Welcome to the Carlow forum.

Margaret Casson

Wednesday 10 January 2007 10:49:58 am

SHORTT/SMART Tullow Co Carlow

Could anybody help shed any light on my fathers family please. He was Thomas Patrick Shortt born 16th June 1928 in Tullow Co Carlow. the son of Thomas Shortt and Margaret Smart.He died 20th October 1997 in Carnforth Lancashire. He had one sibling Stella, born 1924 and died 1941.
I was led to believe that Thomas Snr left home when Thomas Jnr was only small. Stella, his sister, died in 1941 and Margaret Shortt (nee Smart) died shortly after leaving Thomas Jnr an orphan. He was taken in by Molly King (nee Darcy), who was originally from Co Cork. I don't think she was any relation. She lived at a smallholding in Tullow called 'Crosskeys'. I remember visiting when we were young and she kept pigs in the orchard. Her brother Joe Darcy lived with her along with a gentleman by the name of Tom Doyle and a 'foster' child called Michael.
Mollie King died late 1950's, early 1960's and Dad never went back to Ireland after her funeral. He was always very reluctant to talk about his past but myself and my three siblings often wonder. Perhaps Thomas Snr remarried and we have other relations in Ireland? I would love to hear from anyone who would be able to shed any light on dad's family.
Margaret Casson