Cover letter received with Castle Magner and the Magners of Castlemagner

Kilsellagh

Colgaga

Co Sligo

10 March 1999

Jim Magner

Dear Jim

You wrote to my brother Geoff about the Magner's of Castlemagner. I regret we have very little information on the Magners after 1657.

The old Magners lived mainly in County Cork – in Castle Magner and locality – Castleconnelly, (Parish of Liscarrol), Drinagh (Parish of Lisgriffin), in Aghada (near Midleton) and around Castletownroche. The Aghada branch also extended into Younghal and Dungarvan and had (family) business connections in Normandy and in Bordeaux, France. All branches seem to have maintained close family connections – Redmond Magner of Lisduggan, Castlemagner (which was confiscated from Robert Magner) was transplanted to Galway in 1657 against his own land (200 acres) in Aghada which had been confiscated in May 1653. It is unlikely that any of the transplanted Magners actually moved from their native area.

The family was thrown out of Castle Magner in November 1657 but remained mainly around Dromahane (west of Mallow), in Kildorrery (north of Mallow) and in Castletownroche (east of Mallow). Of course they are now scattered all around the world but most present day Magners can trace their origin to one or other of these Magners centres. Major-General Jeremiah Magner (d. 1990?) was from near Cork City and from a branch which moved into Muskerry (near Cork City) from Kildorrery around 1660! He did a lot of research into the genealogy of his family, he was based in Dublin and his wife was also Magner! There is a nest of Magners in Newcastlewest Co Limerick. They are descendants of three brothers from Kildorrery who went into Co Limerick about three generations ago with a steam-driven mobile Theshing Mill (aka "A Thrashing Machine") and married Newcastlewest lassies. They are go ahead people and well established.

The Magners of Fermoy are well known Stud Farmers and seam to be of the Castletownroche branch. The Castletownroche Magners are hale and prospering! I often heard Danny Magner (of there) playing the fiddle; he is (or was) a noted exponent of the attacking up-beat "County Cork" style of traditional fiddle playing. I surmise that most present-day Magners are related within 5-6 generations, traceable through the register of Births Marriages & Deaths and through School and Parish Records which commence more or less about 1850. The late 1830s and early 1840s was a time of heavy emigration from around Castlemagner; people married and single left in extended family groups (15-20) and/or from neighboring Townlands, for common destinations in US and in Australia. They were the young adult children of farmers and business people who paid their own fairs (about $15.00 to USA), to work on Roads and Railroad Construction, save money and buy their own farms in their new location. They generally prospered and sent money to bring out their younger relatives on a similar agenda. They left because their parents recognized that the traditional Rundale System http://socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/maine/lect04 of land division was destructive to prosperity and they knew that opportunity existed in the new lands.

They were organized and well prepared for the venture and their survival rate was almost 100%. Later they strongly opposed the influx of the less well setup Famine Ship immigrants! Their ships generally sailed from Belfast, where the youthful travelers had to run the gauntlet of the Orange terror gangs and from Liverpool where they usually lived on the quayside for 3-4 months, waiting for their ships to sail. You will find many Magners from around Mallow in the extant Passenger Lists. They were a truly heroic people.

Professor Thomas Magner comments on the Magnier version of the name. Most of the Magnier’s I know are associated with Fermoy. They claim descent from a Franco-British soldier stationed in the area around the time of the Crimean War – the British Expeditionary Force was assembled mainly in North Cork! Davy Magnier was a noted Gaelic Footballer from Fermoy who starred for County Cork in the 1940s. But many are really Magners who collected the erratic "I" through some nomenclatural incident.

My immediate family returned to Castlemagner in 1825 and built the Pub there – among other activities. We know that many of them went to US and Australia in the late 1830s and in the 1860s. They settled mainly in Kentucky and in Indiana and visiting terms with most of their descendants have been maintained or re-established through the generations.

I am also enclosing a listing of references to Magner's in historical records. The references are mainly to documents held in the National Archives in Dublin. The booklet has neither a Bibliography nor a Source reference – so as not to discourage the non-academic "Ordinary Local People" readership for whom it was written. Michael Magner, Mallow Field Club is from Dromahane, Mallow, you might contact him direct.

The family characteristic of the Magners is of sturdy and unpretentious people, slow to lend and slow to pay, but good neighbors with good fences. – Apparently a recipe for survival!

Yours sincerely

Denis O’Donoghue

(Editors note: Denis and Geoff are the owners and proprietors of the Magner Pub and Store located in Castlemagner, Cork Ireland. If you happen to get over that way be sure stop in and say Hi)

Reimundo Magunel granted church and land in Cork to the Abby of St Thomas

William Magnel established in Magnelstown

Walter Magnel witnessed Kylmaclenyn Charter

Philip Magnel witnessed Land Grant near Fermoy to Lord Roche

Gilbert Magnel hanged at Clonmel for steeling 24/=and a cup from Fethard church

Fignola NI Hea wife of Nicholas Magnel of Cork bound to the peace and fined 20/=

Matilda Magnel found "not guilty" of stealing an "alb" from the Chaplain of Athule (Ballynoe)

Philip Magnel of Orwery Bailsman for Henry de Rydlesford (with Lords Barry, Roche, etc)

Philip Magnel of Oruery on inquisition for Grant of Royal land for Nunnery at Kinnaleth and Clonboly. (with Lord Roche, Barry, etc.)

Philip and Walter Magnel witnessed charter of land grant by Lord Barry to a religious house in Buttevant

Philip and Thomas Magnel leased ½ carucate in Subalter from the Bishop of Cloyne

David Magnel leased ½ carucate in Subalter and Clonmyn demesne from the Bishop of Cloyne

Robert Magnel leased 3 carucates in Subalter from the Bishop of Cloyne

David and Walter Magnel leased Clonmyn and ½ carucate in Subalter from the Bishop of Cloyne

David Magnel juror at the Bishop’s Court in Kylmaclenyn – collecting rents

Philip Magner juror at the Bishops Court in Kylmaclenyn which found that Kylbryne was held by Thomas de Medi. Also that Dermot McCarthy held 5 carucates and 1000 acres of woodland in Dromyn (Drominagore) from the Bishop

Robert Magner (child) in post mortem Royal inquisition on the estate of his father William Magner recently deceased. Robert’s title to his Castle Magner estates was confirmed. His title to other lands was disputed unsuccessfully by Sir Philip Perceval.

Robert Magner Jr. Irish Papist (Catholic) listed as registered owner of Castle Magner, Rosanarna and Lackeen.

Robert Magner and Lochlann O’Callaghan listed as registered owners of 84 acres in Rathmore & Rathbeg, Castlemagner parish.

Mrs. Magner listed as a good tenant in TempleConneely by Lord Perceval; who instructed his Agent to treat her favourably

Richard Magner of Castle Magner antagonized the commonwealth authorities.

Robert Magner Jr. of castle Magner listed in estates to be confiscated for taking part in the great rebellion 1651-1652

Anthony Magner of Muige, a good tenant of Lord Perceval, had his cattle stolen by Tories on New Years Day. Lord Perceval replaced them with cattle commandeered from local native population.

(R)edmond Magner, Lisduggan transported to 280 acres in the barony of Kiltartan Co Galway

Robert Magner Co Cork transplanted to 40 acres in the Barony of Bunratty Co Clare.

Robert Magner, late of castle Magner, in an inquisition (John Hodder) at Cork in October 1657 was declared to have been in rebellion in February 1642. Confiscation of his estate was accordingly confirmed.

Edmond Magner of Caranacourty (Kilbroney) was assessed for L. 10.9 in goods

Edmond Magner of Craganacourty (Kilbroney) was assessed for L. l3.5.11 in goods