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The LOWNEY Family of C18th-C21st Castletownbere, SW County Cork, Ireland

- Updated April 2012 -

Origins of the Family Name

Records show the majority of the C19th family name is focused around Castletownbere in SW County Cork or in SW parts of Ireland in general. Tales suggest that the family members were part of the O' Sullivan Bere clan that fled the SW after the defeat of the Catholic Irish and Spanish at the Battle of Kinsale at the hands of the Crown forces. The Battle of Kinsale started on 17th October 1601 with 3400 Spanish soldiers under the command of Aquilla supported by O'Sullivan Bere, O'Driscoll and the O'Connors of Kerry. After Aquilla surrendered on 12th January 1602 the four Spanish-defended O’Sullivan castles along the Beare Peninsula on the SW Coast were handed over. Donal Cam, chieftain of the O'Sullivan Bere Clan and his supporters fled north east. A number reportedly resettled in the Laune river valley in County Kerry, and when they finally returned to the Castletownbere area were known as LOWNEY or LANE from their adopted place. In old church records in the area there are a number of references to the family name of Sullivan Launa, which support this story.

The surname of LOWNEY may also be derived from the Irish O'Luanaigh, a personal name meaning a warrior or soldier. Early records of the name mention a Gillacrist O'Luinigh who was documented in the year 1090, and an Edward O'Luinigh was recorded in County Cork in 1300, suggesting a possible earlier and separate origin for some with the name.

The name has variant spellings including O'Luinigh, M'Lawney (possibly becoming Maloney), Lownye, Loney and O'Looney. In Castletownbere and nearby, Irish church records have transcribed variations based on L*N*Y and include: LAUNEY, LAUNY, LAWNEY, LAWNY, LONEY, LOUNEY, LOUNY, LOWNEY, LUONY, etc.. Variations on LANE are also present.

My wife’s branch, which moved to Clonakilty in the late C19th, is still known locally as LOONEY in the town, even though spelling their names LOWNEY. For example, the 1911 census had the family clearly listed as LOONEY but the signature was LOWNEY. The distribution of the name in Ireland today is shown below:


Ancestral Locations

The timing of the return to the Castletownbere area is unclear, but the name is well established by the late C18th and where many groups reside to this day, perhaps part of an extended family, but also not necessarily genetically related if having adopted the name. In many cases, online Irish Church records provide names of both parents as well as witnesses and sponsors to marriages and baptisms, and also places of residence, so a reasonable paper trail exits to the earliest C19th. Crop failures and The Irish Famine of 1845-52 resulted in a large number of deaths and emigration (with the need for labour in the US being the most popular). With the eldest or surviving son inheriting the farm, younger members of the family had to remain in support or move to start a new life elsewhere. Records support family stories of surviving daughters who were in line to inherit being “bought” into marriage by landless men to obtain title to land of their own. Marriage records show that it was common for children not to marry until late 20’s or early 30’s, until such time they inherited and were able to support a family of their own. Baptismal records are generally in the Roman Catholic churches of Castletownbere. Marriages are also generally in Castletownbere, but occasionally wives were found on the northern side of the local mountain in the Allihies & Eyeries parishes, or further afield. All records in the far SW fall under the Diocese of Kerry, despite being in County Cork.

The descendant family in present day Clonakilty, Co. Cork is descended from a family that resided in Felane West (Filane West), east of Castletownbere. In earliest records the township is referred to as variations on B*l*sk*, including Ballusky, Bahluska, Bolisk, Bolesk, Bollusk, Bolusk, Bolusky, Bulhusk, Buesk, Bulisk, Bulliesk, Bullisk, Bulisky, and Bullusk. On maps Ballesky or Bullesky, which may translate from the Gaelic to be a place to do with cows (bo) and also “skeagh”?) and later in family records their residence in the same area is recorded as Ardnasciach or Ardnaskeagh (which may translate from the Gaelic as “high (the) thorns (skeagh = hawthorn, or Thornhill, a place name just east of Felane and adjacent to Rossmackowen & Curryglass, but not a part of Felane West at that time). The 1901 & 1911 Irish census confirms that the Felane West township consisted of no more than 8 houses and Bullesky school (the latter appearing to have gone by the 1911 census). In both census years the 8 properties were owned two each by LOWNEYs, SULLIVANs (O’SULLIVAN), and MURPHYs, with a single NEILL (O’NEILL) & SHEA (O’SHEA). As one would expect, many of these families intermarried. A number of detailed recorded oral histories exist (especially in emigrant families in the US) to piece together the last 200 years of the family.

Geographically, Felane West is part of a narrow coastal strip (only about 500m across and extending no more than about 3km inland) which is rocky in the northern 50% land with a small area suitable for agriculture in the southern half. The main occupations were farming (arable, with sheep in the more rocky & mountainous parts), fishing and weaving (woollen cloth). The other noted places names are in the 10km coastal strip to the east of Castletownbere and shown of this Google map).

Earliest Records at Bullesky & Ardnascaich/Ardnaskeagh, Felane West

C19th census records in the US, England, Scotland & Wales have a number of possible emigrants from this family based on name and age, however with referenced origins only as “Ireland” or best as “Cork, Ireland” it is difficult to identify without specific family narratives. Some researchers believe that the family is headed by a John LAUNEY (1798, Gortagullane (probably present day Gortnagulla), Co. Kerry s/o Maurice LAUNEY & Mary LEAHY) who was a weaver and settled in Ardnaskeagh, however there are sufficient early LOWNEY records at B*l*k* to suggest that there must be a number of (brothers/cousins) and that all the men recorded cannot all be sons of this John. He is given of Keelratrine (probably Kilcatherine, NW of Eyeries) on some early records.

The following is a non-exhaustive alphabetical & chronological list of LOWNEY family groups that tie in to the B*l*k*/Ardnaskeagh township. The “bef” refers to before a maximum birth date for marrying at 18, which, as noted above, is likely to be very unusual. It can be expected that a further 10 or more years could be added for approx. dates of birth. A number are probably repeat marriages. Place names shown are as transcribed from online Irish Church records:

  • Denis LOWNEY of Commindaugh (unidentified), bef 1806 = Hanora HOULIHAN in 1824 Eyeries:

    • Julia LOWNEY (1829) of Bolusk;

    • Ellen LOWNEY (1830) of Bolesk;

  • John LOWNEY of Coom, bef 1806. Family narratives from the US refer to 3 wives, 2 of whom died in childbirth:

    • 1. = Margaret MURPHY bef 1826

      • Mary LOWNEY (1826) of Bullisk. Went to US c1846 = Jeremiah O’NEILL (1805) and settled in Lowell, Massachusetts. 5 children;

    • 2. = Unclear c1827-1831.

    • 3. = Mary LEAHY in 1832 Allihies. Children:

      • John LOWNEY (1835) of Belusk (a sponsor at his baptism was M SHEEHAN, who may be the Mary below in the Clonakilty branch). Given as of Ardnaskeagh = Margaret O’NEILL of nearby Gortnagaffe in 1868. Widowed John is living in Felane West in Curryglass in 1901, with Jeremiah, Maggie, Katie & Michael (all single). Children:

        • Mary LOWNEY (1869);

        • Helen LOWNEY (1870) = Denis NEILL of Inchintriskin in 1899 Castletownbere;

        • John J LOWNEY (1872-1924) went to Butte, Montana, USA to mine c1895 and married Catherine (d/o James LOWNEY & Margaret HARRINGTON of Clougheen, Beara, Cork) who arrived 3 years later. 12 children and numerous descendants in the US;

        • Bridget LOWNEY (1874-74);

        • Julia LOWNEY (1875);

        • Maurice LOWNEY (1877), reported to have died in Butte, Montana;

        • Jeremiah LOWNEY (1879) = Annie O’SULLIVAN after 1911 and inherited Ardnaskeagh:

          • Maurice LOWNEY (1917-21);

        • Margaret LOWNEY (1881), shortly after 1901 left home and settled in the US. Died in San Francisco;

        • Denis LOWNEY (1883), reportedly died in Butte, Montana;

        • Catherine LOWNEY (1886) emigrated to US and married Michael O’SULLIVAN in San Francisco;

        • Michael LOWNEY (1889-1946) left for Butte, Montana in 1909 and died there;

      • Julia LOWNEY (1837) = John O’SULLIVAN in 1858 and lived nearby in Scart/Rossmackowen;

      • Maurice LOWNEY (1844-1907) went to Nevada, USA to earn his fortune as a miner and returned to settle in Castletownbere = Mary HOLLAND in 1879. Children:

        • Mary Anne LOWNEY (1880-1949) = Daniel SULLIVAN (1867-1912), then went to the US in 1916 marrying John FOX;

        • Julia LOWNEY (1881-85). Died of measles;

        • Ellen LOWNEY (1882-85). Died of measles;

        • Margaret LOWNEY (1885-85). Died of measles;

        • Agnes Mary LOWNEY (1886-69) in 1909 went to Butte, Montana to marry her sweetheart Pierce Joseph POWERS (1885-1959) of Castletownbere;

        • Lucy LOWNEY (1888-94). Died of a plague;

        • Abigail Mary LOWNEY (1890-1965). Died in Detroit, Michigan, USA;

        • Catherine Josephine LOWNEY (1892-1974) arrived in US in 1912 = Michael James RYAN in Butte, Montana;

        • Joanne Mary LOWNEY (1900-90) = Charles Joseph WARE in Michigan, USA;

        • John Phillip LOWNEY (1902-65). Unmarried;

  • Julia LOWNEY (bef 1807) = Patrick LEAH or Patrick SULLIVAN of Bulhusk in 1825. Both marriages given, but as witness is a LEAH for the groom, it is assumed to be LEAH. Cornelius LAUNY is the witness for the bride.

  • Jeremiah LOWNEY (bef 1807) = Mary SULLIVAN bef 1828:

    • William LOWNEY (Jan 1828) of Bolusk;

    • John LOWNEY (1831) of Bulisk;

    • Jeremiah LOWNEY (1838) of Bolusky;

    • Mary LOWNEY (1841);

    • James LOWNEY (1845) of Bolisk;

  • Jeremiah LOWNEY (bef 1810) = Margaret MURPHY bef 1828;

    • John LOWNEY (Mar 1828) of Bolusk;

  • Timothy LOWNEY (bef 1810) – Ancestor of the Clonakilty family, below;

  • John LOWNEY (bef 1812) = Johanna LOWNEY bef 1829:

    • James LOWNEY (1829) of Bolusk;

    • William LOWNEY (1830) of Bulisk;

  • Julia LOWNEY (bef 1812) to Daniel LEAH of Bolusk in 1830;

  • Cornelius LOWNEY (bef 1813) of Bulisky = Ellen LOWNEY (no residence) in 1831;

  • Denis LOWNEY (bef 1813) = Mary SULLIVAN bef 1831:

    • John LOWNEY (1831) of Bullusk;

  • John LOWNEY (bef 1816) = Mary MURPHY bef 1835:

    • Isaac LOWNEY (Apr 1835) of Bullusk ;

  • John LOWNEY (bef 1817) = Mary SULLIVAN bef 1835:

    • Patrick LOWNEY (Dec 1835) of Bolesk;

  • John LOWNEY (bef 1818) of Bolesk = Ellen MURPHY in 1836:

    • John LOWNEY (1841) of Bullesk;

  • John LOWNEY (bef 1820) = Ellen SULLIVAN:

    • Margaret LOWNEY (1838) of Bolusk;

  • Jeremiah LOWNEY (bef 1835) = Johanna HARRINGTON bef 1853:

    • Bridget LOWNEY (1853) of Fiehane = John O’NEILL of Rossmacowen;

    • Johannah LOWNEY (1864) = ? John LEARY and may be resident in London in 1911;

    • Jeremiah LOWNEY (1866) of Filane;

  • Timothy LOWNEY (bef 1844) = Mary SHEA bef 1862:

    • John LOWNEY (1862) ;

    • Catherine LOWNEY (1877) of Filawn;

Documented Ancestry of the Clonakilty LOWNEY Family


Current C19th head is Timothy LOWNEY (bef 1810) of Ardnascaich who married Mary O'SULLIVAN abt 1830. Children:

  • William LOWNEY (1831-1909) of Buesk (baptism) of Milleens (upon marriage) = Margaret MURPHY (1844-1916) in 1870. Children:

    • John LOWNEY (1871) of Ardnaskeagh;

    • Timothy LOWNEY (1873) of Bolosk & Filiane = Mary HOULIHAN in 1909. Timothy inherited the property at Ardnaskeagh from his late father:

      • Margaret LOWNEY (1911);

    • Michael LOWNEY (1875) of Filane;

    • Mary LOWNEY (1878) of Ardnaskeagh = Quinlan MURPHY of nearby Shanavalleleigh, Curryglass;

    • William LOWNEY (1880) of Ardnaskeagh;

    • Patrick LOWNEY (1886);

  • John LOWNEY (1834) of Ardnaskeagh = Mary O'SULLIVAN of Ardnaskeagh in 1860 (witness: William LOWNEY). Couple also given as of nearby Scart/Frilane. Children:

    • John LOWNEY (1862) aka Jack, Carpenter & Coachbuilder of Clonakilty, m. Ellen O'SULLIVAN (1871-1934) of Whiddy Island, Bantry Bay in Bantry in 1890. Their children in Clonakilty area include:

      • Patrick Joseph LOWNEY (1891), Coachbuilder, went to Wexford. Six children are known with spouse surname FORTUNE in period from 1928, but 2 earlier children may be from an earlier marriage:

        • Mary Josephine LOWNEY (1916), m. in 1947 Wexford;

        • Kathleen Ellen LOWNEY (1919) = Patrick O’DONEGAN in 1944 Hertfordshire, England;

        • John Joseph LOWNEY (1921-2005);

        • Patrick Joseph LOWNEY (1928) = Margaret Mary TREACY (1925-2007) in 1948 Wexford. Jack & Peg were the founders of the LOWNEY furniture business in Wexford. Children (unconfirmed & gleaned from public sources):

          • John Joseph Brenden LOWNEY (1949) = Annette. Children in Wexford:

            • Brendan LOWNEY, Colm LOWNEY, Eddie LOWNEY, Emma LOWNEY, Jenny LOWNEY & Kate LOWNEY;

          • Philomena Mary LOWNEY (1951);

          • Sean LOWNEY (1952);

          • Francis J LOWNEY (1954-bef 2005). A firm of solicitors with this name in Wexford;

          • Maurice P LOWNEY (1958);

          • Declan LOWNEY (1960) TV & Film Producer = Jenny. Children in Wexford:

            • Danny LOWNEY (1995);

            • Ted LOWNEY (1998);

          • Noreen LOWNEY (1962);

        • Ellen V LOWNEY (1930-2011);

        • Noel Anthony LOWNEY (1935);

      • Mary Kate LOWNEY (1893) = John CUNNINGHAM in 1939;

      • John LOWNEY (1894) Coachbuilder = Ellen O’MAHONEY (1912-90) in 1935 Skibbereen. Clonakilty children:

        • John Joseph LOWNEY (1936) = Judy after 1958, then later Patricia QUILL. Children with first wife:

          • John LOWNEY, Nuala LOWNEY & Olive LOWNEY;

        • Mary T LOWNEY (1937);

        • Kieran F LOWNEY (1939);

        • Kevin A LOWNEY (1940);

        • Patrick C LOWNEY (1942);

        • Timothy B LOWNEY (1944);

      • Timothy LOWNEY (1896-1972) aka Ted, Coachbuilder of Clonakilty, m. Edna Edith O'CONNELL (1904-81) of Ballydehob, Cork in 1928;

        • Ellen Mary LOWNEY aka Elma (1930-2012), m. Denis Joseph O'NEILL;

        • John Anthony Pascal LOWNEY aka Tony (1932-2011) = Joan QUINLAN (1932-81). Children:

          • Timothy John LOWNEY (1955) = Mary SHEEHAN:

            • Jane LOWNEY (1985);

            • Stephen LOWNEY (1987);

          • Geraldine M LOWNEY (1958) = Anthony STAUNTON;

          • Brian LOWNEY (1971) = Louise McCARTHY;

        • Gertrude Geraldine LOWNEY (1939-57);

        • Timothy Daniel LOWNEY aka Teddy (1940) = Pauline DINEEN. Children:

          • Jean LOWNEY (1962);

          • Alan LOWNEY;

          • Conor LOWNEY;

        • Joseph Patrick LOWNEY aka Paddy (1946), m. Helen WALSH. Children:

          • Shane LOWNEY (1971);

          • Justin LOWNEY (1974);

      • Ellen LOWNEY (1900); m. William DWYER (1905-49) of Barryroe, Co. Cork according to records (LINEHAN is the spouse name mentioned in family, perhaps 2nd marriage?);

      • Rosie LOWNEY (abt 1907) – no records found;

      • Margaret A LOWNEY (1909-2007) aka Mollie, m. Jeremiah F DWYER (1903-98) of Drinagh, Co. Cork. Family in Massachusetts, USA;

    • Mary LOWNEY (1865) = William POWER (according to oral history);

    • Margaret LOWNEY (1867) = Frederick Alfred McMILLAN (1865) in 1901;

    • Timothy LOWNEY (1876-1918) of Scart, Curryglass in 1901 & 1911 = Annie MULLINS in 1912. Children in Castletownbere:

      • Anna LOWNEY (1915) = Donal HARRINGTON in 1948;

      • Margaret Anne LOWNEY (1916) = James Gerard HARRINGTON in 1941 Kerry;

      • John Joseph LOWNEY (1918) = Kathleen O’SHEA in 1956 Limerick. Children:

        • Timothy Leo LOWNEY (1957) = Kathleen SHERIDAN. Children:

          • Aoife C LOWNEY (1985);

          • Cian LOWENY (1987);

          • Eanna LOWNY (1990);

        • Sean LOWNEY (1960) = Angela O’CONNOR (1963-2006). Children:

          • David LOWNEY (1997);

          • Orla LOWNEY (1999);

          • Sarah LOWNEY (2002);

      • Theresa C LOWNEY (abt 1919) = Eamonn CARBERRY;

      • Eileen Christina LOWNEY (1922-2011 Carrigaline);

      • Mary Christina LOWNEY (1924-2007) = Joseph McCARTHY in 1947;

      • Edward LOWNEY (1925) aka Big Ted of Scart = Kathleen CONDON. Children:

        • John LOWNEY (1950, Dublin South);

        • Timothy Gerard LOWNEY (1957 Wexford);

        • Ann LOWNEY;

        • Fergal LOWNEY;

      • Joseph LOWNEY (1826) = Patricia O’BRIEN in 1975 Redbridge, Greater London;

      • Frances LOWNEY (1928);

    • Ellen LOWNEY (1877) – unmarried and living at home in Scart, Curryglass in 1901 census;

  • Margaret LOWNEY (1836) = William POWER of Ordnaskeach in 1857. Witness was Cornelius LOWNEY;

  • Timothy LOWNEY (1838) of the couple and of Kilkinihan (unrecognised): Baptised in Allihies, with sponsor Mary LOWNEY;

  • Mary LOWNEY (1843) of Bolesk. Of Bulusk when = John HOULIHAN of Derrimihan West in 1867. Witness was William POWER, presumably husband of her sister Margaret;

Home Page & Contact Info

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