The Chambers Family History
Written by Michael Chambers in 1978
Born in Furnace on 30/6/1916
Paddy Chambers was one of five brothers . Paddy Chambers was my Great Grandfather .
The four other brothers were Tom , Jack , William and Frank .
There were two sisters Kitty and Mary (three also Biddy or Biddeen)
Paddy Chambers was born in Glen na mBo (Glen of the cows ) about 8 miles north west side of Newport in the Co. Mayo at least 176 years ago . He was twice married one of his wife’s names was (B.) Morrison .
Paddy’s family were Tom , Billy, Frank and Connor , Mary ,Nora Kitty and Margaret a step sister .
Tom Chambers was born in Glen na Mbo about 145 years ago . Tom was my grandfather . Tom married Celia McNulty ( also Kitty Chambers married John McNulty) brother and sister married brother and sister . Tom and Celia came to live in the Millrace in the little village of Furnace 113 years ago . Some years later they bought a small holding to the East side of Furnace and settled there . The village of Furnace is three miles to the North of Newport in Co. Mayo.
Tom and Celia Chambers family were Mary , Pat , Kitty, Biddy , John , Nora , Celia , Willie , Thomas and Maggie .
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Mary Chambers (my aunt) married Jimmy Kilroy of Furnace and went to America about 100 years ago. They had 12 children and were well to do . Jimmy Kilroy was uncle to Michael Kilroy of Newport who was a TD. My Aunt Mary died in America over 50 years ago and Jimmy Kilroy lived to be a very old man .
Pat Chambers of Furnace was my Dad . My mother was Catherine McNeela of Ballycroy .There were four brothers and three sisters in my Dad and Mom’s family
Johnny and wife & family in Letterlough near Newport.
Paddy & wife and family in Wicklow .
Celia , a widow in Newport
Mary died in Newport in 1954.
Frank & wife and family in Coventry
Kathleen died in Furnace in 1964
Michael and Hannah in Luton since 1968 .
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Kitty Chambers (my aunt ) married Thady Moran of Collabrack about 95 years ago .
The family
Patrick
Thomas and Father Andrew (twins)
Michael Willie
John Joseph
Mary
Sister Celia , a nun
Kate
James
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Patrick Moran was a school teacher , He finished his teaching career in KnockbreagaN.S. in Tiernaur . he was married twice . His first wife was Nora Tom William Chambers of Shramore , Newport , Co. Mayo She died and left a boy and a girl. I know the girl is a Mrs Mulchrone.
Patrick Moran’s second wife was a Mrs Fadian from Tiernaur . Miss Fadian’s mother was one of the McManamons of Shramore , Newport they had a large family
Thomas Moran settled down in the old home . he married Kate McManamon of Kilmeena . They had a large family . Thomas died some 25 years ago ..
Father Andy was 19 years PP in Carraroe . he died nigh on 20 years ago .
Michael was a school teacher and he married a Miss McDonnell of Skirdagh near Newport . She died young and he got married again . His son is PP in the Aran Islands .
John Joseph was a teacher in Knockloughra in Tiernaur . He married Grace O’Malley from Belmullet . John J died a young man . They had a large family .
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Mary Moran was a teacher , she married Thomas Moran (shoemaker) , They had a son Andy . Mary died a young woman .
Celia Moran was a nun in Westport where she died quite young .
James Francis got drowned in AchillIsland accidentally , a very young man . Fr. Andy was a CC in Achill at the time .
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Biddy Chambers went to America over 90 years ago she was Mrs Burke and had a son Tom.
John Chambers , my uncle went to America . He married one of the Kilroy’s of Carrickaneady . They were first cousins and had a family .
Nora Chambers married Master Gibbons . He taught in TreenbegN.S. for 45 years . he was born in Louisburgh near Croagh Patrick . They lived in furnace for a few years . Then they bought a small farm in Fauleens . They had three sons and two daughters . father Tom Gibbons , Geoff Gibbons lived in the old home . Geoff married Agnes Gibbons from Kilmeena . they had one son and two daughters . Agnes died a young woman .
Tony Gibbons was a teacher , he never married and is retired now .
Mary Gibbons married Jack Nickson . They had three sons and a daughter . Liam Nickson died very young . Tony Nixson is married in the old home to Nora Conway from Shramore . Jack Nickson was a convert .
Sal Gibbons was a N.S. teacher . she never married and is retired now .
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Celia Chambers (my aunt ) married Pat Chambers (Pat a Poll ) . They were no relations . There were three sons and three daughters . Tom was the eldest son , he was called Green . He married a Miss O’Boyle from Glenhest . They had two sons and one daughter . Green died about ten years ago .
The two other brothers never married and are both dead . Pat and John were their names .
Agnes Chambers , the elder sister married Pat Ellen Murray from Shramore when I was a schoolboy . They had no family and are both dead now .
Lena Chambers never married and is dead now . Pat Chambers senior was uncle to Mike Chambers who keeps the paper shop in Newport .
Kate Chambers the third sister went to America in my schooldays . She married a man named Rowland in America . Mr Rowland was born near Lahardane in CountyMayo . They came back to live near his homeland some twenty years ago . Mr Rowland is now dead, one of his sons died in London a few years ago . He was about 35 years .
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Willie Chambers (my uncle) was a policeman in Birmingham . He was married
to Mrs Ann Sheehan and had one son and 5 daughters . One of the daughters Josie is married in Newport to Jim Kelly . They have the Angler’s Hotel in Newport .Jim Kelly is brother to Dominick and Mikie Kelly who were married to my two sisters . My sister Mary was married to Dominick Kelly . She died 9/3/1954 and left two boys and two girls . My other sister Celia was married to Mikie Kelly . They had no family and Mikie died on 24/10/59 .
Jim and Josie have one daughter Antoinette , she is married and lives in the Hotel .
I would like to say something about the Sheehan family . Mr and Mrs Sheehan came from the North. Mr Sheehan was manager to Captain Lapramandy an English Catholic , who owned Treanlaur Lodge which is about 5 miles to the North of Newport . Captain Lapramandy owned a large ranch also . So Mr Sheehan’s daughter Mary Ann married my uncle Willie and the other daughter Alice married frank Chambers who was the father to Mike Chambers who owns the paper shop in Newport now . Frank Chambers was brother to Pat Chambers (of Poll ) who was married to my aunt Celia .
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Thomas Chambers (my uncle ) was married to Nora Chambers in Fauleens , quite near Master Gibbons . They had three sons and one daughter Celia who died a few months ago over here in London . Frank Chambers is married to an English girl and lives in Fauleens and has a family .
Paul Chambers my first cousin died about six years ago . He never married .
Tommy Chambers is still alive and he never married .
Thomas Chambers and Nora Chambers were second cousins .
Maggie Chambers (my aunt) died a young girl .
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Billy Paudin was brother to my grand father Tom . he lived in Shramore and was married to Ann Nial McManamon also of Shramore .
Their family of 4 sons and 3 daughters .
Son Willie (Brannen) was married to Bridget McDonald from Glenamoy . They had 3 sons , Willie junior has a pub called Brannen’s in Newport . he is married to a Conway girl from Ballycroy whose mother was Chambers from Drumlong outside Newport and who came from Jack (one of the five brothers ).
Nial junior is married in the old home , his wife comes from Glenamoy .
The third son Paddy went to America and is married over there .
Old Brannen and the wife are dead , They lived in a little place in Shramore called Rusheen .
Nial Chambers senior went to America over 50 years ago . he came home from USA in 1932 in his fathers home behind the Black River . Nial married Kate McManamon of Shramore . Kate’s mother was Catherine Chambers sister to Pat and Frank of Poll .
Nial and Kate had 3 daughters , one of the daughters is married at home . Nial died about 12 years ago . Behind the Black River was called Turkluy .
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Billy Paudin’s two other sons went to America . Their names were Fred and Connor . They were married and had families
(There was also another son named Pat in America was married to Anne O’Neill of Lettermaghera and died in his twenties of TB . Their only son Neil died in his thirties ).
Mary William was the oldest sister . She was married in Shramore to Jimmy McIntyre . They had about 12 in family . 3 of them died in their twenties . Some of the family went to America , some to Africa and some are in England . Connor McIntyre is a very rich man in Africa .
Bill McIntyre is married at home to Annie McLoughlin of Treenlaur . They have a family .
Katie William the second sister was married to Pat McNulty of Glen da Hurk (The valley of the two boars ) Both Katie and Pat were first cousins to my Dad . Johnie McNulty , son to Pat and Katie is married in the old home to Kathleen (Mary) Big Willie of Skirdagh . By the way Big Willie was son of William (one of the five brothers ) Johnie McNulty is turned 80 years now . he had a large family of his own . Johnie got married in 1936 .
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Johnie McNulty’s brother went to America . His name was Willie . Willie married Fred McDonnell’s sister of Skirdagh . Willie McNulty is dead now . Willie had three sisters in America , Bridie ,Ann and Nora . One of them was a Mrs Mulchrone , one was a Mrs Philbin . Mulchrone and Philbin came from around Newport . I don’t know who the third sister married , but I know they all had families . Another sister Lena married Tom Kilcoyne from Tiernaur , they lived in Harrow , Middlesex . Their son was drowned about 16 years ago . Tom Kilcoyne died about 8 years ago .
Barbara McNulty was married to Pat Cusack from Tiernaur . Pat died about two years ago . they had a family and lived in harrow also . Tilly McNulty married Pat rice from Carramore near Newport . They sold the house and land and went to live in England . They had a family .
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Bridgie William the third sister was married to John Callaghan of Clu a Finna near Skirdagh . John Callaghan died at Christmas 1938 . They had a large family . The youngest son was Connor Callaghan . He sold the house and land and went to the United States . Mrs Callaghan went to America and she died in the USA about five years ago
She used to visit Shramore quite often and she used our house coming and going . Mrs Callaghan had about ten in family , 5 sons and 5 daughters .
at my old mothers funeral in 1969 I met one of the Callaghan girls at the funeral . she was on holiday from the USA . She had a son a priest with her and a lovely young priest he was .
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Frank Chambers was a brother to my Grandfather Tom . Frank chambers got married late in life to Kitty Chambers . Kitty Chambers was daughter to Mary Tom . Tom was one of the five brothers . They had no family . Kitty was known as Kitty Billy . They lived at Cloonfoher (Frank died in 1910 born 1832 ) Kitty died about 20 years ago .
Connor Chambers was a brother to my Grandfather Tom . He went to America long ago , he was married and had a family .
Honer Chambers was sister to my grandfather Tom . she was an old maid and she lived in Shramore with her brother Billy Paudeen . She died about 45 years ago .
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Kitty Chambers was a sister to my grandfather Tom . She married John McNulty and they lived in Doontrusk about two miles from Newport . It was double wedding . Celia McNulty married Tom Chambers and John McNulty married Kitty Chambers .
Frank McNulty son of John and Kitty
Frank and Mary B O’Grady were married about 54 years ago (Mrs McNulty was a neighbour) Frank’s family were two sons and two daughters , one son Frank junior died when he was six years . John Michael , Frank’s other son is in the old house he is not married .
Mary B is sister to John Michael , she is Mrs McGarry Fergus and lives about two miles from home on the side of the Mulranny road . They have a young family .
Kathleen is the other sister and she is married to P.J. O’Malley , Bridge House , Burrishoole . They have six in family .
P.J. O’Malley’s sister Bridie is married to my brother Paddy in Wicklow . Frank McNulty died about twenty years ago and his wife died about five years ago .
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Michael McNulty was a brother to Frank .he was a policeman in Tipperary and was married to a teacher from Tipperary . She was a teacher in Lettermaghera school to the west side of Furnace . She retired about 1940 . The school was closed shortly after and was demolished in 1943 . they lived in acres near Burrishoole and had no family . She also taught in Shramore .
Ann McNulty was sister to Frank . She lived with frank in the old home , she was an old maid . She died about 15 years ago .
Another sister married Tom Maloney of Cahergal near Burrishoole . She died a young woman . Their son John Maloney lives in the old home yet . He never married and is about 75 years now .
Another sister of Frank’s was married in America to a man named Mullin near Tiernaur .
Another sister of Frank’s married a neighbour named Garavan . They lived in the north of England and had a son a priest . I saw on the Catholic Paper about three years ago where their son is a Canon up the North of England . The Canon is also a small farmer . He has 5 acres of land . He grows his own fruit and veg , has a lot of fowl . He has no help , only his housekeeper . The Canon is about 74 now .
Mary Chambers was the third sister in grandfather Tom’s family and she was married to Peter McManamon a son of Frank Mor McManamon . They had one daughter and Mary died when the baby was six months old . The daughter died in her early twenties of TB.
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Biddy or Biddeen Chambers was sister to my Grandfather Tom . She was a Mrs Dyra from Alt Buide near Skirdagh .
Her son was Michael Dyra and lived in the old home .
Michael Dyra was married to John Dyra’s daughter of Skirdagh .
John Dyra was born in Keenagh 7 miles the Shramore side of Crossmolina . John Dyra’s mother was Kitty Chambers and Kitty Chambers was sister to Paddy Chambers my great grand father . (He was known as John Kitty )
Michael Dyra and his wife were second cousins . Michael Dyra’s wife died very young and left two boys and two girls .
One of the sons got married in London . I think the rest of the family are still at home . Michael Dyra had a brother Connor who worked for Frank McNulty . Connor never married . Michael had another brother and he died young . Michael Dyra lived to be a very old man .
(Long Jim Kilroy’s sister Ellen was a Mrs O’Malley of Ros an Rubble . She had two sons and 4 daughters . Mike O’Malley had a lorry 50 years ago .)
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Margaret Chambers was step sister to my grand dad Tom .
she was a Mrs Kilroy from Carrickaneady about one and a half miles the Castlebar side of Newport . She had 4 sons and 2 daughters . Two of her sons got killed on the railway in America .
Long Jim Kilroy lived in the old home . The other brother John lived quite near . Jim and John were married to two sisters named Keane from Gortaworla , a village quite near .
Their sister Tilly Kilroy was married to Eddie Kilroy and they lived in Derrylahan about a half a mile from Newport on the East side of the Mulranny road .
Eddie Kilroy was born in Furnace and was a brother to Jimmy Kilroy who was married to Mary Chambers my aunt . Please see page 2 .
Michael Kilroy the TD was son to Eddie and Tilly of Derrylahan .
Long Jim Kilroy had two sons and a daughter . his daughter was married to a Martin Harte of Glenhest . I know they had a family .
Jim Kilroy junior was married to Annie Chambers from Glen Laure near Skirdagh . She died a young woman and left a family .
Jim and Annie were no relations .
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Jim’s other brother was named Martin . He worked in England and Dublin in his youth . I lost touch with Martin.
John Kilroy had 2 sons and 2 daughters . One daughter married Jim McHugh who had a farm nearby . They had a family . Jim died about 3 years ago .