Author Archives: francesbird

In 1869 (October 4th) a Timothy O’CALLAGHAN was a signatory to the letter to the Cork Mayor, William Hegarty, published in the Irish Examiner.  The letter called on the Mayor to convene a meeting to urge the government to grant amnesty to the ‘Political Prisoners.’ As Timothy’s children were still being baptised around this timeContinue reading “Timothy’s political activity post 1867”

Fenian history The Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Fenians, was formed simultaneously in Dublin and New York in 1858 and then established in Cork.  This was less than a decade after the Great Famine, the effects of which would have still been reverberating.  The Fenians believed only force would lead Britain to concede to Irish independenceContinue reading “Timothy O’Callaghan, Fenian”

There was no record in the 1867 Munster directory of Timothy as an independent tailor.  It is likely that he worked for someone else then.  It seems unlikely that he was still apprenticed given he had married in 1861 and men waited to marry until they had means to support a family. In the 1867Continue reading “Timothy O’Callaghan, tailor”

Census 1901 In 1901 Timothy, son Denis and Timothy’s second wife Margaret (O’Brien) and their two surviving daughters were living on St Mary’s Road in Shandon. The house was substantial, with five windows to the front and ‘7, 8 or 9 rooms.’ A 2024 search of the 1901 rating records in Cork City Archives showsContinue reading “The O’Callaghans in the early 1900s”

Timothy and Margaret (O’Brien) had the following children: Child Birth date Address   Death C o D Julia Mary Callaghan 4/05/1881 10 Fair Lane   5 Oct 1881 Convulsions one day Christina Callaghan 03/01/1883                           10 Fair Lane   31 July1916 Tuberculosis Catherine O’Callaghan   07/02/1885 10 Fair Lane   15 Oct1885 Bronchitis JosephineContinue reading “Timothy and Margaret O’Brien’s children”

It took a long time to find the death of Margaret (Taylor) CALLAGHAN, my great, great grandmother, not helped by her age having been recorded as 27 years at her death. That would have made her a bride of 9 years of age!  If transcribed correctly this suggests Timothy was pretty vague about details relatingContinue reading “A Margaret’s death & Timothy’s remarriage”

I stumbled across this birth certificate for a Eugene CALLAGHAN of 87 Fair Lane, born to Timothy CALLAGHAN, a tailor, and Mary nee KELLEHER.  This Eugene was born two months after Timothy and Margaret TAYLOR’s second Eugene was born at 90 Fair Lane according to his baptismal record and for which there is no civilContinue reading “Red herring or relative?”

Callaghan – the name The O Callaghans are said to have directly descended from the kings of Eóganacht Caisil, from around Cashel, the rulers of Munster from the 5th to 10th centuries. They settled west of Mallow on both sides of the Blackwater.  The names Timothy and Eugene Callaghan have been recorded for centuries (óContinue reading “Part One – O’CALLAGHAN”

In the 1800s Ireland’s economic development was limited by its lack of mineral resources which were triggering industrialisation in nearby countries such as England and Belgium. It’s geographical position was outside the ‘crossroads’ of international trade.  However, Ireland did benefit from the Atlantic trade in its strength area – agriculture.  The linen industry was itsContinue reading “Cork city context: Cork from the 1800s”

My interest in Irish history and family history was first piqued when I met my first relative beyond my immediate family.  My mother’s younger sister, Breda, visited New Zealand the summer of 1977. She told me the family story that we were descended from Thomas DAVIS (1814 – 1845) a figure in Irish history involvedContinue reading “Introduction”