THE O’BRIEN FAMILY OF SHANAWAY
There were four O’Brien’s listed as occupiers in the 1826 Tithe Applotment Books. They were Patrick O’Brien, Widow of Michael O’Brien, James O’Brien and Sylvester O’Brien. Each farm was 7.0.0 Acres located in what is now known as Shanaway West Townland. Eight years later the same four O'Brien's were listed in the Recapitulated Tithe Applotment Book for the Parish of Kilmurry
Ibrickane in 1834 with all four farms with equal quanities in detail and total of 11 acres.
Twenty years later in the Griffith Valuation of Tenements 1855 for Shanaway West we find Lot #12a Patrick O’Brien (Michael) 18 acres, Lots #13a & 14 Margaret O’Brien 12 acres and 6 acres, and Lot #15 a-b-c James O’Brien, Patrick O’Brien and Lawrence O’Brien 41 acres. (The descriptions of these properties are detailed on the attached map. The lower case letters a, b, & c designate the house on the farm)
The General Valuation Revision Lists indicate the following land transfers of property in the townland of Shanaway.
Lot #12
a. Patrick O’Brien (Michael) transferred land to John O’Brien in 1877
Lot #13 & 14
a. House Margaret O’Brien transferred to John O’Brien 1860; transferred to Daniel Crawford in 1863.
Lot #15
a House James O’Brien b. 1816 turned the property to son Michael O’Brien in 1902. James was in 1901 census and only Michael was in both the 1901 and 1911. James died between 1901-1910.
b House Patrick O’Brien b. 1820 turned Property over to son John O’Brien in 1902 are in the 1901 Census.
c. House Lawrence O’Brien of house “c” passed the house to his son, David O’Brien and then he passed it to his son-in-law Peter Sullivan in 1905.
Rental of the Right Honorable Henry Baron Leconfield’s Irish Estates for Year ending
25 March 1879.
No. 168 Shanaway West O’Brien, James
No. 169 Shanaway West O’Brien, Patrick, Jr.
No. 170 Shanaway West O’Brien, Patrick, Sr.
No. 171 Shanaway West O’Brien, Laurence
BAPTISM RECORDS OF THE O’BRIEN’S OF SHANAWAY
Sylvester O’Brien and Margaret White of Shanaway
Children:
Mary O’Brien 28 Sept 1839
Note: This Sylvester O’Brien may be the direct ancestor of most of the Knockanalban, Shanaway, Coore and Knockbrack O’Briens.
Patrick O’Brien and Sarah Moroney of Shanaway
Children:
Patrick O’Brien 29 Jan 1842
Michael O’Brien 9 September 1843
John O’Brien 23 October 1844 received lot #13 & 14 in 1877
Bridget O’Brien 6 October 1846
Note: I do not have further records of this family.
James O’Brien and Mary Downes of Shanaway
1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare (widowed & deaf) Born 1816, Lot #15 House a.
Children:
Anthony O’Brien 10 September 1849
Michael O’Brien 10 April 1853 1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare Lot #15 House a.
Mary O’Brien 14 November 1858
1901 Census Residents of a house 2 in Shanavagh West (Annagh, Clare)
O’Brien
|
Patrick
|
85
|
Male
|
Head of Family
|
O’Brien
|
Michael
|
35
|
Male
|
son
|
1911 Census Residents of a house 15 in Shanavogh, West (Annagh, Clare)
O’Brien
|
Michael
|
53
|
Male
|
Head of Family
|
Lawrence O’Brien and Catherine Walsh of Shanaway “15 c” House on map
Children:
Mary O’Brien 11 May 1839
Bridget O’Brien 19 September 1840
James O’Brien 1 May 1842
Catherine O’Brien 24 July 1844
*David O’Brien 4 Sept 1846
Lawrence O’Brien 13 January 1858
1901 & 1911 Census Shanaway West, County Clare Lot #15 c
*David O’Brien and Bridget Hanrahan of Shanaway
1901 & 1911 Census Shanaway West, County Clare
Children:
Bridget O’Brien 20 January 1875 1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare. 1911 Census with husband, Peter Sullivan
Catherine O’Brien 2 April 1876
Mary O’Brien 10 March 1879
Sarah O’Brien 31 May 1881
Margaret O’Brien 17 July 1881
David O’Brien 12 August 1885
Davy O'Brien's home in Shanaway West
November 2011
1901 Census Residents of a house 3 in Shanavagh West (Annagh, Clare)
O’Brien
|
David
|
56
|
Male
|
Head of Family
|
O’Brien
|
Bridget
|
54
|
Female
|
Daughter
|
O’Brien
|
Bridget
|
22
|
Female
|
Daughter
|
1911 Census Residents of a house 14.2 in Shanavogh, West (Annagh, Clare)
O’Brien
|
David
|
65
|
Male
|
Head of Family
|
O’Brien
|
Bridget
|
69
|
Female
|
Wife
|
1911 Census Residents of a house 14.1 in Shanavogh, West (Annagh, Clare)
Sullivan
|
Peter
|
40
|
Male
|
Head of Family
|
Sullivan/O’Brien
|
Bridget
|
35
|
Female
|
Wife
|
Sullivan
|
Mary
|
4
|
Female
|
Daughter
|
Kinucane
|
Thomas
|
16
|
Male
|
Servant
|
Patrick O’Brien and Mary O’Brien of Shanaway
1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare (widowed) Born 1820
Children:
James O’Brien 3 December 1853 1901 & 1911 Census of Coore West
James married Ellen Sexton of Clounadrum had one daughter.
James married Ellen Sexton of Clounadrum had one daughter.
Kate O’Brien 11 November 1855 1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare
Mary O’Brien 2 September 1857
Bridget O’Brien 18 March 1860
Margaret O’Brien 24 November 1861
John O’Brien 2 June 1864 1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare (widowed)
Sponnie O'Brien's House, Shanaway West
John O’Brien 1st. marriage Margaret Keane of Shanaway
1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare (widowed) Margaret Keane died 1900.
1911 Census married to Catherine Devitt
Children:
Patrick O’Brien 21 Oct 1898 1901 Census Shanaway West, County Clare
1911 Census with step mother, immigrated to Buffalo, NY
Mary O’Brien 12 September 1899 1901 Census Shanaway West County Clare
1911 Census with step mother. Immigrated to Buffalo, NY 12 June 1920
John O’Brien 2nd marriage Catherine Devitt of Shanaway
Children:
Bridget O’Brien 23 January 1904 Immigrated to NYC on 12 July 1926
Catherine O’Brien 18 January 1905 Immigrated to Buffalo, NY 4 May 1925 Married John Wesley
In Buffalo, NY Oct 1937
John O’Brien 9 June 1906 Immigrated to Buffalo, NY 4 Oct 1927 returned to Ireland
Sylvester O’Brien 2 March 1910 Immigrated to Buffalo, NY 4 June 1929 Married Anne McDonald June 1936. Died in Arizona, USA
Michael O’Brien 2 May 1913
1901 Census Residents of a house 1 in Shanavagh West (Annagh, Clare)
O’Brien
|
Patrick
|
81
|
Male
|
Head of Family
|
O’Brien
|
John
|
37
|
Male
|
Son
|
O’Brien
|
Catherine
|
40
|
Female
|
Daughter
|
O’Brien
|
Patrick
|
2
|
Male
|
Grandson
|
McMahon
|
Patrick
|
12
|
Male
|
Servant
|
1911 Census Residents of a house 16 in Shanavogh, West (Annagh, Clare)
O’Brien
|
John
|
40
|
Male
|
Head of Family
|
O’Brien
|
Catherine
|
30
|
Female
|
Wife
|
O’Brien
|
Patrick
|
11
|
Male
|
Son
|
O’Brien
|
Mary
|
10
|
Female
|
Daughter
|
O’Brien
|
Catherine
|
4
|
Female
|
Daughter
|
O’Brien
|
John
|
3
|
Male
|
Son
|
O’Brien
|
Silvester
|
1
|
Male
|
Son
|
KILLERNAN GRAVEYARD
ERECTED BY JOHN O'BRIEN SHANAWAY IN MEMORY OF HIS BELOVED WIFE MARGARET O'BRIEN ALIAS KEANE WHO DIED DEC 26th 1900 AGED 30 YEARS MAY SHE REST IN PEACE AMEN
ERECTED BY MICHAEL MURPHY RIGHANSKEHEEN IN MEMORY OF HIS BELOVED WIFE BRIDGET MURPHY ALIAS O'BRIEN WHO DIED MARCH 16th 1898 AGED 37 YEARS MAY SHE REST IN PEACE AMEN
A flag with I H S
HERE LIES THE BODY OF MARY O'BRIEN WHO DIED MAY 13th 1866 AGED 35 YEARS ERECTED BY HER BELOVED HUSBAND PATT O'BRIEN SHANAWAY FOR HIM & POSTERITY MAY THEY REST IN PEACE AMEN
ELLIS ISLAND RECORDS
Mary O’Brien born 1900 daughter of John O’Brien and 1st. wife Margaret Keane of Shanaway, Kilmurry-Ibrickane Parish, County Clare, Ireland. Mary O’Brien arrived in NYC on 12 June 1920 aboard the SS Celtic to stay with her cousin, Norah McMahon, 482 Franklin Street Buffalo, NY. Norah arrived in 1915 from Coore Townland.
Catherine O’Brien born 18 Jan 1905 daughter of John O’Brien and Catherine Devitt of Shanaway, Kilmurry-Ibrickane Parish, County Clare, Ireland. Catherine O’Brien arrived in NYC on 4 May 1926 aboard the SS Samaria to stay with her sister, Mary O’Brien of 38 Oakland Place, Buffalo, NY
Bridget O’Brien born 23 Jan 1904 daughter of John O’Brien and Catherine Devitt of Shanaway, Kilmurry-Ibrickane Parish, County Clare, Ireland. Bridget O’Brien arrived in NYC on 12 July 1926 aboard the SS Cedric to stay with her cousin, Mrs. P. Darcy, 791 Greenwich Street, NY, NY.
John O’Brien born 9 June 1906 son of John O’Brien and Catherine Devitt of Shanaway, Kilmurry-Ibrickane Parish, County Clare, Ireland. John O’Brien arrived in NYC on 4 Oct 1927 aboard the SS Celtic to stay with his brother, Mr. P O’Brien of 1105 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY (400 Cumberland Avenue) (P. O’Brien would have been Patrick O’Brien ½ brother the son of 1st wife Margaret Keane)
Sylvester O’Brien born 2 March 1910 son of John O’Brien and Catherine Devitt of Shanaway, Kilmurry-Ibrickane Parish, County Clare, Ireland. Sylvester arrived in NYC on 29 June 1929 aboard the SS Baltic to stay with his brother, John O’Brien of 400 Cumberland Avenue, Buffalo, NY
Marriage Record
16 Feb 1841
James Downes of Molskey and Mary O’Brien of Shanaway
Witnesses: Patrick O’Brien of ShanawayOn a trip to Ireland in August 1908, Jeremiah Lynch wrote to his family back in Toronto. Jeremiah Lynch's wife was Catherine Quinn the grand daughter of Martin Quinn and Mary O'Brien of Dunsallagh West, County Clare, Ireland. On his trip Jeremiah Lynch visited the Quinn and O'Brien family in County Clare.
Mary O'Brien Quinn was from Shanaway West, County Clare and the sister of Laurence and Patrick O'Brien of Shanaway and Catherine O'Brien Talty of Breffa, Miltown Malbay, County Clare and Bridget O'Brien Kilmartin of Dunsallagh. I will add another Quinn / O'Brien page and describe this page.
I am interested in locating descendants of this family. I can only assume that O’Brien family members immigrated out of Ireland and went to Australia, Great Britain, Canada and the United States. There is an O’Brien Family DNA Project conducted by www.familytreedna.com with samples from O’Brien family members with ancestors in Killernan, Knockanalban, Shanaway and Cappafeean Townlands in County Clare, Ireland.
If you are a descendant from this O’Brien family of Shanaway you may link to the other O’Brien families in the parish. Even if you are not an O’Brien from Shanaway and your O’Brien family left Ireland before records were kept; the DNA test may tell you where your ancestors are from in Ireland.
WHERE ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF THIS FAMLY????
Thank you,
Kevin J. O’Brien
