Barnes Family Tree

Joe was born in November 1903 in Hillbrook to Jim Barnes & Annie Donegan. After his mum, Annie, died in 1910, Joe & siblings were reared by their oldest sister Ann (Aunt Nan) in the house on the ‘top road’ until Jim’s death in 1920, when its thought the family moved down to Aunt Nan’s house on the ‘lower road’.

I’m not sure if Joe ever left the Hillbrook/Coolboy area & we also don’t know how he & his wife Kathleen met, although her grandmother Kate Hennessey lived near the Barnes’ home so perhaps they met when she visited her grandmother - they may even have been childhood sweethearts! Also, Kathleen’s uncle, Michael (Mick) Hennessy, married Joe’s sister Ann in 1918.  Joe & Kathleen married in Coolafancy church & their witnesses were Pat Nolan & Ann Hennessey. They lived in Coolroe before building the house in Hillbrook.

Joe was a tall lanky man, like his mother’s family & was a great singer but it’s said that he could be a little contrary at times. He worked as a labourer in the surrounding areas & is said to remember working in the fields & seeing the train that brought his father’s body home from Dublin for burial in 1920. My dad remembers stories of Joe & a pal travelling by bike to get the train to Roscommon to go ‘lamping’ rabbits.

He was injured in an accident in Cronalea in the 1940s when a bit of steel from a chisel hit his right eye. His eye had to be removed in Dublin & he wore a black patch on this eye from then on. An ulcer in his stomach burst in 1951 nearly causing him to die. He had surgery and was never able to return to work after that. He passed away, at home in Hillbrook, in 1964.

Joe, as he was known, was the 4^th of 7 children born to James Barnes (Jim) & Annie Donegan. They were Ann (Aunt Nan), Catherine, Kate (Kitty), Joseph, Michael (Mick), George & Julia.

Joe's Siblings

Anne or Aunt Nan as she was known, was born in Tomnafinnogue in 1898 & as the eldest, looked after her siblings after their mother died in 1910. She is remembered as a good singer & would always walk everywhere. She married Mick Hennessey in Coolafancy in 1918 – she was just 20 yrs of age & Mick was a bachelor of 49! They had several children together before Mick passed away in 1929. Ann re-married Christopher Behan in 1933, also in Coolafancy, & had several more children with him. She passed away in 1978 & is buried with Christopher in Coolafancy.

Catherine was born in Tomnafinnogue in 1900 & sadly died in 1902 from Influenza & bronchitis.

Kate or Kitty  as she was known, was born in Hillbrook in 1902, married Patrick O’Keeffe & they lived locally all their lives. They had several children together, including Ben who has been very helpful to me when researching the family. Kitty is described as being a ‘living saint’ & was said to be very gentle & kind. She passed way in 1978 & is buried with her husband in Coolafancy.

Michael was known as Mick & was born in Paulbeg in 1905 & remained a bachelor all his life. He lived with his sister Kitty & her family & is buried with her also. He worked in the mines in Avoca & is remembered as having one of the 1^st ‘bubble’ cars in the area. He passed awa y in 1965.

George was born in Paulbeg in 1907 & died from Influenza 3 weeks after birth

Julia was born in Paulbeg in Jan 1909 & died from TB, in 1922, when she was just 14 yrs old.