Kate and I were set to visit Ireland in May, 2020, then COVID-19 changed our plans. We regrouped in 2021 and decided to make it a family trip. It was the first time the five of us - Jen, Charles, Ash, Kate and me - spent time together since Jen and Charles got married in September, 2019.
Our plans always included trying to locate the Shea Homestead in County Kerry. Cousin John Shea confirmed that the directions he shared with Judy and Gary Hutchins in the early 2000s were still valid. In fact, you can map the route from the Blackwater Tavern & Inn in Derrygarrane South to the old Shea house and see it from the road on Google Street View!
When I told Mom about our plans she made one more request: Could we find out how many siblings her dad, Timothy Shea, left in Ireland? Well, we think we did find out, with much thanks to my wife, Kate, who has a knack for Internet genealogy searches. We put together a scrapbook of what we learned for Teresa. Here is a virtual copy.
Our plans always included trying to locate the Shea Homestead in County Kerry. Cousin John Shea confirmed that the directions he shared with Judy and Gary Hutchins in the early 2000s were still valid. In fact, you can map the route from the Blackwater Tavern & Inn in Derrygarrane South to the old Shea house and see it from the road on Google Street View!
When I told Mom about our plans she made one more request: Could we find out how many siblings her dad, Timothy Shea, left in Ireland? Well, we think we did find out, with much thanks to my wife, Kate, who has a knack for Internet genealogy searches. We put together a scrapbook of what we learned for Teresa. Here is a virtual copy.
|
Family History of Michael Shea and Mary Reilly Shea Michael Shea (25 years old, “Farmer of Derrygarrane”) married Mary Reilly (“Spinster of Mouthnakey”) on 22 April 1884 Both Michael’s and Mary’s fathers were farmers named Daniel. Witnesses for marriage: Jeremiah Downing and Honoria Shea Michael Shea - baptized Nov 19, 1858 son of Daniel Shea and Marie Brenan of Dirrigurane Mary Reilly - born 20 Dec 1859 to Daniel Reilly and Catharina Ripane from Mouth’nardre(?) - She was baptized 25 Dec with EM sponsors Jeremiah Shea and Maria Reilly As of 1911, they were married 26 years, had 11 children born alive, 11 lived (one set of twins) Michael and Mary Shea’s Children by Birth Order Bridget 1885 - cannot find birth record Ellen 4/12/1886 Johanna 1/28/1888 Honora (Norah) 1/28/1888 Daniel 7/2/1890 John 9/7/1891 Mary (Minnie) 5/6/1893 Timothy 4/25/1895 Michael 8/30/1896 Margret (Maggie) 1899 – cannot find birth record Denis 5/9/1901 Catherine* 2/14/1905 Patrick* 2/17/1905 * Catherine and Patrick are not listed in the 1911 Census records. It is odd that they were born 3 days apart. They could have been children from a different Michael and Mary O’Shea. They could have been stillborn. |
|
Marriage License for Michael Shea and Mary Reilly, April 22nd, 1884
Traveling through the Ring of Kerry
The Shea family farmstead is located in Derrygarrane South, County Kerry, Ireland.
The surrounding area is known as The Ring of Kerry, a beautiful area on the southwest coast of Ireland
The surrounding area is known as The Ring of Kerry, a beautiful area on the southwest coast of Ireland
Finding the House starts at The Blackwater Tavern
|
|
Blackwater Tavern – Tavern, gas station, convenience store, post office in Derrygarrrane South. The gentleman working there on Sunday morning confirmed we had the right location for the homestead and pointed us to the Templenoe Church and Burial Ground in Kenmare for baptismal records.
John Shea provided directions and screen images from Google Street View
taken in 2009 to find our way. His directions were spot-on.
John Shea provided directions and screen images from Google Street View
taken in 2009 to find our way. His directions were spot-on.
|
|
|
|
Arrival at the House – The picture on the left about comes from Google Street View, taken in 2009. Compare it to our photo on the right.
We knew we were in the right spot as soon as we saw the gate and “driveway.” A lot of the roof was missing after 12 years.
We knew we were in the right spot as soon as we saw the gate and “driveway.” A lot of the roof was missing after 12 years.
|
|
West Elevation – Shows the basic shape of the house and the addition to the north side made sometime after the house was built.
|
Left: the addition to the north face of the house. 
Above: the south face of the house.
Below Left: the south face of the house, east end. Shows another addition added to the structure. Below Right: East face of the house showing additions to the north and east faces. |
|
|
|
The main hearth still stands and is massive. This is the main room where the family would have cooked, ate, and just spent time together. Behind the main room is likely the bedroom area for Michael, Mary, and several children. We did not step in because we were worried about the integrity of the partial roof.
|
View South from top of hill – Climbing further up the property, this is a view facing south. You can see the house chimney on the far left.
The Sheas overlooked a beautiful valley.
The Sheas overlooked a beautiful valley.
|
While taking the photo above at the top of the hill I heard a bleat to my left, further up the road. The white dot is the sheep checking me out.
|
|
Neighbor down the road – Driving through this narrow road in a chauffeured van draws attention. This gentleman lives down the road from the Shea farmstead. He verified we had been to the right place – where the late Denny Cremmins lived. |
Templenoe Church & Old Burial Ground
Templenoe Church – The church is located in Kenmare. It sits atop the location of the former church where the Shea children would have been baptized. A stone marker from the 1846 church remains on the back wall of the “modern” church.
|
|
|
Burial Ground Maps –
The old cemetery was uneven and unkept. It took us a bit of time to figure out where we should look for gravesites for the Shea family. We saw line 25 on the map: O’Shea Family, Derrygarrane, and started looking. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Shea Tomb – The tomb for the Shea family of Derrygarrane is the second, higher mound to the left of the stone crypt with the Celtic cross on top. It is absolutely overgrown; it would have taken hours to clear.
Census records for the Shea family
1901 Census Form – Lists Michael, Mary and 10 children at home. Shows “Grandma Mary” Shea, Age 86, living with them.
1911 Census Form – Lists Michael, Mary and 8 children at home.
1911 Census Enumerator's Abstract – Line 7 shows that 6 men and 4 women occupied the Shea house and that all were Roman Catholics.
1911 Census Property Outbuildings – Line 6 documents the four outbuildings on the property: 2 Cow Houses, 1 Calf House, 1 Piggery
1911 Census detail – the Shea home itself, Line 6: Private Dwelling, 4 outbuildings, house is inhabited, exterior walls made of stone, wood or thatched roof, one room, one window in front. These four elements result in the house receiving a 3rd Class rating.
1911 Census Form for the Foley household of County Kerry showing Nora Shea employed as a Domestic Servant (Line 11)
Timothy Shea's Voyage to America
RMS Oceanic (1899-1914), White Star Line
Capacity for 1,710 passengers: 410 First Class, 300 Second Class, 1,000 Third Class plus 349 crew
Departed Queenstown (Cobh) 23 April 1914
Arrived New York 29 April 1914
The RMS Oceanic ran aground and was wrecked in the Shetland Islands 8 September 1914
Capacity for 1,710 passengers: 410 First Class, 300 Second Class, 1,000 Third Class plus 349 crew
Departed Queenstown (Cobh) 23 April 1914
Arrived New York 29 April 1914
The RMS Oceanic ran aground and was wrecked in the Shetland Islands 8 September 1914
|
|
Passenger Manifest – Steerage Class
Timothy O'Shea is listed on Line 7. He traveled with cousin Michael O'Shea (son of John) listed on Line 6.
Timothy O'Shea is listed on Line 7. He traveled with cousin Michael O'Shea (son of John) listed on Line 6.
Marriage License for Timothy Joseph Shea and Catherine Condon, September 12th, 1922