family names in the benedy
The Benedy area was populated mainly by McCloskeys and O'Kanes who had been forced to leave the more fertile land in the lower reaches of the River Roe at the time of the Plantation of Ulster. With the great number of separate McCloskey and O'Kane families, it was necessary to distinguish between them by reference to either an ancestor or a family trait.
For example, to this day, if you are looking for Patsy McCloskey, you would have to know whether it was Patsy McCloskey Pháidí Aoidh or Patsy McCloskey Harry. Other McCloskeys are still identified by hair colour, for example Teresa Hasson (McCloskey) would have been known as McCloskey Rua (Roe).
Annie (Dan) McCloskey has collected as many family names as are presently remembered and described where they lived in the Benedy. New houses have been built on some of the original sites, but in most cases only wallsteads remain. Where new roads were made, many dwellings were demolished.
Starting in the townland of Cluntygera, where at one time there was a very large population, Mick McCloskey (Rodgers), father of the late Brian McCloskey, lived in what is now a barn beside where Paul Mánus Phóil (McCloskey) now lives. The late Gerard Harry (McCloskey) lived further along where his wife, Bernadette, where their son Thomas and family now live. This is the townland called Carrownakillew (Ceathru na Coille). Next door lived Hugh Pháidí (McCloskey) and his wife Mary. Beside Hugh's house was that of John Heaney and his wife. A few yards further on, lived Paddy and Jack Eoghain Dick (McCloskey). Next to that, now the home of the late Pakie Dan's family, was formerly the home of Annie's great grantparents, John and Brigid Harry (McCloskey) who came originally from Tamniarin.
Across the street lived James and Lizzie Heaney with their daughter Mary who are all deceased. Next came the home of the John Dick family (McElhinney). Maggie, the last member of the family, died a few years ago. A few yards further on lived the McGilligan family (Frank) and beside that lived James McGilligan, grand uncle of the present Manús Phól family. Next to that house lived Francis Manús Bán (McCloskey) and his wife Sarah, then Paddy Pháidí (McCloskey), brother of Annie Donaghy, Mary McCloskey and the late Cassie Eakin. After that came the Bradley family.
Below that house lived Michael Paddy Laurence (McGilligan), whose mother came from Ballinascreen and was a fluent Irish speaker. Next was where Hugh Pháidí (McCloskey) lived, who died recently in Belfast. His parents were Micky and Agnes. After came the Manús Bán home, Johnny and Seamus. Johnny is now deceased. Their grantparents were also fluent Irish speakers. Claire (Par Roe) McCloskey now lives there. The Mhicí (McCloskey) family lived below where Michael and Teresa now live. Also down that lane lived James Phóil Aoidh Kane (O'Kane) now deceased. Pat the Pedlar (McCloskey) lived further along.
In Tullyard, there were at least half a dozen houses. In the first house lived Grace Phoil Mhaoil (McCloskey) and her sisters. Next door was Michael Manús Aoidh (McCloskey) and his sister Mary. Adjacient to that house was that of John Johnny Rua (McCloskey) who emigrated to America in the 1920's. Across the lane lived Rose Ellen Phoil Bhig (McCloskey) and her brothers Francie and Paul. Next to Rose Ellen's lived Pat Jim Sheain (McCloskey).
Further along the road lived Joe Dan (O'Kane) and wife Brigid, parents of Paul. Next door, a few yards on, lived James Mhici (McCloskey) and his wife Maggie, who later went to live in Belfast. Under the same roof as James and his wife lived New Jimmy Kane (O'Kane) who was the local storyteller of ghost stories and the like. Further along was where Manus O'Kane, the teacher lived.
In the White Mountain, the first house off the road was that of James Scardin (O'Kane), whose son James lives there now. Further along lived John and Mary Ann Manús Phóil (McCloskey). Over the footbridge lived John B McNicholl. Towards the mountain was the home of the Stewart family, now vacant. Johnny John Brian (McCloskey) next door and after that was the home of Mickey Screen (McCloskey), the grandparents of the Manús Phol family today.
Next came the home of John Par Roe (Pheadair Rua) also McCloskey, who now lives in Chapel Road with his nephew. They were both very helpful in filling in any gaps in this account. Still further in towards the mountain were six houses, at some distance from each other. The following people lived in these houses: Patsy Phóil (McCloskey), Paddy McGilligan, Francie Lynn, Pat Sheain (McCloskey), James Manús Phóil (McCloskey) and las in line was the birthplace of John Par Roe, whose mother Hane lived there until she died.
In Corick, near Brian Haran now lives, Joseph Lynn lived. He owned a shop in Dungiven. John Dan (O'Kane), the Corrick Man lived where the Community centre is now. A lane passes by where Danny O'Kane lives and there were three houses there: Paddy McBride, Danny O'Kane's grandfather, barney Heaney and Harry Kimmens lived in that lane.
In Corruda lived Mick Bradley, Tom O'Kane, John Fleming, Harry McGuigan, John Bradley, James McCloskey (Proctor) and Neil Bradley, who owned what is now the Ponderosa Bar. In the townland of Carn, Barney McWilliams lived with his brothers. Paddy Bradley lived in the next house along, on the opposite side. Near where Charlie Duncan (McCloskey) now lives, there was a small shop, owned by Bridget Fhéilimidh (McCloskey). Nearby was the local pib, owned by John McLaughlin who died recently. Pat Larry (O'Kane) and Harry O'Kane lived in adjoined houses, now derelict.
John, Pat and Mary Mhici Mhoir owned the quarry and lived where the Sweeney family now live. A family called Para (Pheadar) Bán (McCloskey) lived in Carn. In upper Carn there were two men called Paddy Kealey and John Kealey. The O'Dwyer family now live where Paddy Kealey lived. A McCloskey family by the name of 'Oinys' lived in Carn. Reddy O'Kane, an uncle of Sean whitey's lived in that group of houses. His wife taught in Carn school. Abby Para Mór (McCloskey) lived nearby. Of the houses still occupied, those families have been there for generations - the Whitey's (O'Kanes), Mulhollands, Campbells, Larry (O'Kane) family and James O'Kane - the Kerry man.
In Boviel, there was the home of Patsy Pháidí Aoidhe (Hughie) and his sister Gertie and beside that the family home of Mary Farren (nee Campbell). Further up the road lived Mattie McVeigh, then Pat Harrigan and his wife. Two Kealey families lived in Boviel - Felix Kealey and Mary Kealey. Willie McGuinness lived here as well as the Jones family. There are new houses on all those sites now.
In the next townland, Cashel, lived Paddy Harry (McCloskey), uncle of Tommy Gerard (Harry) McCloskey. Across the road lived Gerry Par Roe (McCloskey). Beside Gerry Par Roe's, in hwat is now a barn, lived Kate the Knitter. Up the lane into Cashel Green lived John O'Kane. In the same lane was the ancestral home of Ambassador McCloskey. John Gwynne lived behind where Celestine O'Kane now lives. The wallsteads are still there. The school house, once owned by Patsy and Harry Harry (McClsokey) is now owned by the Bonner family from Derry, Patsy and Harry having returned to their original home. Opposite where Finbar Gillen lives was the home of the McNicholl family. Mrs Craig and Mrs Gillen are the last two of that family. Ellen Conologue (McCloskey) lived opposite Donaghy's and no trace remains of that house. In that part of Crebarkey Near known as Coolnasallagh lived John Mullan and his wife Annie, and John Brian Roe (McCloskey). Further on lived Johnny Gilderson, the carpenter. Then came the home of Joe Mulholland and further up lived Joe and Sarah Ann McGonigle.
In Magherabuoy, Packie Roe (McCloskey) lived behind where Denis Kealey now lives.This was where Pat Heaney of Piper Hill lived and Francie Heaney, the poet lived in the Magherabuoy lane. These houses are now vacant. There was a row of houses where Tommy McReynolds lives and the Gwynn sisters lived opposite Gerry Toner's house. In Magherabuoy Terrace, the houses were built about thirty five years ago on a field belonging to Howard Stewart, of the White Mountain. Some families, e.g. O'Connors, Irwins, McWilliams, Kealeys and Toners have lived there for many years. Many new families have built houses and settled there.
In Tamniarin, there are about ten homesteads where the former residents are dead and gone, with no one living there now. There were four families called Harry: James, Tommy, Johnny and David. James and Tommy lived up the Quarry Brae Lane while Johnny and Davey lived on down the Tamniarin lane. At the very end of the lane was the home of Michael Sheáin (O'Kane). Further up, were the homes of Willie Irons and Isaac Forgie. The Cromie family no longer live in Tamniarin - in 1901 there had been four Cromie families in Tamniarin. Patrick McNicholl, the Australian, lived at the every head of the lane. The families presently living in Tamniarin are those who have been there for a long time, e.g. Cannings, John O'Kane (Dan), McNicholls, Jim McCloskeu (Halry) and McGilligans. The Kelly family live where Robert Cromie lived.
Finally in Crebarky far, there was the home of Gerard Bui (Gwee) McCloskeu which was not far from that of Joe Briste (McCloskey), both houses are now vacant. Father Loughrey owned the Brockaghs at one time and then it belongs to Denis McHenry, whose daughter now owns it.
Tom Irwin lived where Brendan McHenry lives now. Mary Fheilimidh (O'Kane) lived in Crebarky far and also Pat James Mudra (McCloskey). James Bernard Harry (McCloskey) lives where Tommy Harry (McCloskey) lived.
Mary Charlie (McCloskey) also lived there, as did Mick and Pat the Pedlar. Willie Mullan lived in the Muirnes. The Murphy family now live there. Jimmy McGilloway and Joe McGilloway live in Crebarky.
Addendum
The pronunciation of some of the family names have changed over the years, having lost their original derivation. Examples of where this probably happened are as follows: Harry could have come from the Irish Ghearaf (Gerard):; Par Roe from the Peadair (Peter) Rua; Para Ban again from Peadair, Oinys from Eoghain Aoidh.
