Your O'farrell Family History
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Your O’Farrell Family History History of the Farrell / O’Farrell Name As both (O')Farrell and (O')Ferrall, this name in Irish is ÓFearghail, from the personal name Fearghal, made up of fear, "man", and gal, "valour". The original Fearghal or Fergal from whom the family claim descent was king of Conmaicne and was killed at Clontarf in 1014. His great grandfather Angall gave his name to the territory they possessed, Annally in Co. Longford. The present name of both the county and the town derives from the family, the full name in Irish being Longphuirt Uí Fhearghaill, O'Farrell's Fortress. They ruled this area for almost seven centuries, down to the final catastrophes of the seventeenth century, after which many members of the family fought with distinction in the armies of continental Europe. Today the surname is one of the most common in Ireland, with a wide distribution throughout the country, though the largest concentration remains in the historic homeland of Longford and the surrounding areas. Throughout this document, the surname Farrell is often referred to as O’Farrell and visa versa. For example, Sandra’s Great Grandmother Julia Whelan married Michael Farrell in 1896. His father is also listed as Michael Farrell on their marriage certificate. In the 1901 census, Julia is listed as Julia Farrell with her son Patrick Farrell. However, in the 1911 census, she is listed as Julia O’Farrell with her son Patrick O’Farrell. The O’Farrell surname seems to have stuck on the maternal line since then. Conversely, on Sandra’s paternal line, the O’Farrell surname seems to have been lost and replaced with just Farrell when Sandra’s paternal grandfather dropped the O and became a Farrell. The reason is not clear however rumour that it was something to do with an unpaid debt. More often than not, Irish names were anglicised for socio-economic reasons so O’Fearghail became O’Farrell and/or Farrell. Carmel Pat Tony O’Farrell O’Farrell O’Farrell Patrick Elizabeth O’Farrell O’Gorman Julia Michael Whelan Farrell Julia Jane Cowman Kelly Patrick Michael Whelan Farrell O’Farrell / Farrell Maternal Family Tree Carmel O’Farrell Carmel O’Farrell was born in 5 Lower Mallow Street, Limerick on the 23rd April 1936 to Elizabeth ‘Moira’ O’Gorman (Rathmines, Dublin) and Patrick Michael O’Farrell (Enniscorthy, Wexford). Carmel O’Farrell’s original birth certificate Carmel spent the 1st 8 years of her life at 1 Ballinacurra Terrence as her father Patrick O’Farrell was stationed there with the Irish Omnibus Company (IOC). The IOC was the company succeeded by Great Southern Railway (GSR) in Limerick and Patrick worked there as a superintendent. When Carmel and her family moved to Dublin they lived on Rathgar Road, just behind the car showroom at 74 Rathgar Road. Her father was working in Sligo at the time. Her mother Elizabeth ‘Moira’ and the children lived there until Carmel was about 13. Moira then bought a house in Castlepark in Rathfarnham with her mother Teresa O’Gorman (nee Doyle of Calverstown, Co Kildare. Carmel lived in Castlepark until around the time she started working. Carmel’s mother and father Patrick O’Farrell moved to 40 Hazelbrook Road, Terenure, Dublin. Carmel had 2 brothers. Patrick ‘Pat’ Michael O’Farrell (emigrated to Australia in July 1955) Born: 6th July 1934, Limerick Married: 1) Dorothea Antoinette Perez on 13th November 1971, Victoria, Australia. 2) Seaviyanti ‘Julie’ Elizabeth Holak on 21st December 2002, Brisbane, Australia. Children: Mark, Allan Pat O’Farrell in 1955 & original birth certificate Anthony ‘Tony’ Joseph O’Farrell Born: 28th August 1938, Limerick Married: Mary Nolan on 3rd April 1970, Dublin Children: Stephen, Jean, Conor, Karyn, Cristina FL: Pat, Carmel and Tony in Ballinacurra Anthony ‘Tony’ O’Farrell original birth certificate Carmel O’Farrell’s Father – Patrick O’Farrell Patrick Age 10 Patrick Michael O’Farrell was born on Island Road Enniscorthy, Co Wexford on the 25th April 1900 to Michael O’Farrell (Horse Trainer) and Julia Whelan. It states ‘x’ indicates Julia’s mark which normally indicates that a person couldn’t read or write but don’t believe this is the case here. Julia came from what was considered a ‘well-off’ family and sang opera. Also, in the actual census document overleaf, her father has noted she can ‘read and write’. Patrick Michael O’Farrell original birth certificate In the 1901 Census (below), Patrick Michael Farrell (not O’Farrell) is listed as living at 39 Island Street, Enniscorthy with his mother Julia Farrell (not O’Farrell either), her father Patrick Whelan, her brother Michael J. Whelan and a servant Mary Brady. Note that Island Street and Island Road seem to be used interchangeably in various documents. 1901 Census – from The National Archives 39 Island Road, Enniscorthy was on the main road that goes into Enniscorthy from the Dublin direction (N11) and runs alongside the river. Although the building no longer exists, No 37 is still standing. Further investigation could be done to investigate these buildings through land records, old photographs and county records on-site in Enniscorthy. Note that Patrick O’Farrell’s father Michael Farrell is not mentioned in the 1901 Census nor is Patrick Whelan’s wife, Julia (maiden name Cowman). This detail is covered later in this document. 10 years later, Patrick Michael Farrell, now an O’Farrell is listed in the 1911 Census (below) as living in 4 Island Road, Enniscorthy with his mother Julia, who appears to own a shop on the same premises. He is 11 years old and there are three boarders living in the house. Having boarders living in a house was not uncommon at the time and if you consider that Julia was a single mother raising her son Patrick, it was probably partially born out of necessity. 1911 Census – from The National Archives The Census record shows that Patrick’s Patrick’s father Michael Farrell is still not living with the family. It also shows that Patrick’s Uncle and Julia’s brother Michael Whelan was running a ‘Public House’ a few doors down in No. 1 Island Road. This no longer exists. 4 Island Road (pic 2016) Currently under renovation by present owners Carmel Farrell’s Maternal Grandmother & Grandfather Julia Whelan & Michael Farrell Julia Whelan was born in Island Road, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford on the 24th July 1873 to Patrick Whelan, Publican and Julia Cowman. Copy of Julia Whelan’s birth certificate from The General Register Office The birth record doesn’t state what number in Island Road the family were living at. An enquiry has gone into St Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy to check if they have any more detail. Julia was baptised in the Diocese of Ferns in the Parish of Enniscorthy on the 25th July 1873. Copy of Julia Whelan baptismal certificate from the www.irishgenealogy.ie Michael Farrell was born on Christmas Day, 25th December 1866 in Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy to Michael Farrell and Jane Farrell (nee Kelly). It states that his father Michael Farrell is a servant. Hospital Lane is nowadays a 10 minute walk from where Julia lived in Island Road. Michael Farrell was also baptised in the Diocese of Ferns, in the Parish of Enniscorthy on 28th December 1866. Sponsors are recorded was Michael Whelan and Mary Whelan. Copy of Michael Farrell’s baptismal certificate from the www.irishgenealogy.ie The 1901 Census was the 1st complete census taken so it can be difficult to ascertain where people resided before then (see note). Julia Whelan and Michael Farrell were married in the Roman Catholic Church of Enniscorthy (now St. Aidan’s Cathedral) on 27th April 1896. Copy of Julia & Michael’s Marriage certificate from The General Register Office + The original census returns for 1861 and 1871 were destroyed shortly after the censuses were taken. Those for 1881 and 1891 were pulped during the First World War, probably because of the paper shortage. The returns for 1821, 1831, 1841 and 1851 were, apart from a few survivals, notably for a few counties for 1821 and 1831, destroyed in 1922 in the fire at the Public Record Office at the beginning of the Civil War. Michael Farrell’s father Michael Farrell (…not O’Farrell), is recorded as being a gardener. It is yet to be determined why Carmel O’Farrell’s father is Patrick O’Farrell yet he is the son of Michael Farrell and the grandson of another Michael Farrell. Why the ‘O’ was introduced is unknown when it was more fashionable to take the ‘O’ away. Following their wedding in 1896, there is no record of Julia or Michael that has yet been found until Julia appears in the 1901 Census with her son, Patrick O’Farrell at the age of 11 months. Michael, his father does not appear on either the 1901 or the 1911 census records. The reason that Julia’s husband Michael is not present is a bit of a mystery. What information is known is through family memories of Patrick O’Farrell’s children who were young at the time the stories were told. Patrick (boy on horse at left pillar) at Screen Harriers Hunt (Wexford) in 1913. A safe assumption that the Whelan relatives are in the photograph as they were considered ‘well to do’ and ‘horsey’ people The family story goes; When Michael Farrell and Julia Whelan married in Enniscorthy in 1896, shortly afterwards they left Ireland and emigrated to America. This was not unusual at the time for many families as many emigrated to America and Australia from Wexford to seek a better life.