Nelly O'Kelly and the Irish roots
Ellen “Nelly” O'Kelly was born in Ireland about 1865. She married James McGuinness at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1885. confirmed Her sister Sarah was living with the family in 1891. likely
What the family remembers
- Roots in County Clare. family tradition
- A connection with “Shannah Castle”. family tradition
- A link with Kilkenny. family tradition
A suggestion, not a finding: the family home in Felling was called Shanid House. That name may echo Shanid Castle in County Limerick, near the Clare border, and so might be the “Shannah Castle” of family memory. unconfirmed This is unverified.
Update: Nelly was very probably born on 3.10.1864 at Shanid, Shanagolden parish, County Limerick. She was the daughter of Philip Kelly, farmer, of Shanid Upper and his wife Catherine. likely The Kelly farmhouse there was itself called “Shanid House”. See The McGuinnesses for the full story. So the “Shannah Castle” of family memory is almost certainly Shanid Castle. Her 1885 marriage certificate would confirm her father's name. Catholic parish registers (see registers.nli.ie) and irishgenealogy.ie are the next places to look.