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Was George M. Cohan a Keohane ?

Was George M. Cohan a Keohane ?

Posted: 5 Aug 2000 12:33PM GMT
Edited: 18 May 2002 2:46AM GMT
My mother says he was...Has anyone else heard this?
George Michael Cohan was born in Providence, RI in 1878. I'm told his father, Jeremiah, was originally from Bantry Bay, Cork and was a Keohane. I don't know about the name change, but can anyone confirm this?

I was told that George M was a distant relative of mine. I would like if any Keohanes could help me establish this link if it's true. My great-grandparents from Bantry were Michael Healy born around 1845 and Nora O'Shea born around 1859. Some of their children came to Providence, RI and lived near the house George M Cohan was from ... Thanks.

George M.

Nora Keohane Hickey (View posts)
Posted: 22 Dec 2000 12:27PM GMT
Not so much a name change but an early translation from O Ceochain. However, his grandfather Michael was Keohane in Boston - the first Keohane/Cohane in the city directories.
I understood that the family came from Ballinascarty, between Bandon and Clonakilty. George M. visited Keohanes from Barryroe parish everytime he played in Philadelphia.
Truth is - we will not be able to prove the connections as the parish registers do not begin early enough. Especially for Timoleague [where Ballinsscarty entries are to be found]. The baptisms do not begin before 1842.
The Keohanes in the Bantry regularly used the orginal tribal name of Crowley. Oh yes, we are really the Crowleys of The Fog - the Crowley Keohanes

Re: Was George M. Cohan a Keohane ?

Posted: 17 Feb 2002 10:36PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 2 May 2003 1:45PM GMT
I have been told by my mother, Alice Galvin, and through my research that George M. Cohan was related to us in some way. I also know that my great great grandfather came from Ireland and settled in Boston, and his name was Michael Haley, also spelled Healy. I don't know how the connection is made, but I know my uncle George Galvin always said that he was named after his great uncle, "dancing George". I am still doing my research into the Haley family, and that Michael Haley came into this country about 1941. My great grandfather's name was James W. Haley, residing in Boston until marriage, moving to Winchester, MA. This is all I have, if I get any further information on this through my research, I will contact you.

I have not made the connection yet.

Re: Was George M. Cohan a Keohane ?

Posted: 21 Sep 2003 3:14PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 26 Jun 2006 12:37AM GMT
Surnames: Keohane, Healy
So the Keohanes can claim George M Cohan as one of their own... I found the website below which has info on George M Cohan's father, Jeremiah, and grandparents, Michael Keohane and Jane Scott...Still not sure of my Healy link to the Keohanes but will keep digging... Thanks for your replies.

http://www.irishheritagetrail.com/jcohan.htm

Also, in case the site above disappears, I copied the text from it below. Note there is a photo on the website as well.

WHO DESERVES A MEMORIAL
Jeremiah Cohan


Jeremiah Cohan was born on Blackstone Street in Boston on January 31, 1848, the son of Michael Keohane and Jane Scott, both emigrants from County Cork. He started with a trade, working as a saddle and harness maker and also serving as a Surgeon's orderly during the Civil War. But he was particularly fond of Irish dances he learned as a youngster, and he eventually developed an act, performing Irish steps and also playing the fiddle and the harp. He began touring with minstrel shows, and met his wife, Nellie Costigan of Providence, Rhode Island. They married in 1874 and went on the road together. They formed a Hibernicon, described as "a form of Irish vaudeville featuring songs, dances and rapid fire sketches." For a time Patsy Touhey the piper traveled with the troupe in 1886-87.

Jerry and Nellie had two children, Josephine and George, and both were brought into the music business as children, with George getting his own fiddle when he was about four or five. They formed a group they called the Four Cohans and continued to travel on the vaudeville/minstrel circuit throughout the 1880s. In 1893 son George left the family show and made his way for Broadway in New York City, where he became one of the leading entertainers of the early 20th century. Between 1900 and 1940, George M. Cohan produced 84 Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Many of them featured the Four Cohans, along with other actors like John Barrymore, Douglas Fairbanks, Chancey Olcott and Spencer Tracey.

While George M. Cohan became the toast of Broadway, his father Jerry remained one of the most popular and well-respected men in the theater industry.

Re: George M.

Posted: 17 Dec 2005 1:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Keohane
Thank you for clearing somethng up for me. My grandfather listed his mother's last name as Keohane.
His siblings listed their mother's name as Crowley.
We thought maybe their father remarried. After reading your note I realize they are one and the same. They were from Kealkill, Bantry.

Re: George M.

Posted: 30 Sep 2009 12:47PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Keohane
Nora - I'm trying to track our Keohane ancestors in Philadelphia, and you mention George M visiting a Keohane family when he played in Philly? Do you have any more information on this?

Re: George M.

Posted: 31 May 2013 10:45PM GMT
Classification: Query
My great grandmother Ellen Keohane married was born in County Cork around 1860. She married my Great grandfather James Patrick Duffy on February 2, 1882 at St. Vincents Church in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA. My Grandmother claimed that George M. was a cousin. Witnesses to the wedding were Michael Callahan and Margaret Duffy.
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