Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP ^TM)

Brennan Family Tree
William Brennan Senior & Margaret Butler

Page 1

Welcome to my Brennan  Family History starting with my 3X Great Grandfather William Brennan Sen b.1780 and his descendants who lived in and around the areas of Woodland, Ballickmoyler, Ballynagall and Cooper Hill in the County of Laois (Queens County), Ireland. Not forgetting our large extended family in Carlow town. William senior and his son William junior were tenant farmers and rented a large house and large amounts of land in the Woodland & Ballickmoyler areas of County Laois in the late 1700s and 1800s.

There is a real possibility that our Brennan familycould be a descended of the Clan Brennan of Brennan of Idough in Co Kilkenny which is very close to the border of Co Laois <https://www.libraryireland.com/Pedigrees1/Brenan-1-Heremon.php> 

Unfortunately we have no nocumentry proof of the link to Clan Brennanof Idough.

During my research (and with the help of other researchers) we found two William Brennan’s who, on similar dates, married a Margaret Butler and they lived in two different counties; one couple in Ballyphilip, Freshford Parish, Co Kilkenny., and one in Castlecomer, Co Kildare. Due to the lack of local parish records for the 1700's I cannot prove, beyond reasonable doubt, which one is my 3X Great-grandfather.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who might be researching, releted or connected to this family, and may have information about my family they are willing to share with me, including the area where they lived. I know that there are a number of my Brennan ancestors living in and around Carlow town and they are related through their Grand parents, I would love to hear from you if you have information you are willing to share.

Please feel free to contact me via my email address (below) if you think you have any information including photos and you wish to share or you have any questions you want to ask me.

Thank you from Michael Brennan 

---

Descendants of William Brennan Sen & Margaret Butler

and their son and daughter-in-Law

William  Brennan Jun & Marie Anne Walsh.

Above image is the entry in the Index to Griffith's Valuation of Ireland, for the Parish of Killabban Location:  Woodland / Garragh. County. Laois/Leix/Queens County in 1842 of my 2x Great, Grandfather William Brennan Jun and my 3x Great Grandfather William Brennan Sen.

These images are of the original home of William Brennan Jun's family.
The last member of the family to live in the house was Denis Brennan the son of William Brennan Jun and Mary Brennan, the daughter of Denis Brennan who died 16 Oct 1918. She married Edward (Ned) Dillon.

Generation No. 1

William Brennan Sen was born c.1780 at Ballyphilip, Freshford Parish, Co Kilkenny. He died in 1856. His wife Margaret Butler was born on the 9th Sept 1787. in Athy, Kildare, Ireland

Generation 2

1. William Brennan Jun who was born 28 December 1817, at Woodland nr Ballickmoyler. Co Laois  and he died 28 October 1863 aged 45 years in Woodland, nr Ballickmoyler. Co Laois. He married Maria Annie Walsh, on 2nd May 1839 in Sacred Heart Church, Arles. Co Laois. *Witnesses to the wedding was Martin King & Rev Denis Byrne.  Maria Annie Walsh, was born c.1820., and she died 28th October 1894, aged 74 years. (Source: Headstone inscription in Arles cemetery and The Nationalist newspaper).

Children of William Brennan and Maria Anne Walsh are:  

 I.   Mark Brennan, b. c.1841, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. 21st Mar 1902, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. **

II. */***Edward Brennan, b. 4th Apr 1844, Woodland, Co. Laois. Died 5th Sept 1929 aged 85 years.

He was variously a curate at Tullow, Bagenalstown, Killeigh, Paulstown and Newbridge. He was parish priest of Mountrath from 1885-1929 and died on 5 September 1929. Aged 85 years of age.

He appears in the 1911 census of Ireland as Parish Priest in Mountrath aged 66.

Notes for Edward Brennan: Birth appears in Arles Church Records of 1844. Sponsors: William King & Judy Neal.

Letter (below) received on 4th Sept 2009 from Bernie Deasy. Archivist Delany Archive Trust, c/o St Patrick's College, Carlow.

Your email to Knockbeg College seeking information about the above was passed onto me for response. "Fr John McEvoy published a book in 1993 called Carlow College 1793-1993: The ordained students and teaching staff of St Patrick’s College, Carlow. According to this, Edward Brennan was from Arles, Co. Laois, and attended Carlow College between 1859-1861. He was ordained in 1867 for the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. It seems he was ordained at Maynooth. According to another book I have here, an Edward Brennan matriculated at Maynooth on 25 September 1861 and was in the Humanity Class. According to the Maynooth book, he was ordained in 1866-1867".

Parish of Mountrath Source: Rev M Comerford" Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin" Vol. 3 (1886 -

The Rev. Edward Brennan, the present pastor of Parish of Mountrath. Brother to Denis Brennan.

Source: Email from Mick Purcell 3 Sept 2008.

 III. ***Denis Brennan, b.1845; d. 16 Oct 1918 at Woodland, Co Laois, He married Bridget Byrne. b.1863. d.1939 aged 76.  (Source: Headstone inscription in Arles).  They had a daughter named Mary Brennan; b. c.1906 in Woodland, Co Laois. She married Edward (Ned) Dillon.

The following is an extract from The Nationalist. Dated 29th April 1920.
 Denis Brennan late of Woodland, Ballickmoyler, Queens county, Farmer, deceased. All persons claiming to be creditors or having any claim against the estate of the above named should contact John J. Duggan, Solicitor, Carlow. Denis Brennan was 77 years of age at the time of his death on the 16th October 1918.

We regret to announce the death of Mr. Denis Brennan which sad event took place at his residence, Woodland, Ballickmoyler on October 16th. 1918. The deceased, who was a brother of Rev. Edward Brennan, P.P. Mountrath, was of a very kind and generous disposition, a good neighbour and a sincere friend. The chief mourners were - Rev. Edward Brennan P.P. Messrs P.J. Carey, M. Doyle, and F. Lawlor. (brothers-in-law) T. Byrne, P. Byrne, E. Carey,  J. O'Leary, nephews. There are no mention of any other brothers or sisters.

See: The Death of Mr Denis Brennan, Woodland

*Note 1  10 Oct 1918 Denis Brennan died. His Will of 9 Oct 1918, probate 27 Aug 1920, left holding to widow, Bridget, for life and thereafter to daughter, Mary Brennan.

*Note 2. 16 October 1918 Denis died and left holding to his widow Bridget.

See: Brennan / Byrne / Dillon

IV. *Johanna Brennan, b. 25th Mar 1847, at Woodland, Co. Laois. d.23 Jun 1934 at Skenhanagh. Co Laois.. Married to James Delaney 29 Jan 1862 in Arles. James was b.16 Jun 1832 at Newtown Co Laois and d.26 Nov 1893 at Skenhanagh Co Laois.

Map of Skenhanagh House. Co Laois.

* They lived at Skenhanagh. in the County of Laois. Ireland.

Children of Johanna Brennan and James Delaney are:

i. William Delaney, MD. b. 05 Dec 1862, Skenhanagh. Co Laois; m. Maria Angus Conway, 04 Oct 1910, Cork; b. Date Unknown. Notes for William Delany he was 48 years of age when he married. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College located near Clane in County Kildare; a Student of Carmel College, Dublin, L.R.C.P.I,. and L.M., L.R.C.S.I. and L.M. 1889; Surgeon Royal Irish Constabulary; J.P. for co. Carlow.

ii. James Joseph Delaney, Civil Engineer. b. 08 Apr 1864, Skenhanagh. Co Laois. Sponsors: Patrick Delaney & Mary Haydon. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College, B.A. 1887, Bachelor of  Engineering Royal University; County Surveyor for King's County; He died at Harrogate, co. York, England. on Monday, 28 June, and is buried at Arles Graveyard Co Laois on Friday, 2 July 1909,

iii. Annie Delaney. b.29 Sept 1865. Skenhanagh. Co Laois. bapt. at the Catholic Chapel, Ballylinan, Queen's County

iv. Mary Delaney. b.25 April 1868. Skenhanagh. Co Laois.

v. Johanna Delaney b. 10 May 1869. Skenhanagh. Co Laois. d 1838.

vi. Margaret Delaney b.27 Nov 1872. Skenhanagh. Co Laois. Christening Nov 27 1872 Arles, Co Laois.

vii. Elizabeth Delaney, b. 10 Nov 1873, Skenhanagh. Co Laois. Sponsors: James Delany & Kate Brennan. She died 16 Jul 1896 at Odermatt in Dallenwil, Nidwalden, Switzerland, aged 22 years. She married Anton Odermatt in 1896 at Dallenwil, Nidwalden, Switzerland. Anton died in 1933.

*V. Julia Christina Brennan b. c.1848 in Woodland. Co Laois married Gerald O'Byrne from Timahoe in Carlow in 1868. They had 10 children but only 8 survived. They lived in Linkardstown Nurney, Co. Carlow. In the 1911 census Gerald is listed as a Farm worker.
* Source: The Carlow Post dated Saturday 9th May 1868.

VI. **Lucy Brennan, b. 19 Feb 1851, Woodland, Co Laois. d.17 Dec 1935

Notes for Lucy Brennan: Her Mother was recorded in the Arles parish records as Anne (Maria Annie) Walsh - Sponsors: Daniel Murry & Ellen Kealy Her mothers name could have been Annie Marie Walsh and used Annie for Lucy's birth. Entry found on Arles Baptism records for 1849.

Charlotte entered the convent of Sisters of Charity and ended up as a resident of the Convent in in Foxford Town Toomore, Co. Mayo. I found Charlotte Brennan in the 1901 and 1911 census of Ireland in a convent in Foxforth. Mayo as a member of the nuns. She gave her age as 59 years old. Her real age would have been 62 years of age.

Notes for Charlotte Brennan: We found her in  http://www.laoisgenealogy.com/. She was b.1849 to William Brennan. and her mother was Marie Walsh. Sponsor: Michael Coogan & Margaret Brennan. Location ****land. (Woodland). Source: https://www.from-ireland.net/baptism-records-arles-laois-1843-55/

VIII. *William Brennan, b. 29 Jun 1852, Woodland, Co Laois; *d.11 Sep 1898, aged 46, Arles. Co Laois. (*Headstone inscription in Arles). Sponsors of his Baptism: James Wall & Margaret Kealy.

VIII. *Margaret Brennan, b.19 Jan 1856, Woodland, Upper Ballickmoyler, Co Laois. Sponsors: William Murray & Charlotte Brennan. Margaret died in 1938 at Tomanierin Lower, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. She married Patrick Joseph Carey,. Sen, b.1861, a farmer, in 1884 in Tomanierin Lower, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow. They had 13 children between 1884 and 1901.

Note: 13th June, 1918. From Clerk, Rathdrum Rural District Council- Intimated that Mr. Patrick J. Carey,, junr J.P., Tomanierin, Aughrim, who was born 1886, has been re-selected as Chairman of his Council for the ensuing year. Source: https://www.wicklow.ie/Portals/0/Documents/Arts%20Heritage%20&%20Archives/Archives/Collections/Digitised%20Collections/Wicklow-County-Council-Minute-Books-1899-1930/wcca_wcc_m07_1916-1918.pdf

IX. */**Annie Brennan, b.23 Aug 1857, Woodland, Co Laois. d, 21 November 1927 in Presentation Convent Bagenalstown. Her religious name was Sister De Sales Brennan.  In the 1911 census she is listed as living in Presentation Convent Bagenalstown aged 56 and working as a School Teacher at 45 Regent Street. Bagenalstown, Carlow. At this time (2018) I have received information from the Convent stating her date of death but they are unable to tell where she is buried.

Image of Bagenalstown Convent in Co Carlow where Annie Brennan served as a Teacher and a Nun.