My ancestors - O'Mara - Contents

Sullivan

O'Sullivan/Sullivan is the most common surname in Munster, and the most common surname in Co.Kerry.
See other O'Sullivans and Sullivans in the family tree.

Dromaloughane, W of Killarney, Co.Kerry.
From 1829 to 1842 map.
See modern map.
It is near the Blennerhassett house, Churchtown House. (See argument with Alice Cashel.)

James Sullivan.
He is listed as "James Sullivan" consistently at his mar and children's bapts and son's birth and son's mar.
So think his son's obituary is wrong to list him as "James Joseph O'Sullivan".
Children all bapt Sullivan, not O'Sullivan.

He mar 1 Feb 1855 to Julia Coakley [dau of Cornelius Coakley and Bridgid Sullivan].
They mar at Firies RC church. See entry. Mar wit by Michael Sullivan and Michael Coakley.
She (not he) is listed at mar as of Batterfield, Firies, Co.Kerry (between Killarney and Tralee, see map).

He was farmer at Dromaloughane, Knockane civil parish (Beaufort RC parish), NW of The Gap of Dunloe, W of Killarney, Co.Kerry. Beaufort parish is also called Tuogh parish. He is listed at Dromaloughane at children's births and baptisms 1857 to 1870. He was NOT from near Tralee, Co.Kerry. (See argument with Alice Cashel.)

His son's rather inaccurate obituary in 1936 is wrong to say he was a "physician in Killarney". He is not listed among doctors of Killarney in [Slater's Directory, 1881]. He is not listed among doctors of Ireland in [Thoms, 1884]. It may be confusion with his son's brother-in-law Dr. William O'Sullivan of Killarney.
He is listed as "farmer" at his son's birth and mar.
Mary Rose Callaghan says the family story was he went to America with the rest of the family, and he was: "some sort of maths teacher, or hedge school master. He got work correcting college papers in the US."
James and Julia 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.
   She was apparently born in Ireland, taken to Connecticut as child.
   She mar Edward O'Neil [estate agent, of New York].
   Their daughter signs it O'Neil not O'Neill.
   Lived New York, and Ellington, Connecticut.
   She died Ellington, Fri 22 June 1934.
   She was bur St. Bernard's Cemetery, Rockville, near Ellington, Connecticut (see map).
   They had issue:

   
   

   1. Ethel O'Neil,
      Ethel Marie O'Neil, born 1887.
      At mar she is living W 184 St, New York.
      
      She mar 1 June 1910 to Frank Healy [Francis Jerome Healy, Francis J.B. Healy].
      He was born 29 Aug 1869, Cork, son of Jeremiah Healy, victualler. See birth cert from here.
      He was a prominent nationalist barrister.
      He was also an active historian. Author of O'Regan history in 1906.
      At mar 1910 he is living at Wilmount Castle (or Willmount Castle), Queenstown (now Cobh), Co.Cork.
      They mar at Queenstown RC cathedral. See mar cert from here.
      
      He died 7 Aug 1931, at his home, Wilmount Castle, Queenstown.
      Wilmount Castle later suffered a fire, fell into ruin and was demolished. See old OS map and modern map.
      Ethel and Frank had issue.

   
   

8. James Mark Sullivan,
   Jim Sullivan,
   "James Sullivan" at birth and bapt.
   Irish-American lawyer, journalist and diplomat.
   Pioneer of film in Ireland.
   He was born 6 Jan 1870, Dromaloughane, Co.Kerry.
   See birth cert from here. And copy.
   He was bapt 8 Jan 1870 [Beaufort RC par records].
   His obituary is wrong to say born 1873.
   [US Census, 1 Apr 1930] says he emigrated to America in "1872".
   [CO 904] says he emigrated to America "about 1880".
   It might have been 1884 (see below).

Expenses for "James Sullivan" are listed in payments made in June 1864 by Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, 4th Baronet of Churchtown House (beside Dromaloughane). James Sullivan seems to be going to a fair to make purchases on behalf of the Blennerhassett estate.
From Churchtown House accounts book 1862-64.
This could be James Sullivan the elder here.
See larger and full size.

Birth cert of Jim Sullivan, born 6 Jan 1870.

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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Possible link to other O'Sullivans

• Jim Sullivan was said to be a relation of the politician John Marcus O'Sullivan.
• But this may be confusion with his brother-in-law Dr. William O'Sullivan.
• On the other hand, those other O'Sullivans are connected to Batterfield and Dromaloughane, and so are these Sullivans, so all of them may be related.
• Note on O'Mara tree thinks Jim Sullivan and Dr. William O'Sullivan are cousins.

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References

• Obituary of Francis J.B. Healy, in JCHAS, 1931, vol.36 no.144, pp.109-110.

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Sources yet to be consulted

• Papers of Frank Healy, said to be in Folklore Dept, UCD (now School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore). But this is unconfirmed.
• Frank Healy Papers, said to be in Cork City and County Archives. But this is unconfirmed.
• Francis Healy references in NLI.