My father’s mother’s parents were Daniel Dorgan and Honora Ahearn. Daniel was born at Castlemartyr around 1851, the son of Michael Dorgan, a carpenter and Honora Donovan. Honora Ahearn also from Castlemartyr was the daughter of John Ahearn, a farmer and Kate Lynch. Daniel came to Australia around 1872, and Honora in 1877. Within a week of Honora arriving in Brisbane they were married in the Roman Catholic Presbytery in Toowoomba. They had seven daughters, my grandmother, Mary Ann Dorgan being the third. Daniel died in 1906 and Honora in 1938. I would be interested to know if any of their relatives still live around Castlemartyr. Many thanks.
Admin Reply:
Hi Jim:
Thanks for visiting my DORGAN website.
I am just finding out about the DORGAN ancestors who left Ireland, especially during the Famine.
Do you have any information about your AHEARNs? I am interested in Elizabeth Ahearn who married David Dorgan. I believe her father is William Ahearn.
There are only three Ahearn and one Ahearne listed on the 1855 Griffitihs Valuation of East Cork: Johanna Ahearn (Shanagarry, Kilmahon, East Cork) John Ahearn (Ballybraher, Kilmahon, East Cork) and John Ahearn (Monagurra, Kilmahon, East Cork). Finally there is James Ahearne (Shanagarry, Kilmahon, East Cork). I believe that John Ahearn of Ballybraher was the father of Elizabeth Ahearne for this reason:
The marriage between Elizabeth Ahearne and David Dorgan may have been arranged since their parents were farmers with adjoining properties, the Dorgan property in Carrigkilter and the Ahearne property in Ballybraher. When Elizabeth Ahearne and David Dorgan did not have their own children they brought to their farm Margaret Grahame, the niece of Elizabeth Ahearne, and John Healy, the nephew of David Dorgan. The marriage of Margaret Grahame and John Healy was also arranged and they were married before they went to live with Elizabeth Ahearne and David Dorgan. These arrranged marriages kept the properties of Carrigkilter and Ballybraher in the family until the present day. Ironically, none of the five children of Elizabeth Ahearne and John Healy married and none had children. The ancestral Dorgan property at Carrigkilter has been sold twice, only the ancestral Ahearne property at Ballybraher remains which has extensive land holdngs.
There are 104 “Ahearne” in all of County Cork listed on Griffith’s Valuation.
There are 50 “Ahearn” in all of County Cork listed on Griffith’s Valuation.
In the meantime I am always updating the DORGAN website:
www.dorgan-family.com
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