My Great Great Grandfather, Eugene B. O’Shea was born in Ratass townland, near Tralee in 1841. He emigrated to America in 1863. Eugene settled in Laconia, New Hampshire where he worked in the textile industry. Eugene married Mary Roche in New Hampshire in 1865. Mary was born in Williamstown, County Galway. They had eight children including Dennis, my Great Grandfather.

Eugene’s parents were Denis and Johanna (Barton) Denis and Johanna lived around the Tralee area, most notably Ratass townland. They were married in 1833 and had ten children between 1834 and 1857. Two of their children were born during the Famine and another five, including Eugene were between the ages of one and eleven when it began. Unfortunately I have been unable to find any records of either Denis or Johanna before or after the years 1833-1857. I joined the Family Tree yDNA Project a few years back. It is supported by administrators from both Ireland and the U.S.A. The Project has uncovered a lot of solid information about the O’Shea families in Ireland and is beginning to point its members to specific locations in Ireland.

The attached picture is from our trip to Ireland in 2010. It was taken at Ratass cemetery, close to the places my ancestors lived. The church is of ancient origins and within its walls is a Ogham stone.
Kevin Eugene O’Shea