Brigid O'Malley
From information in the 1901 census and summarised with information about her husband, it is thought that Brigid O'Malley was born approx. 1833.
She lived in Clohanmore, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland.
Known as "Biddy", she married Sinon Cleary and lived in the house in which Sinon had been raised. This was the "second" Cleary house shown in the picture of the Cleary homes in Illaun, in Miltown Malbay.
It is thought that their children were
- James Cleary (born c.1859, presumed to have died in infancy)
- Thomas Cleary (probably emigrated; further information not known)
- James Cleary (probably emigrated; further information not known)
- John Cleary (probably emigrated; further information not known)
- Mary Cleary (probably emigrated; further information not known)
- Honora Cleary (born approximately 1869; married Matthew Lynch; as noted below was at home at time of the 1901 census);
- Ellen Cleary (died in infancy)
- Patrick ("Waddie") Cleary (born approximately 1870; as noted below he was living at home on the farm in 1901; further information not known)
- Ellen (Nell) Cleary; (born approximately 1873; as noted below she was living at home on the farm in 1901; married William Looney who came from Mt Scott, ten miles away - a long distance in those times. Nell stayed living in the family home until she died in 1957). Their children were:
- Mike Looney, b. 1905, d. 2006, who married May Daly in New York and had two sons;
- Thomas, a bachelor who lived on the farm until he died;
- John Joe Looney who married Josie O'Shea in London and they had a son and a daughter;
- Marianne Looney who married Dan Garrihy, Ennis Road, Miltown Malbay, with descendents living in Ireland.
- Michael Cleary; married Mrs Mary Clancy (nee Vaughan), Ennis Road.
- Bridget Cleary (probably emigrated; further information not known)
Sinon and Biddy's grandson, Michael O'Looney of New York, recalled that his grandmother used to walk around the land sprinkling holy water and adhering to many superstitions, as was common in Ireland at the time. Mike also thought that the O'Malley family had relations in Australia, including someone who was conscripted into the armed service (probably the war of 1914-1918).
Any further information about Sinon Cleary, his wife Brigid O'Malley or their descendants would be appreciated.
