We are in search of a lost “King” and we are looking for
your help!
We have found the grave of a man noted as the “King of
Owney” in Tipperary and we are trying to find his living descendants.
His name was Bartholomew Ryan, he was born about 1750 and
died at Carrowkeale near Newport in County Tipperary in 1828. His “title” as
“King of Owney” is alluded to in an old parish register recording the birth of
his grandson Bartholomew Carey in Birdhill.
We think that it may be a reference to him being descended
from the Chiefs of Owney O’Mulryan which roughly encompassed the modern area
around Birdhill, Newport and Murroe. We hope to find some of his living Ryan
ancestors and encourage them to take part in the Ryan DNA Project. We already
have over 50 Ryans that have taken detailed DNA tests and it would be
interesting to see how his ancestors compare with these.
Bartholomew Ryan is buried within the ancient church walls
of Ballymackeogh outside Newport. To learn more about him and his family we
need help to find his living descendants, of whom we know many remained on a
small farm in the parish of Carrowkeale in Tipperary well into the turn of the
20th century.
Background.
Bartholomew Ryan was married to Margaret Collopy of
Limerick, and we know they had at least one son and four daughters, and we know
some of his grandchildren were still living at Carrowkeale in the 1901-1911
era.
Children:
Son PIERCE RYAN, Esquire: c1792 – 1831, died
Carrowkeale possibly unmarried.
Daughter ELIZABETH CAREY / CAREW of Birdhill, c1794 –
1849, innkeeper and wife of Michael J Carey whose family had owned an inn
previously where Elizabeth ran her business. Had a son BARTHOLOMEW CAREY 1827 –
1860 who lived in Birdhill, and married KATE SMITHWICK. Following Bart Carey’s
untimely death his widow Kate remarried to JOHN HAYES of Killaloe.
Daughter ELLEN DARTNELL of Ellen St, Limerick, 1796 – 1852,
wife of printer JOHN DARTNELL, who had a daughter MARY DARTNELL born 1835 in
the parish of St Michael in Limerick.
Daughter BRIDGET CARROLL nee Ryan, 1799 – 1884, wife of
PATRICK CARROLL of Kilteely and Carrowkeale. Large family lived on Carrowkeale
up until at least 1911-1921 era.
Daughter MARY BOURKE nee Ryan, 1801- ?, wife of WILLIAM
BOURKE whose father CAPTAIN ANDREW BOURKE was murdered near Newport, Tipperary
in 1839.
So we are particularly looking for the families of the
following, known to have lived at Carrowkeale (also spelt Carrickeal,
Carhuecaoil etc)
- His grandson: Bartholomew ‘Bart’ Carroll (1840-1920)
and wife Kate Young, who had 6 children at Carrowkeale between 1875 – 1889
(Bart Carroll was the son of Patrick Carroll and Bridget Ryan and inherited a
farm at Carrowkeale from his uncle Pierce Ryan.)
Carroll children who survived to adulthood and who lived at
Carrowkeale:
Margaret Carroll born 1877 and married PATRICK HOURIGAN and
lived Carrowkeale
Mary Carroll 1878 – 1963
Katie Carroll born 1881 who married Jeremiah Hartnett
Samuel Carroll born 1882 died 1961 in Shannon Home,
Limerick, but lived Carrowkeale
Annie Carroll born 1889 and died 1945 Carrowkeale.