James Duffy + Catherine Gibbons Family Tree

We believe Neil O'Donnell came to the USA to join relatives already living in Cleveland, Ohio.  Neil O'Donnell came to USA to find work in order to feed his two young sons and wife.  We know a relative of Neil O'Donnell, a John O'Donnell (1778-1874), of Newport, Co Mayo, immigrated to Cleveland in 1836 with 8 children.  Today, thousands of Irish people live in Cleveland, Ohio, who trace their roots to the Clew Bay area of Co Mayo.

Two centuries before Neil O'Donnell moved from Co Mayo to Cleveland, his ancestors, remnants of the wealthy and powerful Northern Ireland O'Donnell Clan, moved from Co Donegal, Ireland, to the Ballycroy/Achill area of Co Mayo.

The first ODonnell to settle in Co Mayo was a Rory ODonnell from Lifford in Co Donegal and his cousin Turlough McCaffer O'Donnell.  I believe I am from Turlough McCaffer O'Donnell, but Y DNA testing in 2015 will shed light on this. Neil O'Donnell, was probably the great great great grandson of Rory "of Lifford" O'Donnell, who was a direct descendant of Red Hugh O'Donnell's great grandfather, Hugh Duff ODonnell, the son of Red Hugh O'Donnell, Clan Chieftain, who died in 1505.  Around the year 1654,  Rory "of Lifford" O'Donnell, and his cousin, Turlough McCaffer O'Donnell, and 2000 of their fellow Co Donegal neighbors were "transplanted" by English Lord Oliver Cromwell from the clan areas near O'Donnell Donegal Castle area in Co Donegal to Co Mayo.  Rory of Lifford ODonnell maybe had at least two sons, Col Manus ODonnell and also a possible cousin Turlough. We now think this Turlough may actually be Turlough McCaffer ODonnell from the Ramelton area of Co Donegal transplanted to Co Mayo with Rory of Lifford in 1654.

         Turlough McCaffer O'Donnell, Rory's cousin

         2007 Paper on Earl Rory O'Donnell and brother Red Hugh

The following link is a family tree showing the relationship of my Co Mayo O'Donnells " ODonnell to Red Hugh ODonnell and to Earl Rory ODonnell of 1607 Flight of the Earls Fame.   The tree was created by me.

         Donegal Castle Family tree of Red Hugh O'Donnell, who died in 1505 after building Donegal Castle

My great grandparents, Neil and Bridget O'Donnell, grew up just south of Ballycroy in Co Mayo.  We know they were married in Kildavnet Roman Catholic Chapel located in the Parish of Achill.   Achill Parish and Achill Island are located at the extreme western edge of Co Mayo near the shores of Clew Bay, Achill Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean.  Kildavnet Chapel is located just one mile across Achill Sound from the present town of Currane.

          Family Tree of Neil O'Donnell (1832-1904)

          Additional Info on  Neil O'Donnell Family

    We know Owen O'Donnell was Neil O'Donnell's father.   We believe Owen was born in the Co. Mayo town of Newport around 1782.  Newport is located just 15 miles east of Currane and is the major town in the area.  We believe Owen moved away from his parents, just after the Irish rebellion of 1798, to the quiet island of Achill.  We believe Owen lived near Currane where he died around 1840.  Owen married a wealthy woman named Mary Nolan  Gallagher.  We believe Mary Gallagher's parents (nee Nolan) were also from Newport.  We believe Mary Gallagher came from the wealthy Gallagher family who gave Currane the famous parish priest, Rev Michael Gallagher, who served the Kildavnet Catholic Parish from around 1847 to his death Sept 2, 1867.   We believe Mary Nolan Gallagher was closely related to Matthew, the smuggler, and Michael the Bagman, who lived in both Newport and Gubnahardia, Currane, between 1800 and 1850. 

The family of Rev. Michael Gallagher is detailed in MS 827 in the Folklore section of UCD's Dublin library.   It was also detailed in the Achill Journal called Munitir Acla.  See the below link.

          Rev Michael Gallagher and Currane from 1840-1940

Owen O'Donnell's  family is detailed at :

            Family Tree of Owen O'Donnell (~1782 to ~1850)

     We know Owen ODonnell's father was Michael ODonnell (1749-1799) who lived in Newport.  The following two web pages show in great detail the four family branches stemming from the four sons of Michael O'Donnell.

         Family Tree of Michael O'Donnell (1749-1799)

A complete family tree starting with the first Red Hugh O'Donnell (died 1505), who built the O'Donnell castle in Co Donegal, to my family of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania is detailed on the following chart.

        Master ODonnell Family Tree Chart   by Hugh Owen O'Donnell

        I believe Michael ODonnell and his four son's turn protestant around 1780-1790 ...just like his cousin Sir Neal ODonel did around 1775, in order to keep their land.  Michael's son, Hugh (1778-1875) had a daughter, Mary ODonnell McCann (born 1820), who died in 1911 in Tyrone, Pennsylvania.  Her obituary said she was born protestant but turned Catholic in her childhood.  Her older brother, Rev Michael ODonnell (1818-1898), was the Catholic parish priest in Kilmeena for many years.   We suspect Mary and Michael's parents, Hugh and Molly Berry ODonnell, reverted to the Catholic faith around 1829 with the passing of The Catholic Emancipation Act and the loss of their economic and political status.  If Michael ODonnell's sons, Hugh, Neil, Owen and Manus were agents for Sir Neal Beg ODonnell, they all would have reverted to the Catholic faith with the death of Sir Neal Beg O'Donel after 1828.  There was no reason to remain protestant.

Michael's father is believed to have been a Neil O'Donnell **  perhaps born in Ballycroy, Co Mayo, around 1700.  We believe Neil's father was probably a John or Neil or Turlough O'Donnell ** , also of Ballycroy.  John O'Donnell's ** father was either Rory "of Lifford" O'Donnell or a close relative of Rory, a Turlough McCaffer O'Donnell that had been transplanted with Rory to Ballycroy from Co Donegal around 1654.  See below link that tells us Rory of Lifford ODonnell had more than one son, Manus.  He also had a son and/or cousin Turlough and could have had other daughters and sons who did not become famous like Col Maney did.   Col Maney left Ballycroy around 1700 gaining weath in the Newport Mulranny area.

** Important Note - Any genealogy before Michael O'Donnell that appears in this story cannot be proved but comes from circumstantial evidence based on stories from various historical books, university research reports and newspaper accounts.... like the below link

         Turlough, Son and/or Cousin of Rory of Lifford

Where

    Again, we believe my great grandfather, Neil O'Donnell, was raised near the now deserted village of Ailt, located one mile NW of the ruins of old Kildavnet Roman Catholic Chapel.  Located just 100 yards south of Kildavnet Chapel is the castle of the famous 16th century Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley, daughter of Owen O'Malley.  The village of Ailt is one mile north of the current village named Cloghmore. The area is located along the western shore of Achill Sound directly across from the town of Currane.  We know  Neil and his wife Bridget lived in the village of Currane (also spelled Corraun/Curraun). 

    We have proof that Neil ODonnell's wife, Bridget Campbell, and her parents, Patrick and Mary (Cattigan) Campbell, lived in 1851 Currane, Achill, Co Mayo Ireland. The following "Census Search" record comes from the National Library of Ireland archives on Bishop Street in Dublin.   Bridget's brother, Michael (Navey) Campbell filed for a pension in 1917.  The data was abstracted from the 1851 census before the census was destroyed by fire in 1922.   The document confirms Navey Campbell was Bridget's brother and that their parents were married in 1836.  Bridget's mother's maiden name was Mary Cattigan.   Cattigan in America became Keating. Navey Campbell was Patrick Campbell's grandfather.  Patrick lives in Currane today (2007) with his wife, Grace (Cattigan, Joyce, Patten, ODonnell) Campbell.  Grace Campbell's great grandmother was Neil ODonnell's sister, Grace ODonnell Patten of Currane Co Mayo.

        Census Search Record from 1917  

    The present day village of Currane is on the eastern shore of Achill Sound at the southern most point where Achill Sound flows into Clew Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.  In 1861, just before Neil and Bridget immigrated to Cleveland with their two infant children, their "Currane Homestead" was called Gubnahardia.   In fact, the present day town of Currane still has three election districts called Gubnahardia, Bunanioo and Bolinglanna.  The location of Currane, "The O'Donnell Currane Homestead", Achill Island, Newport and Ballycroy  are shown on the following map.

           Concise Map of West Co. Mayo Ireland 

    Below is a 2005 Google Satellite Photo of Currane/Gubnahardia, Achill Parish, Co. Mayo, area of Ireland.

          Satellite Photo of Currane and Neil ODonnell  Homestead

    Below is a 2006 panoramic picture of my great grandparent's Currane Homestead ruins and the surrounding Achill Sound, Ailt village area.

            Currane Neil ODonnell Homestead- Close-up Photo

     Below is an 1856 Griffith Valuation Map of Gubnahardia obtained from the Valuation Office, Irish Center, Abbey Street, in Dublin.  This map shows the location of rental properties in 1856 Currane.  The markings in red on this map reflect updates to the 1856 map made about 1865.

         Map of Neil ODonnell Home in 1856 Gubnahardia, Achill

    Below is a list of the 1856 Gubnahadia tenants.  The list details my 1856 Currane relatives showing Neil O'Donnell and the husbands of my Neil O'Donnell's four sisters -  Nolan, Patten, Cattigan, and Toolis.  We suspect the Red Gallagher listed was a close relative of my Neil's mother, Mary Gallagher.  Today Gallagher's, Cattigan's and Campbell's still occupy a majority of the homes in the area.  In fact Grace (nee Cattigan) Campbell, the great granddaughter of my Neil ODonnell's sister, Grace Patten, is married to Patrick Campbell, the great grandson of my Bridget (nee Campbell) O'Donnell's father, Patrick Campbell (1809-1869) who had married a Mary Cattigan in 1836.  Grace and Patrick Campbell live today in the town of Currane with the following Campbell's Cattigan's and Gallagher's.

      The current residents of Currane - Gubnahardia

However back in 1856, the following were the residents of Gubnahardia.

      My Ancestor Residents of 1856 Gubnahardia

    The residents of this 1856 Currane “clachan” changed over the next 10 years.  Around the year 1865, an update to the 1856 Griffith original Valuation (called the first cancellation ) was made.  The new list reflects tenant changes that followed after my great grandparents left Gubnahardia in 1861.  These new tenants still seem to be my relatives.

      Resident Changes for ~1865 Gubnahardia - Griffith 1st Cancellation Update

    Before 1856, we believe my gggrandfather, Owen O'Donnell and his family lived in the village of Ailt (hBaile na Ailt).  Ailt was located just across Achill Sound about 2 miles NW from Currane as the crow flies.  The location of Ailt is depicted on the following 3 Maps/Photo.

          1. AiltePhoto.jpg

        2. AilteTopo.jpg

        3. AilteRuins.jpg

    Around the year 1854, some 80 families of  Ailt  were evicted by the new English Protestant landlord, William Pike.  The evictions or relocations are described in Dan Pettit's thesis below.  We believe my gggrandparent’s children, the children of Owen O’Donnell and Mary Gallagher, and their associated close relatives by marriage, moved across Achill Sound to Gubnahardia (Currane) around this time.

    Now recall that the 1654, Co Donegal, transplanted O'Donnell's, settled only several miles north of Currane, Achill, in an area called Claggan and Ballycroy, Co Mayo.  Two hundred years later we still find a Neil and John O'Donnell (see link below) living in Claggan as listed on the 1856 Griffith Valuation.  In fact, the town is still called Claggan O'Donnell today.   Today's residents of  Claggan/Ballycroy, named John and Neil O'Donnell, cannot trace their roots to before 1856, however we suspect John and Neil O'Donnell were relatives of my 1861 Currane ODonnell's, the 1763-1910 Newport O'Donel's, and the 1654 Rory "of Lifford" O'Donnell's.  Rory of Lifford ODonnell had more sons than the famous Col Manus ODonnell who settled in Claggan Ballycroy after 1654.  Col Manus had one brother named Turlough.   We believe Rory left a large family to settle the ODonnell Claggan Homestead after 1654, and called Claggan ODonnell today.   See

         Turlough, Son of Rory of Lifford

         John and Neil ODonnell of 1856 Claggan Achill Parish  

    My Neil ODonnell of 1700 Newport, the probable father of my great great great grandfather, Michael ODonnell (1749-1799), was most likely blood kin to the above Claggan-Ballycroy 1856 Neil and John ODonnell as suggested by the Turlough link above.

For additional maps, additional data and additional documents detailing about my story see:

        Additional 2006 - 2005  Documents, Data and Maps.

Why

    1.  Part of Thesis on Achill's deserted village of Ailt by Dan Pettit

and

   2.  Thesis on Newport O'Donel's by Peter Mullowney

Why "In Summary" ...

We can conclude, Neil and Bridget O'Donnell  immigrated partly as a result of the severe famine which struck western Ireland, particularly County Mayo Ireland, in 1847-1848. 

However, they left not just because of famine.  I suspect they also left because of the demise of the Newport O'Donel family. The land in Achill Parish my O'Donnell relatives left had been owned by Sir Richard A. ODonel up until 1852.  Even though Sir Richard was protestant and in the service of the English aristocracy,  he was still Irish.  When economic conditions declined to the point of Bankruptcy in 1852,  Sir Richard was forced to sell his land to English landlords.  My O'Donnell relatives were surely affected in some way by this O'Donel bankruptcy and subsequent sale of their Achill property to English landlords; Landlords who converted the land from growing flax to grazing livestock, a business needing 75 % less farm people help.

During France's Napoleonic War with England in the years 1795-1815, the Irish economy boomed, particularly the economy of the West Co Mayo and the town of Newport. The Newport linen industry and related growth of flax farm crops mushroomed.  Also the English aristocracy had much less influence on Irish life during this period.  However, In the four decades after the Napoleonic wars,  Achill Parish and Newport's Burrishoole Parish became very poor when the Linen industry went bust.  The anti Catholic, anti Irish,  close English oversight  that had been originally imposed by Oliver Cromwell in 1654, dramatically returned again with the defeat of Napoleon.  The Irish parliament was disbanded in 1801 following the crushing of the 1798 Rebellion.  By 1815, English laws began again to severely discriminate against Irish land ownership. 

Once the grain/flax crop demand caused by the Napoleonic wars dried up and technological advances in linen manufacturing took the linen business away from Co Mayo, the land could no longer support the number of people living on it.  Sir Richard O'Donel, my great grandparent's landlord in 1852 Gubnahardia, Achill, Co Mayo, went bankrupt.  Sir Richard O'Donel was forced to sell part of his Achill land to an English Catholic landlord by the name of  William McCormick.  The other part he sold to an English protestant landlord,  William Pike.  Many Irish land tenants who had not left from famine 10 years earlier, now vacated Achill for America as the new landlords converted the land from crop to pasture use.  Among these immigrants to America was my great grandfather Neil O'Donnell.

Who Were My O'Donnell Pre-1832 Irish Relatives

A. 1450-1602 Donegal, Ireland

Interestingly, my ancestors are descendants of the famous, 17th century, Red Hugh O’Donnell, also known as the Fighting Prince of Donegal.  Red Hugh’s grandfather, another Hugh O'Donnell, built Donegal Castle in 1505. Parts of the Castle stands today in the town of Donegal, Co Donegal, Ireland.  Around 1654, the O’Donnell clan of almost 2000 people was forced to relocate from County Donegal (Northwest Ireland)  to County Mayo Ireland (West Midwest Ireland).  The forced relocation (Plantation) was ordered by the English tyrant Lord Cromwell after the Irish where subdued following the rebellion led by Red Hugh O’Donnell and his relatives in late 1500’s - early 1600’s. 

    2007 Historical Paper on Red Hugh and brother Earl Rory O'Donnell

The 1654 evicted Donegal O’Donnells resettled in the parishes of Ballycroy, Achill and Burrishoole (Newport) near the west part of County Mayo.  Burrishoole Parish includes the town of Newport.  Achill is just west of Burishoole parish and Ballycroy is just north of Burishoole Parish.

 B. 1660-1800 Newport, Burrishoole Parish, Co Mayo, Ireland

Once established again in 1700 Co. Mayo, another famous O’Donnell, Hugh (mor) O’Donnell, a direct descendent of Red Hugh O'Donnell, began to prosper in the Co. Mayo town of Newport, Burrishoole Parish.  This "Newport Hugh (mor) O'Donnell"  built Newport House… a large mansion and present day resort hotel in the town of Newport, Burrishoole Parish, County Mayo.  In 1763, Hugh (mor)  died and his son, Sir Neal O’Donel, renounced the Catholic faith in order to become Baronet.  Once Neal O'Donel became protestant and given control of all land in western Co. Mayo, we believe he changed the spelling of his family name to O’Donel. 

C. 1800-1861 Currane,  Achill Parish, Co Mayo, Ireland

By 1832, Sir Neal O'Donel's grandson, Sir Richard O’Donel, was my great grandfather Neil O'Donnell's Achill landlord.   It is probable that my Neil O'Donnell was a close relative and close friend of these Newport O’Donel’s even after they became protestant.  Around 1780,  Hugh Mor O'Donnell's 3rd son became Sir Neal ODonel, first Baronet of West Co Mayo, until his death in 1811.  

Hugh Mor's 4th son was Doctor John O'Donel, MD, (~1730-1816?).  We know John was a medical doctor still practicing in 1816 Newport.  We know Doctor John O'Donel had at least one child, Neil, who was born in 1788 and died June 5th 1810. 

Hugh (mor) O'Donnell's  daughter was Anne O'Donel (see Newport family tree below).  Like her brother, Sir Neal, she changed her last name to O'Donel once her father Hugh (mor) died and her brother became protestant.   Interestingly Anne O'Donel married a John O'Donnell from Ballycroy/Erris area of west Co. Mayo.  We wonder if this John O'Donnell was a relative of our John and Neil O'Donnell of Ballycroy.

Anne O'Donel and John O'Donnell had three children: Hugh, Neale and Matilda. We believe this John may be a relative of Turlough McCaffer O'Donnell. We believe Father Sean Noone;s book, "Where the Sun Sets" is a history of the Turlough McCaffer O'Donnell going back to the Captain Ferdinand of the 1798 Rebellion in Killala. After the rebellion, these Turlough McCaffer descendants disappered from Co Mayo records. I am now dping Y DNA testing to explore this thesis fm 

A full description of the Newport O'Donel history, written by the famed Irish Historian, Rupert O'Cochlain, and edited by me to reflect my possible connections to his Newport History story, is contained below at

        History of Newport O'Donel's by Rupert O'Cochlain

The family tree of the Newport O'Donnell's/O'Donel's from their Niall Garbh forefather of 1603 County Donegal, Ireland, to Niall's grandson, Rory O'Donnell, of 1654 Claggan/Ballycroy, west County Mayo, to Hugh (mor) O'Donnell of 1750 Newport House, to Sir Neal O'Donel of 1763 Newport, and finally to Sir Richard O'Donel, of 1852 Newport, who owned land occupied by my great grandfather Neil O'Donnell in 1852 Currane, Achill, West County Mayo..... is described at

        Family Tree of Newport O'Donel's from Vincent O'Donnell's book.

My O'Donnell Family Tree - 1505-2006

click  Master ODonnell Family Tree Chart   by Hugh Owen O'Donnell

    From the above large family tree,  County Mayo, Ireland still has remnants of three large O'Donnell families descending  from my Michael, Neil and Martin O'Donnell of 1775 Newport.  Michael O'Donnell, born in 1749, is my direct Newport relative.  As described above, Michael O'Donnell had a son named "Owen O'Donnell" who moved from Newport, 15 miles west to Currane, Achill Parish, Co. Mayo, Ireland around 1800.  "Owen O'Donnell" is Neil O'Donnell's father. 

Martin O'Donnell lived in Newport between 1750 and 1800.  We believe Martin was the brother of Michael O'Donnell.  We know for sure Martin O'Donnell lived in Comploon (Camcloon), a small town located just one mile north east of Newport, during the Irish rebellion of 1798. 

Neil O'Donnell lived in Newport between 1750 and 1800.  We believe Neil was the brother of Michael and Martin O'Donnell.  We know for sure that both Martin O'Donnell  and Neil O'Donnell lived in Comploon.  We believe the father of Michael, Martin and Neil was a Neil O'Donnell of 1700 Newport.  Neil O'Donnell's father may have been the son of a "John ??? O'Donnell" who lived in Claggan/Ballycroy around 1680.  John ??? O'Donnell may have been the brother of Maghnus O'Donnell.

Interestingly, both the present day families of Neil O’Donnell  and Michael O'Donnell  tell the same story.... that their relatives living in 1799 Newport harbored a Catholic priest, Fr Manus Sweeney, before he was hanged by the Sheriff of Newport, Sir Neal O’Donel.  Father Manus Sweeney was a very popular parish priest in the town of Newport just prior to the Irish rebellion of 1798. 

Father Sweeney was accused of supporting the French invaders and he hid from the British/ODonel authorities for several weeks before he was captured and executed in the Market Square of Newport Town in 1799.  In the years following the rebellion, the people of Achill and Newport distanced themselves from the Newport ODonel's.  Even today, the Newport ODonel's are not remembered well.  Families do not want to admit or remember how they might be related to the Newport O'Donel family.

Neil ODonnell is buried along with my Michael O'Donnell (1749-1799) in the Killeen cemetery located 4 miles west of Newport and next to the town of Sandhill, Co Mayo.

We know that Neil O'Donnell's family moved to Sandhill in 1865.   Martin O'Donnell's son, John O'Donnell, and his 8 children immigrated to Cleveland in 1836.  John O'Donnell may have been the first of many thousands of Achill/Newport people to immigrate to Cleveland over the next 100 years. 

The above history, from Red Hugh ODonnell, to my Dad, Maurice John O'Donnell, to me, Hugh Owen ODonnell, to the person who I believe I was named after, Red Hugh ODonnell, is detailed on a Master O'Donnell/O'Donel Family Tree Chart covering the period 1505 to 2014.

        Master ODonnell Family Tree Chart   by Hugh Owen O'Donnell

The following web site gives more detail on the "Total O'Donnell Clan Family History" going back to 300 AD and Niall of The Nine Hostages.

     "O'Donnell Clan" Irish Ancestry back to 300 AD

Find More ODonnell History at http://www.araltas.com/features/odonnell

Updated May 22, 2012

by Hugh Owen O'Donnell

hod77@aol.com e-mail

 Editorial Note  Dated May 22, 2012

My great grandfather, Neil ODonnell, came from Newport Area of Mayo County, Ireland. We suspect Neil's father, Owen ODonnell, was an agent for Sir Neal Beg ODonnell during the period 1811-1827 when Newport and Achill experienced an economic boom. Neil was born in 1832. He married a Currane woman by the name of Bridget Cattigan Campbell around 1857. They lived in Currane at the time of the 1856 Griffith Valuation. Neil left Currane for Cleveland, Ohio on June 5, 1861 with his wife Bridget and children Michael, age 3, and Owen, age 1.

After my trip to Ireland in May, 2007, I can say for sure that our Neil ODonnell (1832-1904) was "not" proud to say he was from Currane, Achill, after he immigrated to Cleveland.   I suspect this explains why we never could find that they emigrated from a specific town in Co Mayo nor does anyone in Cleveland recall them as being from Currane. 

The following web sites describes the situation in Cleveland around1880 and in Achill around 1870.  If you look at pages 102 to 103 of the Cleveland History you will see why Neil and Bridget never could say they were from Achill.

     Cleveland History against Achill Irish in 1880

http://clevelandmemory.org/irish/tabsam.html

     The Protestant Mission in Achill 1830-1870