Can any of our readers shed further light on those named hereunder or indeed are you in anyway related to this Ryan family who emigrated from Mitchel Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary?
We would love to hear from you, as indeed would living family relatives who are currently actively tracing their Irish roots.
Michael Ryan was born probably on Saturday November 22nd or Sunday November 23rd, 1834 to parents Cornelius (Con) Ryan (1803-1868) and his wife Margaret (nee Riordan) Ryan (1810-1888), here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
From our records we find that Cornelius ‘Con’ Ryan resided in a single story, thatched, terraced house at No. 62, latter positioned on the south side of Quarry Street, in Thurles (today Quarry Street in Thurles is named Mitchel Street). This terrace of houses was completely demolished, possibly about 1909, and replaced then by more modern two-story terraced structures and named ‘Lisheen Terrace’. The Irish word ‘Lisheen’ translated into English means ‘Small Ring Fort’. A ring fort can be found north east of Mitchel Street (Quarry Street), overlooking Lisheen Terrace.
[Interestingly also born on Quarry Street was Paddy Ryan, (‘The Trojan Giant’) and Heavyweight Bare-Knuckle Boxing Champion of the USA (May 30th 1880). Latter was born on Friday March 14th 1851, further east, also on the south side of Quarry Street, at No. 78.]
Michael was baptised in the parish of Thurles on Wednesday 26th November 1834, with his sponsors in attendance named as Richard Brett and Mary Barry.
Note: It was generally accepted in those days that all baptisms should take place within 3 days of the date of birth, with the birth mother not necessarily in attendance at the baptism.
Michael Ryan and a friend (possibly a cousin) John Cahill, were both sponsored immigrants to the south-eastern Australian state of New South Wales; sponsored by James Cahill, latter who was already residing in New South Wales, living in the town of either Yass, (latter name derived from an Aboriginal word, “Yarrh”, said to mean “running water”) or possibly the valley farming region of Burrowa village (latter name again derives from the local Aboriginal language and referring to a native bird, the Australian Bustard, a large ground dwelling bird).
Michael was given a reference by Thomas Bourke, then Post Master in Thurles and his address was given as Quarry Street, (today named Mitchel Street, after Londonderry born Irish nationalist activist, author, and political journalist John Mitchel), in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, where he lived with his parents the aforementioned Cornelius (Con) Ryan, (Occupation shoemaker) and Margaret Ryan (nee Riordan).
Michael Ryan and John Cahill made their way to Liverpool, where they boarded the “Hannah Moore”, arriving in Sydney on Sunday 6th May 1860.
In February 1863 Michael Ryan married Honorah ‘Norah’ Mahony at Yass, New South Wales; Norah having emigrated from Banteer, Co. Cork. Michael and Norah then moved to Burrowa, where Michael, like his father, conducted a boot making business.
In September 1862, Michael, himself, sponsored the emigration to New South Wales of his sister Mary Ryan (aged 20 years, born 1842); her occupation “a house servant” from Thurles, Co. Tipperary “who can read” (Same ability rare enough in those times). Mary arrived the following year in September 1863, aboard the passenger/cargo ship “Peerless”.
In 1864 Michael also sponsored the emigration of his brother Edmund Ryan, a labourer from Thurles, who arrives aboard “General Caulfield” in October 1865.
Michael and Norah would go on to parent ten children: Margaret, Cornelius, James, Thomas, Mary Ann, Ellen, Honorah (1st), Edward, Honora (2nd) and Michael. [Note: Often if an Irish child died within a family, as possibly in this case this female, the next female child born would assume the same name, e.g. Honorah (1st) / Honora (2nd)].
Michael died after an “operation for dropsy” (latter an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body, recognized as a sign of underlying disease of the heart, liver, or kidneys), aged 48 years at Burrowa, New South Wales, Australia in February 1882.
I was unaware of who Mitchel Street was named after. I just had a quick look online and find that he was pro slavery. Maybe time for a change of name for the street?