March 2006
DOLAN FAMILY ANCESTRY
FROM IRELAND TO AUSTRALIA
Two Dolan brothers (James and Kyran) and a cousin (William) came from Kings
County (now County Offaly), Ireland and settled in Australia between 1856 and 1879.
Belmont~ Ferbane, Kings County, IRELAND
brothers
John Dolan m.
Mary
James Dolan
b. 1850 Glebe
Kyran Dolan
b. 1861 Glebe
Francis Dolan m.
Sarah (Keigan
cousins
William Dolan
b. 1830 Ferbane
AUSTRALIA
1866
GERRINGONG
c. 1870
c.1879
TALLEBUDGERA
Kings County
(now Offaly)
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1856
KIAMA
c.1869
March 2006
WILLIAM DOLAN (1830-1904)
William was born in Ferbane, Kings County, Ireland in 1830, the son of Francis
Dolan and Sarah Keigan, who were farmers.
William was the first family member to arrive in Australia in 1856. He went to work
on a large estate at Gerringong near Kiama, in the Illawarra district, south of Sydney.
William married Margaret Flynn in 1864 in Kiama. In 1866 William was joined by
his cousin JAMES DOLAN, who was only 16 years old.
Within a few years the family was looking to move to new settlements in the north.
William was the first applicant for land in Tallebudgera Valley in 1869 selecting a
block of 320 acres 2nd class pastoral on 10 June 1869 on the north bank of the
Tallebudgera on which he erected a small shingle house for his bailiffs, James Dolan
(cousin)& Patrick Flynn (brother in law). On 4 October 1869 he selected Portion 17
(120 acres 1st class pastoral).
In 1871, William brought his family (Margaret & their four children) from
Gerringong by ocean ketch to Myer’s Ferry on the Nerang River where they are said
to have camped for six weeks until Mr Fowler brought his bullock team and dray
from Booningbra (now West Burleigh) & picked them up with all their goods and
chattels. They arrived in Tallebudgera on 08 May 1871.
Margaret Dolan is credited with raising funds to build the Tallebudgera Catholic
church in 1878. It was the first Catholic Church in the district south of Beenleigh.
In 1902 the family bought land at Currumbin (203 acres for 2 shillings & sixpence an
acre) and in 1906 Tom Dolan constructed the first slab hut in Currumbin. Tom
married Ethel Fackerell & they farmed at Currumbin with their son John.
Francis Dolan
m. Sarah Keigan
William Dolan (1830-1904)
m.
1864
Margaret Flynn (1834-1912)
- Thomas b. 1864 Kiama m. Ethel Fackerell (1891-1978) – John Sweetensen Dolan
- Sarah, b. 1867 Kiama m. Joseph Gooding – Joseph, James, Martin, Tom
- Francis, (1868 -1931) b. Kiama
- Mary, (1870- 1949) b. Kiama
- Catherine b. 1872? m. Hardy
+ 1 child deceased
Francis & Mary Dolan did not marry & lived on the family farm in Tallebudgera. On the
death of Mary the farm passed to her nephew, Tom Gooding.
William & Margaret Dolan and other family members are buried in the Tallebudgera
Catholic cemetery.
Page 2 of 9
March 2006
JAMES DOLAN was born in Glebe, Kings County, Ireland in 1851, the son of John
& Mary Dolan, who were farmers.
He was about 16 years old when he came to Australia in1866 to join his cousin
William Dolan, at Gerringong.
James moved with William to Tallebudgera in 1869. He was first listed as bailiff on
Portion 17, ‘Parish of Tallebuggera’ selected by William on 04 October 1869. He
lived with Patrick Flynn (William’s brother in law) in a small shingle house on
another block of 320 acres on the north bank of the Tallebudgera. Patrick was listed
as William’s bailiff on this land.
By 02 August 1870, James (aged 20) had selected his own homestead block of 115
acres, 1st class pastoral.
On 24 February, 1879 James (aged 28years) married Mary Ann Dixon (aged 21) at
the residence of Patrick and Bridget Leonard. James & Mary established themselves
as dairy farmers and called their property “Belmont”.
1896: Eddie, John, Kyrie, James, Mary Ann, Tom, Mary Dolan at “Belmont”.
Page 3 of 9
March 2006
Patrick Dixon (1834-1860)
m. Bridget Cox (1837-1918)
1854, England.
John Dolan
m. Mary
James Dolan (1851-1921)
m.
1879
Mary Ann Dixon (1858 - 1933)
- Mary (1880 - ) m. James Joseph Thompson
- John Patrick (1883 - ) m. Annie / m. Hilda
- Kyran (Kyrie) (1885 - m. Eva
- James Edward (Eddie) (1887-1954) m. Mabel Margaret Tyrrell 14/01/14
- Tom (1895 – 1917) engaged to Evie Tyrrell. Died WW1 at Ypres (Belgium)
- Francis (Frank) (1901 -1965) m. Maggie Wright / m. Ellen Nolan
MARY ANN DIXON was born in Preston, Lancashire, England c.1857 the daughter
of Patrick and Bridget Dixon, both of whom were from Kellafin, Co. Clare, Ireland.
On 21 December, 1858, Patrick, Bridget & Mary Ann arrived in Sydney as assisted
passengers on board the “Forest Monarch”. Patrick could read & write & his
occupation was given as labourer. His parents were dead and it was noted that he had
a cousin Daniel Kennedy in New England. Bridget could neither read nor write. Her
father was deceased but her mother was living in Lancashire.
The family moved to Kiama where Patrick worked on the Riversdale property of
Alexander Ritchie. Their son John was born in Kiama in 1859. Sadly Patrick Dixon
accidently drowned in the Minnamurra River on 15 May, 1860 leaving his wife aged
23 and Mary Ann (3years) & John (10months).
Bridget Dixon married Patrick Lennard (from Co. Cavan, Ireland) in Kiama on 11
July, 1862. The Leonards moved to Tallebudgera in the 1870’s where Patrick was a
shop-keeper. In addition to Mary Ann & John, they had eight children: James,
Thomas, Ellen, Margaret (m. Dan Dywer), Elizabeth (m. Kyran Dolan, brother of
James), Sarah Jane, Susan Bridget, Clara Alice. Patrick & Bridget Leonard are buried
in the Tallebudgera Catholic Cemetery.
Mary Ann’s brother John Dixon accidently drowned at Main Arm near
Murwillumbah on 23 February, 1890. He was a timber getter. He left his wife Mary
(O’Reilly) and four daughters Mary (5), Theresa (4), Alice (2) and Louisa (1).
James and Mary Dolan
James and Mary Dolan worked hard to provide for their family. They aimed to set up
each of their sons independently on their own properties. At one stage James Dolan
worked on the construction of the Tomewin Road while Mary and the children ran the
home farm. By 1912-1914 James and Mary moved with Frank to Queen St. Southport
where Frank attended Star of the Sea convent. During this period Eddie & Kyrie
farmed Belmont with the objective of establishing their own properties in Currumbin
and at Laidley. Two blocks were purchased at Bibo for Tom. When Tom died one
block was given to Mary & her husband Jim Thompson purchased the other. The
Thompsons raised their family at Bibo.
The death of Tom in WW1 had a terrible impact on the family. James thereafter
suffered from depression and unresolved grief.
Page 4 of 9
March 2006
James and Mary Dolan and many family members are buried in the Tallebudgera
Catholic cemetery.
Children of James and Mary Dolan
Mary (1880 - ) m. James Joseph Thompson ( ) in 1909. They lived at “Bibo”,
Myallmundi, West Burleigh. Jim Thompson was a member of the Nerang Shire
Council in the 1930’s. He was originally a ‘bullocky’ and is remembered as a calm,
gentle man.
- Eddie m. Vera Thyne: Lindy
- May m. Don Maclean in1945
- Kath m. Perce Thompson: Jim, Jenny, Peter, Mark
- Eric m. Kath McCardle
- Tom (1917-1926) drowned below the Catholic Cemetery
- Alice (1921-1923) died in infancy
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March 2006
Jim & Mary Thompson 25th wedding anniversary, “Bibo” 1934.
Back row: Margaret Dolan ?
?
3rd row:
Mabel Dolan, Eva Dolan, Stan Dolan, Eddie, May, Eric and Kath Thompson, Frank and
Maggie Dolan, Cecelia Coonahan, Jim Coonahan??
2nd row: Eddie and Kyrie Dolan, Fr. Shannon, Fr. Burton, Mary and Jim Thompson, Fr. Carlton, Fr.
Boland, John Dolan.
Front:
Leo, Kevin, Vince, Peter, Gerard, Joe, Theresa, Jean, Stella, Maureen, Bernard & Tom Dolan
John Patrick (1883 - ) m. Annie ( ) m. Hilda ( )
John originally farmed “Fernvale” at Guineas Creek (at the end of current 19th Ave).
The property was sold c.1920 and the family moved to Camp Hill. Annie died & John
raised the children. Later marrying Hilda & living at Annerley.
-
Cecelia m. Jim Coonahan, Bairnsdale: John, Greg, Bill, Patti
Joe
Patty (Sr Patricia)
Bernard m. Ann
Kyran (Kyrie) (1885 - ) m. Eva Langton ( ) from Esk
Kyrie & Eva established a dairy farm at Mulgowie, Laidley. In the 1930’s they
moved to Sampsonvale & then to Calliope (1938-1948) near Gladstone. They
subsequently lived at Tallebudgera and then Burleigh Heads.
- Tom (1920-1983) m. Thelma: David, Margaret, Rhonnda, Theresa
- Gerard m. Colleen
- Jack m. May
- Joe m. Berris
- Dorothy m. Vince Stonley, Gladstone
- Mary m. Frank Stonley, Gladstone
- Charlie m. Hilda
- Jim ( - 1986) m. Violet Playford: Helen
- Bill m. Marge
Jack and Joe were twins, born on the road enroute to hospital. Dorothy and Mary
married two brothers.
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March 2006
Kyrie & Eva Dolan with John & Eddie 1
James Edward (Eddie) (1887-1954) m. Mabel Margaret Tyrrell (1988-1963) on
14/01/14 at “Laurel Dale”, the home of her parents in Currumbin Valley. They
established their property “Camberra” in Currumbin Valley, where they had a dairy
and grew bananas & small crops. Eddie represented the district on the Nerang Shire
Council in the 1930’s.
- Stanley (1914-1979) m. Betty McCauley (1920- ): Elizabeth, Daniel
- Margaret (1916-1979) - Sr. M. Gerard, sister of Perpetual Adoration
- Tom (1919- ) m. Mary Maher : Rosemary, Patricia, John, Phillip, Richard
- Maureen (1920 - ) m. Ken Cahill: Graham, Ken, Karen, Helen
- Stella (1922–1951) m. Len Robinson: Lorraine
- Theresa (1925- ) m. Brian Dalton: Bernard, Shane, Judith, Kaye, Colleen
- Leo (1926-1985) m. Deslie Skelton: Michael, Patrick, Catherine, Paul,
Kieran, Matthew
Tom (1895 – 1917) was engaged to Evie Tyrrell. Died 20 September, 1917 aged 22
at Ypres (Belgium). His name is engraved on the Menin Gate memorial, in honour of
those lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World
War. Tom’s WW1 diary is held by Terence Dolan and his letters from that time to
Eddie & May Dolan are held by Elizabeth Dolan. There is discussion that these items
might be donated to the Local Studies Library of the Gold Coast..
Page 7 of 9
March 2006
Francis (Frank) (1901 -1965) m. Maggie Wright (1899-1934) / m. Ellen Nolan
(1904-1985)
-
Kevin m. Jess Lawlor: Stephen, Pauline, Deniece, Glenn, Graeme
Jean m. Norm Marriott: Chris, Kathryn
Vince m. Jeannie Noffke: Christine, Greg, Karen
Peter m. Josie Slattery: Frank, Mark
Gerard m. Annis Heilig: Margaret, Elaine, Tony
-
Patrick (1938-2000)m. Lynne Smith (1945-2004): Shaun, Jane
Maree m. Brian Swaddling: Brett, Melissa, Simon, Daniel
Terence m. Janet O’Keefe
Carmel m. Frank Rose m. Maurice Henley : Veronica, Kayleen
KYRAN DOLAN was born in Glebe, Kings County, Ireland in 1861, the son of John
& Mary Dolan, who were farmers.
He was about 18 years old when he came to Australia in1879 to join his brother James
Dolan.
Patrick Leonard (1826-1901)
m. Bridget Cox (1837-1918)
John Dolan
m. Mary
Kyran Dolan (1861-1932)
-
m.
1909
Elizabeth Leonard (1876 - )
Gerard (1913 - ) m. Edna ( - 2004): Margaret Marie, Colleen
Kyran (1916 – 1965) m. Coral: Bernard
In 1909, at age 48, Kyran married Elizabeth Leonard (younger step sister of James’
wife Mary Ann). They farmed at Mooball, NSW. They had two sons Gerard &
Kyran, who married two sisters, Edna & Coral. Kyran snr died 20/06/1932 & is
buried in the Murwillumbah cemetery.
Page 8 of 9
March 2006
Kyran Jnr., Gerard & Edna Dolan, Kyran Snr.?
Draft document prepared by Elizabeth Dolan Mar. 2006.
eadolan@ozemail.com.au
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