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Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)


Brennan Family History
of
William Brennan Senior & Margaret Butler

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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 family could 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, (along 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.

Please Note: Not all of the information on this website has been verified by official parish records or official documentation except where stated.
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.

On the side of Main Headstone

Main Headstone in Arles.
Click on image to enlarge
Headstone of William Jun & Maria Brennan (nee Walsh) in Arles Cemetery, County Laois.
( The above photo of gravestone in Arles Graveyard was taken by William Muldowney) c.2007).

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. ** Mark married Catherine (Katie) Lalor (b.1854) on 30 Jan 1872 at the Sacred Heart Church, Arles, Co Laois. She passed away on 13 Jan 1893.

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.
who was born in 1900 in Wexford City. Some years later there was a girl called Carmel Dillon who was in the same class as myself in Arles NS, At the time in the 1950s neither of us knew we were 2nd cousins and it was her mum Anna Mia who contacted me and she lives somewhere in Co Offely.  This chapter on the Dillon/Brennan family research is unfinished. Sept 2024

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 uuntimly passing on Wednesday 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

Townland County Date/Year Document Estate Item No Holding No Page Ref
Woodland Laois 1898 Rental Coote  1   1364
Woodland Laois   Rental Coote 1   1363

*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 his holding to his widow Bridget.


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 18??
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 She is buried in the convent plot in Glassnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

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.

Presentation Convent, George’s Hill, Inns Quay, Dublin. She probably started her secondary education in c.1862 at the Presentation Convent in Tullow Street, Carlow town. From there she was sent to the Presentation Convent in Dublin to start her introduction to a teaching career. She is listed in the 1901 Census of Ireland as a Resident of a house 3.1 in Georges Hill (Inns Quay, Dublin) and she is aged 51 and a Member of a Religious Community of Sisters of the Presentation Devoted to the Instruction of Poor Female Children .

 She is listed in the 1911 census of Ireland as a Teacher and living in the Presentation Convent, at George’s Hill, Inns Quay, Dublin. This facility is for the Religious Sisterhood for teaching the poor.(Presentation Convent ~ Orphanage and N.S). She is aged 60 in 1911 census of Ireland.

Lucy became a Nun and her Religious name was Sister Mary Joseph Agnes and she was a full time teacher in the Presentation Convent, at the Orphanage and the National.School. She is buried in the convent plot in Glassnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

VII.  **/***Charlotte Brennan, b.14 Jan 1849, at Woodland, Co Laois. d. ???? in Foxford Town.Toomore. Co. Mayo.

Convent of the Divine Providence, Lower Main Street, FOXFORD, Foxford, MAYOCharlotte 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-carles-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 Nov 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.

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

X. James Brennan was born in 1858 in Woodland, near Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois, and he died 20 May 1915 in Pollerton Road, Carlow. He married Annie Sunderland b.21 Feb 1862  She is the daughter of William Sunderland and Honoria Darby from Mullawn, Tullow. Co. Carlow. Ireland. She died 1958. James Brennan and Anne Sunderland were married in Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow on Monday 26 Dec 1878. James Brennan was Godfather to Mary Anne Moran who was the wife of Thomas Brennan in c.1874.

* = Source: Arles Parish Baptism Records
** =  http://www.laoisgenealogy.com/
*** = Source: 1901 & 1911 Census & Reg of B.M.D. Dublin found by Rita Murphy (nee Moran) 1999.

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If you know of any information or you have connections with any of the above mentioned families

Please contact Michael Brennan

Please report any images or links which do not open to mjbrennan30@gmail.com

The information contained in these pages is provided solely for the purpose of sharing with others researching their ancestors in County Laois.

© Michael Brennan July 2001. All Rights reserved

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