We came across the photo below this week and we wonder if anyone recognises the house in the photo. The writing on the photo says “Cornelius & Mary (Williams) O’Leary home in Ireland outside Millstreet County Cork, now owned by McSweeney”. The O’Learys lived there in the mid 1800s. The house is fairly distinctive with it’s double hipped roof and arch above the front door. Any help would be appreciated [1]
We’ve had a few suggestions:
1. Flintfield House. (because McSweeneys have been living there for a number of generations), but we’re pretty sure it isn’t
2. Ballinatona House. Similar frontage, but it doesn’t have the double hipped roof (see google maps view below)
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Finally thanks to the help of comments below, and from research on Ancestry.com, we are settled that it is McSweeney’s House of Knocknageeha. What can be viewed as the front of the house is actually the back of the house, which caused some confusion. [map from Cullen]. One of the O’Learys married a Cronin who lived in Jerry Doody’s home in Ploverfield. They settled in Michigan about 1950 1850. One of their descendants, Pat Mears, visited the house this October, but alas noone was home.
Donal mc sweeneys of knocknageeha cullen
Just a thought is the present day photograph not the rear of the house
Not Ballinatona House as the back was singled story at that time and was owned by Riordan family and later by JOHN Creedon followed by P J Creedon till 1914 when my grandparents bought it
In response to your posting on Millstreet.ie —
Jerry O’Riordan
says:
September 29, 2017 at 11:12 am
Not Ballinatona House as the back was singled story at that time and was owned by Riordan family and later by JOHN Creedon followed by P J Creedon till 1914 when my grandparents bought it
Can you tell me anything further of the Creedon family? I’m seeking connections for a Mary Creedon b.abt. 1815 who m. Cornelius Linehan and moved with him to Mountcain, on the Kerry border north of Rathmore. If her family was from Drishane/Millstreet, perhaps that’s also the origin of the mysterious Linehan family. Thank you.
Paul B. Phelps, Alexandria Virginia USA
<email>
That’s our house in Lisheenafeela Boherbue… McSweeney’s
1850 not 1950, they were my 4th great-grandparents 🙂
I am wondering if the Cornelius O’Leary who lived in this house may have been a son of Cornelius O’Leary and Nell Hickey of Mullaghroe North. If this were true, then Cornelius Jnr would have been a maternal uncle of An tAthair Peadar O’Leary. It may also be possible that Cornelius Jnr and his wife Mary Williams both passed away by 1849. I realise that this is a longshot but if anyone has local knowledge that might confirm or deny the above theory, I would be grateful to hear from you.