REIDY of Rathkeale, Co. Limerick, Ireland

Spelling is not an issue as the name has been recorded as REIDY, RIEDY, REEDY, and READY . Several other names are below if you are interested in this place and time. The families came from Co Limerick in Ireland. If any of these names or places seems to overlap with some of your research or you have any comments, please contact me by Email (see bottom of page).

Edward RIEDY was married to Margaret CONWAY in Ardagh parish (adjacent to Rathkeale). There are 3 baptisms of this marriage recorded in Rathkeale (John 1845, William 1848, and Margaret 1854). Then Edward married Mary SCANLAN in 1857 in Kilcoman/Coolcappa parish (again adjacent to Rathkeale). I know of 5 baptisms in Rathkeale (Alice 1858, Jeremiah 1859, Michael 1861, Catherine 1864, and Edmund 1866).

A search by the Limerick Archives did not find a record of baptism for my great-grandfather William RIEDY in Rathkeale or adjacent parishes. We believed he was born about 1861 based on his death certificate and he was a half brother to John. The William of 1848 was 13 years off plus was a full brother to John. It seems likely then that William of 1848 died young and the name was recycled. The Archives report says this was a common practice. It seems likely that the second William's baptism was not registered for some reason. Perhaps he was sick and was baptised at home and the priest just forgot to enter it when he got home. There is a gap of 3 years between Michael and Catherine so he could have fit in there.

My great grandfather (GGF) William RIEDY of Rathkeale was born around 1861/1862 and emigrated to New York about 1880. He married Mary O'BRIEN (ca 1863-1918) whom we believe to be from Rathkeale. Her parents were Patrick and Bridget O'BRIEN . William became a US citizen on 8 Oct 1890 in the Superior Court of the City of New York.

On December 24, 1895, he was injured in a blasting accident. My GGF was a wagon driver working on a construction site. A blast went off a few minutes early and a 150 pound rock was thrown 200 feet and landed on my GGF's right leg. He was taken to the hospital. The foreman was arrested and charged with reckless blasting. I have no idea how the foreman fared. My GGF never left the hospital and died about a month later.

The 1852 Griffith's valuation found Edward RIEDY on a 25.5 acre farm in Riddlestown (townland), civil parish of Doondonnell, Rathkeale, Co Limerick. The farm was leased from Gerald Blennerhassett.

The land records indicate that Michael later occupied and then bought this farm. His wife was also named Mary. The farm was subsequently owned by Edward REIDY (presumably Michael's son). We believe Michael REIDY (another son of Michael above) owned a pub called "La Chataeu" in Patrick Street, Cork City.

Edmund (Or Edward) REIDY (born in 1866, above) maybe be the Edward Reidy who left Ireland in 1903 married to Mary CONNORS ( or O' CONNOR) and settled in NY.