Barnes Family Tree

Annie Donegan

Annie was born in 1869 in Tomnafinnogue, Wicklow to parents Joseph Donegan & Brigid Mulhall & was one of 5 children. They were Anne, James, Catherine, Bridget & Sarah.

Her family came from the Shillelagh area & many of their descendants still live around the Tinahely/Shillelagh area. As I mentioned earlier, Joe Barnes & siblings were great singers & this may have come from the Donegan side as they were all known to be musical - 2 of Annie’s nephews, Joe & Bill were in a showband called ‘The Silver Star’ in the 1960s. Indeed, quite a few of my generation of the Barnes’ are blessed with musical talent – isn’t it wonderful to know where it came from!

Annie married Will Byrne in 1889 in one of the churches of Carnew parish, most likely Coolafancy seeing as both addresses are listed as Tomnafinnogue. They had 1 child, Thomas, who was born in 1889 & is thought to have died in WW1. Thomas is not listed as living with his mother Annie in the 1901 census so I have no certain information on him beyond his birth.

I have visited the WW1 grave of a Thomas Byrne, from Kilcommon, Wicklow who was the approximately the correct age, but I cannot state for certainty that this is Annie’s son. In the records available, his mother’s name is listed as Ann but his father’s name is listed as Thomas - all his other war records have been destroyed. A very sad note in his death record is that there was no next of kin & his medals were disposed of by the Dublin Fusiliers. I will continue to research this young fella’s life until I can say for sure whether he is Annie’s son or not. The grave that I visited is in a small but very beautiful town, Bethune, in northern France & the grave is kept impeccably.

Annie’s husband Will died in Hacketstown in 1895 having been paralysed for 5 years previous. The reason for the paralysis is not given but there is a story in the family that ‘someone’ died after a fall from a horse-cart at Kilcavan Gap. I have been unable to confirm this story either but I will continue my search.

Annie married James Barnes in 1898 & died in Hillbrook in 1910, from TB, leaving 5 young children behind to be reared by her eldest daughter. She is buried in Coolafancy with her daughter Julia, son Joesph, his wife Kathleen & her great-great-grandaughter baby Kayla. Annie’s grandparents Nicholas & Catherine Mulhall, & their son Michael, are also buried in Coolafancy. I have yet to find her parents’ (Joseph Donegan & Bridget Mulhaul) grave though.