HISTORY OF THE REGAN (O'REGAN) FAMILY 1800 - 2000

By DAVID P. O’REGAN

My Great Grandfather MICHAEL REGAN (later given various spellings; REAGAN; O'REGAN etc.) lived on a farm at Rossa (Rossagh) which is in St Mary's Parish Doneraile, County Cork. His Father was probably called David as his son David (my grandfather) gave his name to me.

(Naming patterns; TRACING IRISH ANCESTORS. COLLINS POCKET REFERENCE) It was traditional in Catholic families, but not an absolute rule, that the eldest son was called after the father's father, the second son after the mother's father and the third after the father himself. The daughters were similarly named, though the first and second might have either grandmother's name.

In my family I was called after my grandfather (David) and my brother was called after my mother's father (Patrick). My sister –Mary – was called after both grandmothers.

I cannot see any connection between my father's name –Denis- and any ancestor. So my great great grandfather may have been called David.

Michael Regan was born in the early part of the part of the 19th century, or the latter part of the 17th. If he was thirty when he married then he would have been born about 1810. We know nothing of his parents or siblings. There are many other families of Regans in the district but no known relations.

Michael married Catherine Quinn in the early part of 1840. They had three known children (possibly four). David – my grandfather was born in January 1841 and baptised in St Mary's Church on the 10th January 1841. (Baptisms took place within a few days of birth so David was probably born about the 6th of January.) His godparents were Patrick Regan (probably his uncle; a brother of Michael?) and Johanna Daly.

There is a gap of over four years to the birth of the next child. Another child or children could have been born in those years. The next child was Mary. She was baptised St Mary's Church on the 27th April 1845 so her birthday may have been 26th April. Her godparents were James Mannix and Mary Regan. James Mannix must have been a relation. His son (or grandson) was Paul Mannix who had a bakery and public house on the corner of Main Street and Butler's (now known as Grove) Lane. We can presume that Mary was a sister of Michael. The last child Margaret was baptised in St Mary's Church on 26th September 1847 and thus was probably born about 24th September. Her godparents were James Shea and Mary Buckley. What if any relationship these had with the Regans is unknown.

So to sum up. Michael Regan my greatgrandfather probably had a brother called Patrick and a sister Mary. His children were David (my grandfather) Mary and Margaret (with possibly one or two others). I have no information as to what became of Mary and Margaret.

ROSSA (ROSSAGH)

Michael Regan had three parcels of land at Rossagh rented from the local landlord – Lord Doneraile. The half-yearly rent was £69.13.5 1/2 (£69.60) When he could not pay this amount he was served notice of eviction. This was a lot of money in the late 19th century and this was shortly after the Great Famine of 1845. It is possible that his cattle were struck with some disease and died. So no income ;the rent could not be paid. He was served with notice to pay or quit. An eviction notice was served in March 1881. He and his family were evicted on the 10th of August 1881.

In trying to get some local information as to what happened at the time I was given the following information by the late Dennis O'Regan of Kilcoleman West and Thomas O'Mahony of Ballyellis, Buttevant, County Cork. Here are his own words.

Michael Regan got into difficulty with his rent payments and he was evicted; thrown out on the road with his family. The neighbours were supposed to have built a mud hut for him on the side of the road. So he lived there for a long time; how long I do not know. They were supposed to have moved on later to Dromdeer and later to Dromahane; when unknown. There are still Regans living in Dromahane and were claiming relationship to Ronald Reagan when he came to Ireland in the eighties. Would it be possible that Michael Regan had a brother or close relation that went to America....and he could be Ronald Reagan's great grandfather ? At that time when one was evicted out of a farm all the people boycotted the farm and would not take it from the landlord. But I am told the Blakes of Doneraile – a close relation of Michael Regan (actually relations of his wife. Editor) stepped in and took it from the landlord so they were boycotted around Doneraile for years. ....the story about the Regans going to Ballyporeen in the eighteen eighties was not true...

A LETTER FROM MATT McGRATH (Doneraile historian)

The Regans were evicted from their home because of their inability to pay their rent to the 2nd Landlord. (Lands were sometimes sublet to 2nd landlords. Editor).

They went across the road where they put up a makeshift shelter.

Here they stayed for a few weeks, then moved to Mitchelstown and from there to Ballyporeen. Evidently these Regans were the direct ancestors of Ronald Regan, one time President of America, ….though the name has a different spelling, …………..

The landlord of most of the land around Doneraile was Lord Doneraile who lived at Doneraile Court. An eviction notice was served on Michael Regan in March 1881. Not having the means to pay he was evicted six months later on the 10th August 1881. Patrick – first son of David (Michael's son) was born at Rossagh (March 10th 1881.) So he was only six months old when the family was evicted! The two daughters Mary (36 years) and Margaret (34 years) may have left before that to get married.

DROMDEER

Where did Michael Regan go then ? Did he survive the eviction ? He would have been at least 70 years old at the time. We know that David and family lived at Dromdeer for awhile until he too was evicted. Did the family move to Dromahane first ? The Dromdeer eviction was often spoken about by my Aunt Ciss (Cecelia). She was christened Margaret and was born on the 16th July 1882. She often told me that she was a baby at the time of the eviction and was accidentally left behind. But she was of course later retrieved. So if her story is true then the eviction of David O`Regan must have taken place about the end of 1882 or beginning of 1883.

The eviction was, as usual at those times, due to non-payment of rent. The reason for non-payment was that all the cattle had died of 'Red Water' more correctly called 'murrain'. Some say that murrain was the same as Foot and Mouth disease. Auntie Ciss often spoke bitterly about the eviction. When I was young –maybe seven or eight – the farm came up for sale. She saw her chance and was determined to get something back for her family. She went to the sale and put in an objection. Nobody would then buy the farm. Later the landlord came to an arrangement and after paying a sum of money was allowed to go ahead with the sale.

So once again the Regan clan were homeless. David Regan had a wife and two young children. He and his family were taken into the home of the Dunne family. This was at Shinana, Ballyhea, County Limerick. They must have lived there until the Dunne family bought a house on the main street of Doneraile, County Cork. I have in my possession the actual receipt for the purchase. It was in the name of David Regan and the sum of £37 –10 –0 (£37.50). I don’t know if that was the going price for houses at the time but it seems the building was in very poor condition. It had a licence to sell alcohol. It was constructed of rock and mortar and had only the shop premises with adjoining living/dining room. It had two rooms upstairs. There was no running water; no bathroom. The dining room/kitchen had an open fire on a grate with a bellows beside it to pump air into it. It must have been some years later that my father, after his marriage built a kitchen/dining room at the rear of the shop. The outside toilet at the end of the yard was still there in my young days. It was used by the family and bar customers.

DUNNE FAMILY

The Dunne family of Shinana seem to have been relatively well-off. (My Aunt Ciss always claimed that Ben Dunne the famous supermarket owner was a relative!) If we count the Dunnes mentioned as godparents there were probably five sisters and one brother. They were Mary (my grandmother); Nora; Johanna; Catherine and Ellen;and John. I remember as a child visiting Shinana and meeting the two surviving sisters; Johanna and Nora. David`s eldest son Patrick (known as Son) was their favourite nephew and they left the farm to him. He married Polly Cussens and had four children; Mary; Patrick; Margaret and Nora (known as Bun).Mary died in the sixties. Patrick died in 1980. Margaret (Peggy) died in her early twenties of T.B. Nora is I believe married and living in Tralee.

Mary Regan (Dunne) my grandmother died at the end of the 19th century. It was said she died of the `fever`. (Did she die before or after the eviction from Rossagh?)This was said to be rampant at the time. Was this typhoid or cholera ? There was an epidemic of cholera in Ireland in 1833 which killed a large proportion of the population. So it is unlikely that there was another outbreak at the end of the century.

CONNECTION WITH RONALD REAGAN ?

Did Michael Regan move to Ballyporeen, County Tipperary and thus have a connection with Ronald Reagan's ancestors? Ronald Reagans greatgrandfather was said to have been born at Doolis, Ballyporeen , County Tipperary on September 3rd 1829. It is possible therefore that he could have been a brother of Michael Regan of Rossa. Another American connection could be with Don Regan,(Died June 10th 2003.) who was in Ronald Reagan's Cabinet, who says his great grandmother Bridget Flynn (who came from Mitchelstown) married Thomas Regan about 1870. So the Michael Regan who was baptiserd in Ballyporeen on the 3rd September 1829 could not be the Michael Regan of Rossagh.

Where did Michael Regan go then ? Did he survive the eviction ? He would have been about 70 years old at the time. We know that David and family lived at Dromdeer for awhile until he too was evicted. Did the family move to Dromahane first.? The Dromdeer eviction was often spoken about by my Aunt Ciss (Cecelia). She was christened Margaret and was born 16th July 1882.

The eviction from Dromdeer must have taken place in 1883/1884 as Ciss said she was an infant when it took place. She claimed she was almost left behind in the confusion of the eviction! So Mary Kate must have been born at Shinana, Ballyhea the home of her mother`s family. It would seem that David Regan, his wife and children were given a home at Shinana by the Dunne family.

At the time of the eviction of Michael Regan in 1881 David Regan (my grandfather) was forty. He married Mary Dunne from Shinana, Ballyhea, County Cork on the 20th February 1879 when he was thirty eight years old. Patrick his first child was born in March 1881; the same month the eviction order was served on his father. Was there an earlier child born in early 1880 who died in infancy ?

David had five children; Patrick, (known as Son), Margaret (known as Ciss), Ellen, Mary Catherine (known as Mary Kate), and Denis (my father).

Patrick was born on the 10th March 1881 and was baptised at Doneraile on the 11th March 1881. He was probably born at Rossagh. His godparents were John and Catherine Dunne. Were they his uncle and aunt ?

Margaret (Ciss) was baptised at Doneraile on the 16th July 1882 and so was probably born about 14th July. Her godparents were Thomas Regan ( Probably a cousin.) and Honora Dunne (her aunt.) She married Richard O`Shea, a carpenter and undertaker. She died 27th March 1965.

Ellen was baptised in Doneraile 4th October 1883 so probably born about 2nd of October. Her godparents were Patrick and Ellen Dunne (uncle and aunt ?). She must have died young as nothing more is heard of her.

Mary Catherine (Mary Kate) was baptised at Ballyhea on 7th March 1885. Her godparents were William Coughlin and Margaret Garvin.She married Martin O`Sullivan 14th September 1916.She died 3rd April 1941. I remember two Garvin (or Garvan) sisters who had a public house in Buttevant. I often visited there with my father. I seem to remember a Coughlin family who lived just outside Buttevant on the Charleville road.

Denis (my father) was born 26th April 1888 and baptised at Ballyhea 29th April 1888. His godparents were Cornelius Garvin and Mrs Morrissey (nee Garvin).

I have been able to put together the following facts about my father from information given by Canon O'Connell Parish Priest of Doneraile.

Denis was admitted to the Presentation convent School on 24th August 1892 aged four years. He was admitted to the Christian Brothers School on the 12th October 1893. It is noted that he was in Class 3 on the 1st June 1896 and left school on the 25th June 1907. The reason for being in school so late was that he was a Monitor (untrained teacher) and so was 19 years old when he left.

My earliest memories of him was as a loving father but strict. If you did not keep the rules a look from him was enough. In extreme cases he might give you a few whacks of a cane. Having been a teacher he was very helpful with homework. We did not have Television (not yet invented) or radio, Most of our free time was spent outdoors playing the usual boyish games with friends. Boys and girls had their own special games. We played hurling. We also enjoyed having an old car tyre which we pushed along with a stick. We called it a 'bowly'. We pretended we were driving a car. We also had marbles. These marbles were small – about a quarter of an inch in diameter. 'Delves' were larger and made of glass. In the game we lined up the marbles and tried to hit them with the delve. You kept the ones you hit.

A lot of our time we spent at the back of our house in a place called the "quarry". It seems the rock for the building of the Catholic Church was taken from this area. At other times – especially in Summer – we went down the "glen". This was an area on the banks of the Awbeg where we had a great time paddling and fishing for "collies". These were tiny fish about two inches long which we kept in a jamjar. They invariably died within a few days. When we got a little older we progressed to owning a bicycle. My father had a byke which had a step on the back axle to help you get on. I remember my first byke was a Royal Enfield. With the bykes we were able to travel further a field. A favourite trip was to Buttevant –about four miles – and explore Ballybeg Abbey before returning home.

EVICTION FROM DROMDEER

The eviction must have taken place in late 1882 or 1883. After the eviction the family would seem to have moved back to the Dunne house at Shinana and lived there until 1891 when a house was purchased in Doneraile for the sum of £37/10/00. This was dated 31st October 1891. It is believed that the purchase money was put up by the Dunne family. The house was not of course, freehold. A yearly ground rent was paid to the Doneraile Estate. The freehold was later purchased by my mother Alice O'Regan, when the family of Lord Doneraile died out and the houses were sold to the tenants.

DUNNE FAMILY

THE Dunne Family of Shinana seem to have been well-off. If we count the Dunnes mentioned as godparents there were five sisters; Mary (my grandfather); Nora; Johanna; Catherine and Ellen and a brother John. I remember as a child visiting Shinana and seeing the two surviving sisters Johanna and Nora. Patrick (known as Son) the eldest son of David was the favourite nephew and they left the farm to him. He married Polly Cussens and they had four children; Mary, Patrick, Margaret and Nora (known as "Bun".) Mary died in the sixties. Patrick died in 1980. Margaret (Peggy) died in her early twenties of T.B.

Mary Regan (Dunne) my grandfather died at the end of the 18th century. It was said she died of the "fever". Was this typhoid. ?

Margaret Cecelia (known as Ciss) was baptised at Doneraile 16th August 1882. So was born about 14th August. She married Richard O'Shea (Dixie), a carpenter and undertaker. He had his workshop at the Turnpike, about half a mile from Doneraile. His parents were living in the adjacent house.This house was situated at the junction of the Charleville and Buttevant Roads. We spent much of our spare time there helping with small jobs and making hay in the small farm attached. My Aunt Ciss kept a few Kerry cows and sold the milk. She also kept a few goats. She and Dixie (who had no family) lived for many years in a house on the main street at the junction of Grove Lane. When Dixies' parents died they moved to the house at the Turnpike. Cecelia died March 1964 aged 82. Dixie died March 1958.

ELLEN; She was baptised at Doneraile 4th October 1883 and so was probably born 2nd or 3rd October. Her godparents were Patrick and Ellen Dunne (uncle and aunt ?). She must have died young, possibly at birth, as nothing more is heard of her.

MARY CATHERINE (Mary Kate); was baptised at Ballyhea on the 7th March 1885. Her godparents were William Coughlin and Margaret Garvin. The latter's grandmother was a Dunne and the Coughlins were also cousins. So Mary Kate was born at Shinana after the family were evicted from Dromdeer. She married Martin Sullivan fter his first wife died. Martin was previously married to Elizabeth Carroll in Abbyleix and had two sons and a daughter; Jack, Patrick and Philomena. Martin had been a coachman and later chauffeur to Lord Castletown of Granston Manor, Rathdowney, who was married to Lord Doneraile. He drove one of the first Minerva cars. Jack died May10th 1937Martin spent the hunting season at Doneraile with Lord Castletown and there met his future wife. Martin had two children by his first wife and had five children by Mary Kate; Mary, Thomas, Shelagh, Johanna and David.

Mary entered the Presentation Convent, Portlaoise in September 1936. Thomas married Nora Corcoran in 1947 and had seven children. Shelagh married John Clancy on 28th July 1945 and had three sons; John Finbarr (Barry); Martin and David.

Johanna (Jo or Josie) married Anthony Cronin on November 29th 1946. Jo died 5.2.1980 and Tony on 9.3.1994. They had two children Margot and Michael. David married Gaynor Dorne on September 15th 1952 and have four children; Jonathan, Mary, Jeremy and Meriel. Tjhey emigrated to Australia in Jauary 1971.

DENIS; (my father) was born 26th April 1888 and baptised at Ballyhea 29th April. His godparents were Cornelius Garvin and Mrs Morrissey (Garvin ?). He married Alice Moynihan who was living next door with her sister Dora Kirwan. Alice was reared by her sister Dora after the death of their mother –Mary Ann – who had died in childbirth with John Moynihan. The Moynihan were a family of thirteen children. My mother –Alice – was the twelfth.

I have been able to put together the following facts about my father from information given to me by Canon O'Connell, Parish Priest of Doneraile.

Denis was admitted to the Presentation convent School on the 24th August 1892 aged four years. He was admitted to the Christian Brothers School on the 12th October 1893. It is noted that he was in Class 3 on the 3rd June 1896 and left school on the 25th June 1907. The reason for being in school so late was that he was a Monitor (untrained teacher) and so was 19 years old when he left.

My earliest memories of him was as a loving but strict father. If you did not keep the rules a look from him was enough. In extreme cases he might give you a few whacks of a cane. Having been a teacher he was very helpful with homework. We did not have Television (nobody had ?) or even radio. He liked to take us for walks along the country roads. He had a bicycle but we did not get one until about the age of 12. We could then cycle to nearby towns like Buttevant, Mallow and Charleville.

EXCERPT FROM BAPTISM REGISTER OF ST MARY'S CHURCH; DONERAILE, COUNTY CORK.

DATE SURNAME XT NAME PARENTS G'PAR

1845.04.27 REGAN MARY MICHAEL JIM MANNIX

CATHERINE QUIN MARY REGAN

1847.09.26 REGAN MARGARET MICHAEL JAMES SHEA

CATHERINE QUIN MARY BUCKLEY

1841.01.10 REGAN DAVID MICHAEL PATRICK REGAN

CATHERINE QUIN JOHANNA DALY

1881.03.11 REGAN PATRICK DAVID JOHN DUNNE

MARY DUNNE KATE DUNNE

1882.07.16 REGAN MARGARET DAVID THOMAS REGAN

MARY DUNNE HANORA DUNNE

1883.09.04 REGAN ELLEN DAVID PATRICK DUNNE

MARY DUNNE ELLEN DUNNE

BLAKES AND DUNNES

These families were related. One of the Dunnes married a Blake. All the Blakes who came to live in Doneraile (2nd generation) are now dead. They were Tom, Bill, Hannah and Michael. Only Hannah who married Matthew Keeffe had children; Tom, Michael and Margaret.

THOMAS REGAN (godfather to Margaret Regan) was not a relation. Their farm adjoined the Dunne farm at Shinanagh.

DENIS O'REGAN/MOYNIHAN

Denis O'Regan married Alice Moynihan. Alice was the twelfth of thirteen children born to Patrick Moynihan and Mary Ann Nunan. She had been living next door with her sister Dora and Michael Kirwan. As Dora had no children she informally adopted her sister after their mother died.

Denis and Alice had three children; David born 26 –7-1924; Patrick born 7 – 7 –1926 and Mary born 10 – 12 – 1928.

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