Kevin J. O'Brien in Killernan Graveyard, County Clare, Ireland June 1981

Kevin J. O'Brien in Killernan Graveyard, County Clare, Ireland June 1981
Kevin J. O'Brien in Killernan Graveyard, County Clare, Ireland June 1981

The O'Brien's of Dunsallagh Townland, Kilmurry-Ibrickane Parish, County Clare, Ireland

THE O’BRIEN FAMILY OF DUNSALLAGH EAST

There were two O’Briens listed as occupying land in Dunsallagh at the time of the 1826 Tithe Applotments.  Michael O’Brien and Patrick O’Brien were identified. 
At the time of the 1855 Griffith’s Valuation Dunsallagh was listed as Doonsallagh East and Doonsallagh West.  Anthony O’Brien is listed as renting 53 acres and a house from Col. George Wyndham in Dunsallagh East.

The oldest official census in Ireland was taken in 1901, but Miltown Malbay Parish Census in 1840-1841 showed Patrick O'Brien and his wife, Bridget Canny, were living on a property in Dunsallagh East.  Dunsallagh East is about four miles South East of the town of Miltown Malbay.  Prior to that census there were no official records, or if there had been any, they had been destroyed.  As Patrick's son, Anthony and his wife Mary Kinnane were living in the house with his parents.

Anthony O’Brien of Croheny Core  and Mary Kinane  of Rath

Anthony O’Brien of Croheny Core  and Mary Kinane of Rath were married on 3 March 1840.  The witnesses were Martin McGuane of Rath, Laurence Kinane of Rath and Jane Cotter of Rath.

Children of Anthony O’Brien and Mary Kinnane were:
·         Laurence O’Brien          baptized on 27 March 1841
·         Patrick O’Brien              baptized on 11 March 1843 (Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia)*
·         Thomas O’Brien            baptized on 12 August 1845 (Melborne, Queensland,  Australia)**
·         Mary O’Brien                 baptized on 1 April 1848

Anthony O’Brien  and Bridget Sullivan

Anthony O’Brien of Dunsallagh married a 2nd time to Bridget Sullivan

·         James O’Brien                   circa 1855
·         Honora O’Brien                 baptized on 3 March 1859
·         John O’Brien                      baptized on 27 April 1861
·         Michael O’Brien                baptrised on 16 March 1864
*         Margaret Anne O'Brien     1863 no record available  (Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia)
·         Tony O’Brien                      baptized on24 Oct 1866
·         Catherine O’Brien               baptized on 27 Nov 1869

*Patrick O’Brien went to America in 1867 and returned to Ireland after 6 months.   Four years later , in 1871 he went to Queensland, Australia.  He married Ellen Fitzgerald of Bantry, Co. Cork in 1884 and had 10 children in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

The farm was passed on to the oldest son of Anthony O'Brien and Bridget Sullivan, James O’Brien.  He married Anne Neylon  whose family were long time neighbors of the O’Briens. 

** Thomas Michael O'Brien Service No 29840
Enlisted 11th October 1864 recommended by W. McMahon J.P.
Aged 19 5ft8 ½ RC, born Co Clare, labourer
Assigned to Cork West Riding 8th June 1865
Resigned 15th July 1868 ‘to emigrate’
On 11 May 1880 St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia he married 

Bridget Josephine COLEMAN.

11 May 1880 • St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat, Victoria, Australi



James O’Brien and Anne Neylon of Dunsallagh East

They had eight children baptized at the Miltown Malbay RCC, KIlfarboy Parish:

·         John O’Brien                      baptized on 2 May 1890 ( Queensland, Australia)
·         Michael O’Brien                baptized on 11 Aug 1891
·         Anthony O’Brien                baptized on31 Aug 1892
·         Bridget O’Brien                 baptized on30 Jan 1894
·         Patrick O’Brien                  baptized on 14 Feb 1896
·         Patrick O’Brien                  baptized on 1 March 1897
·         Mary O’Brien                     baptized on 19 June 1898
·         Norah O’Brien                   baptized on 2 Aug 1899 (Queensland, Australia)

1901 Census Residents of a house 6 in Doonsallagh East (Annagh, Clare)

OBrien
James
47
Male
Head of Family
OBrien
Anne
46
Female
Wife
OBrien
Bridget
78
Female
Mother
OBrien
John
9
Male
Son
OBrien
Michl
8
Male
Son
OBrien
Anthony
7
Male
Son
OBrien
Pat
6
Male
Son (lived to be 102 years old)
OBrien
Mary
5
Female
Daughter
OBrien
Honor
4
Female
Daughter

1911 Census Residents of a house 8 in Doonsallagh, East (Annagh, Clare)
OBrien
James
55
Male
Head of Family
OBrien
Anne
51
Female
Wife
OBrien
Bridget
16
Female
Daughter
OBrien
Patrick
15
Male
Son
OBrien
Mary
13
Female
Daughter
OBrien
Norah
11
Female
Daughter
OBrien
Peter
8
Male
Son



Killernan Graveyard




In Loving Memory of James O’Brien Dunsallagh who died 13 June 1916 aged 61 yrs and his wife Anne who died 20th Dec 1916 aged 57 yrs.  Erected by their son, John of Queensland.
Peter O’Brien died Mar 8, 1964 aged 64 yrs
Paddy died Dec 20, 1997 aged 102 yrs.

(James O’Briens gravestone is in front of the gravestones of the Patrick O’Brien of Shanaway)

Paddy O'Brien was the last of the O'Brien's to live on the O'Brien Farm in Dunsallagh East.  The farm is now in ruins and owned by the Greene family.  

Most of the O'Brien family that are descended from the O'Brien's of Dunsallagh East now live in Queensland, Australia.


The General Valuation Revision Lists indicate that in 1891 the house and land on Reference Map #3 was transferred from Anthony O’Brien to James O’Brien.

1911 Census Residents of a house 3 in Doonsallagh, East (Annagh, Clare)
OBrien
James
37
Male
Head of Family
OBrien
Mary
32
Female
Wife
OBrien
Michael
1
Male
Son

The family of James and Mary O'Brien were new to Dunsallagh East in 1911.  James O'Brien was from Miltown Malbay and he worked as a Postman in Dunsallagh East.  The family is buried in Ballard Graveyard, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.






THE O’BRIEN FAMILY OF DUNSALLAGH West

There were two O’Briens listed as occupying land in Dunsallagh at the time of the 1826 Tithe Applotments.  Michael O’Brien and Patrick O’Brien were identified.

At the time of the 1855 Griffith’s Valuation Dunsallagh was listed as Doonsallagh East and Doonsallagh West.  Michael O’Brien is listed as renting 21 acres and a house from Col. George Wyndham in Dunsallagh West. 

Michael O’Brien and Mary Hurley

Children of Michael O’Brien and Mary Hurley were listed in the 1841 parish Census of Miltown Malbay.

·         John O’Brien
·         Daniel O’Brien
·         Terrence O’Brien             b.   1823 
·         Nellie O'Brien



Terrence O’Brien and Margaret Hannah Walsh

They had four children baptized at the Miltown Malbay RCC, Kilfarboy Parish:

Children of Terrence O’Brien and Margaret  Hannah Walsh were:

·         Michael O’Brien                baptized on 25 April 1860
·         Michael O’Brien                baptized on 2 Nov 1861
·         James O’Brien                   baptized on 17 August 1864 (126 Wayne St. Jersey City, NY)
·         Patrick O’Brien                  baptized on 25 Sept 1867

1901 Census Residents of a house 3 in Doonsallagh West (Annagh, Clare)

OBrien
Terence
78
Male
Head of Family
OBrien
Michael
34
Male
Son
OBrien
Anne
30
Female
Daughter-in-law
Reidy
Margaret
70
Female
Visito


1911 Census Residents of a house 7 in Doonsallagh, West (Annagh, Clare)
OBrien
Michael
48
Male
Head of Family
OBrien
Annie
40
Female
Wife
OBrien
Annie
11
Female
Daughter
OBrien
John
9
Male
Son *
OBrien
Margaret
8
Female
Daughter *






*Margaret O’Brien and John O’Brien immigrated to Jersey City to stay with their Uncle James O’Brien

This O’Brien Family in Dunsallagh West was known as the “Picky” O’Briens.  The Cunningham family was living on the farm in 2010.  This family is believed to be a close relation to the Brogan O’Brien family of Killernan townland in the parish.

Killernan Graveyard


Erected by Terence O’Brien Dunsallagh in memory of his beloved wife Hannah O’Brien alias Walsh who died Jan 8th 1897 Aged 73 years may she rest in peace. Amen

The General Valuation Revision Lists indicate that in 1858 the house and land rented by Michael O’Brien was Reference Map #23.  In 1874 the Reference Map number was changed from #23 to #18 at this time the house and land on Reference Map #18 was transferred from Michael O’Brien to Terrence O’Brien and in 1901 from Terrence O’Brien to Michael O’Brien.


Martin O’Brien and Margaret Downes
The family of Martin O’Brien and Margaret Downes moved into Dunsallagh West around 1910.  Martin was a cooper by trade and was known as a good singer and poet.  Martin O’Brien is the son of Joseph O’Brien and Julia McGuinness of Finnor More, Mullagh, Co. Clare.
Martin O’Brien and Margaret Downes had 12 children.  Most of the children went to America and settled in Detroit, MI.   Margaret Downes's mother was Margaret O'Brien of Ballymackea beg.
1911 Census Residents of a house 20 in Doonsallagh, West (Annagh, Clare)
O'Brien
Martin
40
Male
Head of Family
O'Brien
Margaret
41
Female
Wife
O'Brien
Patrick
14
Male
Son
O'Brien
Margaret
12
Female
Daughter
O'Brien
Delia
10
Female
Daughter
O'Brien
Anne
7
Female
Daughter
O'Brien
Catherine
4
Female
Daughter
O'Brien
John
2
Male
Son