She was born in Bantry, her father was Patrick Desmond a lawyer and her mother Esther Jagoe. On her mother’s side she may have been a grandchild of John Jagoe, Fish Merchant and later Inspector, his wife was O’Connor. His mother was one of the Young fishing family in Bantry probably since at least 1600.   Through them he probably owned the store where the present Maritime  Hotel in Bantry s built.His father’s line were from Dunmanway.

He was writing to the Chief Secretary in Dublin Castle in 1825 supporting non denominational education. His son John a barrister and possible an uncle of Anna Maria was fighting for evicted tenants in Bantry in 1843.

Her uncle John Jago BL may have emigrated to Australia in the 1850s.  Her sister emigrtaed and married in Australia

From the Australian dictionary of National Biography:

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/desmond-anna-maria-5962

Anna Maria Desmond (1839-1921), best known as Mother Benigna, nun and teacher, was born on 6 December 1839 at Bantry, County Cork, Ireland, daughter of Patrick Desmond, lawyer, and his Irish wife Esther, née Jagoe. Educated at home in singing, instrumental music, dancing and languages, she helped in the relief of the poor, admired her father’s fight against injustice and acquired the Christian vision which governed her life. In 1862 her application to enter the Convent of Mercy of Cappoquin was granted and she was given the name of Sister Francis Xavier. She took her final vows on 26 November 1865.

In 1871 Mother Vincent Whitty returned to Ireland seeking recruits and Sister Francis Xavier volunteered. As there was a nun of the same name aboard the Silver Eagle on which she travelled to Australia, she took the new name Sister Benigna. She landed in Brisbane on 24 May 1872.

Helping to establish a convent at Rockhampton in 1873, next year she returned to Brisbane where she taught music and carried out charitable work until 1878. When the Sisters of St Joseph were recalled from his area, Father W. M. Walsh of Townsville invited the Sisters of Mercy to provide religious education. They arrived on 13 November 1878 and prepared to reopen St Joseph’s School for the 1879 school year. Sister Benigna took charge of the community in January.

In a recent discussion with Miriam O’Callaghan the Monaghan writer Pat McCabe in Dalkey Town Hall was asked about his Protestant neighbors growing up in Clones. He said there was little if any difference Catholic or Protestant and said the question reminded him of Freud’s phrase ‘the narcissism of small difference’

Recent DNA work would seem to suggest that a considerable number of the Scots who came to Ulster during the Plantation of the early 17th century were descendants of the Irish who moved to Scotland before the 10th century.

These census results would support the idea of the cultural affinity of Scotland in Ireland in linguistic terms.

Click to access filetoupload25794en-protestants-and-irish-17th-century.pdf

http://www.irishorigenes.com/content/irish-origenes-presentation-coleraine-november-2013#

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/6726920/coleraine-ireland-2013-dr-tyrone-bowes-updated-2111213-pdf-8-4-meg?da=y

Presbyterian Irish and English:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Presbyterian&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Presbyterian Irish:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Presbyterian&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Church of Ireland Irish and English:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Church+of+Ireland&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Church of Ireland Irish:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Church+of+Ireland&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Church of England Irish and English:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Church+of+England&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Church of England Irish:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Church+of+England&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Church of Scotland Irish and English:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Church+of+Scotland&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&search=Search

Church of Scotland Irish:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Church+of+Scotland&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=50

Methodist Irish and English:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Methodist&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Methodist Irish:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Methodist&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=100

Independent Irish and English:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Independent&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&search=Search

Independent Irish
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Independent&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=50

Baptist Irish and English:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Baptist&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&search=Search

Baptist Irish:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&exact=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Baptist&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&search=Search&sort=&pageSize=50

Society of Friends/Quaker Irish and English:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Society+of+Friends%2FQuaker&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=Irish+and+English&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&search=Search

Society of Friends/Quaker Irish

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?

census_year=1901&surname=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Society+of+Friends%2FQuaker&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&search=Search
Plymouth Brethern Irish:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/results.jsp?census_year=1901&surname=&firstname=&county=Antrim&townland=&ded=&age=&sex=&relationToHead=&religion=Plymouth+Brethren&education=&occupation=&marriageStatus=&birthplace=&language=Irish&deafdumb=&marriageYears=&childrenBorn=&childrenLiving=&search=Search

https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/2013/02/12/teaching-of-irish-at-belfasts-royal-royal-academy/

https://plus.google.com/photos/100968344231272482288/albums/5960717828745569137

From the National Library collection of Irish Manuscripts. The Library also has original conveyancing deeds in Irish going back to 1540.

The Commissioners of Education reported on Classical Schools in 1812 including. Midleton, Bandon Kinale, Clonakilty:

http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/10244/eppi_pages/226615

Midleton (Middleton):

Founded by Elizabeth Countess of Orkney, provided for an endowment fro 2,000 acres, worth in 1812 £2,000 per annum. School house can accomodate 50 borders, very old over a century. in bad repair. Headmaster Rev Richard Grier appointed 1799, salary £100 and £40 as usher, £10 as agent. £10 for repairs, four exhibitions of 10 shillings each. 6 boarders, 8 day scholars for two of whom are Catholics four scholars have left two have entered University. Staff consists of one classical assistant £40 with board and lodging.

Terms are 30 guineas for boarders 8 guineas for for day-scholars.
Numbers have declined in 1783 there were 65 boarders, 1788 10 boarders, 8 day scholars and in 1812 14 in total. Several large classical schools nearby Fermoy, Midleton another nearby the headmaster of which is a Catholic Priest. In 1723 Mr. Harris of Cork left rents for a Mathematical Lectureship but not taken up.

Bandon:
Endowed by the Earl of Cork and Burlington 1610 now £20 per annum. Headmaster Rev. William Sullivan his house lately built by order of the late Duke. 20 boarders and 25 day-scholars, one classical assistant. No provision in endowment for free education.

Clonakilty:

Recently established by the earl of Shannon. This is can accommodate 30 boarders opened 1808. Rev.W.Stewart Master in view of reputation of present master he has enlarged by taking an adjoining house can now accommodate a total of 100 boarders. and 12 day-scholars. Three resident assistants as well as Masters of French, Writing and Dancing.

At present one of the most reputable and largest Classical Seminaries in the South of Ireland

Kinsale (Kingsale):

Endowed in 1767 by Lord de Clifford, with a salary of £50 per annum with a large house formerly occupied by his ancestor Mr. Southwell. Schoolmaster Rev. John Stewart in 1810 in Mr. Stewart’s private house cannot accommodate more then 2 or 3 boarders and 30 day scholars. Boys are the sons of neighboring gentlemen and wealthier class of Shopkeepers

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqhnQGE3ANjzdDA2VHduY1pNUHllbFFHbzJKRUhzU3c&usp=drive_web#gid=0

This return was made to Parliament. The House of Apothecaries continued to operate in Dublin until 1972.

Transcribed by Kae Lewis:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mturner/cork/apothecaries.htm

Apart from the main urban centers there are many from the smaller towns in the northern counties. Many of these may have emigrated later.

Cork

William Gallewey, 1685,
William Gosnell 1835,
William Gonell, the Younger, 1838,
John Herrick, 1751,
George Holmes 1741,
George Holmes 1843,
John Kinneally 1749,

In the West Cork area:

Bantry

1754 William Goodwin, Apothecary, named in White Lease Lease 1754 between Richard White and Richard Goodwin, Apothecarry, for a tenement and premises near Great Bridge formerly held by Rev. John Kenny and Item 732, UCC Library, Bantry House Collection.
Samuel Young 1792, 1800 set up own shop (the Youngs were in the fishing business in Bantry since the 1640s)
John Young 1818
Samuel Young 1818
John Field 1822

Bandon
William Belcher, Bridge Street 1787,
George Beamish, 1796,
William St. John Jagoe, Bridge Street,1787,
William Jagoe 1811,
Edward Homan 1811,
Francis House, 1787,
Edward Hayes, 1813,
Francis Hayes 1810
Richard Lone and surgeon 1787,
James Trasilian 1816
William Gash 1816
Robert Wheeler 1816, 1824 set up own shop
William Cooke 1817
Henry Belcher 1820
Edward Toole 1822
David Scott 1822
Alexander Heard 1824

Castletown Bere
Richard Duchet, wife Harriet daughter Avice, 1839
Mathew B. Lepubure, also doctor, wife Angelina, daughter Anglina Coppinger O’Donovan, son Cladius Anthony Lewis, 1840.

Clonakilty
James Deasey 1813, 1821 open on his own
Gresham Herrick 1813
James Spiller 1816. 1819.
Michael Deasy 1819
John Bennett 1820
James Collins 1820
James O’Regan 1820, 1823
Tomas Spiller 1829

Dunmanway
Thomas Holmes 1828

Kinsale
Moses le Croix, Huguenot, late 17th century
Denis Kelly 1806,
Denis Kelly 1813
Patrick McAllenon 1813
John McCarthy 1813
Thomas Markhams 1824,
John Newman, wife Elizabeth son Martin, 1728,
John O’Regan 1826
Richard Griffith 1827
Thomas Hackett 1826
Robert Smith 1787

Macroom
Nicholas White, wife Mary, son 1821 sponsors Corless Hawkins Barter Mrs Eliz Cooper
Thomas Massey (Janeville) 1824

Rosscarbery
JohnM Mahoney 1826

Skibbereen
James Crowley 1800
Alexander McCarthy 1808 set up own shop
John McCarthy 1816
Francis Clerke 1817
Stephen Sweetnam 1824
Jonathan Clarke 1824
Cornelius O’Driscoll (Hollybrook) 1826
Daniel Donovan 1826
Jer Crowley 1827
Denny Taylor 1827
G.A.Rountree 1828
1835 James William Carey aged 1 year 8 months died his father Mr. Carey Apothecary, Skibbereen

http://eppi.dippam.ac.uk/documents/10244/eppi_pages/226615

The Royal College of Physicians have returns of Apothecaries from 1792 to 1972:

http://www.rcpi.ie/article.php?locID=1.12.19.28

On medical matters in the Irish Catalogue of the National Library there is an extensive collection of manuscripts of medical textbooks, books of remedies, cures etc all in Irish which can be inspected and photographed. Some of these go back to the 13th century.

University College Cork are involved in a major project to digitalise the old Irish medical Texts:
http://www.ucc.ie/celt/medical.html

From Dr O’Donovan’s ‘Sketches in Carbery’:

Click to access sketchesincarber00dono.pdf

John Collins, of Myross, whose name we have often quoted already, was a man gifted with natural qualities of a high poetical character, which, had
they been matured by art, or had he lived under more favourable circumstances, might probably have placed his name high on the roll of poets. However,
as we learn from the records of his life, he had to devote the greater part of his days to the drudgery inseparable from the office of a village schoolmaster,in order to support a wife and large family. The opportunities which university education, spare time, and command of money, give to others to cultivate the mind were wanting in his case, as, being thrown upon his own resources, he had to educate himself m a great measure, and at the same time procure a livelihood.

The late great Dr. John O’Donovan styles him the last Irish scholar, historiographer, and poet of Carbery, and the name by which he was popularly known through the South of Ireland was ” The Silver Tongue of Munster.”

Collins was born about the year 1754, at Kilmeen, to the north of Clonakilty ; his parents were of the farming class; he was descended from the O’Cullanes
(Anglicised into Collins), an Irish sept, who formerly occupied Castle Lyons (in East Cork), and the district around it. The only property he inherited, like the majority of his countrymen, lay in the gifts which nature had bestowed on him—a fluent tongue, a ready wit, and a sound constitution. He was destined at first for the priesthood, but did not long pursue his studies in that line, having no vocation for a clerical life.

He ultimately during his rambles took up his residence in Myross, where he taught school for a considerable period, and in which place he composed several beautiful poems in the Irish language, amongst others—”The Buachaill Bawn,” “An Ode on Timoleague Abbey,” very much admired (translated by Ferguson), and a translation in Irish of that charming poem of Campbell’s, ” The Exile of Erin,” which Irish scholars say excels the original.

The following is a translation of a portion of the ” Buachaill Bawn,” by Erionnache. One verse only is given, merely to convey some idea, although a faint
one, of Collins’s poetry. Irish poems do not admit well as a rule of being translated into English, both languages being so dissimilar in sound, mode of expression,

 BUACHAILL BAWN (THE FAIR BOY).

With crimson gleaming the dawn rose, beaming
On branching oaks nigh the golden shore,
Above me rustled their leaves, and dreaming,
Me thought a nymph rose the blue waves o’er;
Her brow was brighter than stars that light our
Dim, dewy earth ere the summer dawn,
But she spoke in mourning : ‘ My heart of sorrow
Ne’er brings a morrow, Mo Buachaill Bawn !

Some of Collins’s manuscripts fell into the possession of a Mr. 0′ Grady, of Dublin. They were written about 1774, and beside his poems contained
a history of Ireland, which was left in an unfinished state. Collins died at Skibbereen, in the year 1816, at the age of 64 years.

From Collins Genealogy: http://www.araltas.com/features/collins/

Sean Ó Coileáin (1754 – 1817) of Corca Laoidhe was a poet in the old Gaelic tradition, when poets commanded respect and were given the hospitality of the king’s castle. Unhappily for Seán, the kings had all been deposed and the people who would have been his patrons were as poor as himself. He drank, but rather than making him happy, his drinking drove away his first wife and so enraged his second (her sister) that she set fire to the house. Sean was a reluctant schoolteacher, but his poetry must have been appreciated, for he was known as the “Silver Tongue of Munster”. There is some mystery surrounding a strangely melancholy poem of his which has been compared to Gray’s Elegy. Whether Ó Coileaán or an earlier poet wrote it continues to puzzle the folklorists.

The late Peadar Ó h-Annracháin (Cois Life of the Southern Star) was given Swanton’s papers by one of his daughters. They included a letter from John Collins of Union Hall, son of the poet Sean Ó Coileain, dated March 10th, 1845, concerning the authorship of the Irish translation of the ‘Exile of Erin’. Collins asserted his father’s claim.

Royal Irish Academy:
MS G 523
‘Amhráin agus dánta Sheághain Uí Choileáin, maille le beathaidh an fhilidh’. By (James Buckley?), 1926. 9 x 7 ins.

In a recent book, Guardian of the East India Company: The Life of Laurence Sulivan
By George K. McGilvary, the possible Cork origins of Laurence Sulivan are explored. Google Books provides an extract showing the various links.
http://books.google.ie/books?

In one of the books on Sullivan it is suggested that he was an illegitimate older brother to Benjamin Sullivan. It also suggests that his Christian name Laurence (Larry) is the English version of the Irish Leabhrás, a common name in the O’Sullivan Bere family.

Benjamin Sullivan (1720-76( was a State Attorney for Cork City and County in the early 18th century and he was described as a ‘Kinsman’ to them. His father was Philip and his mother was an Irwin described as a Presbyterian, he was born in the Parish of St. . Two of Benjamin’s sons went to India, his influence did them no harm (is fearr focal sa Chúirt ná punt sa sporrán!) did well and later became MPs in England.

Looking at deeds in which the Cork Sullivans were involved as attorneys on the Registry Of Deeds Project:

http://irishdeedsindex.net/deeds_index/name_index.php

quite a number eminate from the Mizen area.  In 1700 Bishop Dives Downes on his tour refers to landowners in Schull including Mr. Sullivan, a Protestant.

1720-1767 Benjamin Sullivan Attorney, Barrister, 1752 Clerk of the Crown for Counties Cork and Waterford. Thomas Harrison writing clerk to him 1742, Married Bridget Limerick daughter of Dr. Limerick, Rector Kilmoe (Ballydehob), 1742 Father Philip mother Elizabeth Irwin a Presbyterian, Parish of St Paul. Benjamin Sullivan Senior Esq., eminent Attorney died London 1767, May have been Recorder of Cork 1765. son Sir Benjamin Sullivan, Kt, Judge Supreme Court Madras, the Right Hon John Sullivan of Richings Park, Co. Bucks, Privy Councillor, MP Old Sarum, Sir Richard Joseph Sullivan Captain RN and MP for Seaford Baronet UK 1804. Protest against him being appointed Freeman as he allegedly did not serve 7 years as an apprentice, 1742, Memorial 77771. May be related to Laurence Sullivan speculation the Laurence was an illegitimate elder brother and so Lawrence may be variation of Lábhrás a name common among the O’Sullivan Beres, Chairman of East India Company. Parliamentary biography gives his address as Dromeragh. (Dromreagh Durrus?) http://corkgen.org/publicgenealogy/cork/potpourri/corkancestors.com/Deathsmarriages2.htm Oldest son Benamin, 2nd son John,Memorial 1764, 161080, Thomas Lyd Councellor mentioned with John Lloyd Victualler, Cork

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqhnQGE3ANjzdEkxdVM0YVNzbzFHbV8tRGxNM2pmMWc&usp=drive_web#gid=0

id=x8St6IV3aOIC&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=laurence+sulivan+east+india+company&source=bl&ots=g3UStkvm_s&sig=ROeZVLd3_LUWnN6o6oYdIRhRsPk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Z86wUqzINpSg7Abe1YGgAw&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=laurence%20sulivan%20east%20india%20company&f=false

For a brief outline of his Parliamentary career:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Sulivan

Sullivan Lawyers Cork:

The Beamish Book has an entry for Alice Beamish born 17th December, Acres, Drimoleague, married William G. Cotter b 13th November 1793, Derishel, Caheragh, died 11th March 1900, Clarkson, Monroe Co., County, New York.

http://beamishbook3.tripod.com/newbeamishbook/searchfl.htm

The assistance of Mary Dukelow, Brahalish, Durrus is acknowledged.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqhnQGE3ANjzdFRIZDNndWpFbzV4d3pUeFl0LV8xYmc&usp=drive_web#gid=0

Townlands:
https://durrushistory.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=6&action=edit