The Connells of Newbridge (Droichead Nua), Co. Kildare [Gen-039]
Addition by Brian Toolan, 2025: William Connell and Mary Bourke were, in fact, married at Ballvarry, Co Mayo, on 18 August 1850. Nothing is known of Mary’s origins but it is reasonable to assume that she was from Balvarry or its hinterland.
- Ellen, born 28-10-1851. Married John Browne at Newbridge, February, 1875. Had daughter named "Daisy" (probably baptised "Margaret"). Died 5th April, 1879 at Newbridge. Place of Birth not stated.
- John Joseph, born Dublin, 5th November, 1853. Married Martha Moorhouse, at Christ Church, Tundla, Northwest Province India Station on 25th April, 1883. She was a Protestant. They had three sons - Cecil Bourke, Alan (Bourke?), and Barry Bourke. Cecil and Barry were born at Tundla. It is likely that Alan was born there also.
John Joseph {otherwise Jack) 0'Connell was an engineer and apparently worked for the British Government, either as a civilian or in the Army. Mrs. A.C. D'Arcy Rahilly says that she corresponded with the sons for a while. She also said that Jack 0'Connell returned home on leave from India and rented a house in Windsor Ave., Fairview, Dublin, near where her family lived at the time. On the return voyage to India, the ship encountered a violent storm and Jack was killed by a falling spar while walking on deck. - Kate (probably baptised Catherine), born Limerick 28th October, 1863. Married George Frederick Turner at Newbridge on 28th November, 1885. They owned "The King's Arms" public house in Newbridge. Their children were:
- Mary Kate, born Newbridge 23rd March, 1887.
- Emly Elizabeth, born Newbridge 26th May, 1888.
[B]oth of these emigrated to the United States of America. Mary Kate ("Kathy") married a Jack Fitzgerald and had issue. Emily married a man named Fox. - Margaret ("Pearl") who married William Reville, sometime Canteen Manager in the Curragh Military Camp and later (prior 1932) owner of the Claremont Hotel, Howth, Co. Dublin. (The hotel is sited on the seashore and is entered by a level crossing about 200 yards before Howth Railway Station.) Margaret and Willie Reville are buried in St. Fintan's Cemetery (1954 Extension), Sutton. Their children were:
- Yvonne (who died young),
- William who married and lived in Dublin. He died in London on 15th May, 1981.
- Brendan who was Managing Director of McCairns Motors (Dublin), Ltd.
- Gerard
- Vincent who worked in Irish Dunlop, Ltd., Dublin.
- Gladys, daughter of Kate and Geo. Turner, died unmarried on 18th June, 1953. She was employed in the Claremont Hotel.
- Ina, married Tom Murphy, owner of the "Three Tun Inn" Blackrock, Co. Dublin. They had a large family including Timothy, George, Ina.
- Heidi, died young.
- May became a nun and worked in Africa for many years. She left the Order after about twenty years and married Maurice Carroll of Newbridge. They had no children.
- Following the death of her husband, Geo. Turner, Kate married Christy Dunne, a widower with two children - Willie and a girl named Maidie. Christy Dunne owned a public house in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Two children were born of this marriage:
- "Pansy" who later married Captain Sean Collins-Powell, a nephew of Michael Collins, Director of Intelligence for the Nationalist Forces during the War of Independence. Sean Collins-Powell in later years became a Lieut.-General and Chief-of-Staff of the Defence Forces. They had two daughters and live in Greystones, Co. Wicklow since his retirement.
- Annie, married Malachy O'Gorman, a journalist with the "Irish Independent'" and later with the "Catholic Standard".
- Mary, daughter of William O'Connell and his wife Mary Bourke, born South Camp, Aldershott (Registration District, Farnham) on 28th December, 1865. Married Robert Patrick D'Arcy of Dublin at Newbridge Parish Church on 8th February, 1888. (See later).
- William Gregory, son of William O'Connell and Mary Bourke, born Curragh, Co. Kildare, 9th May, 1868. Emigrated to the USA and died, unmarried, in New York about 1930.
- Anne Elizabeth born Henrietta St. Dublin 26th October, 1870. The family address at the date of Anne Elizabeth's birth was No. 16 Henrietta St. She was born in No. 14. No.16 is no longer standing (1984). It is understood that Anne Elizabeth emigrated to England and married there: no further information is available.
Addition by Brian Toolan, 2025: 14 Henrietta Street, where Anne Elizabeth Connell was born, now houses a museum, telling the story of the house from Georgian townhouse to tenement dwelling.
Addition by Brian Toolan, 2025: Subsequent research revealed that Anne Elizabeth married Ernest Sidney Webb, a soldier with the 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment in the Curragh, Co Kildare, in May 1893.
Their only child, Ernestine Mary, was born at Aldershot, England, in April 1894. Anne died there in 1897.
In July 1913, Ernestine married Sidney Elton Phipps, a soldier. He was posted to India and they had two children there before moving to Bath in England. It appears that some of her descendants still live there.
Letters of administration (with will annexed) of the personal estate of William O'Connell (sic) late of Newbridge, Co. Kildare, publican, who died on 2nd October, 1875 at the same place were granted to Richard Rawson Greening of 6, Harcourt St., Dublin, a creditor, Estate: £1054 - 10 shillings.



Editor's addition, 2025
The transcribed text of the original is provided here to make it better findable in an internet search.
AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH AT NEWBRIDGE - Yesterday (Friday) morning Mrs O'Connell, a respectable widow lady, dies at her residence in Newbridge with appalling suddenness. Deceased, who has retired to bed in her usual health, came down stairs about \[1 30 ?\], and, having awaked the household, sent one of her daughters for the priest and the doctor. She died, however, in a couple of minutes, before either of the latter arrived. An inquest will be held.