File Reference	MD15748
Name	William J. Coughlan
Address detail
Street	“Plemsloc”, The Lough, Cork
County	Cork
Country	Ireland
Address detail
Street	50 St. Patricks Street, Cork
County	Cork
Country	Ireland
Date of birth	1896-08-31
Notes	File relates to successful application for Service (1917-1921) Medal and application for Special Allowance. Service certified and medal issued 30 October 1952. Medal later held to have been duly awarded [1957]. Associated file DP28786: relates to subject’s application for Special Allowance under the Army Pensions Acts in respect of illness or disability. Allowance awarded in 1958. File contains application forms, correspondence and memoranda, social welfare reports, medical reports and means assessments.
Data Protection Note	Partly closed
Organisation	Irish Republican ArmyIrish Volunteers
Rank	Unknown
Commanding Officer(s)	Conn Menan; Michael Murphy; Sean Mitchell
Company	G Company
Unit	2 Battalion
Brigade	1 Brigade
Medal awarded	Service (1917-1921) Medal

File Reference	MD3987
Name	Cornelius C. Coughlan
Address detail
Street	4 Dundedin, Ballinlough Road, Cork
County	Cork
Country	Ireland
Address detail
Street	164 Bandon Road, Cork
County	Cork
Country	Ireland
Notes	File relates to successful application for Service (1917-1921) Medal. Service certified and medal issued 28 May 1945.
Data Protection Note	Open
Organisation	Irish Republican Army
Rank	Unknown
Commanding Officer(s)	Thomas mcCurtin, Sean Sullivan, Sean Mitchell
Company	G Company
Unit	2 Battalion
Brigade	Cork 1 Brigade
Division	1 Southern Division
Medal awarded	Service (1917-1921) Medal

Things to look into

http://www.odonohoearchive.com/tullig-house-castleisland-the-small-mansion/

Castleisland connection links –

https://www.irelandxo.com/ireland-xo/history-and-genealogy/ancestor-database/thomas-brosnan

http://www.odonohoearchive.com/tullig-house-castleisland-the-small-mansion/
The chute family also owned Tullig Housr in Castleisland …. And interestingly brosnans were in occupation in 1860 and still own it. connection?

http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/NMAJ%20vol%2023%2007%20A%20Kerry%20Moonlighter%20[Dr.%20Hugh%20Brosnan],%20by%20Con%20Costello.pdf

To read more on the Chute history and origins … this link gives an excellent synopsis https://sites.rootsweb.com/~chute/prot.htm

Newspaper Article relating to Francis Chute (father of Anne Chute – she will not be listed in this article as we presume she and her sister Ellen were the result of an affair)

The Tralee Chronicle Friday Evening April 9 1875

A description in The Schools Collection of the local forges in Ballymacelligott with a mention of Thomas Brosnan whose forge which was no longer in use by the 1930s
This is a collection of folklore compiled by schoolchildren in Ireland in the 1930s.
To read the original click here https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706346/4704664/4779866

There are four forges in this parish, but not long ago there were six. The owners of the present forges are : Dick Gorhan, (Springhill, Rathanny) who was a famous athlete, Pat O Connor (Carrignafeela, Rathanny), Joseph Reidy (Ballymacelligott) and John Twomey (Maglass, Gortatlea).
John Twomey’s and Joseph Reidy’s ancestors were smiths, but Pat O Connor & Dick Gorham learned their trades from James Cournane, of Tonreigh. Pat O Connor’s & John Twomey’s forges are situated at Cross Roads and Joe Reidy’s & Dick Gorham’s forges are on the roadside.
The forge I know best is Pat O Connor’s. It has a felt roof which is tarred. The walls are of concrete The door is a large one and moves on rollers. There are two windows – one in the back wall & one in front.
The bellows consist of two flat boards joined together by strips of leather. These boards converge to a hole hear the hearth or fireplace. The lower board is connected by means of a chain with the end of a handle which rests on a horizontal beam By pulling down the handle the lower board of the bellows is raised, and a gush of air is forced through the opening into the hearth in which the fire is placed. This lights the fire.
Besides the bellows which is used for lighting a fire, the smith uses other implements. The principal one of these is the anvil which is a large block of iron having a flat upper surface on which the red iron is beaten. The anvil has a projecting nose – where the iron is twisted, shaped and rounded. On the upper surface of the anvil is a hole into which is placed a chisel-shaped bit of steel called a “cleft” which is used for cutting the red iron.
The smith also uses different kinds of hammers and sledges. The heavy hammers are used for beating iron, and the small hammers are used for driving nails, rivets and bolts.
The smith also has a kind of circular knife which he uses for paring the hoofs of horses, asses, colts &c. He also has a rasp and and a file which he uses for a similar purpose. He uses a punch for making holes in hot iron and a drill for making holes in cold iron. He also has a pincers, a tongs, for removing hot iron from the fire. He keeps horse-shoe nails in a box. In that box he also has the rasp and knife, and hammer.
A Vice is also used in a forge for gripping or holding the iron fast while the smith has to remove bolts rivets, nuts, etc.
The smiths of this parish shoe horses, asses, colts, jennets, mules but no cattle.
At present they make no ploughs, harrows, or any other farm implements, but they repair all farm implements and weld those that are broken. What is called the “shoeing of wheels” is done in the open air. For this purpose a large turf fire is made in the open air – near a river. The band of the wheel is placed on the fire and left there until it is red hot. It is then taken out, cut, and rejoined and placed round the felloes – while still hot. What is poured quickly on it to cool it, & it is hammered in, fitting the wheel tightly. Several wheels may be done in this way. When the operation is over the smith pours water on the fire to quench it.
some people say that “Forge water” is useful as a cure for cattle suffering from “red murrain”
My father never heard that smiths of this locality had any privileges nor did they receive gifts from any source nor did he hear that they had power to banish rats.
Smiths were looked upon as being strong and brawny. Thomas Brosnan of Ballynahinch who owned a forge was a great lock-smith. He used to make locks and keys for the gaol, Tralee – during the British Regime

The local forges were places for great story tellers and for the latest news. No local Forge has figured in any historical event so far as I know. The only disused forge is that of Mr. Thos Brosnan (of Ballyahinch).

Even though there are at present 4 Blacksmith-shops in the locality – there were more than that in the old time when more articles were made by smiths: Mr. Brosnan of Ballynahinch was a lock-smith (& gabha geal) – making locks and keys for the Gaol, Tralee at one time. He died a few years ago at the age of 85. & he made during his time some beautiful gates & railings for the Chute family of Chute Hall. 

Extract from https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4706346/4704640/4779783

Early references (6th Century) to Ballymacelligott caves a 5 minute walk from Ballynahinch.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333068691_Saintly_associations_with_caves_in_Ireland_from_the_early_medieval_period_AD_400-1169_through_to_recent_times

A cave–church connection is found in yet another twelfth-century text, the Life of St Brendan. Here we are told that Bishop Erc ordered the sixth-century St Brendan to spend a night in solitude in Uaimh Brénainn (‘the cave of Brendan’) at Ballymacelligott, Co. Kerry, as penance for striking a girl who had attempted to climb onto his chariot (Haren and de Pontfarcy 1988, 9). A church was subsequently constructed on or near the site of the cave and was referred to in the Ecclesiastical Taxation of 1302–1306 as Ecclesia de Antro Sancti Brandani (‘the church of the cave of St Brendan’) (Manning 2005, 115). Up to the nineteenth century it was known in the locality as Uaimh Brénainn (Hickson 1883/1884, 302). This now-destroyed limestone cave is also associated with the seventh-century St Moling. Transcribed in 1628–1629 from an older manuscript, The Birth and Life of St Moling recounts that Moling was the son of Fáelán and his wife’s sister, Emnait. The baby was born by night in the extreme cold and deep snow. Feeling ashamed for betraying her sister, Emnait left her infant son Moling to perish and then tried to kill him, but he was protected by angels and a dove. According to the story, mother and child were subsequently rescued by a priest named Collanach who brought them to Uaimh Brénainn where the boy was raised for the first seven years of his life (Stokes 1907, 9–13)

Saintly associations with caves in Ireland from the early
medieval period (AD 400–1169) through to recent times
by Marion Dowd

In the 1824 Tithe Applotments there are three Brosnahans listed as tenant farmers at Ballynahinch. Darby, John and Thomas. Also a Eunice Brosnahan listed in another sheet. SIDENOTE : We have been told that the Brosnahans at Ballynahinch originated from Castleisland. This should be followed up on.
https://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587404/004587404_00630.pdf
https://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/reels/tab//004587404/004587404_00631.pdf

Click to continue reading about the Brosnahan/Brosnan family of Castle St, Tralee

IRA Activities

The Coughlan family were very involved in the Irish Volunteers from at the latest 1918. We can presume their father was also a supporter as not only did his sons contribute but their sister Madge Coughlan Barnes was also very involved. Click on her name to read about her involvement.
Cornelius Coughlan, William Coughlan, Madge Coughlan all received IRA Medals for service 1917-1921 and Madge was one of the few women in Ireland to receive an IRA pension. She is also mentioned in the book Atlas of the Irish Revolution.

Bandon Road area was covered by 2nd Battalion G-Company. There were approx 100 men in the company. Their training took place in the countryside but their weekly meetings in the Temperance Hall on Bandon Road a short 2 min walk from their home. If you would like to read a document outlining some of the activities of G-Company please click here.

Charles Coughlan Elected as Alderman

January 1920

1920 January 7th  Nominated for Cork City Council under Sinn Fein & Transport Workers No.1 South In the South Ward area, Charles Coughlan stood as a candidate for the joint Sinn Fein / Transport Workers grouping. He topped the poll with 485 votes, becoming Alderman of that Ward. Thus electing him as a member of Cork Sinn Fein Corporation 1921. With his wife Kathleen just expecting their second baby, things must have seemed incredibly promising and the future very bright.

Mugshots taken of IRA Prisoners by the British Army at Victory Barracks Cork

Photos from the Cork Museum

Death of Tomás MacCurtain Lord Mayor of Cork

19 March 1920

The MacCurtain family were friend of the Coughlans and continued to be for many years after the tragic loss of their Father.

He was elected in the January 1920 council elections along with Charles and was the Sinn Féin councillor for NW Ward No. 3 of Cork. He was chosen by his fellow councillors to be the Lord Mayor.

Terence MacSwiney took over as Lord Mayor of Cork and his first act was to bury his friend and colleague Tomás MacCurtain.

Link to the Wikipedia page about Tomás MacCuratin

The Film by RTE gives a very good understanding of all the events during this time. Please do watch … it is approx 50 mins.

Death of Terence MacSwiney Lord Mayor of Cork

12 AUGUST 1920 ARREST of Terence MacSwiney

Terence MacSwiney arrested and sent to Brixton Prison. After one month news was released that he was alive.

Terence MacSwiney was on hunger strike to protest his internment and the fact that he was trialed by military court.

You can read the details on Terence McSwiney on Wikepedia; click here.

The press began reporting on his condition on a daily basis. His hunger strike was followed the world over. I am presuming you have watched the film above and I won’t add any further information here.

25 OCTOBER 1920

On hearing of the death of Terence MacSwiney after 73 days on Hunger Strike, The Cork Corporation had a special meeting at 12 noon in the City Hall.

They decided that as many as possible would attend the funeral in London. They left Cork by train for Kingstown and then took the mail boat to Holyhead. A number of Volunteers in uniform also traveled with the Corporation members to serve as body-guards at the funeral. However as they boarded the boat they were surrounded by detectives on both sides of the gangway and arrested the members of the body-guard. They were later sentenced to six years imprisonment, which was commuted to two years.

As part of the Cork Civic Delegation, Charles went to London to attend the funeral of Terence MacSwiney Lord Mayor of Cork who died on hunger strike. There is reference to this in “Liam Ruiséal Remembers” pg. 40-41

Some members of the body-guard did manage to get through as they had overcoats on top of their uniforms. As the boat went to leave Holyhead they were still being observed by the detectives. As Liam Ruiseal and Micheal OÇuil walked the deck while talking in Irish, Micheal was tapped on the shoulder and placed under arrest. However Councillor Barry Egan interrupted and he was released.

The group arrived in London and visited Brixton Prison to see Terence MacSwiney laid out.

After an inquest and a long delay, 4 days later the body was removed to St Georges Cathedral Southwark. On the Thursday morning Mass was celebrated. After the Mass, 10,000 people walked in the funeral procession to Euston Station. Along the route the streets were lined with people, many kneeling as the hearse passed. The procession was headed by a small number of Irish Volunteers, a pipe band and several hundred priests. The Most Rev Dr Mannix Bishop of Melbourne walked behind the hearse followed by members of the Cork Corporation, Cork Harbour Board, Dail Eireann and others.

At Euston the train left with the body to then be brought by ferry from Holyhead to Dublin. During the journey by train the Superintendent on the train (along with 200 police) gave a letter to the relatives, saying that the body of Terence MacSwiney would be taken, by force if necessary, and placed on board a British boat to be brought directly to Cork. This was to prevent the body being brought back via Dublin.

Liam Ruiseal writes “I cannot forget that scene at Holyhead – Miss Mary MacSwiney protesting, and the police taking the body by force, and putting it on board the British boat.”

Mass was held in Dublin first and then the group journeyed to Cork by train.

On the Friday the boat Rathmore arrived at Cobh. Following prayers quayside, the coffin was then put on a tug and brought to Cork.

Shortly after 9pm that night over 100 Volunteers marched to Custom House Quay and shouldered the coffin back to the City Hall where the now dead Lord Mayor had been arrested just 11 weeks before.

As Terence MacSwiney lay in the City Hall, crowds came to pass by and pay their respects. Funeral mass took place on the Friday and Terence MacSwiney was laid to rest in the Republican Plot next to his comrade and friend Tomas MacCurtain.

Bloody Sunday

November 11th 1920

Bloody Sunday was one of the most significant events to take place during the Irish War of Independence. Click here to read about Bloody Sunday on Wikipedia

Family Involvement

Where I have information about the particular involvement of a member of the family, I will try to add it to the narrative.

During 1920/21 Madge Coughlan was attached to Brigade Headquarters in Cork – She transfered Arms and Amunition landed from America and delivered dispatches from Cork to Cobh for ships sailing for America to be delivered.

Burning of Cork

December 11th 1920

The RTE film above is the best way to cover all this. It has great clips and will give you a feel for Cork at the time as well as covering all the events.

Here is a link to the Wikipedia page on the Burning of Cork

Cork Corporation Arrested

January 1921

Just over a month after the Burning of Cork, at 1pm 31st JANUARY 1921 a party of the Black & Tans raided a corporation meeting and Cork Corporation attending were arrested, including Charles Coughlan
They were sent to Cork Prison, then to Spike Island and on to Ballykinlar.
They remained interned in Ballykinlar Internment Camp, Co. Down for the year of 1921.
Charles was in Hut 8 Camp 2 Ballykinlar.
Most of the prisoners from Ballykinlar were released following signing of the Peace Treaty on 6 December 1921

There were 2 Camps in Ballykinlar. Camp 1 had 37 huts and Camp 2 had 38 huts.
Each hut housed approx 25 men. Conditions were not good in the Camp, there was not enough food and it was very cold.
This is an excellent book if you are interested in learning more “Prisoners of War: Ballykinlar, An Irish Internment Camp 1920-1921 by Liam Ó Duibhir”

Death of Tadhg Barry 15th November 1921

On Friday 18th November 1921

further info to add here

Most of the prisoners from Ballykinlar were released following signing of the Peace Treaty on 6 December 1921

1922 CIVIL WAR

Civil War between those for and against the Anglo-Irish Treaty raged between 1922-1923 and continues to shape present-day politics in Ireland.

On 13th April 1922 Charles Coughlan Resigned from Office of Public works.

At the beginning of the Civil War in June 1922, the Irish Free State government, composed of the leadership faction who had accepted the Anglo-Irish Treaty, held Dublin, where its armed forces were concentrated and some other areas of the midlands and north. The new National Army was composed of those units of the Irish Republican Army loyal to them, plus recent recruits, but was, at the start of the war, still relatively small and poorly armed.

Much of the rest of the country, particularly the south and west, was outside of its control and in the hands of the anti-Treaty elements of the IRA, who did not accept the legitimacy of the new state and who asserted that the Irish Republic, created in 1919, was the continuing legitimate all-island state. This situation was rapidly brought to an end in July and August 1922, when the commander-in-chief of the Free State forces, Michael Collins, launched the offensive.

• 1921 – July to December – Madge Coughlan Traveled to Dublin during this period with Con Neenan and Seán Coughlan (brother) She remained in Dublin when they left. The Belfast Boycott was ongoing and Madge was “still doing some work in connection with this”.
• 1922 – early June – Madge met Eileen Egan (an IRA courier from England carrying documents from Mr M Cremin to IRA HQ) who brought Madge with her to Government Buildings, she met the girls there which made later visits possible.
• 1922 – June 29 – July 5th Madge reported for duty for the Battle of Dublin and was in various posts on O’Connell St until they were burned or evacuated.

June 1922 – September 1922 Irish Free State Offensive against anti-treaty strongholds in the South and South West

• 1922 – July early – Madge met with the IRA again as she was unknown in Dublin and could be useful. She was asked to get information that would be of use to the IRA. An introduction was secured for her to girls in the Provisional Government offices and her career in Dublin as an Intelligence Officer began.
• 1922 – July 5 – 11 Madge engaged in tending the wounded at St. Endas Oakley Road Hospital for Wounded IRA Men while simultaneously building her cover for the girls working in Government Building so she would be completely accepted as this was “essential to the success of the work I was to do.” “When the fighting in the city was over I began to think out means by which I could resume and utilise the possibilites of the contacts I had made in Government Buildings and that as soon as possible I put my plans into effect. ” 
• 1922 – July – Madge contacted and met with Kathleen McKenna (Athur Griffiths Secretary) and Maureen Morgan gaining their confidence and receiving a pass for Government Buildings and the Dáil; enabling from approx July 11 – regular visits to Government Buildings gathering information from Desmond Fitzgerald’s office and passing this information to the IRA
• 1922 – 2nd to 5th July – Madge was helping in the first aid hospital in Oakley Road following the evacuation of the Hammam Hotel and also doing other jobs outside the hospital.

Document detailing the activities of Madge Barnes are contained in her pension application.

8 August 1922 800 Free State Troops and Armoured Cars landed at Passage.
There was heavy fighting at Rochestown and Douglas in which at least ten Free State and 7 Republican fighters were killed and at least 60 men on both sides were wounded, before the outnumbered and outgunned anti-treaty IRA retreated into the city. However, they did not try to continue the fighting Cork itself, partly in order to spare the civilian population, but instead burned Charles Barracks (Charles Fort), near Kinsale, which they had been occupying, and dispersed into the countryside.
10 August 1922 Free State troops entered Cork city unopposed
22 August 1922 Michael Collins shot at Béal na mBláth

• 1922 – Autumn – Madge was attached to office of IRA Director of Intelligence Michael Carolan
• 1922 – December – Madge was given away accidentally by IRA Propaganda releasing information she had provided without changing it. She was in danger of being shot and had to hurriedly leave Dublin. Her home in Cork was raided for her and in her absence her younger sister was arrested.

The Civil War was followed by 10 months of guerrilla warfare.

May 1923

End of the Irish Civil War

June 28 1924

The United States recognized the Irish Free State as a state with autonomous control over its foreign relations on June 28, 1924, when U.S. Secretary of State Charles E. Hughes informed the British Ambassador in Washington that the President would be pleased to receive a duly accredited Minister Plenipotentiary of the Irish Free State. Diplomatic relations were established on October 7, 1924, when Timothy A. Smiddy presented his credentials as Minister Plenipotentiary of the Irish Free State in Washington.

November 8 1924

A general amnesty is declared for acts committed during the civil war.

Michael Brosnahan lived at Chute Hall & Ballynahinch. In the 1848 Griffiths Valuation he is listed as a farmer with areas 1 & 2 in his name (see above map)
Tullygarran, Spring Hill and Ballynahinch were all owned by the Chute family.
Michael married Anne Chute on September 30th 1841 in a COI marriage at Ballymacelligott Church of Ireland Tralee. It is still unclear which branch of the Chute family she belonged to. Her father is listed as Pierce Chute on one of her childrens baptisms. (To read more about Chute Hall click here)

Michael and Anne went on to have 4 Children and all were baptised Catholic.

Michael Brosnans eldest son was Thomas Brosnan b.1848, who also had a son called Thomas. This family still own the house at 2 on above map at Ballynahinch.

Michael Brosnan and his twin brother Patrick were born in 1857 at Chute Hall, right in the middle of the Famine. The population of the parish of Ballymacelligott dropped by 34% during the famine years, from 4000 to 2600. The Brosnan family survived and Michael and Anne went on to have one further child in 1865, a girl called Anne.

In 1886 Francis B Chute living at chute Hall is recorded as owning 10,328 acres

In 1882 aged 25, Michael Brosnan married Hanorah Mary O’Connor (daughter of Martin O’Connor – Butcher in Tralee and Catherine Counihan) aged 21. They lived on Castle St, Tralee where they had a few different shops.

Their first daughter was born on the 18th January 1885 and they named her Catherine. Catherine/Kathleen would go on to marry Charles Coughlan in 1917.

Children of Michael Brosnan & Hanorah Mary O’Connor
Annie Mary Brosnan 1887
Martha Mary Brosnan 1888 (m. John (Black Jack) Finn)
Eileen Mary Brosnan 1889
Martin Brosnan (m. Mollie Brosnan)
Christina Mary Brosnan 1891 (m. Denis Shields)
James Joseph Brosnan 1892 (m. Jane Scott)
Margaret Mary Brosnan 1893
Dominick Brosnan 1894 (m. Alice Kelly)
Hannah Mary Brosnan 1895
Hanorah Mary Brosnan 1897
Thomas John (Tommy) Brosnan 1898 (m.Annie Glennon)
Barbara Mary Brosnan 1900
Lizzie Brosnan 1901 (m.Alexander Cronin)
Brendan Joseph Brosnan 1906
Rita Brosnan

Bronze age finds at Chute Hall in 1875. Five/Six bronze age War trumpets discovered in a hoarde at Chute Hall close by Clogherclemin approx 3-4000 Years old. The War Trumpets were discovered by men cutting turf employed by Captain Chute of Chute Hall. To read more go to https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/25506674.pdf pg. 422

A bronze age burial tomb was also discovered here in 2000. Viking skeletons found in cave at Ballymacelligott dating to 1000BC.

Based on the info above the lands around Ballymacelligott and Chute Hall were inhabited since Bronze Age times.

The original name of Chute Hall was Tullygarran.

Chute Hall in Ireland distinguished itself from the more well known mansions in Ireland in much the same degree: rather than being used for the purposes of out doing the British in elegance, this was a functional home known for being airy, drafty, damp, lacking modern conveniences even for its time – and often used for “Kerry Dances” – all of the old first floor furniture was simply pushed out of the way, and wild, enthusiastic all night dances open to everyone were held in the house.

I am so delighted to have been sent information by one of our distant Chute relatives in the UK. Chaloner Chute … thank you for the help and support.

Michael Brosnahan lived at Chute Hall & Ballynahinch. In the 1848 Griffiths Valuation he is listed as a farmer with areas 1 & 2 in his name (see above map)
Tullygarran, Spring Hill and Ballynahinch were all owned by the Chute family.
Michael married Anne Chute on September 30th 1841 in a COI marriage at Ballymacelligott Church of Ireland Tralee. Civil Marriage records were not in existence at the time of her marriage but her sister Ellen Chute also of Ballynahinch was married a few years later and her father was listed as “Francis Chute – Gentleman”.

So … it would seem that Francis Chute had an affair after his first wife passed away and before he remarried. (There was a gap of 5 years here.) His affair appears to have resulted in Anne and Ellen being born. There is no record of their Mothers name.

A short paragraph on Illigitimate Children in Ireland C.1759–1832

Experiences of Irish illegitimacy were further complicated by the intersections of gender, social rank and religion. A number of histories of sexuality and marriage have pointed to examples of individuals whose lives were lived outside the mainstream and whose social and gender privileges meant that their ‘deviancies’ were largely tolerated by those around them. As in Britain, it was not uncommon for Irish men of the landed classes to maintain mistresses and their illegitimate children. Anthony Malcomson’s work, for example, has revealed how the keeping of mistresses was widespread among Irish noblemen. Many aristocrats paid their mistresses good annuities, left provision for their illegitimate children in wills, and ensured they received a good education and made good marriages. Indeed, so long as these relationships were kept out of public view, mistresses were maintained and any children provided for, such alliances were tolerated.

 Illegitimate Children, Parenthood and Siblinghood in Ireland, c.1759–1832^* 
Leanne Calvert https://academic.oup.com/ehr/article/137/587/1144/6705575

It would seem that the above was true for Anne and her sister Ellen as both made good marriages to local farmers.

To continue with the story of Anne …. Michael and Anne went on to have 4 Children and all were baptised Catholic.

Michael Brosnans eldest son was Thomas Brosnan b.1848, who also had a son called Thomas. This family still own the house at 2 on above map at Ballynahinch. Chute Hall and Spring hill are both in ruins with all the stone from Chute hall being reused in the 1950s to build local farmhouses.

Should you wish to visit Chute Hall you can see the beautiful stone wall and gates with Ogham stones. The gates and fence were all hand made by our ancestor Thomas Brosnahan the Blacksmith at Ballynahinch. Thomas was also a locksmith and made all the locks and keys for Tralee Gaol at one time. The ruins of Spring Hill are still in place under heavy overgrowth.

Michael Brosnan and his twin brother Patrick were born in 1857 at Chute Hall, right in after the Famine. The population of the parish of Ballymacelligott dropped by 34% during the famine years, from 4000 to 2600. The Brosnan family survived and Michael and Anne went on to have one further child in 1865, a girl called Anne.

In 1886 Francis B Chute living at chute Hall is recorded as owning 10,328 acres making him one of the largest landowners in Kerry.

In 1882 aged 25, Michael Brosnan married Hanorah Mary O’Connor (daughter of Martin O’Connor – Butcher in Tralee and Catherine Counihan) aged 21. They lived on Castle St, Tralee. His brother Thomas stayed in Ballynahinch in the family home and continued in the trade of Smith.

Their first daughter was born on the 18th January 1885 and they named her Catherine. Catherine/Kathleen would go on to marry Charles Coughlan in 1917.

Click to continue reading about the Brosnahan/Brosnan family of Castle St, Tralee

or if you would like to read more about the Chute Brosnahan connection click here

Honorah Coughlan b. 2 Dec 1885 (died young between 1901 and 1910)
Charles Coughlan b. 25 Jan 1887 d. 30 Aug 1952 [m. 24 April 1917 Kathleen Brosnan]
Daniel/Danny Coughlan b. 5 Nov 1888 d. 16 Dec 1967 [m. Eva Conner]
William/Billy Coughlan b. 31 Sept 1890 d. 1972 [m. Mollie Nason]
May/Mary Honorah b. 28 Sept 1892 d. 1933 [m. Dermot O’Brien]
Ellen/Ellie Coughlan b. 24 Feb 1894 [m. 21 Feb 1922 Reginald Augustus Pinker]
Madge/Margaret Coughlan b. 12 May 1897 d. 12 May 1975 [m. 14 Jan 1923 Albert Henry Barnes]
John Joseph Coughlan b. 25 July 1900
Cornelius/Neilus Christopher Coughlan b. 7 Nov 1902 d. 1 May 1960 [m. Jean Murphy]
Baby Girl born 1905 but she did not survive.
Elizabeth/Lil Coughlan b. 22 Jan 1906 [married Arthur Heapes]
Seán Coughlan b. 25 July 1909 d. 3 Apr 1960 [married Peggy]

Coughlan Bros Builders was established as a business at some stage between 1910 and 1920. The brothers were Charles, Daniel and William (Billy).

In the 1911 Census the family are listed as living at 164 Bandon Road. Link to the census record.

John is 47 and Ellen is 46. They had been married for 26 years. They had 12 children and 9 survived. 8 are listed on this census and Charles the eldest age 25 was working in Timoleague at the time (most likely working for John Sisk & Sons as they had a job on there for Montifort Longfield JP). He is listed on the census there in a boarding house.
Johns brother William also lived with them, he was 49 at the time and had not married. Strangely the youngest Seán Coughlan is not listed on the census, he was born in 1909 and should have been present. Hanorah the eldest daughter had passed away between 1901 and 1911 census.

To read more about the building work and Coughlan Bros Builders please click here

Kathleen Brosnan (age 30/31) married Charles Coughlan (age 30) on 24th April 1917 in St Finbarrs South, Dunbar St, Cork Click for Marriage records
Kathleen had been living in Cork for about 6 years. Her address was 14 Barrack St at the time of her marriage. Click here to read about Kathleen Brosnan of Tralee and her early life and family

Children of Charles Coughlan and Kathleen Brosnan
1918 12th July – Eileen Coughlan
1920 2nd August – Patricia Coughlan
1923 21st January – Sean Coughlan
1924 19th July – Charles Coughlan (twin)
1924 19th July – Michael Coughlan (twin)
1927 24th August – Dominic Coughlan

To read about the Coughlan family’s participation in the Irish War of Independence click here

1930s onwards

During this time Coughlan Bros worked on many building projects.
1932 Irish Industrial Fair

According to family lore every summer the Coughlan family went to Crosshaven for the holidays. In fact I know many of you reading this will remember those summers well.

John Joseph Coughlan died on Oct 28 1939
Mary Ellen (Ellie) O’Sullivan Coughlan died on Nov 22 1947

Just a short 5 years later her son Charles passed away at the age of 65.

The ages in some of the older documentation may not be exactly correct, please ignore any minor discrepancies.

Death of Charles Joseph Coughlan 1952

Through family knowledge the health of Charles Coughlan was never the same after his time in Ballykinlar. At the age of 65 he passed away.

Charles Coughlan died in 1952 and is buried in St Finbarrs Cemetry in Cork.

If you would like to learn more about the Irish Revolution , I highly recommend this book Atlas of the Irish Revolution. Another book every home should have.

So ….. this is where we are now ….. from approx 1800 to 1952

PLEASE NOTE:

The content of this part of the Family Tree is not complete. I know many of you have sent on fantastic photos and I will be adding these over the next few weeks.
These few pages only cover one part of the tree and I chose to add all this information first as it stemmed from Charles Coughlan who made the research more exciting with his involvement in Irish Politics. For military records, there are more available online for Madge Barnes than any of the others, so it is difficult to document their involvement. I would be very confident that their involvement was even greater and we will learn more as we go along.

I will continue to add information to this and keep you informed. I would love if anyone with photos or information or stories could send them by email to me at [email protected]

also known as Neilus

b. 7 Nov 1902 d. 1 May 1960 [m. Jean Murphy]

IRA Medal Record

File Reference	MD3987
Name	Cornelius C. Coughlan
Address detail
Street	4 Dundedin, Ballinlough Road, Cork
County	Cork
Country	Ireland
Address detail
Street	164 Bandon Road, Cork
County	Cork
Country	Ireland
Notes	File relates to successful application for Service (1917-1921) Medal. Service certified and medal issued 28 May 1945.
Data Protection Note	Open
Organisation	Irish Republican Army
Rank	Unknown
Commanding Officer(s)	Thomas mcCurtin, Sean Sullivan, Sean Mitchell
Company	G Company
Unit	2 Battalion
Brigade	Cork 1 Brigade
Division	1 Southern Division
Medal awarded	Service (1917-1921) Medal

The Coughlan/Coughlin surname was first found in Munster where Dealbha, brother of King Blad of Thomond/ Munster, is the traditional ancestor of this family in the 5th Century approx 550. Their father was Tal Cass King of Thomond and can be traced back further through to approx the 3rd century.

The Cork sept of Coughlans occupied the territories known as the baronies of Carbery and Ballymore which was essentially all of West Cork. O’Cochlain would have been the original spelling in Cork.

We can surmise that our ancestors the Coughlans on Magazine Road and Bandon Road are descendants from the above. We do not have any records of where in Cork they came from before they appear in 1848 in Griffiths Valuation.

There has been a note in a family members documents that Charles Joseph Coughlan d.1883 was buried in Innishannon but this has not been confimed at all so for now we have no earlier leads.

The first Coughlan we have in records connected to the family is John Joseph Coughlan born approx 1800 …. so let’s start there …

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