My great grandfather John Byrne disappeared around 1900. His three children were split up to the Byrne family farm in Dunleer and the Arnold's in Gormanstown, Co. Meath. His wife's name was Thomasina Arnold (1871-1944) from Gormanstown.

I'm trying to figure out what happened to him. He was married with a family and suddenly was no more. There is no oral history about his whereabouts apart from a possibility that he was 'put away'. He did not likely emigrate.

Are you related to the Byrne's from Dunleer or know them?
They had a farm - possibly at 'Dunleer House'.

The Byrne's originally came from Antrim in the 1800's.
The census return from 1911 is attached.

Here is John Byrne's Family in 1911.

James and Vincent are possibly twins.


Mother - Margaret Byrne B. 1842
Father - James Byrne
himself - John Byrne prob. born 1870's
Brother - Vincent Byrne b. 1872
Brother - James Byrne 'Jim' b. 1872 (twins ?)
Sister - Pauline 'Paul' (Later moved to Dalkey)
Sister - Evelyn - a nurse (Later Moved to Dalkey )
Sister - Anne Byrne b. 1869
Sister - Mary Byrne b. 1866
- There are 3 others. 11 children Born, 10 surviving as of 1911.

My great grandfather John Byrne and Thomasina Arnold had 3 children.
They may have married in 1888
William Byrne, Francis Byrne and Norah Byrne
William 'Liam' Byrne is my grandfather.


Any helpful information would be much appreciated.
His disappearance is a puzzle as he does not appear in the census records and there is no word of him or about him thereafter. We think he died in the 1960's in Ireland somwehere - perhaps in an institution.
This man was wiped from family history.