FAMILY NAMES - Berrigan, Oreilly, O'Reilly, O'Rahilly or Reilly

[oldohiohome]

about  Bergin ~ Berrigan ~ Berigan

I read somewhere, but I can't find it now, that the Irish often inserted a vowel between two consonants to make a word easier to pronounce. Probably still do, I don't live there.

The example they gave was the pronunciation of Dublin as Dubalin - think of the song "Rocky Road to Dubalin". I can add another. My grandfather's townland is spelled "Ballintur", but when he pronounced it for the man filling out his passenger manifest it was written down as "Ballinatore".

Also the name Bergin probably was pronounced more like "Bare-gen". Which makes it easier to want to insert a vowel between the "r" and the "g".

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If you request a lookup, be sure they know to look for a trolley not a tram in the search. I lived in Boston for 30 years and that is what they are called. other key words might be "Green Line" but that might be a little more recent. All the trolleys were on the Green Line.

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If Ellen got his pension, then James must have died before her, correct?

[daisynook]

Thanks oldohiohome very much for that explanation, I'd been thinking that my friend might just have misheard the pronunciation - looks that way at the moment.  And yes, Grandmother lived to be 90 in Kilkenny.

[oldohiohome]

943    Bergin, Ellen    Bergin, Ellen    Parliament St (hair dresser/ barber)

http://kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/list-of-kilkenny-women-signing-against-conscription-in-1918/
??

Take a close look at that list, there are more than one Bergin on it, and I think Ellen's home and business address are both on it. But she is a Mrs Bergin, so not your friend's grandmother. Maybe a relative.

Regarding heywood's find of  Ellen b 1895, and Ellen married in 1929. Different fathers' names, so not contradictory.

Regarding the informant in 1895, another possibility is that the lady is a midwife. She might turn up on the 1901 Census. Veall = Vail = Veil = etc.,

time to digest my breakfast here in the US, happy hunting. let us know what you find.

[daisynook]

I will, thanks again for all your help and suggestions, very grateful.

[heywood]

yes you are right - I was thinking her father was John  when I looked at the marriage.
He was Edward, a coachman on her birth but a Labourer elsewhere.

[daisynook]

Update - I have found that James Reilly junior was born in 1921.  Also it looks like Black Mill Street was a hospital.

[heywood]

James Reilly 1928, Callan mmn Bergin

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F13Z-DQ1

Possibilities?

Bernard J O’Reilly 1931 Dublin mmn Bergin


Mary P O’ Reilly  1932 Dublin mmn Bergin

Update - I have found that James Reilly junior was born in 1921.  Also it looks like Black Mill Street was a hospital.

So the ones found are unlikely to be the right family 

Where was James born?

Is he the oldest child?

Here are some/all James Reillys b 1921

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ndk/

[oldohiohome]

There is only one James Reilly marriage from 1905 to 1922 in any of the Registration Districts in Kilkenny. It is a common name, but evidently not in Kilkenny. Did they marry elsewhere? Was Ellen Bergin married before she married James?

(based on https://www.swilson.info/regdistbyco.php#kilkenny)

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For Ellin Bergin marriage 1915 to 1927
  Kilkenny RD none
  Callan RD none
  Thomastown RD none
  Carrick on Suir RD none
  Castlecomer RD none
  New Ross RD none
  Urlingford RD none
  Waterford RD none
 
For an Ellen Bergin marriage, to anyone, anywhere 1915 to 1927
  none with a father named Edward
Ellen Berrigan or Berigan marriage, anyone, anywhere 1915 to 1927
  nothing at all found
 

[oldohiohome]

Here is what I think we have on the family so far


Ellen Bergen/Berrigan ( - c 1980, Kilkenny)
      died age 90
      is she: (Reply #20)   Kilkenny Reg Dist #2
      March 28, 1895, Seville Lodge
      Ellen daughter of Edward Bergin, a coachman of Seville Lodge, and Bridget Bergin, formerly     O'Meara/Mara, 
      informant: Margaret Veall, of Black Mill Street, present at birth
  + James Reilly/O'Reilly ( - d before wife, Boston MA)
               left wife and children in Ireland
                    inspector for MTA, accidental death involving a trolley
               is he: 1930, Wayfayer's Lodge, age 48
                    is he: 1940, 637 Dudley Street, age 67
                    is he: 1940, Tewksbury State Hospital, age 64
          -  James Reilly (b 1921, probably in Callan, Kilkenny - d 1972, maybe London)
                    or is he b 3rd Qtr 1928, Callan, mother's maiden name: Bergin (Reply #17)
                     https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F13Z-DQ1
          -  Thomas Reilly (b probably in Callan, Kilkenny - )
          -  Patrick Reilly (b probably in Callan, Kilkenny - )
          -   Maureen Reilly (b probably in Callan, Kilkenny - )
          -   Helen Reilly (b probably in Callan, Kilkenny - )