Family tradition tells us that we are descendants of a Patrick Crowe of Killaloe!

We now know that he is a bit older than we first thought. We also know that the American branch of the family hold the same tradition. Currently it is thought that he may have been the father of a James Crowe who was the Grandfather of our John Walsh Crowe – here our story begins for now.

James Crowe was a Land Agent (we think for the Arthur (O'Brien) family based on “Glenomera”, Broadford, not far from Killaloe).

He was also a very acquisitive man as far as land leases went. If we look at the Land records available, he had control of fairly large amounts, and by local tradition, was not much liked by sections of the community at large. Many people would have been jealous of his success and the amount of land that he had. Of course, James would not have been able take over the tenancy of these lands unless the landlords were certain that he could make the land work for him and that he could pay the all important rent

We do not know the name of his wife but probably it was Mary if they followed the normally accepted naming customs. We do know that they had 4 sons (Edmund, William, John & Patrick) and one daughter -with the possibility of at least one more daughter.

As time went on, various properties appear to have passed to his offspring. Sons William and John were leasing adjoining properties in Knockaderreen, Edmond in Cloonfadda and Patrick near Killaloe. A daughter, name unknown but married to a Lacy, was at one point in occupation of a property in Kilcredaun.

After the death (murder???) of the Lacy husband, that family was removed from the land.

John was known to have been a Bailiff for the Arthur's, and following his removal from the position, was subsequently tried and executed for conspiracy to murder James Watson, the Arthur's' land Agent. His land was then resumed and re-let to a Matthew Kelly.

James Lacy (James Crowe's grandson), later regained possession of his parent's lease, following John Crowe‘s execution.

John Crowe's Trial accounts were the sources of information for some of these facts as it was reported in the London Times and the Limerick Chronicle as well as being a part of a Special Commission Report on unrest in Ireland. In fact, it was a notable case because the execution was for Conspiracy – an offence that had not previously been rigorously pursued.

John Walsh Crowe was born at Knockaderreen, Co Clare, Ireland, on 29th May, 1832.  He was the third of six children born to William Crowe and Honora (Norry) Walsh. William was a farmer and unlike many Catholic Irish farmers of the time, he occupied a property of more than 60 acres.  The farm was still in family hands until the late 1950's. His brother, John, also occupied the adjoining property of over 60 acres but that family lost the farm after John was executed.

Honora Walsh Crowe died in 1868 and is buried at the Bridgetown (Clare) Cemetery.  We believe that John's father died sometime between 1840 and 1850 and is possibly buried with his parents.

John's grandfather was James Crowe of Cloonfadda, and he was born in approximately 1760.  We do not know who James wife was, or the names of his daughters (if any). However we do know that he had four sons, including William.

Cloonfadda and Knockaderreen are small farming areas.  Both are located just outside of Killaloe.  Although the Killaloe Catholic Church records are incomplete, the baptismal records for John and some siblings can be found there.  The old bluestone church of St Flannan's, stands beside the multi-arched Killaloe Bridge .