Sheelah (Bonar) Sweeney (abt. 1849)

Born about 1849 in County Donegal, Ireland

Wife of Manus Sweeney — married [date unknown] in County Donegal, Ireland

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in County Donegal, Ireland

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Biography

Sheelah Bonar was born about 1849^[1] in County Donegal,^[1] Ireland.

She married Manus Sweeney,^[1][2] a farmer^[1][2][3] in Meenbannad,^[1][2][3] County Donegal, Ireland.

The household was Gaelic speaking - Manus and Sheelah could only speak Gaelic^[1] - but the children were bilingual in Gaelic and English.^[1]

Their children included:

• Mary,^[1][3] b. c.1872^[1]
• Michael,^[1] b. c. 1882^[1]
• Manus,^[1] b. c. 1885^[1]
• Catherine,^[1] b. c. 1888^[1]
• Sheelah (Jr.),^[2] aka Cecily,^[1] b. 11 Feb 1892^[1][2]

The 1901 census records Manus and Cecily Sweeney on their farm in Meenbannad with five unmarried children - see Census, below.

Sheelah had chest trouble around Christmas 1903.^[3] She died in Meenbannad^[3] seven months later^[3] on 17 Jul 1904.^[3] When her daughter Mary Sweeney registered her death it was noted that she had not had medical attendance,^[3] but was attributed to "probably bronchitis."^[3]

Census

1901 census of Townland of Meenbannad, Parish of Templecrone, County Donegal, Ireland^[1]
Constabulary District of Dungloe, Sub-District of Dungloe
District Electoral Division of Rutland, Poor Law Union of Glenties, Parliamentary Division of West Donegal

Manus Sweeney, head, age 75, farmer

Cecily Sweeney, wife, age 52

Mary Sweeney, daughter, age 29, farmer's daughter

Michael Sweeney, son, age 19, farmer's son

Manus Sweeney (Jr.), son, age 116, farmer's son

Catherine Sweeney, daughter, age 13, scholar

Cecily (Jr.) Sweeney, daughter, age 10, scholar

notes:

Manus, wife Cecily and the three older children could not read or write, but daughters Catherine and Cecily could do both.

Manus and wife Cecily spoke only "Irish," the children were all bilingual in "Irish & English"

Manus and Cecily were married, the children were all unmarried

The whole family was born in County Donegal and Roman Catholic in religion

Research Notes

• Date of birth: Sheelah was born before birth registration was introduced in Ireland (in 1864), so there is no original record of her birth. Estimated date from later records:
  • 1848 - 1849: from age 52 in 1901 census^[1]
  • 1850 - 1851: from age 53 at death on 17 Jul 1904^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18} Manus Sweeney household in 1901 census of Townland of Meenbannad, Parish of Templecrone, County Donegal, Ireland, household B8. National Archives of Ireland. Accessed 20 May 2022.
   image: http://census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai000664820/
   transcript: http://census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Donegal/Rutland/Meencannard/1179400/
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Sheelah Sweeney birth registration, 1892 birth register, Dungloe Registration District, Union of Glenties, County Donegal, page 94, ref. no. 01860935. Accessed 20 May 2022.
   https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1892/02358/1880935.pdf

   entry no. 144

   child: Sheelah Sweeney

   birth: 11 Feb 1892, Meenbannid, County Donegal

   father: Manus Sweeney, farmer, Meenbannid

   mother: Sheelah Sweeney, formerly Bonar

   registered: 02 Mar 1892 by Sheelah (her X mark) Sweeney, mother, Meenbannid

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9} Cecily Sweeney death registration, 1904 death register, Dungloe No. 2 Registrar's District, Glenties Superintendent Registrar's District, Union of Glenties, County Donegal, ref. no. 04580405. Accessed 20 May 2022.

   entry: 170

   name: Cecily Sweeney

   death: 17 Jul 1904, Meenbanid

   description: female, married, 53 years old, farmer's wife

   cause: probably bronchitis, duration seven months, no medical attendant

   registration: 25 Jul 1904 by Mary (her X mark) Sweeney, present at death, Meenbanid