MICHAEL MORONEY 23 AUG 1834 - 11 SEPT 1913

 Nov 2022

My great grandfather, Thomas Moroney b 1857  was a young farm laborer working  on the Conole Farm in Illaumbaun, Miltown Malbay, County Clare and married the farmer’s daughter, Catherine Conole 16 Feb 1878.   The marriage record lists his father as Michael Moroney, Laborer.

It is said he was an illegitimate child and there was no evidence of his birth in any of the surrounding parishes in County Clare.

After many years of research there were no civil or church records that led me to Thomas Moroney’s parentage.

With the advent of DNA and particularly autosomal I believe I have identified his father, Michael Moroney.

Michael Moroney born 23 Aug 1834 is the son of John Moroney and Mary Quirkin of Caherush, Miltown Malbay, County Clare.

I have based my conclusion on the results of two daughters of Patrick Moroney b 1893 the youngest son of Thomas Moroney b 1858.  They are my Dad's 1st cousins.

Theresa Maroney  b 14 Aug 1935 and Eileen Maroney b 19 Aug 1936 both born in Buffalo, NY.

When the autosomal DNA of Theresa and Eileen is compared with each other and it is looked at who they both share DNA with there are matches to a Moroney Family from Caherrush, Miltown Malbay. County Clare, Ireland.   

What supports this is Theresa and Eileen's father had 10 siblings, one being my grandmother, Mary Moroney.  Grandchildren from  5 of Patrick b 1893 siblings all have DNA matches with descendants of the Moroney's of Caherrush.

Not just the descendants of the Moroney's in Australia but also the descendants that are still in Miltown like the Friels.

My 2nd great grandfather is Michael Moroney b 1834 the son of John Moroney and Mary Quilkey (Quirkin).  He immigrated to Australia on 14 Dec 1859.  This probably is the young man that left town shortly after fathering a son, named Thomas.   Michael was going to live with his brother, Patrick Moroney that went to Australia 10 years before and had a large family whose descendants in Australia have DNA matches with my Moroney cousins and myself.

Michael Moroney did marry in 1866 in Australia and had another family with children and grandchildren.  I do not believe there are any surviving family members of his family.

I have been looking for over forty years for my Moroney connection.  I can't tell you how please I am.

THOMAS MORONEY 1857 - 1927 MILTOWN MALBAY, COUNTY CLARE, IRELAND

 My Great Grandfather, Thomas Moroney was born in County Clare, Ireland around 1857.  There is not a recorded baptism record for Thomas Moroney in the Kilfarboy Parish (Miltwon Malbay) or any of the neighboring parishes.  Civil Birth Registration did not start until Jan 1864.  

There is no record of Thomas Moroney until 1878 when he was married in St. Joseph's RCC, Miltown Malbay.

The Civil Marriage Record list Thomas Moroney's father as Michael Moroney, laborer.

The "Residence" listed for both Thomas Moroney and Catherine Conole is Islane.  This is short name for the townland of Illaunbaun where Catherine lived with her parents, Michael Conole and Bridget Gorman.

Thomas was a laborer on the Conole Farm when he was a young man.  This is how he met and married "the farmers daughter", Catherine Conole on 16 February 1878 in Miltown Malbay at St Joseph's RCC.

From this marriage there were eleven children that produced fifty-one grandchildren in America and Thomas and Catherine Moroney never met one of their grandchildren.