James O'Reilly or Reilly

[daisynook]

I'm afraid I don't have any definite dates for this request.  I'm trying to help a friend find her grandfather James O'Reilly.  He was born in Galway and was married to Ellen Bergin/Berrigan with 6 children.  He decided to leave the family in Ireland and went to Boston, US around 1940-1950s.  He got himself a job on the trolley buses as an Inspector.  He was involved in a trolley bus accident where he was killed.  His wife in Ireland was paid a pension from the company until she died.
I have been looking for any newspaper clips or other informationa about the accident but have had no luck so far.  Could anybody have any better luck than me? Any help appreciated.

[Lisa in California]

Does she have an approximate year of birth, please? Does she know his parents’ names?  Are they fairly certain he remained in the Boston area until his death? Any idea if he died somewhat shortly after arriving or could it have been months or even years later?  What was his occupation before he left Ireland, please? Finally, does she know if he had a middle name?

[daisynook]

Hi Lisa - Sorry for delay in getting back to you.  I've emailed my friend but not yet had a reply.  I can answer the question about the names of James's parents, they were Edward Bergin and wife   O'Meara/Mara and yes, he was killed in a trolley accident in Boston so never returned to Ireland.  Ellen his wife received a pension from the bus company for the rest of her life. She died in  1981 in Ireland.
Having found that myself this morning it looks like the name was Bergin not Berrigan.  I believe it was to do with the Irish pronunciation and people with that name shortened it to Bergin.  As for James I believe he was born in 1914 in Tuam, Galway.
I will get back to you with any more answers I can find.

[daisynook]

PS - James's wife was called Bridget O'Meara/Mara

[heywood]

In your previous thread here
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=807890.
the generations and same name caused some confusion. 
You write here

“ I can answer the question about the names of James's parents, they were Edward Bergin and wife O’Meara “

Who is Edward Bergin? Should it be o’Reilly and mother Ellen Bergin?

[daisynook]

So sorry, I'm confusing myself now.  It should read that Edward Reilly and wife Bridget O'Meara were James's parents!!

[heywood]

Do you have their marriage or his birth?

I am having difficulty finding anything.

Is this right so far?

James b 1914 Tuam.
Parents Edward Reilly and Bridget O’Meara.

James married Ellen Bergin.

Ellen Bergin O’Reilly died 1981.

Is there still a Kilkenny connection? If so - who and when?

[daisynook]

Yes, most things right except James Reilly was born in Tuam, Galway in 1914 but I unfortunately don't have any further information and he worked as an Inspector for MTA.  I too have not been able to find anything further either.
There is no longer a Kilkenny connection.  All the family except Ellen moved to London after James' death.
I am waiting to speak to my friend to ask more questions but unfortunately this is her grandfather we are talking about and she tells me it was treated as a family secret and no one spoke about James thereafter.
I will get back to you if anything further comes to light.

[heywood]

There is no birth for James with those details.
I can’t see a marriage for his parents with those names.
I can’t see a marriage for him  either.

https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/

Where, in Ireland, were the children born ?

When did the family move to England - that might give you an approximate year of death.