What we know about my grandfather:
Jeremiah Donovan born in May of 1883. Parents Jeremiah Donovan (farmer) and Norah Lyons. Witness to first marriage was Kate Donovan. First wife was Marianne Egan (born Kings County 1882 - father Michael Egan). Married at Spring Hill Church in Lota Beg 1906.
Jeremiah was orphaned as a child and raised by relatives. He spent time in Blackrock and in Blarney. His uncle John Donovan was a land steward at a large estate in Blarney. John was married to May and had at least 2 daughters, Honorah and Marie. Honorah was a year older than Jerry and Marie was a year younger. This was at the time of the 1901 census. May had died. Jerry was a butler at one of the houses in Lota Beg, in Glanmire. After his marriage to Marianne (a governess/schoolteacher), they lived in Cork City. They later moved to Dublin for a short period of time and then moved to Derry and later Belfast. Rumor has it that my granddad had a falling out with his family and never spoke to them. He worked for the Jackson family in Lota Beg we think. He was very well educated. About 5'7" with blue eyes and sandy red/brown hair. Very quiet and dignified. His children were Marie (Dec. 1907 - Cork City), Henry "Harry" (born 1909 Dublin), Margaret Mary "Rita" (born Dec. 3, 1910 - Derry), Michael Francis "Frank" (born Feb 4, 1912 - Derry) and Geoffrey Thomas (born July 16, 1913 - Derry - later died at age 12 in Belfast of gangrene of the foot). Rita died of a bad heart and influenza in 1926. He remarried in Belfast to Mary Ethel McCormick and was father of Gabrielle, Alice, Christina, Paul, Jeremiah and Josephine. There was also a Brigid and Norah. Norah died at age 13 months the same week as Rita. Several other children died in infancy - Patrick and Huh Appreciate any help. Also, he worked as a waiter in Dublin, Derry and Belfast.
Thanks,
Mary Kathleen Donovan Springowski
P.S.,
My uncles Harry and Frank used the last name O'Donovan. Granddad may have stopped using the O' when he went North. Uncle Harry also attended boarding school in Dublin.