The Killeen Farmhouse, in Ruan (near Corofin), County Clare, Ireland was the home of James Cullinan and Johanna Feighery (my paternal great, great grandparents).
The photograph below is the restored B&B version of Killeen (as taken by Michelle Dennis).
The remains of the Killeen Farmhouse around 1990-1991, as photographed by Greg Curran.
Pooncarie, or Pooncaira as it was originally gazetted, (meaning large sandhill in the Barkindji language) is a very small town in south west, New South Wales, Australia.
The Barkindji people lived in the area for around 40 000 years, prior to the arrival of white people.
Established in 1840 through illegal grazing runs, Pooncarie gained prominence as a paddle steamer port to take workers and provisions to sheep stations, and wool bales to markets in the south It came to be known as ‘The Port’ by locals.
Explorers Burke and Wills passed through the area in 1860 in their south to north expedition across Australia.
There are a number of sheep properties in the Pooncarie region.
Sources:
Dunn, J. https://www.outbackmag.com.au/pooncarie-nsw-2648/.
visitnsw.com/destinations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pooncarie
https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/pooncarie-nsw
Two stations in Pooncarie are linked to the Curran and Cullinan families: Mullingar (Curran Family) and Kelleen (Cullinan Family).
Mullingar was established in 1910 by Patrick Curran.
Kelleen was established in February 1888 by Michael Cullinan.
See the Michael Cullinan and Patrick Curran posts for further details of their lives in Pooncarie.
1915: Michael Cullinan is fined and given good behaviour bond for 6 months for using “threatening language in a public place” at a landsale at Endfield near Pooncarie. His appeal on the basis that it wasn’t a public place was dismissed with costs of 10 pounds, 10 schillings costs.
1945 – Josephenna Theresa Wright (nee Cramer) is living in Castlemaine.
1958 – Josephenna Theresa Wright dies. She is 85 years old.
Further information on Castlemaine Benevolent Asylum
My paternal grandparents, Herbert Curran and Kelleen (also known as Queenie) Cullinan met in 1918 at the Pooncarie Ball (in New South Wales, Australia).
They married on June 4, 1919 at Mullingar Station (New South Wales), in a dual wedding with Herb’s mate, Ernie Page who married Herb’s sister, Annie Herbert. Herb was 22 years old, Kelleen was 20 years old.
Herbert and Kelleen lived at the following places during their life together:
1925 Telegraph Hotel, Pooncarie (Photo by Greg Curran 2009)
See Herbert Curran page for additional photos.
Michael Curran is my 2nd great grandfather (paternal side). He is the father of my great grandfather, Patrick Curran.
Michael’s date of birth in 1881 is unknown.
He married Anne Doyle on 16 August, 1857 in the parish of Delvin (Meath Diocese in County Westmeath) Ireland. The first witness was John King and the second witness was Cathleen Nolan.
They lived in Ballagh, County Westmeath where he worked as a shepherd for Mrs Cleary. They raised five children, Mary Byrnes (1858/1859? – ?), Michael Curran (1860-1943), Anne Dalton (1863 – ?), Patrick (1865-1954) and John Curran (1867 – ?).
On June 27, 1881 Michael was with friends at the house of Mary McKeon, an aunt of one of his friends on Delvin Road, Rathconnell. On leaving the house he was attacked by Patrick Daly – with a pitchfork, a spade, and a knife. Daly stabbed him 20 times and Michael died the next day. He was 45 years old.
Michael is believed to be buried in Rathconnell cemetery, Ireland.
Information Source: Curran, D. The Family History of Michael Curran 1836-1997.