Connellan family of Elm Grove
James Connellan married Honora
a farmer
born circa 1814
died 21 Feb 1896
Riverstown, Geevagh, Sligo
James Connellan born circa 1814 was a farmer. He married Honora and died 21 Feb 1896 at
Riverstown, Geevagh, Sligo.
1 Bernard Connellan, born circa 1850 in Sligo was a publican and farmer of Ballyfarnon. He
died 19 Sep 1911 and Bridget, his wife of 37 years, was his executor. The couple had no
children.
2 Maria Connellan born circa 1857 in Sligo married William Tallant, a shopkeeper from
Ballyfarnon on 15 Oct 1877 at Geevagh Church, Boyle, Co Sligo. William was the son of
Peter Tallant, merchant and by 1886 had a hotel at Albert Street. Maria ended up in dispute
with her husband after her brother Thomas was excommunicated in 1889. William moved
to Albert Street in Sligo and applied for a writ of Habeas Corpus to gain custody of the
children as he feared they would not be brought up Roman Catholic, if they resided with his
wife. Maria a widow living with her brother Tom at Elm Grove died 17 Jan 1917 from
Influenza.
1 John P Tallant born 3 Feb 1879 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle, Co Roscommon a chemist’s
assistant living at Elm Grove in 1901. John died 2 Apr 1902 at the Adelaide Hospital
late of Elm Grove.
2 Mary Teresa Tallant born 21 Dec 1881 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle.
3 Sarah Tallant born 30 Dec 1882 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle living with her uncle Joseph
Connellan in 1901.
4 Margaret Mary Tallant born 28 Nov 1884 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle.
3 Thomas Connellan born circa 1857 in Sligo. He attended Maynooth seminary and was
ordained a Roman Catholic priest on 20 Jun 1880 and appointed curate at St Peter’s,
Athlone.
On the 20 Sep 1887, he went to a boat on the Shannon, changed into civvies, left his clerical
clothes on board and took a train from Moate to Dublin. The following day he took a boat to
England. He got a job as a sub editor on a London Newspaper. The newspapers reported
his death and that his gold watch, chain and his purse were missing, presumed stolen. The
weekly meeting of the Athlone Town commissioners was adjourned and Lough Rea was
dredged to see if his remains could be found. His story was the inspiration for George
Moore’s novel ‘The Lake’.
On 25 Mar 1889 he arrived home, having converted to Protestantism. He was welcomed by
his family but the Parish Priest called to the family home and told his family to disown him
and he was denounced from the altar. On refusal to resume his duties as a priest, he was
excommunicated by Bishop of Elphin, Lawrence Gillhooly.
Although Protestant, he was not affiliated to any protestant denomination but was granted a
preacher's licence in 1897 by the Church of Ireland Archbishop William Conyngham Plunket.
He published Religious Tracts including; Hear the other side, The real Needs of Ireland, The
Power of the Gospel and The Seal of Confession. He also published and edited a monthly
magazine ‘The Catholic’ from January 1891 until his death. In 1894 he was brought to court
by Margaret Monaghan claiming maintenance for her child but it was not proved that Thomas
was the father. He was living at 135 Strand Road, Merrion in 1892 and by 1896 he had a
mission at Dawson Street which he opened with the help of his brother Joseph. He lived at
Elm Grove, Blackrock from 1901 to 1917. Thomas died 11 Jan 1917 from pneumonia at Elm
Grove. He left 1K in personal estate and his executor was his brother Rev Joseph Connellan.
Thomas gets a mention in Ulysses, when Bloom reflects when walking down Dawson street
that 'pauper children were once given soup to convert'.
4 Patrick Connellan
5 James Connellan born circa 1857 was a shopkeeper of Abbey Street, Sligo. He died a
bachelor on 3 May 1892 at Sligo.
6 Joseph Connellan born circa 1864 at Sligo converted and helped his brother set up the
Connellan Mission. He married Helen Mary Begley on 8 Aug 1898 at St Stephen’s Church.
Helen was the daughter of John Begley, a missionary and his wife Margaret. Joseph worked
as a journalist. Helen died 22 Nov 1904 aged 31 and was buried at Mount Jerome. John
secondly married Jane Bowers on 14 Dec 1909 at Rathfarnham Parish Church. He took Holy
orders and was based in Durham. He returned to Dublin in 1915 and was appointed
incumbent of the Molyneux Church in Bride Street and later to Galway and Newport. Joseph
died 24 Jun 1927 and Jane died 13 Jan 1969. Both are buried at Mt Jerome.
1 Norah Irwin Connellan eldest daughter born 12 Jul 1899 at Hollybank Road,
Drumcondra died in London in June 1927 just a week before her father.
2 Thomas Aimers Connellan born 26 Mar 1901 at Kingston Lodge Rathfarnham died
18 Jul 1966 and was buried at Mount Jerome.
3 Helen Mary Connellan born 18 Apr 1903 at Kingston Lodge, Rathfarnham.
4 Rose Margaret Connellan youngest daughter born 18 Nov 1904 died 12 Jul 1946
and was buried at Mount Jerome.
7 Teresa Connellan born circa 1864. She was a grocer and died a spinster on 7 Aug 1897 at
Ballyfarnon. Her brother Bernard was the informant.
8 Margaret Mary Connellan born circa 1876 in Sligo, a spinster, editor and evangelist living with
her brother Thomas at Elm Grove in 1901 and 1911. Margaret died in London on 17 Apr 1940.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – March 2022
James Connellan married Honora
a farmer
born circa 1814
died 21 Feb 1896
Riverstown, Geevagh, Sligo
James Connellan born circa 1814 was a farmer. He married Honora and died 21 Feb 1896 at
Riverstown, Geevagh, Sligo.
1 Bernard Connellan, born circa 1850 in Sligo was a publican and farmer of Ballyfarnon. He
died 19 Sep 1911 and Bridget, his wife of 37 years, was his executor. The couple had no
children.
2 Maria Connellan born circa 1857 in Sligo married William Tallant, a shopkeeper from
Ballyfarnon on 15 Oct 1877 at Geevagh Church, Boyle, Co Sligo. William was the son of
Peter Tallant, merchant and by 1886 had a hotel at Albert Street. Maria ended up in dispute
with her husband after her brother Thomas was excommunicated in 1889. William moved
to Albert Street in Sligo and applied for a writ of Habeas Corpus to gain custody of the
children as he feared they would not be brought up Roman Catholic, if they resided with his
wife. Maria a widow living with her brother Tom at Elm Grove died 17 Jan 1917 from
Influenza.
1 John P Tallant born 3 Feb 1879 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle, Co Roscommon a chemist’s
assistant living at Elm Grove in 1901. John died 2 Apr 1902 at the Adelaide Hospital
late of Elm Grove.
2 Mary Teresa Tallant born 21 Dec 1881 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle.
3 Sarah Tallant born 30 Dec 1882 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle living with her uncle Joseph
Connellan in 1901.
4 Margaret Mary Tallant born 28 Nov 1884 at Ballyfarnon, Boyle.
3 Thomas Connellan born circa 1857 in Sligo. He attended Maynooth seminary and was
ordained a Roman Catholic priest on 20 Jun 1880 and appointed curate at St Peter’s,
Athlone.
On the 20 Sep 1887, he went to a boat on the Shannon, changed into civvies, left his clerical
clothes on board and took a train from Moate to Dublin. The following day he took a boat to
England. He got a job as a sub editor on a London Newspaper. The newspapers reported
his death and that his gold watch, chain and his purse were missing, presumed stolen. The
weekly meeting of the Athlone Town commissioners was adjourned and Lough Rea was
dredged to see if his remains could be found. His story was the inspiration for George
Moore’s novel ‘The Lake’.
On 25 Mar 1889 he arrived home, having converted to Protestantism. He was welcomed by
his family but the Parish Priest called to the family home and told his family to disown him
and he was denounced from the altar. On refusal to resume his duties as a priest, he was
excommunicated by Bishop of Elphin, Lawrence Gillhooly.
Although Protestant, he was not affiliated to any protestant denomination but was granted a
preacher's licence in 1897 by the Church of Ireland Archbishop William Conyngham Plunket.
He published Religious Tracts including; Hear the other side, The real Needs of Ireland, The
Power of the Gospel and The Seal of Confession. He also published and edited a monthly
magazine ‘The Catholic’ from January 1891 until his death. In 1894 he was brought to court
by Margaret Monaghan claiming maintenance for her child but it was not proved that Thomas
was the father. He was living at 135 Strand Road, Merrion in 1892 and by 1896 he had a
mission at Dawson Street which he opened with the help of his brother Joseph. He lived at
Elm Grove, Blackrock from 1901 to 1917. Thomas died 11 Jan 1917 from pneumonia at Elm
Grove. He left 1K in personal estate and his executor was his brother Rev Joseph Connellan.
Thomas gets a mention in Ulysses, when Bloom reflects when walking down Dawson street
that 'pauper children were once given soup to convert'.
4 Patrick Connellan
5 James Connellan born circa 1857 was a shopkeeper of Abbey Street, Sligo. He died a
bachelor on 3 May 1892 at Sligo.
6 Joseph Connellan born circa 1864 at Sligo converted and helped his brother set up the
Connellan Mission. He married Helen Mary Begley on 8 Aug 1898 at St Stephen’s Church.
Helen was the daughter of John Begley, a missionary and his wife Margaret. Joseph worked
as a journalist. Helen died 22 Nov 1904 aged 31 and was buried at Mount Jerome. John
secondly married Jane Bowers on 14 Dec 1909 at Rathfarnham Parish Church. He took Holy
orders and was based in Durham. He returned to Dublin in 1915 and was appointed
incumbent of the Molyneux Church in Bride Street and later to Galway and Newport. Joseph
died 24 Jun 1927 and Jane died 13 Jan 1969. Both are buried at Mt Jerome.
1 Norah Irwin Connellan eldest daughter born 12 Jul 1899 at Hollybank Road,
Drumcondra died in London in June 1927 just a week before her father.
2 Thomas Aimers Connellan born 26 Mar 1901 at Kingston Lodge Rathfarnham died
18 Jul 1966 and was buried at Mount Jerome.
3 Helen Mary Connellan born 18 Apr 1903 at Kingston Lodge, Rathfarnham.
4 Rose Margaret Connellan youngest daughter born 18 Nov 1904 died 12 Jul 1946
and was buried at Mount Jerome.
7 Teresa Connellan born circa 1864. She was a grocer and died a spinster on 7 Aug 1897 at
Ballyfarnon. Her brother Bernard was the informant.
8 Margaret Mary Connellan born circa 1876 in Sligo, a spinster, editor and evangelist living with
her brother Thomas at Elm Grove in 1901 and 1911. Margaret died in London on 17 Apr 1940.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – March 2022