SCANLAN & ENRIGHT
Here at the Clare Heritage Centre, we offer a professional service to persons wishing to trace their Clare roots. Towards this, we as a voluntary organized, non profit making group, have over the past number of years indexed all the available Parish Registers for the 47 Clare parishes. We now hold data on just over 500,000 people who were born in this county during the last century. The age and condition of these records vary from parish to parish, with some of our records dating back to as early as 1802. However, as Civil Recording of Births, Marriages and Deaths does not begin until 1864, these Parish Records remain the main source of Genealogical Data for the 19th Century in Ireland. In addition to the Parish Register we hold the various Land Records (1824 & 1855), Civil Register of Marriages and Deaths, Census Returns, Maps, Histories of the different Parishes etc.
The Scanlan surname was relatively strong Co. Clare during the 19th century with our Master Index of Baptisms recording 307 families of the name.
Dr. Edward McLysaght in his Book “Irish Families Their Names And Origins” which was published in the late 1950’s gives the following account on the name:-
“O’SCANLAN, O’Scannell:- There are at least two quite distinct septs whose descendants are now known as Scanlan. One is O Scannlain of Munster and the other MacScannlain of Oriel (Louth), neither of which has retained the prefix O or Mac in modern times. The latter are perpetuated in the place name Ballymacscanlon near Dundalk. The widespread distribution of the O’Scanlans is indicated by the fact that there are six Ballyscanlans in Ireland as well as a Scanlansland and a Scanlan’s Island. Two of these are in Co. Clare and one in Mayo, which lends colour to the statement that there was also a north Connacht sept of O’Scanlon. Further evidence in support of this is supplied by the records of the Registrar-General, which show that after the Kerry-Limerick-Cork area most Scanlan births are reported from Clare and Sligo. In this connexion the returns of the 1659 census are interesting:in that year the majority of people called O’Scanlon and O’Scannell were located in those very areas. At that time it would appear that O’Scannell was often used as a synonym of O’Scanlon even in Munster. The “Composition Book of Connacht” (1585) uses the form Scanlan in its survey of Co. Sligo. The MacScanlans appear to have almost died out as hardly any Scanlan births were reported from the provinces of Leinster and Ulster. The Scanlans belonging to Co. Sligo and Co. Donegal are really O’Scannells – an instance of a common name absorbing a rarer one – for example Most Rev. Patrick O’Scanlan, Bishop of Raphoe, (afterwards Archbishop of Armagh 1262-1272), was also called O’Scannell. A Tipperary-born bishop of modern times Dr. Lawrence Scanlan (1843-1915), Bishop of Salt Lake City, is remembered in America on account of his amicable relations with the Mormons of that place. In Ireland the name is chiefly associated with a most tragic event, the Scanlan murder in Co. Limerick in 1819, which was the theme of several novels and plays, the best known of which is the Colleen Bawn. There were three Irish-American authors of note, viz. John F. Scanlan (b. 1839), Co. Limerick Fenian and poet, his better-known brother Michael Scanlan (b. 1836, Co. Limerick), author of Jackets Green, The Fenian Men, etc.; and William J. Scanlan (1855-1898), actor, singer and song writer. Rt. Rev. Mgr. James Donald Scanlan (b. 1899) is Bishop of Dunkeld and Vicar Delegate to the U.S. Forces in Britain”.
Now to your own direct line:-
From our research we have established that your great-grandfather Daniel Scanlon was the son of David Scanlan and Ellen Bradley who in turn would have been your great-great-grandparents.
The first task in doing the search was to try and locate a record of marriage between your great-great-grandparents David Scanlan and Ellen Bradley. This search involved a full and detailed study of all available Marriage Registers at our disposal. After an extensive search through same I am pleased to report that we uncovered the relevant entry, the details are as follows.
Your great-great-grandparents David Scanlan and Ellen Bradley were married on the 28th of February, 1854 in what is today known as the ecclesiastical Parish of Carrigaholt/Cross. The witnesses at the marriage were Martin McMahon and Hannah Bradley. Unfortunately, from a research point of view Church Marriage Registers during the 19th century did not record the parents names of the bride or groom and as Civil Recording of Marriages did not commence until 1864 there would obviously be no point in examining this source.
After their marriage in 1854 your great-great-grandparents David Scanlan and Ellen Bradley resided at Moyarta West. Moyarta West is a townland (a townland being the smallest rural division of a Parish) of just over 540 acres situated in the old Civil Parish of Moyarta which today along with the old Civil Parish of Killballyowen forms what is known as the ecclesiastical Parish of Carrigaholt/Cross. From the enclosed copy of the old Ordnance Survey map you will note that the townland of Moyarta West is sited just north west of the village of Carrigaholt.
When translated from Gaelic Moyarta reads “the place of graves”.
Samuel Lewis in his Book “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland” which was published in 1837 gives the following account on the old Civil Parish of Moyarta:-
“ Moyarta:-
A parish, in the barony of Moyarta, county of Clare, and province of
Munster, 9 miles (S. W.) from Kilrush, on the western coast; containing
7441 inhabitants. It forms part of a peninsula bounded on the north-west
by the Atlantic, and on the south-east by the river Shannon, and comprises
7967 statute acres, as rated for the county cess, the greater part of
which is under tillage; sea-weed and sand are extensively used for manure,
and the state of agriculture is gradually improving : loose limestone is
found in the cliffs on that part of the coast called the White Strand.
Within the limits of the parish are the bay of Carrigaholt (noticed in the
article on that place), the creek of Querin, and part of an inlet called
Scagh or Poulanishery, all on the Shannon side of the peninsula. Querin
creek produces fine shrimps and flat fish, and affords a safe harbour for
boats that fit out here for the herring fishery. The inlet of
Poulanishery, which extends three miles inland in two different
directions, also affords safe anchorage for small vessels: a vast quantity
of turf is annually sent hence to Limerick and other places, and at its
mouth is a ferry, communication between Kilrush parish and “the West”, as
this peninsula is generally called. To distinguish by night the proper
course on entering the Shannon, a light has been established on the summit
of Kilkadrane Hill, red sea-ward, with a bright fixed light towards the
river. At Kilkadrane is a station of the coast-guard, being one of the six
constituting the district of Miltown-Malbay. At Querin is the residence of
Lieut. Borough, R. N., a curious building in the old Dutch style, with a
long projecting roof, which, together with the bricks, is said to have
been made in Holland for Mr. Vanhoogart, who built the house ; at Dunaha
is the ancient residence of the Moroney family ; and at Mount Pleasant is
the residence of Joseph Cox, Esq. The parish is in the diocese of
Killaloe; part of the rectory is impropriate in the Representatives of
Lord Castlecoote, and the remainder forms part of the corps of the prebend
of Inniscattery ; the vicarage forms part of the union of Kilrush. The
tithes amount to £470. 15. 43/4., of which £208. 18. 53/4. is payable to
the impropriator, and the remainder to the incumbent, as prebendary and
vicar. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of
Dunaha, also called Carrigaholt, comprising the parishes of Moyarta and
Kilballyhone, and containing the chapels of Dunaha, Carrigaholt, and Cross
: that of Carrigaholt is a modern edifice. At Clarefield is a school,
established by, and under the patronage of, Joseph Cox, Esq., aided by
subscription. The ruins of the old church still remain, and the
burial-ground contains some tombstones inscribed with the celebrated
French name Conti, some of whom are supposed to have been visiters of the
Clare family, at the neighbouring castle of Carrigaholt. On a small spot
containing about an acre of land, nearly insulated by the Atlantic, are
the remains of Dunlicky Castle, the approach to which is guarded by a high
and narrow tower with a wall on each side; at Knocknagarron are the
remains of an old signal tower, or telegraph; and at Carrigaholt are those
of the castle called Carrick-an-oultagh, or “the Ulsterman’s rock,” said
to have been built by a native of the county of Down, and once the
residence of the ancient family of Mac Mahon.”
The Church Registers (Baptismal) for the ecclesiastical Parish of Carrigaholt/Cross record the following children to your great-great-grandparents David Scanlan and Ellen Bradley:-
MARGARET BAPTISED 9th April, 1855
SPONSORSThomas Behan & Norry Behan
MARY BAPTISED 14th September, 1857
SPONSORSMichael O’Neill & Margaret O’Neill
PATRICK BAPTISED 18th October, 1863
SPONSORMary Melican
HANNAH BAPTISED 3rd October, 1866
SPONSORMary Scanlan
ELLEN BAPTISED 7th August, 1869
SPONSORMary McGrath
BRIDGET BAPTISED 12th November, 1872
SPONSORMary Melican
The dates given above are baptismal dates. However, in those days because of the very high level of infant mortality children were baptised within a few days of birth. So while Margaret Scanlan was baptised on the 9th of April, 1855 it would be reasonable to assume that she was born sometime between the 5th and the 9th of that month.
You will of course immediately note that the birth/baptism of your great-grandfather Daniel was not listed above. The priest must simply have neglected to record details of the event. This type of occurrence was not that unusual and indeed in the best kept Registers it was estimated that there was up to a 20 to 30% omission rate. The information on the Marriage Certificate of your great-grandfather and on his Death Certificate put his year of birth at 1859.
The above children as I have already stated were all born/baptised in the ecclesiastical Parish of Carrigaholt/Cross with the priest indicating that the family resided in the townland of Moyarta West.
Mary Scanlan listed above as a sponsor (godmother) at the baptism of Hannah Scanlan in 1866 was likely to have been her older sister Mary in that it was the custom at the time that older children would act as sponsors (godparents) at the baptisms of their younger siblings.
Sponsors (godparents) were often close relatives of the family. Based on this theory we examined all families listed above as sponsors (godparents) in the hope of uncovering some connection between these families and the families of Scanlan and Bradley. This search uncovered the following possible connections.
John Behan and his wife Mary Bradley resided in the Kilbaha area of the Parish where they were recorded having the following children:-
JOHN BAPTISED 17th February, 1858
SPONSORSPatrick & Margaret Nash
CATHERINE BAPTISED 15th October, 1861
SPONSORSAndrew & Bridget Bradley
NORRY BAPTISED 18th March, 1864
SPONSORSThomas & Bridget Crotty
ELLEN BAPTISED 13th June, 1866
SPONSORMary Behan
While we cannot be absolutely certain owing to the limited information contained on the surviving records we believe that there is a possibility that Mary Bradley who was married to John Behan may have been a sister of your great-great-grandmother Ellen Bradley.
Patrick Behan and his wife Mary Scanlan were resided at Carrigaholt where they were recorded having the following children:-
ELLEN BAPTISED 18th June, 1856
SPONSORSNorry Behan
MARY BAPTISED 2nd April, 1858
SPONSORSPatrick McNamara & Mary Carthy
CATHERINE BAPTISED 2nd April, 1858
SPONSORSMichael Behan & Austin Keating
NORA BAPTISED 9th May, 1861
SPONSORSJohn Kelly & Mary Costelloe
Again we believe that there is a possibility that Mary Scanlan who was married to Patrick Behan may have been a sister of your great-great-grandfather David Scanlan. Unfortunately, however, the surviving records are neither old enough nor detailed enough to allow us to be certain of same.
With regard to going back one earlier generation the information on the Death Certificate of your great-great-grandfather David Scanlan puts his year of birth at 1805. Unfortunately, however, as the Registers (Baptismal) for the Parish of Carrigaholt/Cross do not commence until 1854 they would clearly not be old enough to record information on his birth/baptism. However, from the Land Records of the 1850’s it would appear that his mother was Margaret Scanlan who in turn would have been your great-great-great-grandmother. While from the Land Records of the 1820’s we believe that there is a possibility that his father may in fact have been Martin Scanlan.
The Land/Property Records covering the period under review were the Griffith Valuation Books of 1855. The Griffith Valuation of 1855 was undertaken to determine the amount of tax each tenant should pay towards the support of the poor within his Poor Law Union. In addition to giving the name of the occupier or tenant it provides the name of the immediate lessor, the name of the townland or city location, the area and value of holding and the value of the house. These records contain the names of every householder and every occupier of land during this period.
These 1855 Land Records list Margaret Scanlan whom we believe to have been the mother of your great-great-grandfather David Scanlan leasing a house and land at Moyarta West. The land area amounted to 4 acres 3 roods 15 perches. It was valued at £3 10 shillings. While her house was valued at just 5 shillings. This in turn brought her total property valuation to £3 15 shillings. From the enclosed copy of said Land Records you will note that she was leasing the property from Nicholas Westby.
From a study of the Land Transfer Records we established that the above property transferred to your great-great-grandfather David Scanlan in the period 1864 to 1866.
I am enclosing with this report the relevant extract from said Land Records.
The earliest available Land/Property Records which we have for the area in which the family lived were the Tithe Applotment Books of the mid 1820’s. Tithe was a tax on all agricultural land (originally a tenth of the produce) and it was paid by people of all religious denominations towards the upkeep of the Established Church of that day (Church of Ireland). The tax aroused much resentment on religious grounds as the country was four-fifths Roman Catholic and the distress that followed the Napoleonic Wars forced the replaced payment in kind by payment in cash by local landlords. The information differs from parish to parish, but in most part gives the name of the tithe payer, the acreage of his farm subject to tithe, and the amount of tithe paid. Taken together the Tithe Applotment Books virtually form a census of landholders around the year 1830, a few years before the massive emigration resulting from the “Great Famine.” These records do not include a list of the householders in rural or urban areas, they contain only the names of those who occupied titheable land.
The Tithe Applotment Books for the old Civil Parish of Moyarta re dated 1827. From a study of these we uncovered details of just one Scanlan holding at Moyarta, the details are as follows.
A Martin Scanlan was shown leasing 5 acres 3 roods of land at Moyarta.
Regrettably from a research point of view these early Land Records were not very detailed in that they made no mention of age, marital status, etc. Nevertheless we believer that there is a reasonable possibility that the above Martin Scanlan may in fact have been the father of your great-great-grandfather David Scanlan.
I am enclosing with this report the relevant extract from said Land Records.
Church Marriage Registers during the 19th century did not record the parents names of the bride or groom. However, Civil Recording of Marriages which commenced in 1864 did in fact record the fathers name of both bride and groom. In the course of our research we duly examined these Registers in the hope of locating details on the marriages of any of the children of your great-great-grandfather David Scanlan. This search uncovered information on whom several of his children married, the details are as follows.
On the 29th of February, 1876 your great-grandfather’s sister Margaret Scanlan married John Naughton in the Roman Catholic Church in Carrigaholt. The Civil Record of the marriage shows that John Naughton was “full age”. His occupation was given as a farmer. His address at the time of marriage was given as Trusklieve. While his father was listed as James Naughton, a farmer. Margaret Scanlan was shown to have been the daughter of David Scanlan, a farmer of Moyarta. The witnesses at the marriage were Thomas Naughton and Bridget Blake. While Fr. James O’Neill was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that both John Naughton and Margaret Scanlan signed the Register.
After their marriage in 1876 John Naughton and Margaret Scanlan resided on the Naughton farm at Trusklieve which from the enclosed copy of the old Ordnance Survey
map you will note was a townland sited about 2 mile north west of Moyarta. Here they were recorded having the following children:-
MARY BAPTISED 29th March, 1877
SPONSORCatherine Naughton
THOMAS BAPTISED 23rd December, 1878
SPONSORBridget Naughton
JOHN BAPTISED 18th May, 1883
SPONSORM. Keane
PATRICK BAPTISED 1st February, 1885
SPONSOR Kate Hourigan
MARTIN BAPTISED 9th April, 1886
SPONSOR Kate Naughton
TIMOTHY BAPTISED 6th July, 1890
SPONSOR Ellen Gorman
DAVID BAPTISED 26th July, 1892
SPONSORG. Naughton
PETER BAPTISED 27th February, 1895
SPONSORMargaret Naughton
WILLIAM BAPTISED 14th November, 1897
SPONSORAnne Gorman
DENIS BORN 19th June, 1901
The above Naughton children would have been 1st cousins of your grandmother Mary Scanlan in that her father Daniel Scanlan and their mother Margaret Scanlan were brother and sister.
On the 12th of February, 1877 your great-grandfather’s sister Mary Scanlan married Sinon Carmody in the Roman Catholic Church in Carrigaholt. The Civil Record of the marriage shows that Sinon Carmody was “full age”. His occupation was given as a farmer. His address was given as Kilbaha. While his father James Carmody, a farmer was shown to have been deceased. Mary Scanlan was shown to have been the daughter of David Scanlan, a farmer of Moyarta. The witnesses at the marriage were James Carmody and Kate Naughton. While Fr. Michael Corry who was a curate in the Parish at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that both Sinon Carmody and Mary Scanlan signed the Register.
After their marriage in 1877 Sinon Carmody and his wife Mary Scanlan resided in the townland of Kilbaha South where they were recorded having the following children:-
MARY BAPTISED 25th July, 1878
SPONSORKate Keating
BRIDGET BAPTISED 25th July, 1878
SPONSORNorry Carmody
MARGARET BAPTISED 6th July, 1879
SPONSORNora Roche
CATHERINE BAPTISED 17th July, 1881
SPONSORSHonora Roche & Stephen Brennan
The above Carmody children would again have been 1st cousins of your grandmother Mary Scanlan in that her father Daniel Scanlan and their mother Mary Scanlan were brother and sister.
On the 17th of February, 1885 your great-grandfather’s brother Patrick Scanlan married Kate Keating in the Roman Catholic Church at Cross. The Civil Record of the marriage shows that Patrick Scanlan was “full age”. His address was given as Moyarta, Carrigaholt. While his father David Scanlan, a farmer was shown to have been deceased. Kate Keating was shown to have been the daughter of John Keating, a farmer of Kilbaha. The witnesses at the marriage were Martin Bradley and Honor Greene. While Fr. John Vaughan who was Parish Priest in Cross at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that while Patrick Scanlan signed the Register that Kate Keating in fact signed her name with an “X”.
After their marriage in 1885 it would appear that Patrick Scanlan “married into” the Keating farm at Kilbaha. The Church Registers record the following children to Patrick Scanlan and Kate Keating all of whom were born at Kilbaha:-
MICHAEL BAPTISED 24th January, 1886
SPONSORHonor Green
MARY BAPTISED 16th December, 1887
SPONSORMinnie Keating
MARY BAPTISED 7th February, 1889
SPONSORSHonor Green
MARGARET BAPTISED 31st May, 1891
SPONSORMaria Collins
Again the above Scanlan children would have been 1st cousins of your grandmother Mary Scanlan in that her father Daniel Scanlan and their father Patrick Scanlan were brothers.
On the 5th of March, 1889 your great-grandparents Daniel Scanlan and Bridget Enright were married in the Roman Catholic Church in Carrigaholt. The Civil Record of the marriage gives Daniel Scanlan’s age as 30. His occupation was given as a farmer. His address was given as Moyarta. While his father was listed as David Scanlan who was described as a farmer. Your grandmother Bridget Enright gave her age as 21. Her address at the time of marriage was given as Carrownaweelaun. While her father was listed as Thomas Enright, a farmer. The witnesses at the marriage were Patrick Woods and Mary Roche. While Fr. J. F. McGuire who was a curate in the Parish at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that both your great-grandparents signed the Register.
After their marriage in 1889 our records show that your great-grandparents Daniel Scanlan and Bridget Enright resided at Moyarta West where they were recorded having the following children:-
DAVID BAPTISED 2nd August, 1889
SPONSOREllen Scanlan
MARY BAPTISED 21st August, 1890
SPONSORMaggie Scanlan
BIRTH 17 August, 1989
BRIDGET BAPTISED 27th October, 1891
SPONSORMary Anne Enright
MARGARET BAPTISED 31st October, 1893
SPONSORMargaret Carmody
JOHN BAPTISED 26th May, 1896
SPONSOREllie Kelly
ELLEN BORN 20th November, 1898
A note on the baptismal register for Margaret Scanlan in 1893 suggests that she married Michael Hederman in 1915. While John Scanlan who was born in 1896 was shown to have married Sarah Flaherty in Mullagh on the 1st of July, 1946. (Per David Scanlon, Jack changed spelling on Scanlan name to Scanlon because of infamous Limerick murderer named John Scanlan who murdered his young wife in 1820.)
On the 13th of February, 1890 your great-grandfather’s sister Ellen Scanlan married John O’Dwyer in the Roman Catholic Church in Carrigaholt. The Civil Record of the marriage shows that John O’Dwyer was “full age”. His occupation was given as a farmer. His address was given as Clooncunneen. While his father was listed as William O’Dwyer, a farmer who was deceased at the time of the marriage. Ellen Scanlan was shown to have been the daughter of David Scanlan, a farmer of Moyarta. David Scanlan was shown to have been deceased at the time of her marriage. The witnesses at the marriage were James McInerney and Margaret Hanrahan. While Fr. Patrick Brennan who was Parish Priest in Carrigaholt at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that while John O’Dwyer signed his name with an “X” that Ellen Scanlan in fact signed the Register
After their marriage in 1890 John O’Dwyer and Ellen Scanlan resided on the O’Dwyer farm at Clooncunneen where they were recorded having the following children:-
TOM BAPTISED 24th December, 1890
MICHAEL BAPTISED 7th September, 1893
MARY BORN 15th September, 1896
PATRICK BORN 25th March, 1899
WILLIAM BORN 24th January, 1902
EDMUND BORN 4th August, 1904
JOHN BORN 8th May, 1907
Again the above O’Dwyer children would have been 1st cousins of your grandmother Mary Scanlan in that her father Daniel Scanlan and their mother Ellen Scanlan were brother and sister.
On the 13th of February, 1893 your great-grandfather’s sister Bridget Scanlan married Michael Hassett in the Roman Catholic Church in Carrigaholt. The Civil Record of the marriage shows that Michael Hassett was “full age”. His occupation was given as a farmer. His address was given as Killenagh. While his father was listed as Michael Hassett, a farmer. Bridget Scanlan was shown to have been the daughter of David Scanlan, a farmer of Moyarta. The witnesses at the marriage were Pat Collins and Bridget McGrath. While Fr. James J. Hogan who was a curate in Carrigaholt at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that while Michael Hassett signed the Register that Bridget Scanlan in fact signed her name with an “X”.
From a study of the Birth/Baptismal Registers which we hold we uncovered information on the births/baptisms of the following children to Michael Hassett and Bridget Scanlan all of whom were born at Killenagh which from the enclosed copy of the old Ordnance Survey map you will note was a townland situated just south west of the Moyarta:-
PATRICK BAPTISED 9th March, 1894
SPONSORMarie McInerney
JOHN BAPTISED 12th January, 1896
SPONSORMaria Collins
MARY BAPTISED 14th February, 1898
SPONSORMary Collins
MICHAEL BORN 9th February, 1903
BRIDGET BORN 1st April, 1905
THOMAS BORN 14th September, 1907
MARGARET BORN 26th May, 1910
HANNAH BORN 13th October, 1912
HELEN BORN 13th November, 1913
The above Hassett children would have been 1st cousins of your grandmother Mary Scanlan in that her father Daniel Scanlan and their mother Bridget Scanlan were brother and sister.
The oldest official Census in Ireland dates back to April, 1901. It lists the following residing at the family home at Moyarta West:-
Ellen (Bradley) Scanlan i.e. your great-great-grandmother, head of the family. It was shown that while she could neither read nor write that she could speak both Irish and English. Her age was given as 78. Her marital status was given as widow and furthermore it was noted that she was deaf in 1901. Living with her was her daughter-in-law Bridget (Enright) Scanlan i.e. your great-grandmother. It was shown that she could read and write and speak both Irish and English. Her marital status was given as married. While her age was given as 34. Living at the family home were the Scanlan children Mary i.e. your grandmother aged 10. It was shown that she could read and write and speak both Irish and English. Bridget aged 8, Margaret aged 6, John aged 5 and Ellen aged 2.
The Census of 1901 describes the family home at Moyarta West as having mud walls, a thatched roof, 3 windows to the front and 2 rooms.
I am enclosing with this report the relevant extract from said Census Return.
The next Census was taken in 1911. It lists the following residing at the family home at Moyarta West:-
Ellen (Bradley) Scanlan i.e. your great-great-grandmother, head of the family. It was shown that while she could neither read nor write that she could speak both Irish and English. Her age was given as 80. Her marital status was given as widow. Her occupation was given as a farmer. Living with her was her daughter-in-law Bridget (Enright) Scanlan i.e. your great-grandmother. It was shown that she could read and write and speak both Irish and English. Her age was given as 40. Your great-grandmother Bridget was shown to have been married for a total of 20 years, had 6 children, 5 of whom were still alive. Living with her in 1911 were her children Delia (Bridget) aged 18, Margaret aged 16, John aged 14 and Ellen aged 12.
The Census of 1911 describes the family home at Moyarta West as having stone walls, a thatched roof, 3 windows to the front and 3 rooms.
I am enclosing with this report the relevant extract from said Census Return.
From a study of the later Marriage Registers which we hold we uncovered information on whom 2 of your grandmother’s siblings married here in Co. Clare, the details are as follows:-
Your grandmother’s sister Margaret Scanlan married Michael Hederman in the Roman Catholic Church at Carrigaholt on the 27th of November, 1915. The Civil record of the marriage shows that Michael Hederman was the son of Richard Hederman, a farmer of Rahona. While Margaret Scanlan was shown to have been the daughter of Daniel Scanlan, a farmer of Moyarta. The witnesses at the marriage were John Collins and Mary Anne Scanlan. While Fr. Francis McMahon who was Parish Priest in Carrigaholt at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that both Michael Hederman and Margaret Scanlan signed the Register.
After their marriage in 1915 Michael Hederman and Margaret Scanlan resided at Rahona in the Parish of Carrigaholt where they were recorded having the following children:-
RICHARD J BORN 20th November, 1916
PATRICK BORN 17th March, 1918
MARY BORN 3rd December, 1919
BRIDGET BORN 28th February, 1921
CATHERINE BORN 3rd February, 1926
MARGARET BORN 17th September, 1925
JOHN FRANCIS BORN 28th February, 1928
MICHAEL BORN 6th October, 1930
DENIS BORN 7th February, 1932
Martin BORN 1933?
ANNE BORN 6th August, 1938
Martin had three children:
Patrick BORN
Mary (Soltis)
Brid (Biddy)
- Tomas
- Muireen
Your grandmother’s brother John Scanlan who was born in 1896 would appear to have inherited the family farm at Moyarta West. Our records show that he married Sarah Flaherty. This couple resided at Moyarta West where they were recorded having the following children:-
JOSEPH ANTHONY BORN 26th April, 1947
MARTIN DANIEL BORN 4th November, 1948
JOHN KEVIN
MARY SCANLON
DAVID “Daithi” SCANLON BORN 1955
Church Registers during the 19th century did not record Deaths. In fact Deaths were not recorded until the commencement of Civil Registration in 1864. Here at the Centre over the past number of months we have been indexing the Civil Death Registers from their commencement in 1864 up until the late 1930 period. Consequently I am now in a position to provide you with information on all recorded Deaths in the family during the above mentioned time-frame
1. On the 29th of January, 1881 your great-great-grandfather David Scanlan died at Moyarta. His age was given as 76 i.e. born c. 1805. His occupation was given as a farmer. Consumption which he had for 6 months was recorded as the cause of death. While the death was registered by Pat Scanlan who signed his name with an “X”.
2. On the 26th of June, 1884 Hannah Scanlan who would have been a sister of your great-grandfather Daniel Scanlan died at Moyarta. Her age was given as 17. She was described as the daughter of David Scanlan, a farmer. Phthisis which she had for 15 weeks was recorded as the cause of death. While her mother Ellen (Bradley) Scanlan was shown to have registered the death.
3. On the 26th of February, 1890 your grandmother’s brother David Scanlan died at Moyarta. He was shown to have lived for just 7 months. He was described as the son of Daniel Scanlan a farmer. Congestion of the Lungs which he had for 7 days was recorded as the cause of death. While Mary Pender who was described as a cousin and who was living at Kilbaha was shown to have registered the death.
4. On the 22nd of December, 1915 your great-great-grandmother Ellen (Bradley) Scanlan died at Moyarta. Her age was given as 82. She was described as the widow of a farmer. Old age was recorded as the cause of death. While her grand-daughter Ellie Scanlan was shown to have registered the death. From the enclosed copy of said death entry you will witness her signature.
5. Your great-grandmother Bridget (Enright) Scanlan died on the 3rd August, 1932. Her body was found on the beach at Moyarta. Her age was given as 64. She was described as a farmers wife. Cardiac disease was recorded as the probable cause of her death. While he son John Scanlan was shown to have registered the death.
6. On the 1st of October, 1943 your great-grandfather Daniel Scanlan died at Moyarta. His age was given as 84. His marital status was given as widower. Old age was recorded as the cause of his death. While his son John Scanlan was shown to have registered the death.
7. On the 21st of January, 1976 your grandmother’s brother John Scanlan died at Moyarta. His age was given as 79. His occupation was given as a farmer. Haemoplegia and Cerebral Thrombosis which he had for nine weeks was recorded as the cause of death. While his wife Sarah Scanlan was shown to have registered the death.
I am enclosing with this report copies of the above mentioned death entries giving details re same.
We will now turn to the Enright side of your family.
The Enright surname was relatively strong in Co. Clare during the 19th century with our Master Index of Baptisms recording just over 120 families of the name.
Dr. Edward McLysaght in his Book “Irish Families Their Names And Origins” which was published in the late 1950’s gives the following account on the name:-
“O’HANRAGHTY, Enright, (Hanvey):-O’Hanraghty is an earlier, and now obsolete from of O’hAnrachtaig — the modern anglicized form being Hanratty. The name is still rarely found outside its original habitat. The sept, a comparatively small one descended from Ionrachtach, a scion of the great Maguires, was of Oriel, and the latest available statistics show that apart from the city of Dublin, in which, of course, there are migrant families from all parts of Ireland, nearly all the births registered for the name took place in the Counties Louth, Armagh and Monaghan. The chiefs of the O’Hanraghtys, of whom several are mentioned by the Four Masters between 1019 and 1161, under the style of Lords of Ui Meith, held a considerable territory in the northern part of the modern Co. Louth. The “Annals of Loch Ce”, mention Aodh O’Hanratty as “King of Ui Meith” in 1107, and under the same date Donal O’Hanfey is also so described. O’Hanfy, or O’Hanify or Hanvey, is, however, quite a distinct name — O’hAninbhith in Irish. Their territory was in the same part of the country. The pressure of the Anglo-Norman invasion pushed the O’Hanraghtys westwards into Co. Monaghan, and in the twelfth century they settled near the modern town of Castleblaney. Father Patrick Hanratty, a Franciscan of note in the first half of the seventeenth century, was a native of Co. Louth. The Four Masters use the form O hIonrachtaigh, while O’Dugan in the “Topographical Poem”, spells it O hInnrechtaigh, of which the Gaelic version, given above, is a modern variant. A branch of the family settled in France : one of these was among the aristocratic prisoners in the French Revolution.
The Mac form of the name Mac Ionnrachtaigh, now anglicized Enright, appears as MacKenraght and MacEnraghty in old records : it belongs, almost exclusively, to West Munster, the great majority of Enrights to-day coming from Co. Limerick.”
Now to your own direct line:-
From our research we have established that your great-grandmother Bridget Enright was born in 1866 her parents being Thomas Enright and Mary O’Dwyer who in turn would have been your great-great-grandparents.
Your great-great-grandparents Thomas Enright and Mary O’Dwyer were married in the Roman Catholic Church in Carrigaholt on the 18th of February, 1866. The civil Record of the marriage which is held at the Courthouse in Ennis shows that Thomas Enright was “full age”. He was described as a farmer’s son. While his father was listed as John Enright, a farmer of Carrownaweelaun. Mary O’Dwyer was also shown to have been “full age”. Her father was listed as Anthony O’Dwyer, a farmer of Clooncunneen. The witnesses at the marriage were Michael O’Dwyer and Margaret O’Dwyer. While Fr. Patrick White who was a curate in Carrigaholt at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclose copy of said marriage entry you will note that both Thomas Enright and Mary O’Dwyer signed the Register.
After their marriage in 1866 your great-great-grandparents Thomas Enright and Mary O’Dwyer resided on the Enright farm at Carrownaweelaun. Carrownaweelaun is a townland of approximately 850 acres situated in the old Civil Parish of Moyarta (Carrigaholt). From the enclosed copy of the old ordnance Survey map you will note that the townland of Carrownaweelaun was sited just north of Moyarta West.
When translated from Gaelic Carrownaweelaun reads “of the seagulls”.
The Church Registers (Baptismal) for the ecclesiastical Parish of Carrigaholt/Cross record the following children to your great-great-grandparents Thomas Enright and Mary O’Dwyer all of whom were born at Carrownaweelaun:-
BRIDGET BAPTISED 15th December, 1866
SPONSORSMichael Enright & Margaret O’Dwyer
MARTIN BAPTISED 12th November, 1868
SPONSORSMichael & Joan Enright
MARGARET BAPTISED 15th September, 1870
SPONSORKate Casey
MICHAEL BAPTISED 22nd July, 1871
SPONSORBridget O’Dwyer
MARY BAPTISED 15th September, 1873
SPONSORMary Keating
PATRICK BAPTISED 10th March, 1876
SPONSOR Margaret McNamara
JOHN BAPTISED 16th September, 1878
SPONSORBridget Keating
ANN MARIA BAPTISED 9th July, 1880
SPONSORBridget Halpin
ANTHONY BAPTISED 13th March, 1883
SPONSORSBridget Enright
THOMAS BAPTISED 26th February, 1885
SPONSORSMary McNamara
The above children as I have already stated were all born/baptised in the ecclesiastical Parish of Carrigaholt/Cross with the priest indicating that the family resided in the townland of Carrownaweelaun.
The above Enrights children with the exception of your great-grandmother Bridget who was born in 1866 would have been uncles and aunts of your grandmother Mary Scanlan in that they were her mother’s siblings.
The Enright listed above as sponsors (godparents) were likely to have been siblings of your great-great-grandfather Thomas Enright. While the O’Dwyers listed as sponsors (godparents) were likely to have been siblings of your great-great-grandmother Mary O’Dwyer.
From a study of the sponsors (godparents) listed above I have to report that we failed to uncover any obvious connections between these families and the families of Enright and O’Dwyer.
With regard to going back one earlier generation from our research work it would appear that your great-great-grandfather Thomas Enright was the son of John Enright (1793-1875) and Margaret (1806-1878). However, as your great-great-grandfather Thomas Enright was born prior to the commencement of the Church Registers in 1853 we do not as a result have details on his birth/baptism. Nor indeed do we have details on the births/baptisms of any of his siblings in that it would appear that all of the children born to your great-great-great-grandparents John and Margaret Enright were born prior to the commencement of the Church Registers in 1853.
The Griffith Valuation Land Records of 1855 list your great-great-great-grandfather John Enright leasing a house, offices (sheds) and land at Carrownaweelaun. The land area amounted to 73 acres 3 roods 21 perches. It was valued at £14. While his house had a valuation of £1 5 shillings. In today’s terms this may not seem like a very high valuation for a house. However, in those days when the average house was valued at between 5 and 10 shillings to have had a house which was valued at £1 5 shillings would suggest that it was a fairly substantial structure for it’s time. This in turn brought his total property valuation to £15 5 shillings. From the enclosed copy of said Land Records you will note that he was leasing the property from Henry Joly.
Also from the enclosed copy of said Land Records you will note that your great-great-great-grandfather John Enright was shown sharing land at Carrownaweelaun in 1855 which was described as Bog. He was shown sharing this with several others. The area amounted to 112 acres 2 roods 38 perches. His share of this property was valued at just £1.
The Tithe Applotment Books for the old Civil Parish of Moyarta are dated 1828. These list John Enright leasing 13 acres of land at Carrownaweelaun. I am enclosing with this report the relevant extract from the said land records.
From a study of the later Marriage Registers which we hold we uncovered information on whom one of your great-great-grandfather’s sisters married i.e. an aunt of your grandmother Bridget Enright, the details are as follows:-
On the 6th of February, 1866 Margaret Enright who was a sister of your great-great-grandfather Thomas Enright married Thomas Hanrahan in the Roman Catholic Church in Carrigaholt. The Civil Record of the marriage shows that Thomas Hanrahan was “full age”. His occupation was given as a farmer. His address was given as Cloghaunsavaun. While his father was listed as James Hanrahan, a farmer who was deceased at the time of the marriage. Margaret Enright was shown to have been the daughter of John Enright, a farmer of Carrownaweelaun. The witnesses at the marriage were John Keating and Margaret McNamara. While Fr. Thomas McMahon who was a curate in the Parish at the time was shown to have married the couple. From the enclosed copy of said marriage entry you will note that both Thomas Hanrahan and Margaret Enright signed the Register.
After their marriage in 1866 Thomas Hanrahan and Margaret Enright resided in the townland of Cloghaunsavaun where they were recorded having the following children:-
JAMES BAPTISED 2nd May, 1867
SPONSORCatherine Keating
PATRICK BAPTISED 16th September, 1869
SPONSORMrs. Hanrahan
BRIDGET BAPTISED 26th November, 1870
SPONSORNora Murray
MICHAEL BAPTISED 28th December, 1872
SPONSORKate Crotty
JOHN BAPTISED 16th May, 1875
SPONSORJohanna Keating
THOMAS BAPTISED 9th January, 1878
SPONSORKate Fennell
The above Hanrahan children would have been 1st cousins of your great-grandmother Bridget Enright in that her father Thomas Enright and their mother Margaret Enright were brother and sister.
In the course of our research we examined the later Marriage Registers in the hope of locating details on the marriages of any of the children of your great-great-grandfather Thomas Enright i.e. brothers and sisters of your great-grandmother Bridget Enright. However, I have to report that we failed to uncover evidence of any such marriages here in Co. Clare.
From the 1901 Census I have to report that we failed to uncover evidence of any members of the Enright family still residing at Carrownaweelaun at this time.
Referring back to the Land Transfer Records these show that the property in Carrownaweelaun transferred from John Enright to Thomas Enright in 1877 and then subsequently was acquired by a Thomas O’Shea.
From a study of the Civil Death Registers which commence in 1864 we uncovered information on the following Deaths in the Enright family.
1. On the 20th of September, 1870 your great-grandmother’s sister Margaret Enright died at Carrownaweelaun. She was shown to have lived for just a week. She was described as a farmer’s child. Convulsions which she had for 4 days was recorded as the cause of death. While Hannah Enright who signed her name with an “X” was shown to have registered the death.
2. On the 6th of February, 1875 John Enright who would have been your great-great-great-grandfather died at Carrownaweelaun. His age was given as 82 i.e. born c. 1793. Cystitis which he had for 3 days was recorded as the cause of death. While the death was registered by Anthony McNamara.
3. On the 29th of August, 1878 Margaret Enright died at Newtown which is in fact a sub-division of Carrownaweelaun. Her age was given as 72. Old age and debility was recorded as the cause of death. While Thomas Enright whom we assume to have been your great-great-grandfather was shown to have registered the death.
4. On the 9th of December, 1888 your great-great-grandmother Mary (O’Dwyer) Enright died at Newtown (Carrownaweelaun). Her age was given as 45. She was described as the wife of Thomas Enright, a farmer. Heart Disease which she had for 1 day was recorded as the cause of death. While Mary Curtin of Newtown who signed her name with an “X” was shown to have registered the death.
The above Death was the last recorded Death of an Enright at Carrownaweelaun (Newtown).
I am enclosing with this report copies of the above mentioned death entries giving details re same. I am also enclosing with this report copies of old Ordnance Survey maps highlighting the Parishes and townlands mentioned.
This completes our research. We hope that you are happy with same and should you have any questions arising from the results of our work please do not hesitate to contact us.
REPORT COMPILED BY:-
——————————————
ANTOINETTE O’BRIEN,
AUGUST, 2011.
Mary Scanlan born August 21st, 1890 traveled by herself in 1906 to Buffalo, New York. Her father Dan was living in Buffalo at the time. She worked in Buffalo and got a call from her friend, Margaret Sullivan, that all of her friends from Carrigaholt area were in Chicago and they had a position for her. She got on a train and moved to Chicago and married Patrick Considine in New York in 1918 just before Patrick departed for France and WWI. Patrick was born in 1891 in Dromelihy, County Clare.
Children:
James Considine: BORN Jan. 5 1923 died on a B17 in training when his plane crashed in the Sioux reservation in South Dakota with no survivors on December 13, 1943.
Rita (Holt) Considine: BORN April 4, 1921 Married Dale Holt in 1944
Stephen Considine: BORN Sept. 5, 1925 Married Mary Colette Healy on June 9, 1951
Stephen and Mary Considine children:
James: Born Feb 21, 1951
Michael: Born Feb 7, 1953
Kevin: Born March 7, 1955
Frances “Franny” Born Sept. 5, 1956 Died in car accident July 1989
Timothy: Born Sept. 1, 1957
Kathleen “Katie”: Born April 17, 1959
Karen: Born December 24, 1961
Paul: Born April 18, 1963
