Y-DNA Marker Results Kit #177452 | YSearch ID SU5KA
This line, according to family verbal history, has lived on the same large tract of land, at Creenkill, Gathabawn, Johnstown, (northwest Kilkenny) since about 1600. There is not a clear chain of title, since British and Irish land records have not always reflected true ownership. This Bowe family married into the Shortall family after 1850.
"My great grandfather Mr. [James] Bowe of Creenkill married 'Briget Shortall' of Gortnamuck Gathabawn who was a decendent of the Shortall family who originally owned 5 castles and a large area of North Kilkenny which was called Shortall country (there is a book written about them). Bridget is listed as being a widow by 1903.
Her son and my grandfather was Michael Bowe, he had three brothers, one was a priest who drowned in New Zealand reportedly trying to save a drowning man, another went to war in France and was one of the unknown soldiers killed, another apparently broke his neck when a horse reared while he was out shooting, one sister married a Fitzpatrick whose family were the rightful Lords of Ormonde under the original Irish celtic titles which were not recognised by the keepers of heraldry in Britian and have never been reinstated nor recognised since they were abolished during the British rule of Ireland, this despite the fact that the Irish Chieftan families funded the 1916 rising with a solemn promise from DeVelera that if it was successful that he would grant them back their titles, (needless to say he reneiged on his word after the free state was formed) a second sister married a Mr Gibbons, amongst his sons was Jim Gibbons the former Irish Minister for Defence (during the arms trial) and later Irish Minister for Agriculture, one sister married a Mr O' Hanrahan whose sons included two eminent Irish senior council and a solicitor, another married a Mr Seed and emigrated to New Zealand and the last married a Mr Keightly and emigrated to Australia.
During his lifetime Michael Bowe purchased my great grandmothers (Shortalls) former home and farm at Gortnamuck to add to his own farm at Creenkill, he was a gentleman farmer who farmed a large tract of land, he primarily dealt in cattle and horses and also traded stocks and shares. We have one family of Bowe first cousins as my grandfather only had two sons, James in Gortnamuck and my late father Loughlin Sr. in Creenkill, we have no other immediate Bowe relations."