The Connells of Tullahought, Windgap, Co. Kilkenny [Gen-037]

Liam ó Tuathaláin

The connection between these Connells and the D'Arcys of Enniskerry Road, Phibsboro', Dublin, was unknown until 1984 when it came to light as a result of research regarding William Connell (or O'Connel) of Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

The discovery that William Connell was born in the Parish of Windgap, Co. Kilkenny led to an examination of the Baptismal and Marriage Registers of the Parish (National Library of Ireland Microfilm P 5023). This examination revealed the following:

John Connell of Tullahought married Ellen (Nelly) Walsh and had issue:

  • Ellen born (or baptised) 22-8-1824
  • William born (or baptised) 24-7-1828
  • Margaret born (or baptised) 9-12-1832

Prior to this the name of William Connell's father was not known and no information was available as to the names of his brothers and sisters, if any. However, it was established later that he had a sister named Margaret. As the Margaret Connell mentioned is the only Margaret Connell baptised in the Parish of Windgap between October, 1822 and October, 1869, it is clear that she is William's sister and that the John Connell and Ellen Walsh mentioned are their parents.

There is no record of the marriage of John Connell and Ellen Walsh in the Parish Records for the years 1822-1831 (inclusive). This is not surprising as it is likely that she came from another parish and in that event she would normally have been married there.

There are other families named Connell mentioned in the Windgap records and it is likely that they are relations of the John Connell mentioned above:

  • James Connell married Ellen Farrell on 26-1-1826 (no other information given).
  • James Connell married Johanna Whelan on 31-10-1835.
  • John Connell married Mary Reddy, February (?) 1836.
  • Patt Connell married Bridget Loughman of Ballygown Ponsonby and had issue: Bridget - born 5-1-1841.
  • Robert Connell married Bridget (Biddy) Loughman in 1834 and had issue:
    • Mary (No. 1) born 29-6-1834
    • Mary (No. 2) born 31-7-1836
    • Laurence born 29-7-1838
    • William born 29-3-1844
    • Robert born  3-7-1848

The records also show that a Thomas Roach of Ballinalina married a Mary Connell in April, 1833. (No other information given.)

In 1860 (?) a Richard Burke of Knockeen married a Mary Walsh. There is also another entry stating that a Richard Burke married a Mary Walsh on 22-9-1863. No other
information is given. It is likely that these entries relate to the same couple. If they do, the later entry is probably an error as a child named Catherine was born to Richard Burke and Mary Walsh of Knockeen on 22nd. June, 1860. (The sponsors were Thos. and Catherine Walsh.) It is possible that these Walshes were connections of the Ellen Walsh who married John Connell.

Mrs. Amelia C. D'Arcy Rahilly, a grand-niece of Margaret Connell, (1832-1912), thought that Margaret left home and entered High Park Convent, Grace Park Road, Dublin 9, because her father had married a second time and she and her stepmother did not get on together. Be that as it may, the information that John Connell married a second time (if in fact he did) may be useful. The Windgap Marriage Registers show that a John Connell (the only person of that name mentioned) married a Mary Reddy in 1836 (?). Perhaps this is a record of John Connell's second marriage. Judging from the Baptismal Records this couple do not seem to have any children.