Bird of Stillorgan Castle
Michael Bird married Alice Farrell
born 23 Nov 1865 2 Sep 1896 born 23 May 1875
Co Meath Maynooth Co Kildare
died 19 Jul 1948 died 17 Nov 1957
Barrogstown Barrogstown
Michael Bird born 23 Nov 1865 at Castlerickard, Co Meath to Michael Bird, a carpenter and
Mary Dixon. He married Alice Farrell on 2 Sep 1896 at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church at
Leixlip. He was a labourer and his father Michael, a labourer was deceased. Alice was the
daughter of James Farrell, a labourer from Maynooth, deceased and his wife Catherine
Martin. Witnesses Matthew Hackett and Mary Farrell. Michael was a shepherd and herd
and was living at Barrogstown with his wife and son in 1901 on land held by James
Patterson. He died on 19 Jul 1948 at Barrogstown. His funeral Mass was in St Marys and
he was buried at Laraghabryan. Alice died 17 Nov 1957 at Barrogstown. Her daughter in
law Mary Bird the informant.
1 John Bird born 17 Feb 1899 at Barrogstown died 04 Mar 1899 aged 15 days at same
place.
2 Michael Bird born 8 Aug 1900 at Barrogstown, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Michael Bird
was a gardener living on site and was arrested along with fellow workmate at John of
Gods in 1921. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months’ hard labour, for having
in his room two rifles, a shot gun, and some ammunition*. He was held at Mountjoy
before being transferred to Wormwood Scrubs. Michael, a chauffeur married Mary
Anne Patterson at Monkstown RC Church on 13 Jan 1924. Mary was the daughter of
Philip Patterson, a labourer and his wife Bridget McGuinness.
3 John (James) Bird born 28 Apr 1903 at Barrogstown possibly married Ellen Dixon
in 1931.
4 Catherine Bird born 18 Jun 1910 at Barrogstown, Co Kildare, living with parents in
1911.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - February 2023
* Brother Benignus Callan of St John of God interviewed John Goodwin in 1973. John was on
the hospital staff in the 1920's and a member of the 'Old IRA'. He confirmed a story relayed to
Brother Benignus by William Traynor.
During the troubled times in Ireland from 1918 to 1922, secret drilling the IRA took place in the
cemetery of St John of God, unbeknownst to the Brothers. Rifles were hidden behind the old
wooden altar which used to be in the cemetery chapel. One of the leaders was a member of the
hospital staff. One day, one of the brothers saw the men drilling and he was warned to say
nothing.
Michael Bird married Alice Farrell
born 23 Nov 1865 2 Sep 1896 born 23 May 1875
Co Meath Maynooth Co Kildare
died 19 Jul 1948 died 17 Nov 1957
Barrogstown Barrogstown
Michael Bird born 23 Nov 1865 at Castlerickard, Co Meath to Michael Bird, a carpenter and
Mary Dixon. He married Alice Farrell on 2 Sep 1896 at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church at
Leixlip. He was a labourer and his father Michael, a labourer was deceased. Alice was the
daughter of James Farrell, a labourer from Maynooth, deceased and his wife Catherine
Martin. Witnesses Matthew Hackett and Mary Farrell. Michael was a shepherd and herd
and was living at Barrogstown with his wife and son in 1901 on land held by James
Patterson. He died on 19 Jul 1948 at Barrogstown. His funeral Mass was in St Marys and
he was buried at Laraghabryan. Alice died 17 Nov 1957 at Barrogstown. Her daughter in
law Mary Bird the informant.
1 John Bird born 17 Feb 1899 at Barrogstown died 04 Mar 1899 aged 15 days at same
place.
2 Michael Bird born 8 Aug 1900 at Barrogstown, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Michael Bird
was a gardener living on site and was arrested along with fellow workmate at John of
Gods in 1921. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months’ hard labour, for having
in his room two rifles, a shot gun, and some ammunition*. He was held at Mountjoy
before being transferred to Wormwood Scrubs. Michael, a chauffeur married Mary
Anne Patterson at Monkstown RC Church on 13 Jan 1924. Mary was the daughter of
Philip Patterson, a labourer and his wife Bridget McGuinness.
3 John (James) Bird born 28 Apr 1903 at Barrogstown possibly married Ellen Dixon
in 1931.
4 Catherine Bird born 18 Jun 1910 at Barrogstown, Co Kildare, living with parents in
1911.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - February 2023
* Brother Benignus Callan of St John of God interviewed John Goodwin in 1973. John was on
the hospital staff in the 1920's and a member of the 'Old IRA'. He confirmed a story relayed to
Brother Benignus by William Traynor.
During the troubled times in Ireland from 1918 to 1922, secret drilling the IRA took place in the
cemetery of St John of God, unbeknownst to the Brothers. Rifles were hidden behind the old
wooden altar which used to be in the cemetery chapel. One of the leaders was a member of the
hospital staff. One day, one of the brothers saw the men drilling and he was warned to say
nothing.