Leaving Ireland, Building Australia: The Stories of My Irish Ancestors
3rd Buffs conceal the Colour at the Battle of Albuera on 16th May 1811 in the Peninsular War
Their reasons for leaving Ireland were not all the same. Some came through military service and early colonial settlement, others arrived during times of hardship.
By looking at their birthplaces, the years they lived, and the historical events occurring during their lifetime, we can explore the most likely reasons they made Australia their home.
Maternal Irish Ancestry
My maternal Irish ancestors came from counties including Monaghan, Sligo, Clare, Laois, and Tyrone. Their migration stories span more than 100 years, from early colonial settlement through to later economic migration.
Early Irish Settlement in Australia
Patrick Duffy (1786–1854)
Sligo, Ireland
Patrick Duffy was born in County Sligo, Ireland, in 1786.
His journey to Australia was very different from many Irish migrants who arrived later.
At age 19, Patrick enlisted in the British Army:
- Enlisted in the British Army’s 3rd Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) at age 19 in 1805
- Served across Europe.
- Fought in the Peninsular War in Spain and France.
- as wounded twice by musket balls — once in Spain and once in France
- Rose to the rank of Sergeant.
- Married Bridget Conlan in Sligo in 1810.
- Travelled with his family to Australia aboard the Eliza, arriving in Sydney in 1822.
- Became a district constable and later Superintendent of the convict barracks at Parramatta.
- Received a 100-acre land grant at South Colah (modern Thornleigh/Westleigh), where he established Inglewood.
- His name remains in the local area through Duffy Avenue, Thornleigh.
In 1810, while on leave in Ireland, Patrick married Bridget Conlan.
In 1822, Patrick travelled to New South Wales aboard the convict transport ship Eliza.
He travelled with:
- His wife Bridget.
- Their three sons.
Why did Patrick Duffy come to Australia?
⭐ Military service and colonial posting
Confidence: ★★★★★
Patrick did not come to Australia because of famine or poverty.
His migration was connected to his career in the British Army.
When he arrived in New South Wales, he:
- Became a district constable.
- Served in Liverpool and Hobart.
- Became Superintendent of the Parramatta Convict Barracks.
In 1830, after retiring from the Army, Patrick received a 100-acre land grant at South Colah (modern Thornleigh and Westleigh).
This land became the foundation of the Duffy family’s long connection to the area.
Mary Dawson (1771–1854)
County Monaghan, Ireland
Mary Dawson was born in County Monaghan in 1771.
She married Patrick Mór Duffy of Attyduffy (1755–1833), and together they had one known son:
- Patrick Duffy, born 17 September 1786 in Sligo (as above).
Patrick Mór Duffy remained in Ireland and died in January 1833 at the age of 78.
After becoming widowed, Mary later came to Australia, where she died in Pennant Hills, New South Wales, in 1854 at the age of 83.
Why did Mary Dawson come to Australia?
⭐ Joining her only son after becoming widowed
Confidence: ★★★★★
Mary’s migration was not caused by the Great Irish Famine, as she died before it occurred.
The most likely reasons were:
- Joining her son and grandchildren.
- Gaining security after the death of her husband.
- Becoming part of the family settlement Patrick had established in New South Wales.
By the time Mary came to Australia, Patrick had:
- Built a successful military career.
- Received a land grant.
- Established a home and farm.
- Created financial security for his family.
For a widowed woman in her 60s, joining her successful adult son would have provided a much safer and more comfortable future.
The Duffy Family Legacy in New South Wales
Patrick and Bridget Duffy became important early settlers in the Pennant Hills, Thornleigh, and Hornsby areas.
Patrick:
- Named his property Inglewood, after a place in Ireland.
- Created a roadway known as Duffy’s Lane, later becoming Duffy Avenue.
- Divided his land among his children, allowing the family to remain connected to the area.
Patrick and Bridget were devoted Catholics and were buried together at St Patrick’s Cemetery, North Parramatta.
Their descendants have now lived in Australia for almost 200 years.
Irish Famine Era Migration
The next generation of Irish ancestors arrived during one of the most difficult periods in Irish history — the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852).
The famine caused:
- Widespread starvation.
- Poverty.
- Evictions.
- Loss of employment.
- Mass migration.
Australia became a destination for many Irish families because it offered:
- Employment opportunities.
- Land.
- The possibility of a fresh start.
Catherine McNamara (1846–1906)
Kilkee, County Clare, Ireland
Catherine McNamara was born in 1846 in Kilkee, County Clare.
She was born during the Great Irish Famine, and her childhood would have been shaped by the hardship experienced across Ireland.
Her father later died in Victoria, Australia, when Catherine was about 21, suggesting the family migrated while she was still young.
Why did Catherine McNamara come to Australia?
⭐ Escaping the effects of the Great Irish Famine
Confidence: ★★★★★
County Clare was one of the areas severely affected by the famine.
Families from Clare often left Ireland because of:
- Food shortages.
- Poverty.
- Lack of work.
- Loss of land.
Victoria was a popular destination because of the gold rush and the demand for workers.
Catherine’s migration fits the pattern of many famine-era Irish families seeking survival and a better future.
John Carmody (1833–1911)
County Clare, Ireland
John Carmody was born in County Clare in 1833.
He was a child when the famine began and a young man during the years when many Irish people were leaving for Australia.
Why did John Carmody come to Australia?
⭐ Famine aftermath and opportunity in Australia
Confidence: ★★★★★
The most likely reasons were:
- The difficult economic conditions following the famine.
- Limited opportunities in rural Ireland.
- The attraction of Australia’s gold rush economy.
Young Irish men often migrated seeking:
- Employment.
- Land.
- Independence.
- The opportunity to establish themselves.
Daniel Byrne (1833–1917)
Boley, County Laois, Ireland
Daniel Byrne was born in County Laois in 1833.
He later settled in Australia and died in Mosman, Sydney.
Why did Daniel Byrne come to Australia?
⭐ Economic opportunity after the famine and access to land
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Although County Laois was not affected as severely as some other counties, many rural Irish families still faced economic hardship.
Possible reasons for Daniel’s migration include:
- Poor rural economic conditions.
- Limited land opportunities.
- The attraction of Australia’s gold rush period.
- The chance to build a more secure future.
Later Irish Migration
Jane McManus (1893–1914)
County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Jane McManus was born in County Tyrone in 1893.
She later married in Victoria, Australia, at only 17 years of age.
By this time, the Great Famine was long over, but many rural Irish families still faced economic challenges.
Why did Jane McManus come to Australia?
⭐ Economic opportunity and family migration
Confidence: ★★★★☆
By the early 1900s, many Irish people migrated because Australia offered:
- Better employment opportunities.
- Higher wages.
- Greater independence.
- The possibility of a better future.
Jane’s migration was likely part of a family movement rather than a famine escape.
Paternal Irish Ancestry
My paternal Irish ancestors came from Counties Down and Meath in Ireland. Their migration appears to have occurred during the 19th century, when many Irish people were seeking opportunities outside Ireland.
James Wilson (1831–1893)
Killinchy, County Down, Ireland
James Wilson was born in Killinchy, County Down, Ireland, in 1831.
He later settled in the Booral and Gloucester area of New South Wales.
Why did James Wilson come to Australia?
⭐ Economic opportunity and access to land
Confidence: ★★★★★
The most likely immediate reason James migrated was the search for a better future.
Possible reasons include:
- Limited farming opportunities in Ireland.
- Desire to own land.
- Better employment opportunities.
- The chance to establish a family farm.
The Gloucester region offered agricultural opportunities and attracted many settlers looking for land.
The Wilson line possible migration chain across 400 years:
Scotland → Ulster (1600s Plantation) → County Down → Australia (1800s)
Catherine B. W. McMahon (1851–1910)
Nobber, County Meath, Ireland
Catherine McMahon was born in Nobber, County Meath, Ireland, in 1851.
She later lived in the Stroud and Gloucester areas of New South Wales.
Why did Catherine McMahon come to Australia?
⭐ Economic opportunity and family migration after the famine
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Catherine was born during the final years of the Great Irish Famine.
Possible reasons for migration include:
- The economic effects of the famine years.
- Limited opportunities in rural Ireland.
- Seeking employment and land.
- Joining family or community members already in Australia.
By the time Catherine migrated, Irish communities were already established throughout New South Wales, helping new arrivals settle.
Together, these ancestors tell a story spanning more than 200 years.
Together, these ancestors tell a story spanning more than 200 years.
From Irish soldiers and early settlers, to famine survivors and families seeking opportunity, each generation made choices that shaped the lives of their descendants in Australia.
Their journeys were different — some driven by duty, some by hardship, and some by hope — but all contributed to the Australian family story that continues today.
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