Clans’ journey ‘From Laois to Kerry’ the subject of new book

TARBERT resident, Michael Christopher Keane, will launch his new book, ‘From Laois to Kerry’, this Saturday, August 20, at 7pm at Tarbert Community Centre.

Dr Declan Downey will launch the book which gives a detailed account of the transplantation of the Moores, Kellys, Dowlings, Lawlors, Dorans, Dees and McEvoys to Tarbert and North Kerry in 1607 and the continuing presence of those surnames in North Kerry and West Limerick to the present day.

Christopher explains that his initial interest in the 17th century transplantations of the Seven Septs (Clans) of Laois to Kerry arose from the compilation of his family tree.

“Fortunately, the family trees of all of my four grandparents, Keane, Finucane, Curtin and Maher, have been completed to around 1750 by my outstandingly diligent late uncle and my cousins without any significant personal contribution,” he explains.

“As a result of this work, the surname of one great-grandparent, Margaret McEvoy of Ralapane, Tarbert, stood out as unusual and intriguing. By contrast, the surnames of all the other great-grand parents were the normal everyday surnames of North Kerry and West Limerick.

“Margaret McEvoy married her close neighbour Patsy Finucane (parents of my grandmother Mary Finucane-Keane) and farmed in Kilcolgan, Tarbert, where her direct descendants and my cousins still farm today.

By complete coincidence, Christopher’s late mother-in law was Kathy McEvoy, originally from Vicarstown, Co Laois prompting the question: - Could there possibly be a connection?

The book is now available through the author at mjagkeane@gmail.com and a contribution will also be made to the Ahern and Carmody Children’s Fund from books sold at Saturday night’s launch event.