MORIARTY ROOTS
Moriarty is an Irish surname, originally O'Muircheartaigh, meaning "Navigator". The name Moriarty was first found in Co. Kerry, however it is found more widespread in the west of Ireland now.
Ballylongford.com has a great brief history of Ballylongford, and one gets a bit of picture of what life is like now and a little of their history.
The village is situated at the top of a creek of Ballylongford bay on the tidal estuary of the River Shannon, close to Carrigafoyle Island and on the coast road between Tarbert and the seaside town of Ballybunion.
The farmland is suited to dairying and this is a mainstay of the local economy along with fishing and tourism.
Three km to the north, on Carrigafoyle Island, stands the castle and anchorage commemorated in the name of the village. For centuries, Ballylongford shared the political, military and religious fate of the castle and the nearby Franciscan Lislaughtin Abbey.
In 2004, the town population was 405.
Little is known about the Moriarty family living in Ballylongford Co. Kerry. We do know that by 1854, their mother, Mary (nee Hunt) had died and their father was a farmer.
Owen was the first to leave, with his wife, Mary he settled in Bathurst NSW and went to work at the Brucedale Estate.
John and his sister Mary were able to get passage leaving on July 8th, 1854 on the 'Caroline'.
Johanna and her husband, John Brassil, left Ireland sailing on September 28th, 1854, on the 'China'.
For the siblings, there must have been some anxiety, leaving their father, but excitement about the promise of a better life. Owen was already in Bathurst when the others left. So at least they probably had some idea of what to expect, or at least Owen to greet them.
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