Hi Brendan --

Thanks for reaching out! I've been watching the work you and Eilis have been doing for Lisa and I was getting jealous!

The two Keating Families in Offaly -- when I was in Daingean several years ago, I was amazed that there were two Keating families in town and they both swore the were not related to the other. The town's total population is about 800 people! I just figured something took place between them and has never been forgotten . . .

I have been stuck finding any info on Matthew Keating. He died sometime between 1834 and 1864 (1834 is the Baptismal date for his last born child, Thomas, in Barnaboy and 1864 is when his wife Margaret Handiboe died as a widow -- buried in Kilclonfert Cemetery). She was born around 1789 as her gravestone indicates she was 75 when she died in 1864. (I've come to believe that their first born son was Michael in 1816 -- not my Peter 1818 -- because a Michael Keating is buried in Kilclonfert Cemetery as well and he his first born son appears to have been named Matthew -- buried in the same plot.

There is a Bridget Keating that shows up as a sponsor to Thomas (1834), a Mary Keating who married John Dane who Matthew is a sponsor for their son Michael in 1821, and a James Keating who is a sponsor to daughter Maryann (1827) -- I'm thinking they all could be Matthew's siblings given the dates. Then there is a Thomas and Catherine Handiboe who are sponsors for Matthew's son Matthew in 1823 -- I'm thinking they are Margaret's brother and sister-in-law. But this is all supposition -- any thoughts?