Sunday 16 March 2014

Keogh Family of Ranelagh



In the 1901 census the family of James Keogh can be seen living in York Road


James 59 with Mary (seocnd wife?) aged 39 and children

Bartholomew
Joseph
John B(aptist)
Francis (Ignatius
Cyril (Aloysius)
Charles L(eo
Gerald A(nthony)
Kathleen
Alice

In the 1911 census, the family are in Elmgrove but no sign of the parents, an older sister is on the scene but the older brothers Bartholomew and Joseph are not there. John Baptist Keogh now appears as the head of family.


At some stage, John Baptist Keogh joined the British Army. Soon after the outbreak of WW1, he is dead


His death so soon after the start of WW1 suggests he had enlisted before the outbreak of war as a regular soldier or had served previously and was a recalled reservist. He entered France 13th August 1914; awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal

The youngest boy, Gerald, appears to have joined the Rathfarnham Company of the Irish Volunteers. He was shot and killed in the early hours of the second day of the Easter Rising whilst passing the front of Trinity College, making his way to the GPO with 2 others (so far, the 2 others are unidentified). There is an indication that he was killed by one of the colonial soldiers holed up in Trinity College.

There are currently 2 pensions files online for Gerald with claims from the mother and the 2 younger sisters


Francis, Cyril and Charles also took part in the Easter Rising.

Cyril gets a mention in the witness statement of Kathy's uncle Ned O'Brien working in the US


Charles appears to have become involved in the theatre. A profession that his daughter Finola followed








1 comment:

  1. Hi Johnny,
    Nice hit of history about my ancestors. Bartholemew Keogh was my grandfather. He was the only surviving child of his father's first marriage. The other siblings were from his second marriage.
    The family are having a "gathering" in Dublin next month.
    Why are you interested he Keoghs?

    ReplyDelete