Hi All, I recently received some information from the Irish Midlands Ancestry relating to my Kennedy Family. I was able to gain a few more pieces of information about the family however the overall result was a little disappointing. James Kennedy married Bridget Brennan sometime around 1818, possibly in Killabban. No record of birth or a marriage for this couple. Both died prior to 1849. The first trace of the family is from the Doonane RC Baptismal records which gives Mary Kennedy bapt. 17 July 1818. Sponsors George Connor and Honor Dunne. The family were residing at Turra. From the same records Catherine Kennedy was bapt. 15 January 1821. Sponsors John Bambrick and Bridget Barnett. The family were residing at Aghaterry. Same records, Margaret Kennedy was bapt. 30 June 1822. Sponsors William Stewart and Anty Kennedy. The family were residing at Turra. The Arles RC Baptismal records gives Anne Kennedy bapt. 26 February 1832. Sponsors Michael Rochford and Anne Bambrick. This time mother given as Bidy Brennan. No record could be found for the following children: Robert Kennedy born 1830, Mayo; Michael Kennedy born 1832, Arles; and John Kennedy born 1834, Arles. Anne Kennedy left Ireland to sail aboard the Lismoyne which departed Plymouth on 22 August 1849 to arrive Australia on 29 November 1849. The Lismoyne was one of ten ships which carried Irish Female Orphans. Anne was aged 17 and her occupation was a House Servant from Arles, Queens County. A few years later Robert, Michael, and John, their wives and children, left Ireland to sail aboard the Robert Small which departed Southampton on 30 January 1856 to arrive Australia on 23 May 1856. From records in Australia, I have found the following marriages for some of the children: Robert Kennedy married Catherine Barrington around 1851 in Laois. She was the daughter of William and Mary Barrington, born around 1828 in Mayo. Michael Kennedy married Elizabeth O'Neill bet. 1847 - 1850 in Laois. She was born 1829 in County Carlow. John Kennedy married Elizabeth Doyle on 27 June 1853 in Laois. She was the daughter of Dominick Doyle and Mary Boylin, born 1823 in Athy, Kildare. Anne Kennedy married Thomas Price on 20 May 1851 at Sandy Falls, Murrumbidgee River, NSW, Australia. He was son of Thomas and Frances Price, born 1825 in Winchester, Hampshire, England UK. Does anyone have any Kennedy's or Brennan's from around these areas in Laois? Also, I'm seeking some advice. A search was done for baptisms and marriages of the RC parishes of Donanne, Arles, Ballyadams and Ballinakill. None of the marriages for the children were found. Also the Laois Title Applotment, Griffith Valuation, Laois Trade Index was searched. Is it worth pursuing any further "commissioned" research or is this all that I can hope to ever find about my family? Any suggestions on how to progress my research are welcomed. Cheers Leanne In cold and windy Brisbane, Australia