There was a Michael O’Donnell farming in Killusty North from at least the 1828 Tithes List. He held 16 acres of land.6 It seems he married and had a child Michael born a.1820. 7 8
Some of the records below for this family mention Tinrush within Killusty, which seems to be an unofficial name for an area in Killusty North. An Online discussion list says it is close to Killusty Castle.9 However, Griffiths Maps shows Michael’s holding to be somewhat east of the castle. The online discussion list above showed various people lived there, including Nagles, who were neighbours of the O’Donnells in the 1901 census, and one of Michael’s daughters married a Nagle.
The 1846 Griffiths House book shows that Michael Daniel (probably the father) held a reasonably large farmhouse (46x15.6x6.6) with stable and fowl house, cart house and barn, numbered 4A in Killusty North. The Tenure book (1850) shows this came with 20 acres of land, and another 2 acre block labelled 4B.
The same book shows that that Michael Daniel (probably the son) took over the farm of John Hanly, a reasonably large house (40x18x6.6) with stable, barn and pig-house, in lot 3 in Killusty North. This seems to have reverted to John Hanly by December of that year but the 1850 Tenure book confirms Michael Daniel holding house and 10 acres in Lot 3, and this is pencilled in over a crossed-out previous holder.10
House Books:
Tenure Books:
The final version of the Griffiths Book (1854) showed similar, a main holding by Michael Daniel in Lot 4 with House, Office and 29 acres of land, and a smaller holding of Lot 3b, with House, Office, and 17.5 acres of land.
The Griffiths map shows lots 3 and 4, to the east of Killusty Castle.
Michael the son married Elizabeth Power on the 26th January, 1854.11 She was from Gambonsfield and Kilcash Parish. She was sometimes called Bessy or Eliza.
Michael and Bessy had children (all baptised in Fethard Parish which includes Killusty):
For some birth registrations, residence given as Tinrush, Kiltinan. This residence was also given as the residence for Mary’s marriage.
Bessy wife of Michael died on the 4th June, 1897 aged 65.25 She died of heart disease. Her husband Michael was present at death.
The 1901 census shows the family of Michael, with Bessy and son James dead, Michael, John, Annie and Ellen still at home and unmarried. Three children are out of the house: Bridget (married), Mary (married), and Lizzie (??):
1901 Census: house 2 in Kilusty North (Kiltinan, Tipperary)26
Michael the father died on the 29th April, 1908.27 He reached a fine old age of 97. His son-in-law, Patrick Nagle (see below) was present at death.
The 1911 census shows offspring Michael, John and Ellen still single and at home. Michael heads the farm, John is working as a Cattle Dealer, and Ellen manages the house.
1911 Census: house 3 in Killusty North (Kiltinan, Tipperary)28
Regarding the children:
Michael never married. After his father died he headed the farm, which he did until his death on the 25th August, 1935, aged 76.29 He died of cardiac failure.
John never married. After his father died, and Michael took over the farm, John continued living there (on the Tinrush farm), but worked as a cattle dealer. He died on the 11th April, 1925 aged 66.30 He died of Addison’s disease (Addison's disease). His elder brother Michael was present-at-death.
Bridget married John O’Donnell on the 1st February, 1894.31 He was a farmer of Peafield, Gortnapisha (possibly a cousin?), son of James O’Donnell, a farmer. Peafield is about 5km north of Killusty. Bridget’s sister Lizzie was witness. After marriage, the couple lived in Peafield, possibly taking on John’s father’s farm. They had children:
The 1901 census shows the family:
1901 Census: house 5 in Gortnapisha (Cloneen, Tipperary)35
The 1911 census shows the family unchanged, except older. The census indicated that the couple had had 3 children and none dead:
1911 Census: house 1 in Gurtnapisha (Cloneen, Tipperary)36
Bridget died on the 20th December, 1913, aged 52, from Tuberculosis.37 No sign of the death of John.
Mary daughter of Michael married Patrick Nagle on the 14th February, 1899.38 He was a farmer of Killusty, son of Patrick Nagle, a farmer. Mary’s residence was given as Tinrush, Killusty. Mary’s sister Annie was witness.
The 1901 census shows that Patrick and Mary took on the farm adjacent to the Daniel’s farm. This is possibly the farm of Patrick’s parents, or it might be the Block 3 property held by the Daniels since 1846.
1901 Census: house 1 in Kilusty North (Kiltinan, Tipperary)39
Mary and Patrick had children:
These children are confirmed by the 1911 Census. The census indicated they had had 4 children, none dead:
1911 Census: house 2 in Killusty North (Kiltinan, Tipperary)45
Patrick Nagle the father died on the 7th November, 1923, aged 58.46 Son William was present-at-death.
Mary the mother died on the 3rd August, 1941 aged 78.47 Residence was given as Tinrush, and her son-in-law William Phelan was present-at-death.
Annie daughter of Michael (born 1865) was living at home and single in 1901 (aged 37). She was out of the house by the 1911 census. There is a death record for a Anne O’Donnell who died in Peafield on the 24th April, 1908.48 Peafield is where Annie’s sister Bridget moved after marrying. It is possible Annie moved in with her sister Bridget and family. Note that the person given as present-at-death was Anne’s brother Michael O’Donnell of Tinrush. The only living Michael O’Donnell of Tinrush was Annie’s eldest brother. Her age at death was given as 38, while her actual age would have been 43. She was said to be unmarried, daughter of a farmer.
Lizzie daughter of Michael was born 1867. The last mention of her in records was as a witness to her sister Bridget’s wedding in 1894.
Ellen daughter of Michael was still at home unmarried in 1911, aged 36. I can find no marriage or death record for her.