor
Patrick HERLIHY	4 February 1877		Born at Gortloughra, Killorglin. Mother's name on baptismal certificate was Debra Connor. Patrick, a farmer took over the family farm at Coomcloghane. He married Julia BREEN. See below for their children. Both he and Julia died when the children were teenagers.
John HERLIHY	6 August 1880	Died Young	Parents names given as Timothy HERLIHY and Gabby CONNOR
TIMOTHY DESMOND HERLIHY	1881	1966	Born at Gortloughra. (See below for more on Timothy).
Deborah HERLIHY	23 December 1884	1967 aged 82 years	Born at Gortloughra, Killorglin. Mother's name on baptismal certificare was Debra Connor. She married William LEAHY of Barry's Crossing, Killorglin in 1919. More on their family below.
CORNELIUS HERLIHY	1887	Died before 1901	Born at Gortloughra, Killorglin.
Bridget HERLIHY	1890	Died before 1911	Born at Gortloughra, Killorglin.

There were two more children (unknown) as Deborah stated in the 1911 Census, she had ten children, three were living.

Children of Patrick HERLIHY and Julia BREEN:

NAME	BORN	DIED	COMMENTS
Timothy HERLIHY	Circa 1927	1989	From 1944 he lived Oldham, Lancashire. He married Kitty. They had no children. He wrote to me in 1985 saying that he had lost contact with his New Zealand family.
Deborah HERLIHY	Circa 1928		Deborah married a BROSNAN and lived Bishops Waltham, England. She wrote to me in 1988. I heard from her daughter DEBBIE after 1988. Her mother's sight was failing. Debbie's brother Chris made contact in 2003. He is in contact with my cousin Ron and I hope to get more info. from him on the other members of the Brosnan family.

More on Timothy Desmond HERLIHY

TIMOTHY DESMOND HERLIHY, born 1881 at Gortloughra, Killorglin. He came to New Zealand between 1901 and 1912. Died aged 86, 1966 at Levin, of pneumonia. Worked as a barman in Palmerston North (1919), a contractor in Taranaki (1922) and as a roading contractor. Lived Makara, Wellington 1928-56 and 26 Church Street, Seatoun (now Ferry Road). His daughter described him as "an absolute dear - very gentle, so full of humour and so Irish". He was awarded the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal in 1912 for rescuing a fellow worker when he fell into a river during a mudslide.

Timothy married Mary Elizabeth BEATTIE (who was known as NORA). She was born 1895 at Drumhaggart, Parish of Burt, Donegal, Ireland, the daughter of John BEATTIE, labourer and Catherine (nee McNAUGHER). I had a real breakthrough on the McNaugher family when I was contacted by Martin McMenamin whose home is in Derry. He is a cousin, not quite sure how yet, but he has certainly boosted the family tree with his information. See Beattie/McNaugher pages on this site.

Timothy and Nora retired to Waitarere Beach, Levin. Nora moved to 27 Cambridge Flats, Levin after Timothy's death in 1966 and died 1989.

The Children of TIMOTHY HERLIHY and MARY ELIZABETH (NORA) BEATTIE:

NAME	BORN	MARRIED	COMMENTS
Thomas Desmond (Des) HERLIHY) Deceased	1924		Was a Printer in Wellington and Palmerston North. Children.
Terence (Terry) HERLIHY Deceased	1925	Mamie Lenore	From 1947 to 1954 was a shepherd at Herbertville, Hawke's Bay then "The Run", Wellsford, North Auckland. Children Timothy and Caroline.
Daphne Patricia (Pat) HERLIHY (deceased)	1928	Charles CLARK (deceased)	Uncle Charles worked for the Railways. They lived in Mt. Maunganui. She wrote several times and visited. Children. Tim (son of Terry and Mamie) described her as everyone's favourtie aunt. She was a lovely lady. Gone too soon.
KATHLEEN MARION "KAY" HERLIHY (deceased)	1930	Clifford DEVERY	Lived Cottle Street, Lower Hutt. After we traced her she made a brief visit. Coincidentally we were living just a few blocks away in Lower Hutt. Kay had five children to Cliff Devery, four boys and a girl, Colleen. The boys are known. She is buried in the RSA section, Taita Cemetery, Lower Hutt.
Bruce HERLIHY	1935	Margaret Jane	Children

SOME CERTIFICATES

NAME	FATHER	MOTHER	DATE BORN	DATE BAPTISED	SPONSORS
Deborah HERLIHY	Timothy HERLIHY	Gubby CONNOR	23 December 1884	27 December 1884 at St James Roman Catholic Church, Killorglin by Rev. James Counihan	Patrick CLIFFORD Ellen CLIFFORD

DEBORAH born 1884 married William LEAHY of Coomcloghane born 1892 on 29 April 1919.

NAME	FATHER	MOTHER	DATE BORN	DATE BAPTISED	SPONSORS
William LEAHY	Timothy LEAHY of Coomcloghane, Parish of Killorglin	Brigit SULLIVAN	2 July 1892	3 July 1892 at St James Roman Catholic Church, Killorglin by the Rev. T. Harrington	Thomas McKENNA Maria LEAHY


DEBORAH (Debbie) and BRIDGET (Bridie) LEAHY	TIMOTHY (THADAEUS) and JOHN (SEAN) LEAHY

William LEAHY and Deborah HERLIHY's children.

This information was sent to me by Tara Foley in 1987. If any of this is incorrect could you please let me know. Allan (see below) has already put me right on some omissions and names.

NAME	BORN	BAPTISED	SPONSORS	DIED	MARRIED	COMMENTS
Bridget LEAHY				1985	Unmarried
Deborah LEAHY					Unmarried	Living in Killarney (2003)
Thadaeus (Timothy) LEAHY	24 June 1921	26 June 1921, St James Church Parish of Killorglin, by The Rev. J McGrath	Bridget LEAHY	1964	Helen CONNOR 29 April 1950.	Helen living in England 1987. No children.
John (Sean) Christopher LEAHY				1997	Elizabeth BURKE, died 1995

Esther with her grandmother Deborah in the 1960's. The photo was taken at the Leahy Family home in Gortloughra.

Esther married Allan MULLINS in 1980 and they have four children:

Claire Marie born 1983

John James born 1985

Stephen Francis born 1989

Peter Michael born 1992.

Esther and Allan are now living at the Leahy Family homeplace in Gortloughra. Thank you to both Allan and Esther for much of the above information. Also for the photographs they have sent.

THADAEUS (TIMOTHY) LEAHY'S MORTUARY CARD
(Son of William LEAHY and Deborah HERLIHY)

Mortuary Card for DEBORAH LEAHY (nee Herlihy)
wife of William LEAHY

THE NEW GENERATIONS

Second from left is my cousin Tim HERLIHY, son of Terry and Mamie Herlihy. Next to Tim is his partner Debs. The two girls in front of Tim are his daughters Courtenay and Brittany. Next to Tim on the left is Debs' daughter Amber, her sons Kyle and Matthew and on her knee, her daughter Jesse.


Our son Peter with his son Liam Dacey born 2000	Peter and Rachel's daughter Sian born 2006

CONCLUSION

When the family was traced it was difficult for children to trace their natural mothers. It was done by using family history research techniques and enquiring from Herlihy's who could be helpful. I knew my mother's name was likely to be Kathleen, one of the names she gave me. Since then it is possible for adopted children to obtain details provided the mother has not vetoed them. I did and the registration shows no father's name, nor did my mother wish to tell me.

I have met several members of my family which has been great. I have also learnt a great deal of history about the HERLIHY people of Ireland and Ireland itself. I am not finished yet though. It's an on-going saga to try and trace Irish kin, but I'm not giving up. I thought it might be a good idea to set up a web page, because if I waited until I had gone back any further, someone might be tracing me on the other side.

FROM RECORDS OF THE ROYAL HUMANE
SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND

CASE NO. 355 TIMOTHY HERLIHY, SILVER MEDAL

On 7th August 1912, two men were engaged in widening a cutting on the Waikari Inland road when a slip, comprising 50 years of earth and boulders swept Daniel MURPHY 22, down nearly 300 feet into the Waikari River.

Timothy Herlihy 30, who was working above his mate, jumped from the cutting, skidding down the whole distance and landing 80 yards out in the river, which was flooded at the time and rescued Murphy in a state of unconsciousness. He carried him out, then collapsed himself. Murphy was taken to the hospital with a broken jaw and suffering from severe bruises and shock."

It is said that there is a plaque on the wall of a pub in the Waikari area which I believe is near Putorino Township, New Zealand. It is a commemoration of the event and also the corner where the slip occurred is called "Herlihy's Leap". If anyone can verify this or has more information, I would be very pleased to receive it.


Mortuary Card for DEBORAH LEAHY (nee Herlihy) wife of William LEAHY