Mary Ann Kearns

There are 5 parts to this podcast, making it very long. There were many names of people and places that I have mispronounced, sometimes because I had no information about how to pronounce them and sometimes because my tongue got tied up in knots. For example, Mary Ann’s daughter is sometimes called Ellen and sometimes Eileen. I apologise for all the errors, I did try my best.

The podcast goes from the immigration of Mary Ann’s extended family up to her death in 1952, relying on newspaper articles as well as stories from my grandfather and father. The Trove website has provided access to the newspapers, which provide insights into the life of different family members but also to the social environment at the time. Not all the stories are pretty as I have tried to include not only the funny stories but also the ugly stories that family members were part of, so expect a bit of a roller coaster. I include each of the parts below, which range in length between 30 and 40 minutes. Underneath, I provide what I have in the way of background pictures and diagrams.

This is a photo of Margaret and Michael Kearns, Mary Ann’s parents.

Mary Ann’s parents came out separately from County Clare to South Australia. Michael Kearns emigrated with his parents and siblings. His family had a farm at Ballyvaugh on the north coast of County Clare.

Michael’s brother Patrick related a story about the hurricane which struck Ireland 6th January, 1839. To hear a poem, spoken in Gaelic about this hurricane go to:

The South Australian Railways as they stood in 1910. The places mentioned in the podcast can be found on this map so it is worth spending some time familiarising yourself with it.

The children of Michael and Margaret were:

1. John James born 10th July 1873 at Riverton and who died in 1936. He seems to have been close to Mary Ann.

2. Mary Ann was born 17th December 1874 at Riverton and died 4th May, 1952.

3. James born 27th July 1876 at Riverton, died 11th January 1877

4. Thomas Charles born 15th December 1877 at Riverton, died 1899.

5. Margaret born 9th October 1879 at Riverton, died 1955.

6. Nora born 17th October 1883 at Hamley Bridge, died 1951.

7. Charles Peter born 13th July 1885 at Hamley Bridge, died 1941.

8. Ellen Theresa born 13th August 1887 at Hamley Bridge, died 1965.

9. Bridget Agnes born 14th June 1889 at Hamley Bridge, died 1963.

10. Patrick Joseph born 10th April 1893 at Hamley Bridge, died 1935.

11. Martin Andrew born 4th February 1895 at Hamley Bridge

12. Denis James Leo born 3rd October 1897, died 1899.

The Kearns family gravestone at Pinkerton Plains. It includes the two boys who died within days of each other in June 1899.
The inscription about Margaret Crowley, Michael Kearn’s wife, naming her birthplace as Crannebridge, which even today is a very small village in the southern part of County Clare.

Mary Ann and Michael Joseph Meaney were married on 29th May, 1893, at Gawler, by Rev Prior Murphy. Their children were:

  • Margaret Mary (1895–1976)
  • Patrick Francis Leo (1896–1995)
  • Bridget Eileen (1900–1982)
  • Agnes (1902–1949)
  • Kathleen Olive (1904–1913)
  • Ellen Teresa (1907–1927)
  • Michael John (1910–1980)
  • Mary Stephanie (1912–2009)
Laying of railway tracks for the Ghan railways giving some idea of the harsh physical labour required for building and maintaining railway lines at the time that Michael Joseph was a packer and a ganger.
These are railway cottages at Mingary Siding. It is unclear if Mary Ann and Michael Joseph lives in on of them with their family but they may have done.
This is the letter written by Michael Joseph and counter-signed by Mary Ann to support my grandfather enlisting in the army during World War 1.
My grandfather, Patrick Francis Leo from around the time of his engagement early 1928.
A newspaper photo of Ellen Meaney from the stories about her death in 1927.
Newspaper article from Molly’s engagement.
Gravestone for Mary Ann’s immediate family.
Molly was added to the grave when she died in 2009.