Johnnie Matthew

The Keane family farm, Ballyashea, was passed on to John known locally as Johnie Matthew and referred to as John Junior in the 1901 census. John was born in July 1852 and was married twice.  The first marriage in 1890 was to Susan McMahon from Dysart but she died in May 1891 at the birth of her first child, Matt. Ten months later (21 February, 1892) he married Margaret Morgan (widowed Mrs Quinn, no children), born 1862^1,2, of Knocknagraga, Ennistymon. They had 6 sons and 3 daughters.

While both Johnie Matthew and Margaret knew Irish they did not speak it. Their youngest son, Brother Thomas, remembers that Johnnie Matthew wore a nice trimmed beard and was skilled at killing pigs. He loved to play cards – ‘the auld game of nap’ – with his neighbours who appeared to have ‘a poor view of the state of the country because of the high rates’!

Brother Thomas also remembers the American wakes in 1914 and 1915 when sons and daughters emigrated to the United States (see Ellis Island extracts). The dance lasted until daybreak when they set off for Ennis station to take the train to Queenstown (now Cobh), County Cork to catch the ocean liner to New York.  What worried Thomas (who was only 6/7 years at the time) most was not the parting with his brothers and sisters, but to see his mother crying all day, unlikely to ever see them again.

Margaret died in 1920 aged 61 (but see under Mongan below), and Johnnie Matthew died in July 1930 aged 77 years. 

Margaret died in 1920 aged 61(but see below*) and Johnnie Matthew died in July 1930 aged 77 years.

The following were their family:

Matt:- Matt was born 3 May 1891 to John’s first wife, Susan (nee McMahon).
See more on Matt’s family.

There were nine children born to Margaret (nee Morgan):

Delia:- 6 December 1892, emigrated to USA and married Bill Carey, of Kilmurrymcmahon, Co Clare.

Pat:- 6 April 1894, after playing a senior role as a Volunteer in the Old IRA and independence movement; married locally to Bridget O’Dea of Ahasla, and later lived at Ballymongaun, Kilnamona (see more on Pat).

Mary:- born 13 May 1895, married locally to Johnsie Brody, Caherbannagh, Kilnamona.

Micho:- born 2 October 1896, died of TB in USA about 1950? Married he had four in family and lived in the mid-west of the US (Cook, Chicago??).

Greta:- born 31 March 1898, to USA; married Bill Hegarty also late of Kilnamona. They had 3 surviving in family and lived in New Jersey. (see more on Greta).

Andrew:- born 6 March 1900, after a year in the USA in 1921, he returned to the home farm in Ballyashea within one year.

Visit here for the 1901 census details of family up to then:-

Martin:- born 28 October 1902, unmarried, died of TB in USA about 1949!.

John:- born 10 May 1905 and emigrated to USA. He was a labourer and married to

a girl from Galway. They had no family. He paid a return visit to Ireland in

the mid-60’s and died in the late 60’s or early 70’s.

Thomas:- born 20 July 1908, joined Irish Christian Brothers and died on
November 5th, 1989. See more on Brother Thomas.