Kearns of Westport

Afternoon

I have passed this to our Westport query and hope you will hear from her soon.

Best wishes
Clare Doyle
Genealogy Support

Clare,

No reply yet - thanks for your interest.

Eamonn

I will have another go for you Eamonn

Best wishes

Clare

Genealogy Support

Hi Eamonn, I’m researching Dominick Ward Kearns aswell. His brother was James, who moved to Riverview, Shrule. This James was my great great grandfather. If you would like to share information, we could discuss what we know and the best approach for finding out more. Regards, Hilary O’Kelly

Hilary,

Just got this answer today 21/02/2020 . Delighted to hear of other Kearns from Westport . Some years ago I was in contact with an American who had prolific information about the Kearns family and the connection with the Delahunt family , who were related to Cardinal Cullen. I will dig out my files and perhaps you might reply to this in recognition of the 5 .5 year gap from my original posting 1

By the way there was a lady some years ago who published an article in Cathar Na Mart about the origins of the Kearns in Westport . 

Hi Eamonn, Great to hear back from you. I’d be delighted to see what ever info you have. I have a copy of a family tree from My grand uncle Dom Kearns from Portumna, also list of birthdays  and deaths of members of the Kearns, Delahunt, Caulfield family. There was a Bishop Derry in there too that they seem to have been very proud of.  I discovered a  great grand uncle Kearns  Tennessee and another in Cambria, Pennsylvania. Although both were married, there seems to have been no issue. I feel that the Westport Kearns came from Ballymote in Sligo originally. I think I have found a distant genetic connection there. Have you done a  dna test, and if so  have you found it helpful? Looking forward to hearing from you soon. All the best, Hilary 

Hilary,

Mylate sister Sally ( Sarah) a;ways maintained that Dom Kearns ( Sol ?) in Portumna was related to DWK of Westport > In fact her husband a journalist had met DK several times in his journalistic capacaity. 

I will dig out my Kearns files and get back to you.  Some years ago I had contact from two ladies in USA who calimed to be related to the Kearns esp DWK ( who had no children) . I recall that they may have been Mormons - who as part of their beliefs connect with the deceased .!

Anyway you have given me a "boot" to review my Kearns files and I will be back to you when I have done so

Where are you located - I am in Galway City !

Hi Eamonn, Yes, Dom Kearns in Portumna was a grand nephew of DWK. His own father, James J. Kearns was brought up by DWK. At this time, DWK was in Galway, living in Villa, a house across the road from The Crescent. His own parents had died, but that’s another story. James J. went to school in the Jes.  There were relatives in Taylor’s Hill too, in Averard. I’m from Galway, my Dad is in Barna, but I’m living near Kilkee, in Co. Clare. Glad I’ve got you rooting out your Kearns stuff ! You know , there are lots of Kearnses still in the Westport  area, and I believe that it is all the same family originally. I wish some of them would do a DNA test. Have you talked to anyone in Westport?  

My local Optician Hughes is a native of Westport but cant recall any Kearns familys . I also have a cousin living in Westport who also couldn't recall the name. 

From memory "The Villa " was a type of nursing home under the direction of Dr Colohan . Strangely Catherine Kearns wife of DWK died in the same place . Both buried in Newport ! DWK died a very wealthy man - I have a letter written by a Dublin Solicitor to my grandaunt asking her for info on her relationship to DWK and mentions several others also relations . This was some years after DWK's death and possibly post Catherines. No idea what happened to his estate . He had a piece of land down beyond Tuam . He also had several dogs ( from Dog licence registers !) 

Re the Villa - do you think he was living there rather than a patient ? Prime piece of property in the Crescent - now offices for Ryan Hanley . 

BTW Are you related to Niall Kearns ??

Hilary,

I am having difficulties in posting replys to your e-mails I recently received ! Are you on facebook ?? If you are can you send me your e-mail or postal address please via messenger . 

Meanwhile I have sent a message to Info @irelandxo.com advising them of my difficulty ! 

Dont know what I can post here BUT not a reply to your e-mails. Maybe I'm losing it !!

Hi Eamonn, from looking at info about his will on line, he died in 1889, and his will was not administered until 1905. His wife Frances Delahunt died in 1903. Both died in Villa. I believe they moved there from Ivy Cottage around 1890. They had been involved in a lot of the land upheaval in Mayo at the time. Dr Coloughan was in Villa later,.  He is  there in 1923 from Thom’s who who.

Later, there was a doctor Pye in Villa. I’d love to read the article on the Kearns in Westport. Could you root me out a copy? Also the American woman’s research. I have an obituary of one of his nephews in America , also called Dominick.  I don’t know  about Niall Kearns , who is he?  My uncle Des Kearns, a barrister in Dublin, married late and had one son James, who now lives in London with no children of his own yet. It would appear that he is the last Kearns to still have the name. Dom Kearns , solicitor in Portumna was married but had no children. My grandmother Ursula Kearns was the 12th female solicitor to qualify in Ireland. 

She married Gerald Claffey in Portumna and was disowned by the family.

Hilary

Have had some difficulty with replying to your recent messages and sent you a note today asking for e-mail or FB message . 

Will try again later this weekend .

Hi Eamonn,

my email is hilaryokelly@yahoo.com

I also sent a friend request on Facebook to who I thought was you, but I might have been wrong.

I had signing into do to send this message. It wasn’t as straightforward as usual. All the best, 

Hilary

Hello, I found this conversation because I have been researching the Kearns family, as well. The reason is because Mary Kearns, daughter of Dominick Kearns of Westport, Mayo who died November 1838 and his wife Catherine Honoria Ward, and sister of Dominick Ward Kearns, married first Bernard Joyce who died before 1840 (she had one son, Martin Bernard Joyce, by him), and then second, Anthony Kyne of Fortville, Kilmaine, Mayo born about 1788 who died 12 Mar 1883. Mary was born about 1803 and died 19 May 1884. They had two children, Ellen/Eleanor born about 1841 who married Denis Ryan, and Thomas born about 1844 who married Mary Delahunt (daughter of Denis Delahunt of Huntley House, Feagh, Kiltormer, Galway, and Mary Caufield) on 14 Dec 1868, registered Ballinasloe. Thomas died young on 30 Jan 1886 in Fortville and then his widow and children moved to Overard/Averard, Taylor's Hill, Galway. They had 12 children altogether but only seven lived. At any rate, the reason I am researching is because Mary Delahunt Kyne, widow of Thomas, and each of her children gave very lavish individual presents when my great grandmother's niece Florence Browne married Joseph S Carter in Tuam on 7 November 1907. The wedding gifts are listed in a newspaper article. It would seem that if every member of that family gave a nice gift, they must be relatives, but we cannot place them in relation to the family. My relatives are the Brownes. Florence's parents were Dominick Browne and Isabella Bodkin of Carnane, Tuam, and her grandparents were Gregory Browne and Isabella Manent of Fort Browne, Clonbern, Galway. Isabella was from Newtown North, Crossboyne, Mayo. Any ideas on how the two families might be related? My cousins and I have all taken DNA tests. Thanks! 

Julie

Just read your posting on the Kearns , I am not sure I can help you but I will review what I have . Another contributor Hilary is also very knowledgeable as a descendant of a Kearns .

Anyway will get back to you . Where are you located ??