Hugh Sweeney of Meenaweal (c. 1830 - c. 1875)
Hugh Sweeney was a farmer in Meenaweal near Crolly, County Donegal, Ireland. He was probably born about 1830. A young local girl by the name of Nellie Coyle caught his eye, and as her parents were poor they were more than happy to arrange a marriage. Nellie Coyle was 14 years and nine months old when she married Hugh Sweeney (c. 1853). Her granddaughter Annie O'Donnell (1903-1998) could recall relatives telling her how Nellie would play outside the house, with little interest in her new husband. But things soon changed with the birth of her first child, Daniel, in 1854. Hugh and Nelly had eight children including a set of twins, but we no longer know which two children this refers to.
Hugh and Nellie's children were :
- Daniel Sweeney - born 1854.
- Hugh Sweeney - born about 1860?
- John Sweeney - born about 1860?
- Patrick Sweeney - born about 1860?
- Hannah "Annie" Sweeney - born November 1864. (See Butte, Montana for photo)
- Dominic Sweeney - born 1869.
- Hanora "Nora" Sweeney - born November 1870.
- Mary Sweeney - born c. 1873 (See the O'Donnell page for photo)
The children were all born at home in the little stone house in front of the quarry in Meenaweal. The house is still standing, but is now roofless and derelict.
One day shortly after the birth of their youngest child Hugh was working on a haystack and fell to his death, leaving Nellie alone with eight children. Nellie somehow managed, and all eight children grew up to reach adulthood. By the time she was a grandmother Nellie was known as a fearsome little old lady who smoked a small clay pipe and had a reputation for being "crabbit" (bad tempered).
More Family Tree
Pat's family
- Mary Sweeney married Barney O'Donnell and their children included "Red Annie" O'Donnell of Loughanure, Joseph J. O'Donnell of Bayonne, and the Second World War soldier Dan O'Donnell amongst others. (Includes photographs of Mary Sweeney and Barney O'Donnell.)
- "Red Annie" O'Donnell of Loughanure left Ireland to start a new life in Bayonne, new Jersey. She got engaged to a young man there, but returned to Ireland and jilted him. (With photos and a scanned copy of a letter from 1932.)
- Daniel, Annie and Nora Sweeney: became pioneers in Montana Territory, USA. All settled in the mining town of Butte, Montana in the 1880's and 90's. Incredible stories and marvellous old photographs - with thanks to Charla, Marvine and Judy.
- Descendants of Annie Sweeney' in Butte, Montana.
- The Hanlons of Donegal: Pat's father's family.
Annemarie's family:
- The McDonalds descended of John McDonald of Argylshire who emigrated to the USA c. 1752.
- The Bruinsma, De Vet and De Leeuw families of Friesland, The Netherlands.