Casey clan gathers for launch of family history

Date Published: 08-May-2013

A new book which captures the history of five generations one Galway family – and their lives on either side of the Atlantic – was launched last Friday, as the first of the Kilbeacanty 2013 gatherings.

The history of the Casey family recording five generations from Drummin, Kilbeacanty, was launched, appropriately, at the Casey homestead.

It was preceded by a special Mass, offered for the deceased members of the Casey clan in St Columba’s Church, Kilbeacanty.

The book – compiled by Anna Casey Donohue, in conjunction with the East Galway Family History Society – contains records of births, marriages and deaths and records from Griffiths land valuation in 1856 and the 1901 and 1911 Census.

It also includes copies of passenger lists to the USA, recording Jeremiah Casey on the passenger list of ‘The Zeeland’ from Queenstown (Cobh) to Boston on April 12, 1911, a year to the day before the Titanic arrived in Queenstown from Southampton.

Jeremiah was a great grand uncle of the present generation.

Jeremiah’s brother, Michael, set sail on ‘The Saxonia’ from Queenstown on September 5th, 1900.

American relatives of both Jeremiah and Michael, now living mainly in Boston and New York, helped out with this book.

Eileen, Patricia and Francis Casey (New York), as well as the Houlihan family in Boston, are regular visitors to Kilbeacanty and hope to visit later in the year.