Ahern (Ahearne), Elizabeth

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 Ahern and David Dorgan was arranged. Their parents were farmers with adjoining properties, the Dorgan property in Carrigkilter and the Ahern property in Ballybraher.

When Elizabeth Ahern 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. 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 Margaret Grahame and John Healy married and none had children.

The ancestral Dorgan property at Carrigkilter has been sold twice, only the ancestral Ahern property at Ballybraher remains which has extensive land holdings.