Hello Aileen:
Just read your message 13 Feb. 2010. My name is Michael Lanigan of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. I am you 2nd cousin. My late father is Francis Patrick Lanigan (1919-2004)(the Patrick comes from Patrick Keane), his father is Francis J. Lanigan(1894-1967) (your grandfather's brother), and the 4th child of Francis and Bridget (Keane) Lanigan of Waterford. My grandfather Francis J. left Ireland on Dec. 28, 1910 at the age of 17 to travel to Saint John on the invitation from his successful uncle Patrick Keane's (no children) advice that "he could make more money in a day here than he could make in a week in Ireland." and that he'd pay his fare back if he wasn't happy.
My grandfather was here for 54 years before he went back for a visit. There are approximatley 250 decendants of him and Anne Hodgin now across this continent.
I know some facts on the Keanes. Neither son had children. Bridget had 17 with Francis of which 12 lived into adulthood. I have all thier records passed on by Tom, the youngest, to my mom and then to me. Margaret disappeared for several years without any contact but turns out her and a friend emigrated to Austraila. She had seven chrildren, mostly girls although I'm writing this without my reseach material at hand and my memory could be a bit off. By shear luck of one of her granddaughters writting to the "Ivy cottage occupant" in Waterford (Tom's daughter, still lives there) we now have corresponded with that family in Melbourne.
I've been to see Tom's daughter in the Ivy cottage and some of dad's cosins with my dad (81) in 2001 and we stayed in Tramore because I wanted to also be near dad's grandmother, Bridget's birthplace. I have drawn a good map(and photo) to the grave stone of Francis and Bridget in St. Mary's cemetary, Waterford if you or anyone is interested. I do not know if your grandfather is in that graveyard. I'm sure you have much of this information from your 2007 trip.
I also have photo's of Patrick Keane's stone here in Saint John.
I intend to do something special for the 100th anniversary of my grandfather's arrival in Canada approximately early January 2011.
Please contact me at any time you have a question, I'm so happy to have stumbled onto your message.
lanigan.michael@fleetway.caRegards
Mike