Barnes Family Tree

Home

Welcome to the webite for my section of the Barnes family. My ancestors were Donegan & Hennessy that hailed from Shillelagh and Clonmore in Wicklow & Barden and Quinn that hailed from Killanerin & Clongeen in Wexford.

Through the past 150 years or so, these familes moved around the south Wicklow & North Wexford areas & eventually my great-grandparents settled in Hillbrook, Coolboy in Wicklow.

Many moons ago, I took an interest in my family’s roots. I remember my dad showing me the house his father was born into on ‘the top road’ in Wicklow. I was fascinated by this old house & vividly remember it, although I was less than 10 years old at the time. And although I had some of the story backward, I’ve always known about & been interested in my grandparents’ younger lives. Why, I cannot say. Perhaps it was that Grandad wore an eye-patch which made him look different & somehow more interesting to me, or perhaps I’m just nosy!

I began researching my ‘Family Tree’ in about 2006 & decided to start with my dad’s family as I had lived in Kerry most of my younger life, where mum’s family were from, & thought I knew most of her side - & what I didn’t know could be easily found out. [Mum has since began this journey for herself] My initial thoughts were that I would trace back to my fathers Grand-parents but I didn’t take into account that tracing a family is like a drug & once you start it is impossible to give up until every possible avenue has been exhausted. I am almost at that point now but I felt that putting everything together for other members of the family to read might spark off a few memories in someone that could lead me to close any remaining gaps. I invite all conversation on this ‘tree’ as it not my family but the family of hundreds…

Helen

A special thanks to; Fr Patrick O’Brien, Kilanerin; Fr Ray Gahan, Killaveny; my dad; dad’s brothers & sisters for the countless hours of reminiscing & for the fantastic photos but especially Paddy, George, Nancy & Maggie; ‘cousin’ Michael for his side of the family; John Quinn for the phone calls; Ben O’Keeffe & family for sharing their information; Patricia Quinn for writing Rose’s story; my darling children Sophie, Kate & Aoife & a word of apology to them for the moments of ‘neglect’ they suffered while I got bogged-down with a untraceable relative; mum for the hours of phone-calls & enthusiasm; my darling hubby Ger for the trips East, the long nights, the encouragement & support, the interest he shows & his constant love; Catherine Wright in Wicklow Gaol without whom I could never have done this!

Web Hosting by Turbify

helen@wicklowbarnes.com