My great grandparents were Thomas RYAN and Mary DWYER. Thomas RYAN was born at Glenkeen, near Borrisoleigh in Tipperary, his parents being Martin RYAN and Mary O’BRIEN. Descendants of the same family live today in Glebe House Glenkeen.

Others of the RYAN family to come to Australia were Patrick and Bridget Treacy, and his cousin Thomas and Anne Russell, who all went to Queensland. Thomas and Mary DWYER were married in Warrnambool in 1857 and their family of twelve children had births registered in Woodford, Tower Hill and Casterton, between the years 1858 and 1876. Three of their children, Martin Joseph, Mary Ann, and Bridget Gertrude, married children of Denis CALLAGHAN and Julia McDONALD. Another daughter Helena Agnes married Cornelius O’BBIEN, and after her death, Cornelius married her cousin Mary Ann RYAN, the daughter of Michael RYAN & Mary Ann McCARTHY. Consequently, sorting out all the connections has not been easy.

At the time of Marriage Thomas and Mary lived at Merri Creek, where his occupation was given as "labourer". The Bahgallah School roll included Thomas's children, and he was one of the residents who petitioned for the establishment of the school.

Thomas RYAN & Mary DWYER had the following children...

1. Thomas Nicholas RYAN b. 1858, Woddford, Vic, married Mary Jane TIERNEY in Nhill in 1890,
2. Martin Joseph RYAN 1859, Tower Hill, Vic, married Mary Ann CALLAGHAN in Nhill in 1892 (my grandparents)
3. Mary Ann RYAN b. 1861, Tower Hill, Vic, married John Joseph CALLAGHAN in Casterton in 1884
4. Bridget Gertrude RYAN b. 1862, Woodford, Vic, married Jeremiah Mark CALLAGHAN in Sandford in 1890
5. Laurence RYAN b. 1864, Tower Hill, Vic, ......
6. John George RYAN b. 1865, ..........., married Catherine Margaret HENNESSEY in Geelong in 1898
7. Margaret RYAN b. 1867, Tower Hill, Vic, married Robert SULLIVAN (details unknown).
8. Helena Agnes RYAN b. 1868, ........, Vic, married Cornelius O'BRIEN in 1897 in Casterton, Victoria.
9. Patrick Joseph RYAN b. 1870, Casterton, Vic, ........
10. James Lawrence RYAN b. 1872, Casterton, Vic, married Mary Winifred BURKE (1876-1915) in 1913 in Victoria.
11. Sarah Ann RYAN b. 1873, Casterton, Vic, married Allan Goulburn LOVELL in 1914 in Victoria.
12. Julia RYAN b. 1876, d. 1876, Casterton, Vic.

It appears the children, Lawrence and Patrick Joseph, did not marry.

I would like to make connection with others who have details of these RYAN or CALLAGHAN families.

Mike Gardiner
61 Swan Street,
Wangaratta, Vic 3677
AUSTRALIA
telephone: 03 5721 7225

Mike Gardiner

Daryl Povey