Notes on Daniel Hurley and Ellen (Nellie) Brien of Skibbereen

Daniel and Ellen (Nellie) Brien Hurley lived in Coolnagarrane in 1901. He was a dairyman according to that year's census.

Was this Daniel related to my ancestral Hurleys in Coolnagarrane? While I don't have a definitive answer, at least I was able to compile some data on the family. Nellie was a complete unknown.

The census shows a daughter Mary (Mary Ellen), aged 28, along with a niece also named Mary Hurley, aged 25. So here was an opportunity to link this family to another family.

Daniel and Nellie were not in Coolnagarrane in the 1911 census. So they either moved or they died. I found a death record for Daniel on 18 Feb 1910. He was 85 years old, a widower, and living on Mardyke Street in Skibbereen. His married daughter Ellen Leary was present at death.

Nellie's death was recorded as 03 Nov 1906, on North Street, which runs straight into Coolnagarrane. She was 68 years old, a dairy man's wife. The occupation sounded right. However, the age seemed a little young according to the subsequent records I found. In the 1901 census she was supposedly 67.

Further research turned up daughter Ellen's marriage record. She wed Denis Leary, a coachman residing in Bunalun, 11 Feb 1893. Further research found Ellen Leary widowed on Mardyke Street in the 1911 census. She was 50 years old according to that census. Now it was time to find an Ellen Hurley, born about 1861. I started with daughter Ellen rather than Mary, thinking an Ellen might be easier to find.

My prior research of dairymen revealed that they moved around a bit, and Daniel Hurley was no exception. These records turned up. The family lived in Derrylugga, Milleenahorna, and Cullenagh, and ended up in Coolnagarrane.

1852 Oct 29 Honora godparents Patrick Herlihy, Mary Mahony Derrylugga

1852 Oct 29 John godparents James Gallagher, Johanna McCarthy Derrylugga

1858 Apr 11 Michael godparents Thomas Donovan, Honora Hurley Derrylugga

1860 Jul 30 Ellen godparents Denis Sullivan, Mary Driscoll Milleennahorna

1860 Jul 30 Susan godparents Morty Mahony, Margaret Collins Milleennahorna

1864 May 22 Charles godparents Patrick Driscoll, Anne Regan Cullenagh (Castlehaven)

1866 Aug 14 Mary godparents Timothy Donovan, Kate Sullivan Cullenagh

The marriage has not turned up in the church records.

A possible related family that would have accounted for Daniel's niece Mary in the 1901 census, was that of John Hurley and Ellen Donovan, located in Derrylugga:

1872 Oct 29 Daniel godparents Daniel Donovan, Ellen Brien

1874 Aug 2 Mary godparents Daniel Hurley, Ellen Donovan

1875 Nov 2 Ellen godparents James Gallagher, Mary Donovan

1877 Mar 29 Michael godparents Michael Hurley, Kate Brien

1878 Oct 20 Honora godparents Dan Hurley, Ellen Hurley

The 1901 census shows additional children:

Kate Ann born about 1883

Maggie born about 1885

Julia born about 1888

The 1901 Ireland census for Derrylugga states John's age as 47 and the 1911 census states it as 58. That census indicates that 9 children were born to the Derrylugga family and I've only found 8.

Ellen was several years older in each census. John would have been quite young at the time of the 1871 marriage.

A marriage record for John Hurley and Ellen Donovan cannot be found in the online church records. However there may be a marriage in civil registration: Marriage record Matching marriage record

The marriage record will give the name of John's father.

The Godfather of John (1852), son of Daniel Hurley and Ellen Brien, was James Gallagher. It is interesting that James Gallagher was the Godfather of Ellen (1875), daughter of John Hurley and Ellen Donovan. If John married to Ellen Donovan was Daniel Hurley's and Ellen Brien's son, then the "niece" in the 1901 Coolnagarrane record for Daniel Hurley and Nellie Brien could have been a granddaughter. Unless there was another brother of Daniel's who had a daughter Mary.

Are there any other possible local Hurley families who could have accounted for niece Mary Hurley, aged 25 in 1901? Do I have to rethink the Daniel Hurley, married to Honora McCarthy, as the uncle of my great-grandmother Ellen Hurley and her sister Mary, born 1876? That Mary is not listed with her family in 1901.

Great-grandmother's sister Mary was around in 1904 to witness a marriage, then went to England and married there. Some further research would be to look for marriage records for Mary Hurleys in the 1900's and 1910's.

So I think the family of Daniel and Nellie is constructed, and perhaps even the family of Daniel's son John. What is still unknown is if they were related to the families of Michael Hurley and Bridget Cahalane, and Daniel Hurley and Honora McCarthy of Coolnagarrane.

Hurleys and Cahalanes, Part 2

In a previous post I described the family of Michael Hurley and Bridget Cahalane of Coolnagarrane, outside of Skibbereen. Their oldest son, John, was my gg-grandfather. Michael and Bridget married in Kilmacabea parish, near Leap, from which came numerous Cahalanes, and so I wonder how did Michael and Bridget meet. Is it possible the Hurleys were also from there and moved to Coolnagarrane before 1815?

Both the Hurleys and the Cahalanes are rather mysterious to me. The information that follows is rather speculative since Skibbereen baptism and marriage records are so scarce. I believe Michael Hurley had at least three siblings - Mary, Daniel, and Ellen - the latter one showing up in Skibbereen church records baptized 22-Jan -1815 in Coolnagarrane, parents John Hurley and Jane McCarthy. There may have been a fourth sibling Johanna.

Michael and Bridget married 25-May-1838 in Leap, Kilmacabea and lived in Coolnagarrane. Their known children, all baptized in Skibbereen:
John (my gg-grandfather) 23-Feb-1839, godfather Daniel Hurley, godmother Catherine Cahalane
Patrick 2-Mar-1841, godfather John Hurley, godmother Mary Cahalane
Daniel 31-Mar-1843, godfather Dan Hurley, godmother Johanna Hurley
Ellen 21-Sep-1845, godfather Michael Cahalane
Michael 15-Jan-1849, godfather Dan Hurley, godmother Mary Hurley

Mary married Jeremiah Driscoll some time before 1839. (There are records of a same-named couple in Drimoleague around the same time, which is a point of confusion.) Their known family, all baptized in Skibbereen:
John Driscoll 28-Jun-1839
Jeremiah Driscoll 19-Dec-1841
Mary Driscoll 3-Mar-1844, godfather John Hurley, possibly her grandfather, and godmother Bridget Cahalane
Ellen Driscoll 10-Oct-1847, godfather Michael Hurley
Nancy Driscoll bap 10-Jun-1852, godfather Daniel Hurley

Ellen married John Sweeney in 22-Feb-1846 in Skibbereen. Their family, all baptized in Skibbereen:
Eugene Sweeney 1-Mar-1847, godfather Daniel Hurley
Michael Sweeney 29-Apr-1849, godfather Michael Hurley
John Sweeney 12-Aug-1851
Daniel Sweeney 13-Aug-1854, godfather Daniel Hurley
Ellen Sweeney 18-Mar-1858, godparents Michael Hurley and Mary Hurley
Patrick Sweeney 16-Apr-1862, godfather Patrick Hurley

Daniel married Honora McCarthy of Driminidy 12-Feb-1850 and they lived in Coolnagarrane. Michael Hurley was a witness. Their family, all baptized in Skibbereen:
Mary Hurley 5-Jan-1851
Ellen Hurley 17-Dec-1852, godfather John Hurley. She went on to marry William Young of North Street 1875.
Catherine Hurley 29-Apr-1855 She went on to marry Michael Herlihy 7-Mar-1886. Witnesses William Young and Ellen Sweeney
Honora Hurley 13-Sep-1857, godfather Jerry Driscoll
Daniel Hurley 3-Jun-1860. He went on to marry Julia McCarthy (a distant cousin) 22-Apr-1894. Witness John Hurley.
John Hurley 6-Mar-1864, godfather Patrick Hurley

Now back to the Cahalanes. The only ones in these records are Catherine, godmother to John (1839); Mary, godmother to Patrick (1841); and Michael, godfather to Ellen (1845).

Searching the records for additional appearances of Michael Hurley and Bridget Cahalane, I came across the marriage record of James Young and Ellen Cahalane, 28-Feb-1843, in Kilmacabea. A Cornelius Cahalane was a witness. Their known children, all baptized in Drimoleague:
William Young 28-Jul- 1845, godparents Michael Hurley and Bridget Cahalane
John Young 26-Jun-1848, godmother Barbara Cahalane

With further searching, I found a Cornelius Cahalane m. Anne Kingston 28-Feb-1843 in Kilmacabea. James Young was a witness. The family moved around. Their known children, all baptized in Kilmacabea:
James Cahalane 29-May- 1844
Bridget Cahalane 9-Nov- 1845
Tom Cahalane 24-May-1850
Michael Cahalane 25-Oct- 1860, godparents Michael Cahalane and Catherine Cahalane

In addition, I found a couple Tim Cahalane and Mary Cleary in Kilmacabea. The family lived in Ballyriree. Their known children:
Mary 2-Jun-1838
Ellen 2-Mar-1843, godmother Barbara Cahalane

Finally, I found John Hurley m. Julia Regan, possibly 19-Oct-1829 in Caheragh. They lived in Ballyriree. Known children, all baptized in Kilmacabea:
Michael Hurley 8-Sep- 1834, godmother Barbara Cahalane
William Hurley 15-Oct- 1839
Mary Hurley 18-Jan-1844 James Hurley 8-Apr-1846

The Michael Cahalane who was godfather to Ellen Hurley (1845) may have been the one who married Honora Donovan 22-Feb- 1851 in Kilmacabea. I have corresponded with some of the descendants of this family. Their known children, all baptized in Kilmacabea:
Denis Cahalane 28-Mar- 1852
John Cahalane 30-Jun-1853
Mary Cahalane 18-Apr- 1855, godfather James Cahalane
Cornelius Cahalane 15-Mar- 1857
Bridget Cahalane 8-Mar- 1859, godmother Catherine Cahalane
Michael Cahalane 8-Apr- 1861, godfather John Hurley
Catherine Cahalane 28-Sep- 1863
Thomas Cahalane 11-Feb- 1868

I have not been able to pin down the baptism godmothers Catherine Cahalane or Mary Cahalane yet. Anyway, here are the Cahalanes I have found, who could be closely related:
Bridget Cahalane m. Michael Hurley
Ellen Cahalane m. James Young
Cornelius Cahalane m. Anne Kingston
Tim Cahalane m. Mary Cleary
Michael Cahalane m. Honora Donovan

In addition, Barbara Cahalane, Mary Cahalane, and Catherine Cahalane

Could John Hurley m. Julia Regan of Ballyriree have been a relative of the Hurleys in Coolnagarrane? And can anybody shed any light on these Cahalanes?

Hurleys of Coolnagarrane, version 2.0

I have updated my information on the Coolnagarrane Hurleys.  I am waiting for some info from the UK to correct an error in the Tomalin branch; other than that this is the best I can do.

I cannot conclusively prove some of these relationships, and will have to rely on people "in the know" to fill me in.

I think my ggg-grandfather Michael Hurley had a brother Daniel, who married Honora McCarthy in 1850. As far as I can tell, Norry was a McCarthy Sowny from Drominidy. (Their son Daniel married a Julia McCarthy in 1894; she was also a McCarthy-Sowny, and also from Drominidy.)

I think Michael and Daniel had a younger sister Ellen, whose baptism record made it online (1815). (The Hurley records are all in Skibbereen Creagh & Sullon.) Her parents are recorded as John Hurley and Jane McCarthy, no residence given.

I think this Ellen married a John Sweeny in 1846.  Michael Hurley and Daniel Hurley were witnesses. I think the Sweeny family lived at various times in Tooreennasillane, Kilnaclasha, and Lakelands. 

The parents - John Hurley and Jane McCarthy, show up on the baptism record for a Randal Hurley in Coolnagarrane, 1814, parents James Hurley and Mary Leonard (Linnane). Did this John have a brother James?

Trawling through the online records, I found all these children for James Hurley and Mary Leonard:
Randal in Coolnagarrane 1814
Denis in Coolnagarrane 1816
James on Chapel Lane 1819
Michael on Chapel Lane 1825

There is a John Hurley in Coolnagarrane in the Abbeystrowry Tithe Applotment (1835); there are a Patrick, John, and James Hurley in the Creagh TA (1832) in "Skibbereen town and gardens".

I think I once read that a Dan in the Daniel Hurley branch eventually moved up to Bandon. That may well have been the end of this tribe of Hurleys in Coolnagarrane. I have been in touch with Hurleys living there now, but they are not related.

I am dying to know where the old Coolnagarrane Hurleys originally came from.  I realize Ballinacarriga is the Hurley seat in southwest Cork, but how did the southwest Cork Hurleys spread out from there...?   The other Hurleys on my Grandmom's side, through the Mahonys, are almost a total blank, other than the names of some Hurley baptism sponsors for the Mahony children.