Hi, Martine here
I'm a London born Irish woman. My Kerry mother and Roscommon father met in a dance hall on the Holloway Road in London, fell in love and got married, and I was born.
My Irish Identity is very important to me and I came home to Kerry 22 years ago. Living in London empowered me in ways I can't yet describe but I will be ever glad I went and trained there as a counsellor and psychotherapist although I am no-longer working in that field.
My small granny has been a profound influence on my life. Although she died when I was 23, her wisdom and warm love continues to enrich my life. I see my family history research as honoring Catherine Hurley and giving recognition to her significance in my life.
Like many Irish families, there are those of us who got lost along the way. It is my hope that we can find those family members and share our common heritage with each other.
I am the proud mother of three wonderful daughters, Hannah is no-longer with me, but she is always in my heart.
I have recently decided to focus my research on the Brennan name and am proud to be a GOON (member of the Guild of One Name Studies) I look forward to working more closely with like-minded people the world over and especially those who are tracking down their elusive Brennans! In Nov. 2016 I founded the Kerry DNA Project for those who have taken an autosomal DNA test, uploaded to gedmatch.com and have Kerry ancestry. You can find us on Facebook.
I am also a contributor to The Slave Name Roll Project, The Beyond Kin Project, The Upper North Street School Project (Poplar, London) Ireland Reaching Out and a number of TV & Radio Documentaries.
Apart from research, I love to teach others how to find their families and some of my happiest days have been spent in kitchens and community halls in Kerry & West Limerick with people who are reclaiming ownership of their heritage. I think the Great Hunger and the Civil War have had a profound affect on Irish people living in Ireland and those who live abroad. And I believe that as we find our families a great conversation is opening up which is allowing healing and reconciliation to happen.
You are warmly welcome to join me here. I like to share my research with others. There is only one proviso please acknowledge the source of your information if it comes from here.
Martine
My Irish Identity is very important to me and I came home to Kerry 22 years ago. Living in London empowered me in ways I can't yet describe but I will be ever glad I went and trained there as a counsellor and psychotherapist although I am no-longer working in that field.
My small granny has been a profound influence on my life. Although she died when I was 23, her wisdom and warm love continues to enrich my life. I see my family history research as honoring Catherine Hurley and giving recognition to her significance in my life.
Like many Irish families, there are those of us who got lost along the way. It is my hope that we can find those family members and share our common heritage with each other.
I am the proud mother of three wonderful daughters, Hannah is no-longer with me, but she is always in my heart.
I have recently decided to focus my research on the Brennan name and am proud to be a GOON (member of the Guild of One Name Studies) I look forward to working more closely with like-minded people the world over and especially those who are tracking down their elusive Brennans! In Nov. 2016 I founded the Kerry DNA Project for those who have taken an autosomal DNA test, uploaded to gedmatch.com and have Kerry ancestry. You can find us on Facebook.
I am also a contributor to The Slave Name Roll Project, The Beyond Kin Project, The Upper North Street School Project (Poplar, London) Ireland Reaching Out and a number of TV & Radio Documentaries.
Apart from research, I love to teach others how to find their families and some of my happiest days have been spent in kitchens and community halls in Kerry & West Limerick with people who are reclaiming ownership of their heritage. I think the Great Hunger and the Civil War have had a profound affect on Irish people living in Ireland and those who live abroad. And I believe that as we find our families a great conversation is opening up which is allowing healing and reconciliation to happen.
You are warmly welcome to join me here. I like to share my research with others. There is only one proviso please acknowledge the source of your information if it comes from here.
Martine
click on this link to listen to the interview Martine Brennan, Radio Kerry 10/5/2017
Catherine Hurley my small granny
Catherine Hurley
born Tonevane , Tralee, Co. Kerry 1905
Father Timothy Hurley Mother Elizabeth Dwyer
Siblings John 1898
Michael 1899
James 1901
Timothy 1903
Mary 1907
Bridget 1909
Patrick 1920
Catherine worked in Peabody, Mass. US in 1925
She married Timothy Sheehan,
Fenit in St. John's Tralee 1938
born Tonevane , Tralee, Co. Kerry 1905
Father Timothy Hurley Mother Elizabeth Dwyer
Siblings John 1898
Michael 1899
James 1901
Timothy 1903
Mary 1907
Bridget 1909
Patrick 1920
Catherine worked in Peabody, Mass. US in 1925
She married Timothy Sheehan,
Fenit in St. John's Tralee 1938
Awards
BA (Hist) University College Cork 1982
Diploma Counselling 1991
Diploma Psychotherapy 1993
Winner of Shadow and Light Poetry Competition 2001
Finalist Blog Awards Ireland 2012 and 2013
Speaking Engagements
Feenagh Heritage Group
Mungret Heritage Group
Abbeyfeale Heritage Group
Federation of West Limerick Heritage Groups
Kerry Business Womens' Network
Radio Interviews
RTE
Radio Kerry
Dublin FM
Castlebar Community Radio
Blogtalk Radio
BOOKS
Happiness Book (Title about to change) and
Out of the Darkness
Contributor to How I came to hold you
Magazine Articles
Changing Ireland
solo.ie
kerrypride.ie
thecalmspace.com
TheWildGeese.com
ourangelbaby.org
