Blakes, Butlers, Fluellins, Kennedys of Knockfune, Kilnerath, Newport, County Tipperary

Blakes, Butlers, Fluellins, Kennedys of Knockfune, Kilnerath, Newport, County Tipperary

I am about to visit Silvermines in early June int he hope that I might be able to finda local Historian who can shed some light on some of my family history from Knockfune. Can someone put me in touch with a local researcher who may be able to help me?

The family were well known to be protestant to the locas- but not to us until I did some research. They held quite substantial lands at Knockfune until about the late 1830s when Lord Bloomfield evicted them. There are two stories I have heard that explain this event that bare little resenblance to the other. 

My great great grandmother Mary Blake was born at Knock fune round 1813 to Andrew Blake and Sarah Butler. She had numerous brothers adn sisters. Her uncle Benjamin Blake married Alicia Kirby from Murroe in Limerick County and Mary married Alicia's brother Philip. I believe that Benjamin and andrew Blake's father was John Blake who married Mary Fluellin and that his father may well ahve been an andrew Blake as well. 

Andrew Blake died some time after 1827 (when his youngest child was born) and 1833 when Mary married. I believe George Blake his son took over hi8s father's farm holding of over 90 acres. George was the only Blake to hold his land after th eviction according to one report because his wifes family (Mary Tumpane) held influence. The tohers were evicted. Benjamin nd Alicia moved to Nenagh where they ran a shop on Queens St, George took his family to America early 1849 and sold his holding on to Ryans and Kenedys and Widow Kennedy nee Blake "left" to... i dont knpw where- but Kennedys took voer her protion as well. 

I have not ever foudn a birth pr marriage for Sarah Butler adn there do not seem to be many Butlers in the area.

I believe another sister of Mary's married a Bannon and left for Canada and another sister married a hogan and went with George to New Jersey.

Other branches of the family ended up in australia as wella s my own which is where I am typing this. 

I hoep this rings bells for someone and that someone can suggest local historians who may be able to help. Is there a local hsitory place in Newport or do i need to go to nenagh? If so where is there one in nenagh?

Kindest regars,

margaret Kirby