Dear Heywood,
Wow, that is certainly food for thought. I guess surnames were often changed around to help assimilate into American culture easier. Funny that you mention Waterford, Ann Kane/Keane's parents are named James and Mary Kane. I found them in a census as having been from Waterford, Ireland and moved to Trevethin, Wales. I know that Ann Kane had a few children before she moved to the USA - and her daughter Anna (my great-grandmother) was sometimes called Hannah - or my guess is that people heard her name wrong and wrote Hannah. But according to her death certificate she was born July 4, 1872. So if this Hanna Shanahan is her, the dates would be off as the ages don't match up.
Also, all the census's with Philip Joseph Shannon Junior say that he was born 1877 March 3 in Boston.
I really don't know where to go now. I'm thoroughly confused at what path do go down.
You certainly have to be a super sleuth!
thanks for your help - if you find any other information please let me know. Familysearch.org has been not working but I'll try it some more. You seem to be good at searching that sight, perhaps I'm not doing the best kinds of searches.
best wishes,
Pamela