Sweeney (Sweeny) family of Neilstown
Joseph Sweeney married Mary Kavanagh
born 2 Mar 1868 10 Feb 1896 13 Dec 1869
Goatstown Holy Cross, Dundrum Goatstown
Joseph Sweeney born 2 Mar 1868 son of John Sweeney and Mary Carroll at Goatstown. He was
baptised at Holy Cross, Dundrum, sponsors Anne Kavanagh and John McGrath. He was a labourer
and married Mary Kavanagh on 10 Feb 1896 at Holy Cross Dundrum. Mary was the daughter of
Laurence Kavanagh, a gardener and his wife Sarah Craven of Goatstown. Witnesses Patrick
Kavanagh and Mary Sweeney. They were living at Goatstown in 1911 and had five children.
1 John Sweeney born circa 1897.
2 Sarah Sweeney born 12 Aug 1898 at Neilstown, Co Dublin married James Dowling at Holy
Cross Church on 15 Jan 1933. James was a gardener from Clonskeagh and the son of John
Dowling, a blacksmith. Witness: Mary Mullins and Joseph Sweeney.
3 Laurence (Larry) Sweeney born on 5 Aug 1901 at Neilstown. He was a member of the 6th
Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA. He was working at St John of God’s as an attendant on
17 Feb 1921 when it was raided by the troops and auxiliary police. When his room was
searched, they found a .22 revolver and 171 rounds of ammunition. Larry was arrested,
court martialled on 10 Mar 1921 at Dublin Union Barracks and found guilty. He was
sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour, reduced to 18 months. Larry
Sweeney was wounded near Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare during the Civil War. He died at
Carlow Infirmary on 5 Jul 1922 some 26 hours after a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He
was buried at St Nahi’s.
On 5 Jul 1925 a granite Celtic Cross was unveiled at St Nahi’s Churchyard, Dundrum by Eamon
De Valera and Sean MacEntee delivered an address. A memorial mass was held each year until
at least 1961, the year Kevin Boland, Minister of Defence delivered the graveside oration.
The Dundrum Fianna Cumann was renamed after him in his honour. For more on the life
and death of Larry Sweeney see "Sensation in Stillorgan: The Raid on St John of God Hospital
in 1921" by Frank Cogan, Obelisk Journal 2021.
4 Joseph Sweeney born 22 Jun 1905 at Neilstown attended his brother’s memorial service in
1958.
5 William Patrick Sweeney born circa 1908 married Norah O’Rourke at Kilmacud Church on
23 Jan 1938. Norah was resident at Woodley Lodge and the daughter of James O’Rourke,
gardener. William was living at Drummartin and working as a builder’s labourer at the time
of his marriage.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – September 2022 with information provided by Clive O'Connor of Kilmacud
Stillorgan Historical Society.
Joseph Sweeney married Mary Kavanagh
born 2 Mar 1868 10 Feb 1896 13 Dec 1869
Goatstown Holy Cross, Dundrum Goatstown
Joseph Sweeney born 2 Mar 1868 son of John Sweeney and Mary Carroll at Goatstown. He was
baptised at Holy Cross, Dundrum, sponsors Anne Kavanagh and John McGrath. He was a labourer
and married Mary Kavanagh on 10 Feb 1896 at Holy Cross Dundrum. Mary was the daughter of
Laurence Kavanagh, a gardener and his wife Sarah Craven of Goatstown. Witnesses Patrick
Kavanagh and Mary Sweeney. They were living at Goatstown in 1911 and had five children.
1 John Sweeney born circa 1897.
2 Sarah Sweeney born 12 Aug 1898 at Neilstown, Co Dublin married James Dowling at Holy
Cross Church on 15 Jan 1933. James was a gardener from Clonskeagh and the son of John
Dowling, a blacksmith. Witness: Mary Mullins and Joseph Sweeney.
3 Laurence (Larry) Sweeney born on 5 Aug 1901 at Neilstown. He was a member of the 6th
Battalion, Dublin Brigade, IRA. He was working at St John of God’s as an attendant on
17 Feb 1921 when it was raided by the troops and auxiliary police. When his room was
searched, they found a .22 revolver and 171 rounds of ammunition. Larry was arrested,
court martialled on 10 Mar 1921 at Dublin Union Barracks and found guilty. He was
sentenced to 2 years imprisonment with hard labour, reduced to 18 months. Larry
Sweeney was wounded near Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare during the Civil War. He died at
Carlow Infirmary on 5 Jul 1922 some 26 hours after a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He
was buried at St Nahi’s.
On 5 Jul 1925 a granite Celtic Cross was unveiled at St Nahi’s Churchyard, Dundrum by Eamon
De Valera and Sean MacEntee delivered an address. A memorial mass was held each year until
at least 1961, the year Kevin Boland, Minister of Defence delivered the graveside oration.
The Dundrum Fianna Cumann was renamed after him in his honour. For more on the life
and death of Larry Sweeney see "Sensation in Stillorgan: The Raid on St John of God Hospital
in 1921" by Frank Cogan, Obelisk Journal 2021.
4 Joseph Sweeney born 22 Jun 1905 at Neilstown attended his brother’s memorial service in
1958.
5 William Patrick Sweeney born circa 1908 married Norah O’Rourke at Kilmacud Church on
23 Jan 1938. Norah was resident at Woodley Lodge and the daughter of James O’Rourke,
gardener. William was living at Drummartin and working as a builder’s labourer at the time
of his marriage.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – September 2022 with information provided by Clive O'Connor of Kilmacud
Stillorgan Historical Society.