My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents

Sullivan

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Papers of Frank Healy, Folklore Dept, UCD.

James Joseph O'Sullivan,
or Sullivan,
of Killarney, Co.Kerry,
mar Ellen Courtney and had issue:

James Sullivan,
listed as "James Sullivan" consistently at his mar and children's bapts and his son's mar,
think his son's obituary is wrong to list him as "James Joseph O'Sullivan",
listed at mar as of Batterfield, Firies (between Killarney and Tralee, see map), though more likely this is where his wife was from, (todo) see original,
mar 1 February 1855 [Firies RC par records] to Julia Coakley [dau of Cornelius Coakley and Bridgid Sullivan, of Killarney],
they are listed at their children's baptisms 1857 to 1870 as living Dromaloughane, Knockane civil parish (Beaufort RC parish), near Killarney, Co.Kerry (see map),
this is near The Gap of Dunloe, family said Sullivans came from The Gap of Dunloe, near Beaufort,
Beaufort parish is also called Tuogh parish, [CO 904] says the family was from Tuogh near Killarney,
newspaper item on Jim Sullivan's burial says he was from Beaufort,
NOT from near Tralee, Co.Kerry (see argument with Alice Cashel),
children all bapt Sullivan, not O'Sullivan,
he is listed as a "physician in Killarney" in his son's obituary,
not listed among doctors of Killarney in [Slater's Directory, 1881],
not listed among doctors of Ireland in [Thoms, 1884],
listed as "farmer" at his son's mar, which is probably more likely,
the O'Sullivans were also connected with both Batterfield and Dromaloughane,
he died pre-1910,
had issue:

1. Mary Sullivan, bapt 11 January 1857 [Beaufort RC par records].
2. Denis Sullivan, bapt 13 June 1858 [Beaufort RC par records].
3. Patrick Sullivan, bapt 22 March 1860 [Beaufort RC par records].
4. Bridget Sullivan, bapt 1 March 1862 [Beaufort RC par records], must have died young.
5. Bridget Sullivan, bapt 22 April 1865 [Beaufort RC par records], must have died young.
6. Bridget Sullivan, bapt 23 December 1866 [Beaufort RC par records].

   
   

7. Ellen Sullivan,
   "Helen T. O'Neill" on death notice,
   apparently born Ireland, taken to Connecticut as child,
   mar Edward O'Neill [of New York],
   lived New York, and Ellington, Connecticut,
   she died Ellington, Fri 22 June 1934,
   bur St. Bernard's Cemetery, Rockville, nr Ellington, Connecticut (see map),
   had issue:
   1. Ethel O'Neill,
      mar Frank Healy [prominent nationalist barrister, of Cobh] and had issue.

8. Jim Sullivan,
   Irish-American lawyer, journalist and diplomat,
   pioneer of film in Ireland,
   must be born 6 Jan 1870,
   bapt 8 January 1870 [Beaufort RC par records],
   [obituary] said born 6 Jan "1873", Killarney, Co.Kerry,
   (todo) try birth of James Sullivan, [GROI], Killarney, 1870, vol 20, p 346,
   (todo) try birth of James Sullivan, [GROI], Killarney, 1870, vol 15, p 350,
   (todo) try birth of James Sullivan, [GROI], Killarney, 1870, vol 5, p 411,
   (todo) try birth of James Sullivan, [GROI], Killarney, 1870, vol 5, p 397,
   [US Census, 1 Apr 1930] says he emigrated to America 1872,
   [CO 904] says he emigrated to America c.1880,
   might have been 1884 (see below).

Jim Sullivan, think with his sister Ellen.
See full size.

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This looks like the family emigrating to America in 1884

• The Furnessia, of the Anchor Line, sailed from Glasgow on 23 May 1884, stopped at "Valencia" (would be Valentia, Co.Kerry), arrived New York on 3 or 5 June 1884.
• Among many Sullivans listed in [Castle Clinton] as sailing on it are the following (not necessarily all travelling together):
  1. Julia Sullivan, age 60.
  2. Mary Sullivan, age 26.
  3. Pat Sullivan, age 23.
  4. Pat Sullivan, age 22.
  5. Bridget Sullivan, age 19.
  6. Bridget Sullivan, age 18.
  7. Bridget Sullivan, age 15.
  8. James Sullivan, age 16.
  9. James Sullivan, age 15.
  10. Many Ellen Sullivans.

• Note that as at early June 1884, our family, if all alive, would have consisted of:
  1. Julia Sullivan, the mother.
  2. Mary Sullivan, age 27.
  3. Denis Sullivan, age 25 or 26.
  4. Patrick Sullivan, age 24.
  5. Bridget Sullivan, age 17.
  6. James Sullivan, age 14.
  7. Ellen Sullivan, age unknown.

• Note there are a lot of Sullivans on this single sailing alone (it is the most common surname in that part of Ireland) so the above may just be coincidence.
• (todo) See original record to establish if the above were all travelling together.

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John Marcus O'Sullivan

Jim Sullivan was said to be a relation of the politician John Marcus O'Sullivan (perhaps through the politician's mother Mary Sullivan):

• Michael O'Sullivan, born 1833, Co.Kerry [according to age in census],
  this article claims this family is related to these O'Sullivans,
  mar Mary Sullivan [listed as Sullivan in children's baptisms, NOT O'Sullivan],
  he had draper's shop, junction of Main St and Henn St (now Plunkett St), Killarney (see street view),
  see entry in [Census, 1901], lists him as widower,
  had issue:
  1. Timothy O'Sullivan, born 8 January 1879,
     bapt 1 February 1879 [Killarney RC par records].

  2. Prof. John Marcus O'Sullivan (and search),
     born 18 Feb 1881, Killarney, NOT 1891,
     (todo) see birth of John Marcus O'Sullivan in [GROI], Killarney, 1st qr 1881, vol 5, p 296,
     bapt 19 Feb [Killarney RC par records],
     Cumann na nGaedhael TD,
     Minister for Education 1926-32.

  3. Elizabeth Mary O'Sullivan,
     bapt 19 April 1883 [Killarney RC par records].

Michael O'Sullivan's draper's shop, junction of Main St and Henn St (now Plunkett St), Killarney.
From old postcard of Killarney.
See full size.
See modern street view of same spot.