17 Wednesday Jun 2026
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The Wexford Donovan/O’Donovans are a branch of the West Cork O’Donovans
TitleObituary of Major Charles Henry Wynne DonovanReferenceCodeFDA 1/7/73Scope And ContentNewspaper clippings and a short historical notice on the death of Major Charles Henry Wynne Donovan.Content Date1898
TitleObituary of Major Charles Henry Wynne DonovanReferenceCode
13 Saturday Jun 2026
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Seagulls World War 2
A few km. east of the bottom of the Goats Path in Kilcrohane there are a few fields abutting cliffs. In this area, during the ‘Emergency’ one of the locals used to bait hooks and throw them down the cliffs and catch seagulls. He would then pluck them and sell their feathers. They were used in British Bombers in WW2 near the cockpit at the nose to provide insulation and protection.
Around Gouladoo, Kilcrohane, seagull eggs were collected.
Whitakers of Cork used to come around with their driver Paddy Hegarty collecting poultry, eggs, hares, badgers, and seagull eggs. Also Lanes of Cork who had depots in Bantry and Skibbereen.
There was a big trade in rabbits which were caught in snares, with ferrets or dazzled. The price of rabbits went from a half crown (2s 6d) to 3s 6d and were bought by Jackie Cronin, Tom Dukelow, Sea View, the Creamery and O’Sullivan, a dealer from Dunmanway. There were newspaper ads letting lands for trapping as that of the Cronins at O’Donovan’s Cove and other ads preserving lands and complaining of the damage caused by ferrets, dazzling and general trespass.
It appears that until the early 1960s rabbits around Kilcrohane were snared as Myxomatosis had not yet reached the area. THE RABBIT INDUSTRY IN IRELAND: 20TH CENTURY SNAPSHOTS. By Michael J. Conry.
In THE RABBIT INDUSTRY IN IRELAND: 20TH CENTURY SNAPSHOTS. By Michael J. Conry. He suggests that the disease was introduced to Ireland from Australia by Paddy O’Keeffe a major figure in Irish farming adna founder of FBD Insurance. On balance he thought it correct due to the devastation caused by rabbits. However farm labourers were badly affected as rabbits were a valuable source of food and money from snaring.
The Kearney family collection of 18th century Cork newspapers was used by the late John T. Collins historians to compile biographical notices.Some additional Cork Newspaper Extracts from 1754 of a Genealogical and Historical interest extracted by John T. Collins.
The Kearney family of Landlords kept rabbit warrens in their estate at Garresttown. Some 18th century travellers commented on this. A later family member a Magistrate
Thomas Cuthbert Kearney, Garretstown, Sovereign, Town of Kinsale, sitting Ballinspittle 1835, listed 1835, 1838, 1843. Attending Protestant Conservative Society meeting 1832. Held half of tithes KInsale 1833. Complaint about violence and molestation in the running of the 1835 election. Held rent charge £50 over Corballymore 1835 given to Thomas Cuthbert entitling him to vote. Family had the nomination of the Vicar of Dunderrow. On his death the nomination passes to his heir Thomas Rochford, a Catholic this resulted in three parishes having their nomination taken up by the British Crown. Sale of property 1832 including Cork city property at North Gate Bridge, Mallow Lane contact Mr. Stuerman, Cork. Supporting Alexander O’Driscoll, J.P. suspended, Bandon 1841. Came into possession 1842 of Silver Collar given by Queen Elizabeth 1 of England to Maurice Roche of Cork to Maurice Roche Mayor of Cork for his service against the Earl of Desmond in 1910 in possession of H. H. Franks of Mountrath, Co. Laois. 1842 Grand Council Dinner of the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland. Chairman Lord Viscount Bernard, Daniel Connor, Manch, John I. Heard, Kinsale, Horace Townsend, Woodside, Arthur P. Alymer, Castlefreke, Thomas Hungerford, The Island, Jonas Travers, Butlerstown, Cuthbert Kearney, Richard H. H. Beecher, Hollybrook, Thomas J. Hungerford, John Wheeler Junior, Robert Belcher, Bandon, Henry Newman, Betsborough, Alexander O’Driscoll, Skibbereen.
Kinsale alias St. Multose William Jones Rev. James Thomas Brown, as Vicar, Thomas Cuthbert Kearney, Esq., Lay impropriator, Garretstown House, Magistrate, Sovereign, Kinsale £33 2 shillings 6 pence divided between Rev. Browne and Thoms Cuthbert Kearney 1833 Average price of wheat for seven years prior to 1830 £1. 12 shillings half pence a barrel
This was interrupted in 1815 when a relation Thomas Rochford became a ‘Papist’ and his Majesty had to exercise the nomination, Maziere Brady.
Rochford papers National Library NLI Ms 2182
Windle History of Cork.
Cork Constitution, 23rd July 1842.
The Kearney family collection of 18th century Cork newspapers was used by the late John T. Collins historians to compile biographical notices. Some additional Cork Newspaper Extracts from 1754 of a Genealogical and Historical interest extracted by John T. Collins.
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11 Thursday Jun 2026
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I was asked to assist someone doing a genealogy search.
Cork Busteed Greens, Notes.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QPb-PYzXagu_j5I3Aljd35SOMo2EWEpfq1CwThVINmY/edit?tab=t.0
31 Sunday May 2026
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1947 O’Donovan Rossa on the Various Strands of the O’Donovan Family, Wexford.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U1vqhidPNvKkZKZMpxVaYtHviRsvAFkB3II_iPNYuJ0/edit?tab=t.0
A descendant Dr. Brian Donovan: Dr. John wasn’t a big fan of my great x3 grandfather as he was very much a loyalist. But he wasn’t an Orangeman, but instead was a Mason. The distinction was lost on Dr. John, can’t say I blame him! I wrote a piece on John Donovan, the United Irishman, (an uncle of the man Dr. John met) which puts this in context. It was published for the gathering in 2000.
One of the family a subscriber to Dr. Daniel Donovan’s Sketches in Carbery.
John Glascott, Dublin Castle, (2 copies), mother Wexford Donovan, a Protestant sept of the O’Donovans originating in Carbery described by Dr. John O’Donovan as ‘rabid Orangemen”. He may have later changed his name to O’Donovan.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SbK24LpDBP8rFO_4XqjaRjYC37DyyResH_W_xMHtLuQ/edit?tab=t.0
29 Friday May 2026
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Varian Brush Manufacturers, Rochester, NY, Frank Croston, Finnegans Wake. The Varians of West Cork.
Sometimes a chance phrase in Finnegans Wake can prompt all types of associations. Here the phrases might be Varian the brush manufacturers
Those early Varian brush makers of Cork were of Huguenot extraction, or perhaps Unitarian Presbyterians, passionately concerned with social and political issues and, in time, with the Young Irelanders. Involvement with the latter led to one Isaac Varian spending time in Sunday’s Well gaol and, afterwards, taking off to live in London. He wrote poetry there, and journalism, and all the time went on making brushes.
When he returned to Ireland it was to live in Dublin where, at 91-92 Talbot Street, he set up Varian Brushes in 1856. And there the company grew and flourished, building and employees witness to the changing city and, in 1920, to the death in battle outside their window of Republican leader Sean Treacy.
Varian men, in earlier centuries and old pictures, were invariably white bearded. Patrick Varian’s grandfather was “a colourful character. He met my grandmother on the top of a tram in London. She was German, a violinist in the London Philharmonic.
“They used to go off to Africa for months, to Bahia and other places, to source raw materials for yard brushes. The bristle for paint brushes used come from all over the world; the stuff of twig brushes used come from Mexico. These days we buy the finished article from Mexico.”
His father, Ian Varian (his mother was Sheila), ran the company during the second World War. “There were lots of brush makers in Dublin then,” he points out, “around Capel Street and Christchurch. Getting raw materials into the country was difficult but my father used send food to England and get goods in return which he would then distribute to the other brush makers. At the end of the war the Irish Brush Manufacturers Organisation formally thanked him for his help. I have the letter still.”
There was a Varian brush manufacturing plant in Rochester New York in the 1850s. Frank Croston from a poor Protestant family from Ahakista, Durrus emigrated with his family c 1850s. He and his brother worked as teenagers in the Varian factory.
The were close links with the poor Protestant of West Cork who suffered severe distress in the 1820s with the collapse of the textile industry. Many emigrated to Rochester.
Emigration from West Cork, Rochester, NY, The Croston’s of Bradford and Haverhill Massachusetts
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16VZ7vrHvjsLXitruCN9GYkmVZpwwu8k1BpXkiSo8P9s/edit?gid=0#gid=0
West Cork Families, in Rochester New York from St Luke and St. Simon Cyrene, Episcopal Church Register 1844 and 1850 census and other sources
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U9RSzEX3Eqf89Dr7v-qHZAZ3SW2uyHzlq810iob66b0/edit?gid=0#gid=0
The Durrus Dukelows part of an emigration of Durrus and Schull Protestants to Rochester, New York. Through the Republican Party they created a political machine known as the ‘99 cousins’ which dominated city government in the mid and late 19th century, a replica of the Irish Catholic machines in other US cities. The Catholic branch of the family descended from John Dukelow emigrated to East London and with Durrus Swantons and Hurleys were active as Fenians in the 1860s. Later one of the extended family provided accommodation in a lodging house to Michael Collins when he went to London to work as a Post Office clerk.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Zd1e3qFvD2-lzpNWupF_gBwCkJQbvey1yFAXuCxmys/edit?tab=t.0
Frank Croston 1852-1921, Probably born Reenaccapall. Parish of Kilcrohane, West Cork, Major Real Estate Developer of High Quality Commercial and Residential Property, Rochester, New York, Republican Party Activist. Varian Brush Making Family Possible Origin, Rooska, Bantry.
Varian Memorials West Cork
1741. Deed John Vickery the elder and John Vickery the younger, transfer one third of West Roosak to Richard Varian (spelled Veren) in consideration of marriage and a marriage portion and in deed and he transfers in 1774 half of his portion to his son Richard Varian the young and the remainder on his death. Witnesses Thomas Baker upwards of 60, Gortalassa (Kilcrohane) in 1774 and John Ferguson, farmer, Four Mile Water (Durrus). Registered 1791.
17th February 1775, St. Finbarrs Cathedral, Cork Richard Varian, Grace Ferguson, Farmer, Rooska, she Four Mile Water possibly Clashadoo Richard Varen (Varian) the Elder John Ferguson, farmer. Bantry Estate lease 1812 names James Ferguson aged 24 son of John farmer, Four Mile Water, James Edward Sullivan aged 7, son William, Park Place, Bantry, George Varian about 15 son of Richard Varian, Rooska, Richard Varian appears in tithe Applotments in 1830 for Rooska Deeds of 1751 involving the Vickeries John the elder and Younger refers to contemplated marriage. MLB
1800, deed (registered 1813). Thomas Attridge agrees to pay Richard Varian of Rooska an annual rent of £5.13. 9 for 40 years and out of one third part of Rooska excluding three small meadows at the north side of Varian house and half field called Parkeen. Witness, Rev. Daniel McCarthy, (Former Parish Priest Durrus then local clerk Lord Bantry), and George Chinnery, attorney, Bandon who knows Daniel McCarthy.
1807 Extract from deed: Stephen Hutchinson, Clonee, heir and eldest son of Hugh, Clonee, died 1804, landlords of Clonee to Michael Sullivan, farmer, (married Mary Vickery, Whiddy 1777), KIlvenogue for a rent of £39 lands part of Kilvenogue labounded on west by Sullivan’s holding, south by Clashadoo, on the east by George Bakers (Rooska) and Richard Varian holding by the high road to Bantry through KIvenogue for the lives of Michael Sullivan, John Vickery son of James Vickery of Rooska, aged about 9, John Vickery son of John Vickery Ballycomane, witness Rev. Daniel McCarthy, Bantry (former Parish Priest of Durrus likely clerk to Lord Bantry), John? O’Sullivan, Gent, formerly of Ballinale now (1807) of Carrigbui (Durrus)
24 Sunday May 2026
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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZlOKW3lYj9K8zdG12cC-X8h4JYEOgkrNHKG_TbIgJB0/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Dunmanway (Fanlobbus) Marriages from 1688
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TqWKjGVrFt7_ftBibIwAikvs_60hkwCrUa4NWJDk6bQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Dunmanway (Fanlobus), Deaths from 1620,
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1erRex0KxQLIUluqlBYZCMvBCavui4jOkNyeXsvHbm6M/edit?gid=0#gid=0
14 Thursday May 2026
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13 Wednesday May 2026
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From the Irish Manuscripts Commission, Digital edition, page 273.
05 Tuesday May 2026
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Maurice J. Power, Associate of President Cleveland. Thousands come to Rosscarbery to Celebrate Father Powers Miracles on St. John’s Eve. 1858 St. Johns Eva, Beautiful Irish from a Crippled Beggar, bare ulcerated legs. Thadeus O’Mahony, Bandon born Professor of Irish TCD. Tom Hungerford Landlord, a Tenant of his father. Grandfather’s Bleachery, Flax Meitheal. West Cork Delegatee to the Dungannon Convention 1782.
Recollections of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Breast Fed Until He Was 3. Boss Croker: Maurice J. Power, Associate of President Cleveland. Thousands come to Rosscarbery to Celebrate Father Powers Miracles on St. John’s Eve. 1858 St. Johns Eva, Beautiful Irish from a Crippled Beggar, bare ulcerated legs. Thadeus O’Mahony, Bandon born Professor of Irish TCD. Tom Hungerford Landlord, a Tenant of his father. Grandfather’s Bleachery, Flax Meitheal. West Cork Delegatee to the Dungannon Convention 1782.
04 Monday May 2026
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William Garde Browne (1815-1877), Coolcower House, Macroom, listed 1846, listed 1843, 1875-6. Provisional Committee Cork/Killarney Railway 1845. William Cross,1841, Magistrate, Landowner, Macroom Poor Law Guardian. 1841 enquiry scathing about effects of middlemen, discount banks, from which tenants borrowed for rent, three run in particular by Edward Ash, Macroom, William Guarde Brown, Coolcower, Philip Cross Esq., Shandy House, a Magistrate until deprived, he boasted he acquired a large lot of land from profits of banking. Cross estimated rate of interest at 20% but when legal expenses time etc. factored in at 40%. Probate 1887 £40,000.
West Cork History 