In an earlier edition I dealt with the family of Lewis O'Donnell of Killeen but I was unable to complete it at that time. I have found more information in the appendix of the 'Four Masters' which will shed more light on the subject.
Charles Roe, son of Manus O'Donnell of Newport, was married to Catherine, daughter of James O'More in 1712. Of that union there were three sons and two daughters. Manus, the eldest, born 1713, became Major- General of the Austrian Empire. He returned later in life and married, on the 8/12/1780, Margaret, daughter of Henry Browne, of Castlemacgarrett. They had one daughter, who married Robert Gage Rookwood, son of Thomas Gage of Suffolk. Manus died in 1793, aged 80 years. He was, as all that family were, buried in Straide and his tomb stone was erected by Peter Quinn of Cabra, at the behest of Rookwood, the son-in-law of Manus. It is interesting that the stone was erected by Peter Quinn; that family were tenants of the O'Donnells of Killeen from the time they came to Killeen. It was said that a Quinn was in Austria with them and saved the life of Lewis. That is the traditional story.
Lewis, of Killeen, born 1715 (died 1822), Captain in the Austrian Army, returned to Killeen, married Bridget, daughter of Randal McDonnell of Massbrook and this is where it becomes interesting: It gives us a date for a Randal McDonnell in Massbrook about 1750 and he probably had an estate there. One presumes he had a house probably where the mansion stands today, which incidentally was built of mass-concrete and the first of that construction in the area. Randal McDonnell probably came from Carra after the Williamite Wars and settled in this quiet place. Three Randal McDonnells conformed to the Established religion in the middle of that century. One's address was Danimore, which should be Dangamore, in the parish of Kildacommoge, barony of Gallen, the year was 1722. Another was from Tuam and the other from Dublin, the years 1767 and '68 respectively. There were many families of McDonnells in Carra.
Elizabeth O'Donnell married Thomas Cormack of Mullinamore and Castlehill. This Thomas has to be the father of Charles, who was the father of Michael. It was a daughter of Michael who married John Walsh of Dublin and Erris. He adopted the name John Cormack Walsh. The other daughter, Elizabeth, married John Mangan and they emigrated to Scranton. They had a daughter, Anne, who married John Barrett, who was born in Crossmolina and became an important figure in the business life of that city. He was editor of the 'Scranton Truth' and a successful businessman. Anne Mangan Barrett died on Christmas Day 1894, aged 70 years. I have related this about .the Mangan family because it has a local interest. It was always believed, the story goes, that a daughter of John Walsh married Mangan and like a lot of these stories there was an element of truth in it but the difference was, it happened a generation earlier.
Mary, the second daughter of Charles Roe married Darcy of Galway. This name we are' familiar with, they were merchants in Galway and before Cromwell came they had much property and land in Mayo.
To look at the family of Lewis, third son of Charles Roe, who married Bridget McDonnell of Massbrook, they had three sons and two daughters. The sons were, Charles, who died unmarried, aged 19 years. The second son, Manus became a Captain in the British Service and died of his wounds. There is no record of his marriage but it is to be presumed that he did. The third son, Lewis, of Ross, Killala, was married in 1821 to Judith Bourke of Ballina. He died and was buried in Ostend in 1841. More of this union later.
Bessy married Daniel Kelly of Kellygrove, in the parish of Clontuskert, Barony of Cloonmacrowen, Co. of Galway. Mary was married to Edward Bourke of Mayo and finally Bridget married Edward Bolinbroke of Old Castle, Meelick, Co. of Mayo.
Lewis O'Donnell of Ross who was married to Judith Bourke had issue, one son and three daughters. Charles, b 27/11/1823, was Lieutenant in the Connaught Rangers. Had Errew and sold part of it to Granville Knox, on which he built a mansion and never lived in it. It became a hotel and in 1916 the order of nuns of Jesus and Mary established a convent there, later setting up where they are now, in Gortnor Abbey.
The first daughter, Jane Louise had the estate of Killeen and Cabra around 1850. I do not think she married and there is no record of the other two sisters, Mary Baptiste or Judith.
Tony Donohoe
Reference: Annals of the Four Masters
'PRAY FOR THE SOUL
OF
COUNT MANUS O'DONEL,
MAJOR GENERAL IN HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY'S SERVICE,
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
21st DECEMBER, 1793,
AGED 80 YEARS.
ALSO, FOR THE SOULS OF HIS FATHER AND MOTHER
AND
CHARLES O'DONEL, JUN.
ERECTED BY PETER QUIN, BY ORDER OF ROBERT
G.ROOKWOOD, ESQ.,
1813.'
Inscription on the tomb of Count Manus O'Donnell in Straide, Co. Mayo.