Brennan Family History website

Welcome to My Page

Hi, my name is Michael Brennan. I am the G/G/G/Grandson of William Brennan who lived and worked in and around the area's of Ballickmoyler, Woodland and Arles in the County of Laois during the 1760's.

This website is dedicated to the memory of my mother Elizabeth (Lily) Kelly (nee Brennan). She was born in Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois on the 26th October 1922 and died on the 30th June 1996 in Portlaoise Hospital, Co. Laois. This website contains information about my BRENNAN, MORAN, CARTER & KELLY ancestors and about the villages of Ballickmoyler, Arles, Killabban, Ashfield, Ballynagall and Cooper Hill in Queens County (Co. Laois/Co. Leix).

I was born in London, England in 1946 and was brought up in both London, England and Cooper Hill, Co Laois and went to school in London and Arles.

I am endeavouring to research the history of my Brennan / Moran family who all come from around Ballickmoyler and Arles. This is proving very difficult because of the number of Brennan families that lived in and around the area during the mid 1800's and even more difficult is the lack of accessible records available to amateur researchers like myself.

I am always hopeful that one day someone will come forward with some information, however small, about my ancestors.

I would like at this point to say Thank You to all the people who have helped me with my research to date, because without their kind help I would not have found to information I have on my family which can be seen at the following location:

BRENNAN Family HISTORY

My G/G/G/Grandson of William Brennan would have been alive during the reign of George III of England.

To navigate the site simply click on "Home Page" above.

I have also provided some basic information to help you in your own search for your family ancestors in Ireland. So I hope you enjoy your tour of the site and hopefully you will find something that is of interest to you among the pages.

This site also includes Historical & Genealogical information about the South East of County of Laois in Ireland

'Comments and Suggestions'

To send your comments/suggestions/corrections, Email: Michael Brennan

MY SHOPPING LIST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MY SHOPPING LIST

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE BRENNAN'S WHO CAME FROM WOODLAND nr BALLICKMOYLER, COUNTY LAOIS. IRELAND.

I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING:

1. # WILLIAM BRENNAN was born 1810, Woodland and died 24th December 1862 aged 52 years in Woodland, Co Laois. He married MARIE ANNE WALSH, on 2nd May 1839 in Ballickmoyler. *. She was born 1820., and died 28th October 1894, aged 74 years.

(Source: # Photo of gravestone (above) in Arles Graveyard).

Children of WILLIAM BRENNAN and MARIE WALSH are:

i. MARK BRENNAN, b. 1841, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. 21st Mar 1902, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. ** (Married Catherine (Katie) Lalor on 30th Jan 1872 at Arles)., b, 1859 and d, 13th Jan 1893.

ii. EDWARD BRENNAN, b. 4th Apr 1844, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. *

iii. CHARLOTT BRENNAN, b. 14th Jan 1849, Woodland, Co Laois. *

vi. JOHANA BRENNAN, b. 25th Mar 1847, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. Married James Delany 29 Jan 1862 in Arles *

* JOHANA BRENNAN, married James Delany 29th Jan 1862 in Arles and lived at Skenhanagh. Co Laois

Children: of Johana Brennan & James Delany

* William Delany b,5th Dec 1862 and lived at Skenhanagh. Co Laois

Pat Joseph Delany 8th Apr 1864 and lived at Skenhanagh. Co Laois

* William Delany married Maria Angus Conway in Cork on 4th Oct 1910.

v. LUCY BRENNAN, b. 19 Feb 1851, Woodland, Co Laois. *

vi. WILLIAM BRENNAN, b. 29th Jun 1852, Woodland, Co Laois. * Died 11th September 1898, aged 39 years of age; (According to his headstone inscription he was born in 1859).

vii. MARGARET BRENNAN, b. 19th Jan 1856, Woodland, Co Laois. *

viii. ANNE BRENNAN, b 23rd Aug 1857, Woodland, Co Laois. *

ix. DENIS BRENNAN, b? Woodland, Died 16 October 1918 (Appears in 1901 Census as Head of Household)

* = Source: Arles Parish Baptism Records

** = Source: 1901 Census & Reg of B.M.D. Dublin found by Rita Murphy (Moran) 1999

Generation No. 2

2. MARK BRENNAN was born 1836 in Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois, and died 21st Mar 1902 in Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois. He married CATHERINE (KATIE) LALOR 30th Jan 1872 in Sacred Heart Church, Arles, Co Laois, daughter of JOHN LALOR and WIFE???. She was born 1859 in Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois, and died 13th Jan 1893 in Ballynagall, Co, Laois.

Notes on Mark Brennan:

He is listed in the 1901 Census for Ireland as been as been aged 65 years of age which means he was born in the year of 1836. His Death certificate lists him as been aged 61 years old when he died which means he was born in 1841. This was quite common to advance ones years at this time so he could claim a pension. He was also listed as been unable to Read. His trade is listed as been that of a Slater & Plaster. It is reputed that he was involved in slating the roof of Arles National School. He would have been about 20 years of age at the time. The Arles National School was built c1856 and the Sacred Heart Church, Arles which is next to the school was built in 1866. He is buried along with his wife CATHERINE (KATIE) LALOR in Arles Graveyard. Co. Laois.

Children of MARK BRENNAN and CATHERINE LALOR are:

i. EDWARD (NED) BRENNAN, b. 1873, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. 1911, Mountmellick, Co. Laois.

ii. WILLIAM BRENNAN, b. 15th Apr 1873, Arles, Co Laois; d. 07 Aug 1895, Ballynakill..

iii. HANNAH BRENNAN, b. 25th Oct 1874, Coopers House, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. 29 Feb 1940, Loreto Convent, Lucknow, India.

iv. THOMAS (TOM) BRENNAN, b. 9th Jul 1876, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. 26 Nov 1957, Portlaoise Hospital, Co Laois.

v. CHRISTINA BRENNAN, b. 15th Dec 1878, Coopers House, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. Unknown, Dublin.

vi. MARK BRENNAN, b. 29th May 1881, Ballynagall, Co. Laois; d. 05 Apr 1966, Mountmellick Hospital, Co Laois.

vii. MICHAEL BRENNAN, b. 5th Aug 1883, Coopers House, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. 24 May 1964, Ballynagall, Co Laois.

viii. MARTIN BRENNAN, b. 29th Nov 1888, Coopers House, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. 1963, 1 Adela St, Antrim Rd, Belfast 15. NI.

ix. ANNIE BRENNAN, b. 1891, Coopers House Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois; d. Unknown, Dublin.

x. JOHN BRENNAN, b. 17th Aug 1892, Ballynagall, Co, Laois; d. Unknown, ? (Served in 1st World War in France)

To view the BRENNAN Family Tree go to:

Any information/queries/connections on the above should be sent to:

Michael Brennan