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Welcome to John and Bridget O'Connor's family history site!
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This site has been created by their grandson John "Jack" O'Connor, his grandson Owen O'Connor, his cousin Michael O'Connor and his son Dan, with major editing and assistance from Val O'Connor.
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Our main mission is to enlighten family members on who we are, how we are related and to provide some history of how our family has evolved from it's origin in County Kerry, Ireland.
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This site includes an extensive amount of personal information about family members. We have therefore constructed it with certain security measures to protect us all. We want this site to provide a dynamic means by which our family can learn about their heritage and have a way in which we can all communicate with each other, if we desire to do so.
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We request that you use this site only for good and positive purposes and that you enjoy learning about, and commingling with, our (your) family!
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Because many of the pages on this site are restricted to family member's eyes only we ask that you first apply to create an account!
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Once your account is approved by a site administrator you can look around and learn in detail about our families. We hope you learn many new things!
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Please go to the above family member box to sign up. Please use your Real Name as your login name and add your family name so that we know how you qualify. We want to make sure that people who aren't part of our family don't have access to the private portions of the site.
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Thank You So Very Much And Enjoy.
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Please Join our private O'Connor Family Facebook Group:
PHOTOS OF IRELAND TRIPS
Gap of Dunloe- Killarney, County Kerry
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Cliffs of Moher-County Claire
The Aran Islands Ireland
Carrigafoyle Castle Home of the O'CONNOR Kerry Clan
Carrigafoyle Castle near the village of Ballylongford which was built by Conor Liath O’Connor-Kerry in the 1490s was a large tower house which was fairly common in Munster at that time.
During the Desmond rebellion in about 1580 the castle was defended by 50 Irish and 16 Spanish soldiers.
The castle was bombarded by the forces of Sir William Pelham and the ships’ cannons of of Sir William Winter over two days, six hours each day. In the final assault, the tower cracked under the impact of the bombardment and the west wall collapsed crushing many of the defenders.
The damage to Carrigafoyle Castle was so severe that it was never repaired although it was occupied for many centuries afterwards.
Most of the occupants were massacred although some may have escaped.
Its ruins still stand, including the outer defences and moat, and the effect of the bombardment is clear to see.
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Built on the edge of the Shannon estuary on what was originally an island, Carrigafoyle Castle rises 26.4 meters over five stories and has a spiral stairs in one corner with rooms and the main living spaces opening off it.
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Home of The O’Connor Kerry Clan
Carrigafoyle Castle was the main stronghold of the O’Connor Kerry clan, after whom the Itaghticonnor barony was named. They were in possession of Carrigafoyle for long periods over 400 years.
The castle was known as ‘the impregnable castle’ because of it held out for so long against Cromwell’s attacks. It was one of the last castles to have been conquered by the Cromwellians who hanged the occupants.
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