Family History Collection – Limerick Local Studies

Family history is an area of great interest to many people. Among the resources which can be helpful in such research is our significant collection of books on the history of specific families.

The content of these books varies from detailed history of a particular family to more general books on the history of a given surname.

Titles displayed here represent a sample of the whole collection, which can be accessed at the local studies department.

For purposes of brevity, the library holdings information provided here are mostly snapshots – full holdings information should be gleaned from the library catalogue – https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/HOME

Family History

A Guide to Tracing Your Limerick Ancestors, 2nd ed. by Margaret Franklin (2013)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=330727

Families of County Limerick, Ireland by Michael C. O’Laughlin (1997)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=128513

Family Histories Arthur - Egan

Arthur
Browner / Lynch
Burke / Bourke / De Burgh / De Burca
Caswell
Corneille
Croker
Cudmore
Curtin
De Lacy / Lacey / Lacy
Dowd / O’Dowd
Duffy
Duggan
Dundon
Dunne
Dunraven / Mountearl
Egan

The Arthur Family of Limerick by Michael Kelly (2019)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=641757

The Arthur’s [sic] of Limerick: a venerable merchant family who served their city for centuries by Michael Kelly (2019)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=109152

Remember Me to Inquiring Friends: a history of the Browner/Lynch family of Limerick, Ireland by Frances Browner
See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=436828

A History of De Burgh, De Burca, Burke of Ireland compiled by Jim Burke (2005)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2136334

Our Caswell Relatives compiled by Shirley Mayse (1980)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=131969

The Corneille History and Family Tree by George Corneille (1932)

croker ballynaguarde estate croker family lennon

Life on the Ballynaguarde Estate 1774-1870: the Croker Family & contested histories by Joseph Gerard Lennon (2008)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=50735

For the Love of the Land: the history of the Cudmore Family compiled by Elsie Ritchie (c.2016)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=145793

West Limerick Roots: the Laurence Curtin Family of Knockbrack, Co. Limerick, Ireland by Paul J. Curtin (1995)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2130486

The Roll of the House of Lacy: pedigrees, military memoirs and synoptical history of the ancient and illustrious family of De Lacy from the earliest times, in all its branches, to the present day. Full notices on allied families and a memoir of the Brownes (Camas) collected and compiled by De Lacy-Bellingari (1928)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=146687

The Legacy of the De Lacy, Lacey, Lacy family 1066-1994 by Gerard Lacey (1994)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=125072

Dowd / O’Dowd

Some Roots and Shoots of the O’Dowds of County Sligo compiled by James J. Dowd (2005)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=134807

The Duffy Clan: and, 200 years’ history of the Duffys of Mace by Peter Duffy (1992)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1058020

From the Cottage at Duggan’s Cross: a Duggan family history: the immigrant generation by Robert E. Nichols, Jr. (1996)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=393027

The Dundons of County Limerick by John Dundon (1997)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=147407

Dunne People and Places by Joe Dunne (1996)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1036695

The Family of Dunraven and Mountearl by T. J. Brosnan (1976)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=141050

The Family and Descendants of Denis Egan (1809-1881) by Kevin Alan Wood (2009)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=131649

Family Histories Fennell - Lundon

Fennell
Fitzgerald
Fox
Gallivan
Glin, Knights of
Going
Gorman
Gubbins
Hanley
Harnett
Hayes
Hogan
Kavanagh
Lee
Lucas
Lundon

The Fennells of Manister, Co. Limerick by Paul D. Fennell (2000)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2130577

Geraldine documents edited by The Rev. Samuel Hayman (1870)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1398233

The Rise, Increase, and Exit of the Geraldines, Earls of Desmond, and Persecution After Their Fall translated from the Latin of Dominic O’Daly, O.P., with memoir and notes by C. P. Meehan (1878)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=320188

The William Fox family saga (1839-2003): from County Limerick, Ireland to Rock County, Wisconsin and beyond by Dolores Fox Curran (2003)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=131519

The Gallivans of Limerick: genealogy by G. P. Gallivan

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=130043

Glin, Knights of

The Knights of Glin by J. Anthony Gaughan (1978)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2065310

The Knights of Glin: seven centuries of change edited by Tom Donovan (2009)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1064472

Going of Munster by C. C. Ellison [The Irish Ancestor, 1977]

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=242935

The Gormans: Master Mariners of Kilrush by Bryan and Jenny Hacker (2006)

James Henry Gorman, His Forebears, Family and Descendants by Arthur E. Gorman (1974)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=135183

The Gormans: Master Mariners of Kilrush by Bryan and Jenny Hacker (2006)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=141281

Memoirs of the Gubbins Family by Rev. George Gough Gubbins (1891)

No library catalogue record available

Note the inscription on title page – this book is part of the Mainchín Seoighe (Mannix Joyce) Collection

View at our digital library

An Echo From the Past: a short history from County Limerick of the Hanleys of Cooga, The Ryans of Reenavanna and the Buckleys of Glengar by Frank Hanley (2003)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=132186

The Harnett Reunion: commemorative magazine by Carina Prendiville (2019)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=222819

The Descendants of Patrick Hayes by Veronica Vail Nitko and Sheila Heffernan Delaney (2000)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=142538

The Quest for the Galloping Hogan by Matthew J. Culligan-Hogan (1979)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=444401

John Kavanagh and Bridget Egan’s Children – My great-grandfather, Patrick Kavanagh (2010) [CD-ROM]

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2331918

The Lee Family of Limerick [CD-ROM]

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2331733

Papers of the Lucas family, County Offaly (including papers of the Drews of Drewscourt, Counties Waterford and Limerick, and the Ryans of Ballymackeogh, County Tipperary) compiled by Vera Orschel (2010)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=68617

A Limerick Family: the Lundons at home and abroad by Michael Lundon (2013)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=123977

Family Histories McCarthy - Nunan

McCarthy / MacCarthy
MacLysaght
McMahon
McNamara / MacNamara
Madigan
Massy
Maunsell / Mansell
Miller
Monteagle
Murphy
Naughton
Nunan

The MacCarthys of Munster: the story of an Irish sept by Samuel Trant McCarthy (The MacCarthy Mor) (1922)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=110960

A Social History and Genealogy of the Edmond M. and Mary (McCarthy) Murphy Family: part I – from Killeedy Parish, Co. Limerick, Ireland to Ontario, Canada, to Dane County, Wisconsin, and beyond : a historical and genealogical analysis and commentary by John C. Murphy (2005)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2136612

Short Study of a Transplanted Family in the Seventeenth Century by Edward MacLysaght (1935)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=128570

From Famine to Faraday: Bryan and Honorah McMahon from Limerick to Victoria by Kevin Noonan and Peter Wilkinson (2012)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=119303

Pedigrees of the MacNamara Family: the pedigree of John MacNamara, Esquire, with some family reminiscences compiled by R. W. Twigge (2006)

The Story of an Irish Sept: their character and struggle to maintain their lands in Clare by a member of the sept / N. C. MacNamara (1999)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1057426

McNamaras on the 1911 Census of Limerick City by Limerick City Library (2007)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=150308

McNamara Military Roll of Honour by Patrick McNamara (2002)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=137195

Pedigrees of the MacNamara Family: the pedigree of John MacNamara, Esquire, with some family reminiscences compiled by R. W. Twigge (2006)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1057453

The Madigans of Shanagolden, Co. Limerick, Ireland by Father Dan (Donie) Madigan

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=101359

Records of the Massy Family: a genealogical account of the Massy family from the time of the conquest of England by William Duke of Normandy (1890)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=130306

If Those Trees Could Speak: the story of an ascendancy family in Ireland by Frank Tracy (2005)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1079927

History of Maunsell, or Mansell and of Crayford, Gabbett, Knoyle, Persse, Toler, Waller, Castletown; Waller, Prior Park; Warren, White, Winthrop and Mansell of Guernsey by Robert George Maunsell (1903)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=148462

View at our digital library

All Worlds Possible: the domain of the Millers of Coolybrown by Patrick J. O’Connor (1993)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=131347

The Papers of Lord Monteagle of Brandon: a report by Julian Walton (2011)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2338247

History of the Name Murphy by J. D. Williams (1977)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=861753

Spud Digging: a genealogical reference for the surname of Murphy by Patricia E. Murphy (1994)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=233161

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2136612

The Naughtons of Ballycanana: a family history by John M. Feheney (2006)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1084712

The Nunans of the Province of Munster, Ireland by Francis Nunan Howard (1970)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=144702

Family Histories O’Brien - O’Shaughnessy

O’Brien
O’Connell
O’Dea
O’Donoghue
O’Dwyer
O’Grady
O’Kelly
O’Meara
O’Mahony
O’Malley
O’Mullally / Lally
O’Shaughnessy

Historical Memoir of the O’Briens: with notes, and a genealogical table of their several branches compiled from the Irish annalists by John A. M. O’Donoghue (2002)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=131921

History of the Name O’Brien by J. D. Williams (1977)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=911429

History of the O’Briens from Brian Boroimhe AD 100 to AD 1945 by Donough O’Brien (1949)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=228985

O’Brien of Thomond: the O’Briens in Irish History 1500-1865 by Ivar O’Brien (1986)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=129636

O’Brien People and Places by Hugh Weir (1983)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1036541

The Descendants of William O’Brien and Mary Conway from Rath, Murroe, Limerick by Dennis John O’Brien (2001)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=139109

Jellett, O’Brien, Purser and Stokes: seven generations, four families by Michael Purser (2004)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1080530

O’Connell Family Tracts

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=196932

O’Dea Ua Deaghaidh: the story of a rebel clan by Risteard Ua Croinin (1992)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1036575

O’Donoghue People and Places by Rod O’Donoghue (1999)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1036705

The O’Dwyers of Kilnamanagh: the history of an Irish sept by Michael O’Dwyer (1933)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=233648

History of the O’Gradys of Clare and Limerick by Gerard Madden (2007)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=125443

History of the Name O’Kelly by J. D. Williams (1977)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=911434

An Annotated Calendar of the O’Meara Papers by Bartholomew Egan (1975)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=125294

The O’Mahony Journal [some issues]

See library catalogue record (vols. 7 & 8): https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=100482

O’Malley People & Places by Sheila Mulloy (1988)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=219496

The Round House O’Malleys by Grace O’Malley Cantillon (2014)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=335953

History of O’Mullally and Lally clan: or the history of an Irish family through the ages entertwined with that of the Irish nation by Dennis Patrick O’Mullally (1941)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=320176

The O’Shaughnessys of Munster: the people and their stories by John P. M. Feheney (1996)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1058971

Family Histories Pery - White

Pery
Phayre
Phelps
Rainsford
Ranahan
Ryan
Slacke
Terry
Villiers
Walsh
Westropp
White

Additional Pery Papers: being additional papers of Edmund Sexton Pery (1719-1806), M.P. for Limerick City, 1761-85

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2130468

Cromwell’s Legacy: the Phayre family in Ireland by Barbara A. Phayre (2001)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1018780

Our Ancestors and Their Times by Allan Phelps Bell (2021)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=1224746

Rainsford family genealogical material compiled by Colin Rainsford

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2346914

Rainsford genealogy [CD-ROM] by Michael Rainsford (2008)

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2346916

The Rainsford Family by Emily Buckland 1932 – Rainsford Table of Descent by Alfred Ransford 1907 – Ransford/Guinness indenture 1759 – Ransford/Guinness indenture memorial 1759 [CD-ROM]

See library catalogue record: https://limerick.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=2346915