The pedigree in Part 1 relates. to the the O'Davoren's of Cahermacnaughten and their ancestors. There appears to be no ancient records of other branches of the family that would have existed throughout history. What was the fate of the other "Davoren" families? What happened to these other branches from the height of the family's power and importance as Kings of Thomond, to the present day?

To understand the impact of change on the ancient families of Ireland is to understand the history of this embattled and persecuted nation. It is far beyond the scope of this document to chronicle these events in any detail. The forces include the emerging power of Brian Boru who for a short period usurped the power of the ancient kings and became ruler of all Ireland. It was not unusual for powerful families to enlist the aid of foreign forces to achieve their aims and this was an obstacle that Brian faced.  Brian was motivated by acquisition of power but to do this he needed to merge the tribes and provide a concerted force to expel the Vikings who regularly pillaged the country and also established settlements of their own.

Following Brian's death at Clontarf and the loss of his heirs, the country further fragmented as powerful clans battled to gain domination.  Thus Ireland became more vulnerable and many of Ireland's nobility lost their lands to other rulers but ultimately to the English who established power and authority over much of Ireland from 1167 on.

The Cromwellian forces followed the uprising of 1641. They were far more ruthless than any previous invaders. Not only did that destroy and pillage most of the Abbeys and fortifications of the Normans, they seized land and drove out the original Catholic inhabitants from the East, South and North of Ireland to either "Hell or Connaught". All of Clare, Galway, Roscommon and most of Mayo were reserved as an enclave for the surviving Irish. The English plan was to pen in the Irish west of the Shannon River, which was seen as a defensible border, with the ocean to the west. All confiscated land was to be transferred on 26 September 1653 and all unauthorized Irish were to be in Hell or Connaught by 1 May 1654. These were the "transplanted Papists". The original inhabitants of Connaught also faced an invasion by displaced Irish from the East and elsewhere.  It was at this time that the O’Davorens of Cahermacnaughten (Part 1) lost most of their lands.  Some however, by renouncing their faith and finding accommodation with the English, regained some lands in Northern Clare.

My grandfather James who migrated to Australia, came from the Parish of Ogonolloe, town land of Ballyloughnane, County Clare. Ogonolloe's history is a reflection of the history of Ireland. In eastern Clare, it was originally part of the ancient territory of the O'Duracks but wrested from them by the O'Briens and then by the powerful family of McNamaras who fought with the successful dependants of Turlough O’Brien following the battle of Dysert O’Dea in 1318.  Following the invasion by Cromwellian forces in 1641, through treachery and bad judgement, the lands of the McNamaras were lost to them.  Before the Cromwellian invasion there were 140 McNamara families living in Ogonolloe ruled by Jane McNamara from Cathir castle. After the invasion there were none. By 1837, the majority of the land at Ogonolloe 5,554 acres, was then owned by the Purdons. George Purdon was an opportunistic land surveyor who from 1659 to 1689, went from tenant farmer to outright owner of the Parish.

The Purdons established themselves in Tinnerana House. It is now a 4 Star Hotel on the Main Road at Ogonolloe. They were regarded as good landlords thus farmers and labourers would have been attracted to the Parish.

The Valuation of Tenements register of 1842 shows Simon G Purdon as Lessor and John Davoran (sic) as one of his lessees.

Most records focus on the O'Davoren's of Northern Clare and it is this area that most Irish Davorens can be found. However there are references to Davoren's in East Clare as far back as 1570, one Justin Davoren, for example, is mentioned as a witness to a treaty between a MacNamara and the Earl of Thomond. 

So how did my ancestors emerge in East Clare as tenant farmers? There are a number of possibilities. Perhaps they adopted the name "Davoren" for reasons of survival, remembering that the McNamara's were either driven from the area or killed.  But why Davoren, a relatively unknown name?  Alternatively they may have adopted the name as farm labourers who followed the landowners to Connaught often did. But there are no other Davoren families in Ogonolloe and in any case they were successful tenant farmers and builders and lived in considerably better circumstances than most Catholic Irish.

My belief is that my ancestors survived the dramatic changes over the centuries that saw the old Gaelic families reduced to oblivion or to become peasants as "transplanted papists". My family's oral history includes the belief that the family was descended from the ancient Kings of Ireland. My grandfather was aware of the origin of the name and the history of the family and passed this information to my father when he was a child. My grandfather had no other source of this information other than from his father. It was this oral history that inspired me to seek the facts. I am still looking. It is my view that they were "transplanted papists" but from where, I am not certain. Bridget Farrell was from Tipperary and at that time unless family links existed, people rarely married outside their Parish. This suggests that perhaps the family originated in Tipperary, perhaps near Cashel.

Dr U McNamara  “The " thing to eat" and the " thing to keep out  the cold," not the care of the family tree, became the most pressing things in life, and any genealogical records that survived the wreck of their fortunes were neglected, and ultimately met their fate in the dung heap or the fire. Two or three generations of this sort of thing transformed the great majority of the old stock into peasants. People who have come in contact with their descendants attest, that there is a natural sense of courtesy and an inborn refinement of thought deep in the soul of the Irish peasant, rarely to be found in a similar class elsewhere. This is nearly all the proof he now has of his once gentle blood, for few of them can count beyond their grandfathers”.

My family history commences with my first confirmed ancestor, William Davoren * and his wife Ann Cooney of Ballyheefy in the Parish of Ogonolloe.  William Davoren was born around 1790 and in 1827 farmed at Ballheefy. The tithe book of the time shows his land holding as being: "4 acres 2 roods with a value of $6-15-0". John, the eldest son of William was born around 1828. He married Bridget Farrell. Bridget died in 1887. John had at least two sisters, Mary, who married Andrew Brann and Margaret, who married Denis McNamara. He had at least one brother, William, who migrated to Australia. More on him in Part 3. According to my father, some other members of the family migrated to the USA. 

(* It is probable that William's father was named John Davoren, as the first son born to John Davoren, my great grandfather, would under Irish tradition, be named after his grandfather i.e. John.)

The Irish baptismal records state that John had five sons and one daughter, William, Patrick, Mary, James, (my grandfather), John and Edmond. However there was also Michael, who migrated to Australia. Michael is a mystery. Why he is not shown in the baptismal records is unclear as he would certainly have been baptised. His lineage relies on his Australian wedding certificate where he names his parents as John and Bridget correctly and his birth date, 1851, fits neatly in  a gap between William and Patrick. More on him in Part 3. See also the Family Tree.

John Davoren moved from the farm at Ballyheefy at around 1853 and raised his family on the 30 acre farm at Ballyloughnane, an adjoining townland . Ballyloughnane is also in the parish of Ogonolloe located near Killaloe on Loch Derg. The map of Clare shows the location. The farmhouse was substantial and probably built by the family as they were recognised as builders in the area.

Farmhouse 1974

Farmhouse 2006

The period that John's family survived was one of great depravation. William, John's first son was born during the great famine of 1848. Although 30 acres would not be regarded as a substantial landholding today, in those days it was quite substantial. One acre of potatoes could feed four people. One acre of crops could feed two people. Thus farmers with larger holdings did not suffer the effects of the famine as did the cottiers and labourers who had no land in there own right but relied on small one acre or so "conacres" where farmers rented small plots to labourers on which they grew potatoes to feed themselves. It was the labourers and cottiers, some million or so, who perished when the potato crops failed. A similar number migrated. Ironically many farmers prospered, as almost 2 million acres of land came onto the market as a result of the famine through death or migration of the small holders of land.  Landlords were eager to rent this land to more viable farmers and as a result the average size of farm increased over this period.  In all probability John’s family increased their land holding for these reasons. 

The following account of the impact of the famine in East Clare comes from the East Clare Historical Society.

"The Scariff Workhouse Union, an area of 170 square miles with a population of 47,894, was declared in July 1839. Its Workhouse was built in 1841. The Union comprised of Scariff, Ogonnelloe, Killaloe, Bodyke, Tulla, Feakle, Whitegate. Mountshannon and Woodford. Scariff. In 1846, the rate of famine burials in Tuamgraney and Moynoe (Scariff), was so great from the infamous Workhouse at Scariff, that the existing graveyards were filled to capacity. In St. Cronan's graveyard, Tuamgraney, hundreds were buried outside the boundary wall, while at Moynoe, sand and gravel was brought from the shore of Scariff Bay to cover the corpses. A contemporary account published in the Limerick Chronicle of January 6th 1847, tells its own story. "The Workhouse of Scariff, County Clare is so overcrowded with paupers, that a disease almost amounting to a plague has broken out amongst its inmates - the deaths averaging from four to twelve daily. It is horrifying to behold a donkey cart laden with five and six bodies, piled over each other, going to be interred and not a person attending the wretched cortege except the driver. The graves are so dug that the coffins are barely covered with earth, rendering the air infected."

Over 100,000 people migrated from County Clare in the 30 years to 1881 and my grandfather was one of those. In the Irish tradition the eldest son inherited the land and the other siblings tended to work the land for their keep, or seek their fortunes elsewhere. Some Landlords offered inducements for small lot tenants to migrate. It was usual that the younger siblings did not marry, as without land it was not possible to support a family.  Some joined the clergy.

My grandfather, James Davoren chose to migrate to Australia via New Plymouth on the 28 June 1877 arriving in Sydney on 23 September aboard the "Nineveh" at the age of 21. His cousin Dennis Farrell is recorded as a relative in Sydney. (Farrell was his mother's maiden name.) This was in the period of greatest migration to Australia. Prior to this period America and Canada were the favoured locations. The gold rush and the fact that settlers could acquire freehold land were major determinants for the increased number of settlers coming to our Australian shores. The cost of transport was far greater as was the trip time of 90-100 days, although generally some of the cost was subsidised.  His uncle William and brother Michael had previously migrated from Ogonolloe as had the Quinlan family with whom they were connected and presumably they all provided support for James until he established himself. 

William the eldest of John's family subsequently inherited the farm at Ogonolloe and married.  According to the census of 1901 they are recorded as having 6 children in residence,  Mary, Patrick, John, James, Bridget and Ann.  According to the Parish records, William had an illegitimate child, born to Margaret Clune.

John Davoren, James'  brother, married Mary Costelloe and in 1901 lived with his in-laws John and Bridget Costelloe. They are recorded as having 5 children in residence in 1901. Bridget, Mary, John, Patrick, and Anne. The other siblings remaining in Ireland apparently did not marry and remained living in Ogonolloe. They are buried in a graveyard close to the Ogonolloe Parish Church.   

Mary Davoren, James' sister married James Ward but here is no record of children born to them. I have reason to believe that they too, migrated to Australia.

The family were farmers and building contractors.  They built a church near Killaloe and they also built the Bank on the old road between Tuamgraney and Scarriff. The latter is a calling that has carried through to the present day descendents. The picture in Part 3, of my grandfather James building a bridge on a section of the Grand Ridge  road in Victoria Australia, will attest to this. Two members of the family were involved in operating a mobile picture show throughout Clare and neighbouring Counties up until the nineteen twenties.  To this day a number of family members are involved in the entertainment industry, none more than James Davern, son of Edmond and Eva, of Bellbird, A Country Practice and Rush fame. See: http://www.memorabletv.com/showsaz/countrypractice.htm and http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/rush.htm

The family farm was sold in 1929 to John and MaryBoland. I understand that it was Mary Boland who actually purchased the farm. She had been previously married and her demise in the early 1980's had serious consequences for the property as it became the subject of a dispute between the families of her first marriage. The Bolands had no children from their marriage.

I first visited the farm in 1974 and at that time I was advised that the remaining members of the Davoren family had moved to Wexford following the sale in 1929 to the Bolands. This is confirmed by the marriage of James, one William's sons, to Margaret Dowling in Wexford in 1936.  

The Bolands offered the typical Irish hospitality despite their limited means. On the second visit to the farm I took my family. The children were offered money, I was offered poteen, and my wife Maureen was offered brown lemonade and whiskey.  The farmhouse was much as it was when first built. The thatch roof had been replaced, and electricity was connected and there were toilet facilities. Normally, as in Mary's cottage one was required to visit the rear of the property where the ducks managed the sewerage disposal.  The property had views over Lough Derg and Holy Island. At the time of my first visit the hay was being gathered and the scene was one of high production.

Mary, a daughter of John, youngest brother to James, remained living nearby in the cottage of John Costelloe, the cottage that she was born in.  She offered us a meal that she cooked over the open fire in this very basic cottage. Mary was eighty-one but her memory was good and she was able to provide quite an amount of information about the family, albeit some fifty years or so after the majority had left the district. James, my grandfather was regarded as no longer existing. Mary said when a family member left for Australia or elsewhere, a wake was held. They believed that they would never see or communicate with them again.  They usually  never did.

I met another relative, a Miss Keene,  by chance, when asking directions to our accommodation in Mountshannon. She asked my name and then retorted "I'm related to you!" She was related to Fr. Pat Davoren however I have not found the link. 

I revisited the farm in 1991 after locating it with some difficulty. It was overgrown and neglected. The roof had caved in and the house would soon reach a state where it would be beyond repair. The dispute between the inheritees, one of whom was in the U.S.A. had meant that the property was not being cared for. Its inevitable future would be becoming the holiday site for a German citizen. Germans and other continental Europeans own much of this part of Clare. However on a visit again in 2006, the house had been restored, although part of the land had been divided off.

Two issues that were the subject of family debate were the age of my grandfather James and whether the name of the family was Davoren or Davern. Both of these issues can be put to rest. I easily obtained a copy of my great uncles' baptismal certificates but the Parish priest was unable to locate my grandfather's records. About 1 week after my visit to him, Father Fitzgerald phoned to say that he had located them. The problem was that the date I had provided was 12 years later than the actual baptismal date. My grandfather was 9 years older than the family believed to be the case. My father would describe him as "old before his time", and white haired at the age of thirty. He was believed to have died at 60 whereas he died at the age of 69.  All of his sons believed that they too would die relatively young. Most did.

The origin of the name is described in Part 1. It was anglicised to O'Davoren, sometimes Davoran, Davern and to Davoren. My grandfather's name was Davoren, he was baptised Davoren, but his children were registered as Davern, except my father who was not registered at all.  He retained his father's spelling of the name, as did his children. My uncle William used the original spelling of the name "Davoren" on his wedding certificate. My grandfather had his name wrongly spelt  "Davern: on his wedding certificate. (He also understated his age by 5 years.)

(Details of the history of James Davoren's settlement in Australia is included as Part 3.)

I knew little more of William's family that remained in Ireland. I could find no more information about William's family that moved to Wexford after leaving the farm. I left this part of the history to be left to others to include.

But through the power of the Internet, as late as June 2007 I was contacted by the grandaughter of William Davoren, my great uncle, who operates a Bed and Breakfast on the property they moved to after leaving Ogonolloe. I am not sure if it was a pleasant surprise for her to find that she had hundreds of relatives in Australia. I hope to meet her family soon.

If you can assist me or other Davorens to locate their missing links, go to Davoren Family Genealogy Forum or better still, e-mail me. Many Davorens have done so, from the USA, Ireland, Australia Canada, New Zealand and France and I always reply.