‘Arise Knocknagoshel and take your place among the nations of the earth’. We are all aware of this slogan which was headlined on a banner carried by proud Knocknagoshel Parnellites to Newcastlewest in 1891 to protest when they got word that Parnell might not be allowed to speak at a planned rally there, on account of his marriage to the divorced Kitty O’Shea.
We might not all know though of the 440 names of those Kerry ancestors, who signed a successful petition to the Bishop of Kerry in 1916, requesting a resident Parish Priest.
On 17th August 1916, Cardinal Cassata, with papal authority, granted power to Bishop John Mangan]to establish a parish in Knocknagoshel. Knocknagoshel had been part of Brosna parish for centuries and from time to time the parish priest resided in in the Knocknagoshel area. In 1866, a delegation failed in their request to Bishop David Moriarty for the formation of a separate parish in Knocknagoshel. A later delegation in June 1888 also failed to secure Bishop Andrew Higgins’ approval. However in June 1916, four hundred and forty householders signed a petition and the people’s wish was granted by Bishop Mangan.
Knocknagoshel had a chapel prior to 1834, which was also used as a school. In that same year a new chapel was built on a site given by Lord Headley, who shared half the cost with his tenants. This church had a thatched roof and mud floor.
From The Diocese of Kerry, Working in the Fields of God (Kerry 2005), Fr. Kieran O’Shea.
Here are the signatories of the 1916 petition:
| Jeremiah Long, R.D.C. | Daniel C. O’Connor, R.D.C. |
| William Mor….., Shanavaugha | Mrs. Ml. Mangan, Behenaugh |
| Michael Mangan, Behenaugh | John Mangan, Ballinahoun |
| Michael Mangan, Ballinahoun | Corns. D. O’Connor?, Knocknagoshel |
| B.J. Murphy, Knocknagoshel | May Brown, Knocknagoshel |
| Nora Murphy, Knocknagoshel | W.W. Mangan, Behenaugh |
| Cornelius Brosnan, Boula | William Cahill, Knocknagoshel |
| J.M. Mangan, Lots. | Jas. J. Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Johannah O’Connor, Knocknagoshel | Agnes? Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Jerh. J. Long, Knocknagoshel | Chas. Begley |
| James Begley | David O’Connell, Knocknagoshel |
| Daniel Cronin, Knockbrack | Harry Dalton, Knocknagoshel |
| Daniel Murphy, Knocknagoshel | Adam Keane, Knockbrack |
| Ellen O’Connor, Meenahilly | Jeremiah Long, Knocknagoshel |
| Denis Guiney, Knocheencreen | Dan Doody, Knockbrack |
| Jeremiah T. O’Connor, Meenganaire | Michael Connor, Knockbrack |
| Daniel Horan, Knockeencreen | Patrick McAuliffe, Scart. |
| Jeremiah Brosnan, Boula | Mrs. Horan, Boula |
| Cornelius O’Connor, Tooreenmore | James Welsh |
| Laurence O’Connor, Ballyduff | Patrick J. O’Sullivan, Feavautia |
| John Greaney, Meenleitrim | Daniel Doody, Knockbrack |
| John Fitzgerald, Boula | John McAuliffe, Scart. |
| John Brosnan, Scart. | Denis Naughton, Kgoshel |
| Timothy Brosnan, Meen | P. Charles O’Connor, Knocknagoshel |
| Patrick Walsh, Knocknagoshel | Laurence Wren, Tooreenmore |
| James Carmody, Meenbanivane | Con Curtin, Knockbrack |
| Mrs. Brosnan | Thomas Wren |
| Daniel Ganey | James L. Hickey, Ballyduff |
| Luke S. Keane, Knocknagoshel | John J. O’Connor, Knocknagoshel |
| Jeremiah Brown, Knockbrack | Patrick Carmody, Ballinahoun |
| James Griffin, Knocknagoshel | Charles Bunwortt?, Knocknagoshel |
| Mrs. Andrew Nolan, Tooreenmore | Mrs. Michael Mangan, Beheenagh |
| Philip Brady | Michael Reidy, Beheenagh |
| James Doody, Knockbrack | Jeremiah Piggot, Meenbanivane |
| John Doody, Knocknagoshel | Maurice Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Con Brosnan, Meenbanivane | James Nolan, Knocknagoshel |
| Patrick Murphy, Knocknagoshel | Patrick Murphy, Ahane |
| Mrs. T. Doody, Knockbrack | Mrs. C. Curtin, Knockbrack |
| James C. Lyons, Ballybawn | John Sweeney, Meen |
| John O’Connor, Ballyduff | Jerry Murphy, Meen |
| Patrick Herlihy, Ballyduff | William Herlihy, Beheenagh |
| Michael Morrissey, Ahane | Mrs. Leahey, Ballincartin |
| Maurice Murphy | Daniel Reidy, Meenleitrim |
| Margret Cotter, Knockbrack | Mrs. James O’Connor, Knocknagoshel |
| Denis Murphy, Meen | John Walsh, Meenbanavane |
| Kerry S. Keane, Scart | Jerry Murphy, Scart. |
| Michael Sullivan, Meenbanavane | Daniel Nolan, Knockbrack |
| James Thompson, Knockbrack | James Emperor, Knockbrack |
| Thomas Wren | Cornelius Greany, Knockbrack |
| Mary O’Connor, Behenaugh | Jame O’Callaghan, Ballyduff |
| Patrick Sullivan, Ballyduff | Mary Brown, Feavautia |
| John Roche, Scart | James Walsh, Ahane |
| Denis Scanlan, Ballyduff | Maurice Murphy |
| James Walsh, Feavautia | John Murphy, Knocknagoshel West |
| Daniel Nolan, Cloughane | Denis C. O’Connor, Gortroe |
| Patrick Donoghue, Knocknagoshel | Catherine Hickey, Meenbannivane |
| James Begley, Knocknagoshel | Jeremiah Brosnan, Knocknagoshel |
| James Browne, Knocknagoshel | John Scanlan, Knocknagoshel |
| Michael Neligan, Ballyduff | R. Keene?, Behenagh |
| Michael Doody, Knockbrack | Daniel Leane, Clashnagaugh |
| John Jay, Feavautia | Jerry Murphy, Clashnagough |
| Patrick Heffernan, Knockbrack | Mathew Dillon, Behenagh |
| Patrick Nolan, Tooreenmre | James Hickey, Meenbanivane |
| Maurice Keane, Knockane | John Murphy, Meen |
| Denis Nolan | Con. Brosnan, Knockbrack |
| Denis Curtin, Meen | Michael Ahern, Meenganaire |
| James Fitzgerald, Boula | Jeremiah Long, Scart |
| Richard Walsh, Feavautia | Patrick Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Patrick O’Connell, Ahane | Thomas Thompson, Knockbrack |
| Michael Herlihy, Feavautia | Robert Walsh, Knockbrack |
| David Morrissey, Cummer | John Kennelly?, Cummer |
| John Cotter, Knockbrack | Patrick Nolan, Tooreenmore |
| Thomas O’Connor, Boula | Daniel Keane, Knocknagoshel |
| Daniel Murphy, Knocknagoshel | James J. Long, Knocknagoshel |
| Daniel D. Murphy, Knocknagoshel | Stephen Griffin, Meenbanivane |
| Nicholas Cotter, Knockbrack | Cornelius O’Connor |
| Jerry? T. O’Connor, Knocknagoshel | Kate Herlihy, Knockane |
| James Geany, Boula | Edmond Sheehan, Meenbanivane |
| Thomas Horan, Meen | John Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Maurice Brown, Scart | John Brown, Scart |
| Mary Morrissey | Denis D. O’Connor, Knocknagoshel |
| John Keane, Clashnagough | Edward Walsh, Beheenagh |
| Maurice Nolan, Knockbrack | James Kirby, Gortroe |
| Maurice Danaher, Ahane | John Griffin, Knocknagoshel |
| Robert Dalton, Ballyduff | Denis Scanlon, Ballyduff |
| Mike B. O’Connor, Gortroe | John T. McAuliffe, Meen |
| John Sullivan, Feavautia | Mrs. Kerry Keane, Scart |
| Mrs. Morrissey, Cummer | Daniel Lyons, Knocknagoshel |
| Mathew O’Connor, Ballyduff | Jeremiah Brosnan, Meenbanivane |
| Mrs. John Tobin, Laught.ooder? | Michael Keane, Toureenard |
| Nicholas W. Cotter, Knockbrack | Mrs. Patrick Sullivan, Feavautia |
| Mrs. Patrick Murphy, Knocknagoshel | Mrs. J. Casey, Meenleitrim |
| Mrs. Jerry Reidy | Florence Brosnan |
| Daniel Collins, Cloughane | Denis Walsh |
| Johanna Nolan | Mary Browne |
| Johanna O’Sullivan | Timothy O’Connor |
| John Browne | Thomas Heffernan |
| Mary Jerh. J. Long | Mary O’Connor |
| Mary Heffernan, N.T. | Mary O’Connor, Gortroe |
| David Brosnan, Knockbrack | Mrs. F. Brosnan, Knockbrack |
| Mrs. Kate Wren, Meen | Jerh. Piggot, Knocknagoshel |
| Mary J. O’Connor, Knockbrack | James Reidy |
| Mrs. Murphy, Meen | John Connor, Meenleitrim |
| Pat Nolan | Pat Collins, Feavautia |
| Michael M. Aherne, Meengenaire | John Sullivan, Knockbrack |
| Richard Cotter, Knockbrack | Thos. Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Cornelius Moynihan, Knocknagoshel | Michael Herlihy, Ballinacartin |
| Denis Murphy, Meen | John McAuliffe |
| William Leane, Toureenard | Ned Cotter, Toureenard |
| Denis Lane, Shanby | Geoffrey Donoghue, Knocknagoshel |
| Patrick Roche, Ahane | Margaret Hickie, Meenleitrim |
| Laurince Shine, Knocknagoshel | Thomas Pigot, Meenbanivane |
| Patrick Riordan, Knocknagoshel | John Thompson, Knockbrack |
| Denis O’Connor, Knockbrack | Thos. Keane |
| Tim Cotter, Knockbrack | James Hogan, Gortroe |
| William Cullinane, Ballyduff | Timothy Griffin, Kgoshel |
| Jerh. Connor, Meenleitrim | Kerry K. Keane |
| Edmond ..ralle? | John O’Connor |
| Michael McAuliffe, Knocknagoshel West | John Hickey, Meenleitrim South |
| Jerh. Reidy, Meenleitrim North | John Downey, Laughtfouden? |
| Denis McAuliffe, Knochnagoshel West | Denis Long, Knocknagoshel |
| James Mangan, Feavautia | John McElligott, Knockbrack |
| James Reidy, Ballyduff | Daniel Sullivan |
| James O’Connor, Knocknagoshel | Daniel Sullivan, Ballinahoun? |
| John O’Connell, Meen | Jerry Riordan, Kilmanahan West |
| Miss Michael Walsh, Clashnagough | George O’Callaghan, Beheenaugh |
| Mrs. F. McAuliffe, Scart | Timothy Sheehan, Feavautia |
| Julia Horan, Clashnagough | Mary Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Johana Nolan, Scart | Patt Nolan, Clashnagough |
| Mrs. P. Lyons, Meen | |
| Mrs. P. Connor, Gortroe | Mrs. Richie Cotter, Knockbrack |
| Mrs. Jeremiah Brosnan, Baranarig | John Brown, Scart |
| Mrs. John Connor | Mrs. Maurice Downey |
| Maurice Donoghue | David Reidy, Meen |
| Edmond Carmody | Cornelius O’Connor |
| Charles Curtin | John O’Connor |
| Edmond Walsh | Daniel Murphy |
| Thomas P. O’Connor, Knocknagoshel | Denis Greaney, Meenleitrim |
| Tim Kirby, Knocknagoshel | Patrick O’Sullivan, Ballinahoun |
| D.D. Curtin, Meenleitrim | Redmond Roche, Lackbruder |
| James Murphy, Knockachur | Eulick Burke, Knockbrack |
| Mary Doniellan? | David Walsh |
| Timothy Connell | Nicholas N. Cotter |
| Laurence Walsh | Simon Keane |
| Norah L. Leane, Kockeencreen | John Leane, Knockeencreen |
| John J. Greany, Meenleitrim | Dan Cotter, Meen |
| .ama? Cotter, Knockbrack? | Ellie Doody, Knockbrack |
| John Griffin | David O’Sullivan, Knocknagoshel |
| Thomas Walsh, Meenbanivane | William Riordan, Kilmanihan |
| Timothy O’Connor, Beheenagh? | John Enright, Nat’l. Teacher |
| Patrick O’Connor, Knocknagoshel | John Casey, Meenleitrim |
| William Cahill, Knocknagoshel | Michael Scanlan, Ballyduff |
| John Griffin, Ballyduff | James O’Connor, Knocknagoshel |
| Patrick Sullivan, Knocknagoshel | James Morrissey, Gortroe |
| Batt O’Connor, Gortroe | Daniel Sullivan, Knightsmountain |
| Batt P. Murphy, Meen | Patrick O’Connor, Gortroe |
| Timothy Moynihan, Ballyduff | Kerry Keane, Knocknagoshel |
| Michael O’Connor, Meenganeare | Charles Curtin, Knightsmountain |
| Charles Hartnett, Knocknagoshel | Dan Carmody, Knocknagoshel |
| Michael J. Keane, Scart | Timothy O’Connor, Meenleitrim |
| James Walsh, Ahane | Cornelius Murphy |
| Jerry O’Connor, Menrare? | Johanna Nolan |
| Maggie Reidy, Meenleitrim | Hanna Hickey, Meenleitrim |
| Lawrence O’Connor, Gortroe | Dan D. Nolan, Toureenard |
| Joseph O’Connor, Knocknagoshel | Thomas J. O’Connor, Knocknagoshel |
| Joseph Murphy, Knocknagoshel | John O’Connor, N.T. Knocknagoshel |
| Charles Donoghue, Knocknagoshel | Patrick O’Connor, Knocknagoshel |
| Tim Murphy, Knocknagoshel | Thomas W. Roche, Kilmanihan |
| Michael Sullivan, Knocknagoshel | John Riordan, Meen |
| Michael Walsh, Clashnagough | Laurence Murphy, Knocknagoshel |
| Mrs. Denis Curtin, Meenleitrim | Mrs. David O’Connor, Knockbrack |
| Mrs. Geoffrey O’Donoghue, Knocknagoshel | Mary Curtin, Loughfooder |
| Mrs. Simon Carmody, Ballyduff | Mrs. Patrick Nolan, Boula |
| John Nagle, Sgt., R.I.C., Knocknagoshel | James Sullivan, Con., R.I.C., Knocknagoshel |
| John Keane, Ballyduff | Joseph O’Sullivan, Gortroe |
| John Fitzgerald, Knocknagoshel West | James Fitzgerald, Knocknagoshel |
| James Murphy, Knocknagoshel | James F. Hickey, Ballinatin? |
| Timothy O’Sullivan, Ballinahoun | Jeremiah Scanlon, Knockbrack |
Hi Kay
wonderful article, I counted at least 15 family names. Have a great day , john
Hi John I Haven’t forgotten you & your proper Graney family! I knew you were going on holidays & put off finishing it but will do in next few days Yes Knocknagoshel is a neighbouring parish so you probably have cousins there also. K
I love these little snippets of history. Thank you, Kay and, of course thanks too to the late Fr. Kieran O’Shea.
on the right track at last.Thanks.Can’t trace beyond 1866.O’Connor Knocknagoshel Can see my relations in the list.Thanks again
Margaret, hope this got you sorted, but if you have any difficulty, get back to me. I have been ‘knee deep’ in Knocknagoshel for the past fortnight, doing research for a client, so am fairly familiar with it. Kay
Hi Kay
I have traced Sean Day O’Connor.He was born in 1808 and died in 1881.I found his will.My problem is that I dont know where he was born and the name of his wife.I am going ahead with cleaning of tomb.which he erected “for self and posterity1862.”You gave me the courage to continue.He was a kind generous man and a local schoolteacher Patrick Robinson wrote a poem about him.I spent the past eight weeks in a genealogy class in Newcastlewest with Genealogist Gerard Greaney.It was a great experience.
Sean dayO’Connor lived his life in Knocknagoshel and set up his three sons in farming merchant and post office ,pub.I dont know where I might find his wife’s name.It said in the will that he was a widower.
Many thank
Peigi Sean Og O’Connor Dennison
I stumbled on this piece of history about 13 years ago which lead me to find my gggrandfather/mother who signed this petition…when researching Irish heritage online was very limited….but with an unusual name and a little help it opened up such a wealth of my heritage..
We have visited knocknagoshel on several occasions…
April, I have had the most amazing reaction to this ‘Knocknagoshel/blog and post. It has had the most views I have ever had on FB and more people signed up for ongoing blogs than at any other time. I am currently doing research for a Keane descendant who is visiting from Australia/New Zealand next week and so I was ‘knee deep’ in Knocknagoshel lore all this week. Kay
There is one tomb in Knockane Knocknagoshel and my great grandfather John O’Connor erected for” self and posterity” 1864.His name was Sean Day O’Connor There is a connection with the Pembrokes in Castleisland.I will keep searching.
Hello Margaret Dennison, Would you be related the ‘The Dane’ O’connor from Knockbrack, Knocknagoshel? We have visited there from England and met Christy Brosnan. Michael D O’connor marriaed Margaret Brosnan. Michael’s father was Denis O’Connor. Any link?
I will forward this on to Margaret. Even if she is not related to you, she is a hive of information on Knocknagoshel. Kay
Just saw this. The Danes were from Knockbrack.There were also the Masons from Knockbrack..The Jack Brians were from Knockbrack..All of these were OConnor.
Our family was mainly in the village but I noticed in Griffiths Valuation 1865 they were in other parts of the parish. There was the Jer Batts in Meenleitrim. and the Thaigueen Ogs in Meenleitrim.Then there was the Tom Daves in Boula.The McAuliffe (Pig Farm) had an OConnor mother who was closely related to the Mall OConnors. and of course the Bat Murphys(Agnes married Murphy,she was OConnor.They lived outside the church gates,The Dinny Daves lived in the middle house and the Sean Ogs across from the school.If I could find out something about Julia Murphy who married John OConnor I would be onto something. These OConnors came from Ballylongford with loads of money and bought land and built houses. I was told that they bought one farm for the price of a sack of flour.Sadly that is all in the past.
Hi Margaret, Do you have more information on the Danes from Knockbrack? We have the names Denis O’connor married a Catherin Breen. Your help would be most appreciated.
Hello,
I don’t suppose anyone had or found out any more about the Danes from Knockbrack?
Hi Margaret. All that O’Connor history!!! By any chance have you heard of the Sean Rue or Cudeen Sean Rues? I’ve been trying to trace them with very little luck. I understand there was a John The ,Master O’Connor in the middle of Knocknagoshel village who was a son of Sean Rue and a brother of Cudeen. Any history you might have would be greatly appreciated, as are all these wonderful insights.
Best wishes Mosheen
Hi, Peigí,
Have you sorted out the Pembroke connection yet?
I have some information that could be of interest to you.
Hello Nicholas
Just saw your comment
My grandfather Sean Og O Connor had a sister Johanna who married Michael Pembroke in 1887
Sean Og married Liz Jo OConnell
They married one month apart
I am guessing these were marriages with dowries(money)
Hi. Just happened upon this and enjoyed seeing someone ancestors names.
John J Greaney of Meeleitrim being one of them. I married into his daughter, Mary Ann Greaney Montgomery family.
My husband Thomas J Williams and I are coming to Ireland next week. His grandmother: Bridey Doody is from Knocknagosel and came to the US around 1915 or so. They never talked about their home town and when they came.
Bridey Doodey came to NY first, and met her husband and raised her family in Jersey City, NJ.
We would love to visit Knocknagoshel and meet any of the Doody family that might still be there?
thank you.
Wendy, I am sorry but I am unable to help here. You haven’t given me a location in the parish of Knocknagoshed where Bridie Doody emigrated from but in any event I wouldn’t have any idea if there is family still in the area or not. My experigise is in going back in time to previous generations. Kerry is a fairly big place and I wouldn’t have a hope of knowing everyone living there at present. Best of luck and enjoy your holiday in the Kingdom.
Bridey or Bridget Doody may have been from Meenbannivane, and may be related to my ggrandfather, Daniel Doody. His father, Timothy Doody had a daughter named Bridget. My GGrandpa came to USA also and raised his family in Jersey City.
Room201a@live.com if you want to chat more.
Melissa, what your Doody family have been from Knockbrack, Knocknagoshel?
Pardon my ignorance, as I’m not sure how close those two places may be. From what I gathered on Ancestry, and other Irish genealogy websites… my family mostly shows up on census 01 and 11 in Knocknagoshel, with some earlier reports saying Boula (as a residence at time of marriage).
Hope you had some success in finding your relatives, there are a few Doody’s around Knocknagoshel, I’m from the Doody family from Cloughane, strange coincidence is I too had a aunt in Jersey City her name was Bridie Doody !!
I just happened upon this site today. Wendy my grandmother was from Gortroe, Knocknagoshel and came to NY in 1913 and was dear friends with Bridie Doody, from Knocknagoshel and I have pictures of Bridie. More than happy to share with you. My grandmother was Julia Bridget O’Connor, her father was Patrick O’Connor and her mother was Honora Cronin From Duagh.
My Grandparents were married in St Finians.
Jeremiah O’Connor and Mary Kathleen Casey.
They lived on the road from the Church but it has no name.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Dave Cain
David I don’t understand what you mean – ‘My grandparents were married in St. Finians‘. You don’t say what parish that was.
Hello,
My ancestors are Murphys from Meen. Daniel Murphy married Johanna Connor (supposedly from Abbeyfeale) in the mid 1800s. Their daughter Mary b 18/04/1871 was my great grandmother. Other children included Michael, Ellen, Cornelius and Thomas according to Castleisland Church Records. According to information I was told by older family members, Mary had a brother Fr. Dan who was a priest and the family also had a shop. I vaguely remember my grandmother saying once that “spud” was a nickname. Can anyone point me in the right direction of which Murphys Daniel belonged to and if he actually was a shopkeeper? Thank you.