My mother was Berniece Kirwan, born 1913 in Fort Randall, South Dakota, her father was Edward Bernard Kirwan, born 1877 near Ceresco, Nebraska, his father was John C. Kirwan, born about 1829 in Bournea Parish (pronounced BOORN-yuh) (spelled Bourney in Griffith's Valuation, also spelled Burrine in an English document from 1640) County Tipperary, about 4-1/2 miles south of Roscrea, which is in the far northern tip of the county, between Laois and Offaly Counties. John's mother was Mary, and his father may have been Daniel. Mary lived in the townland that is now spelled Ballyknock, but is also spelled Ballinough, Ballynaugh, and Ballieneagh in old records. The name, Kirwan, is pronounced different ways around there: one is "KEER-wan" and the other is "KEER-van". Maybe the latter is closer to the Irish language pronunciation of the name. Most of the Kirwans from the parish seem to have been buried in an ancient graveyard called Boggaun, but there are very few inscribed stones there. Mrs. Kathleen Moloughney, of Rosemary Street, Roscrea, has written a little book, "Roscrea, My Heart's Home," and from the book, freely rendered is this information: Tom Parr had a bit of land at Charlie's Cross and Kirwans had a couple of fields and a forge. This was the Kirwan's original home place. William Delaney married Sally Kirwan (Mrs. Moloughney great grandmother) The family was involved in land troubles and were evicted. Thomas and Patrick Kirwan were brothers. Their father was in the Fenians. Their Uncle was an attorney in Thurles in 1846. They were in the drapery, grocery and drinks business. Charlie's Cross is on the Templemore Road south of Roscrea. John Kirwan came to America in early 1861, and lived in Ohio, Missouri and Nebraska. He died in 1882 and is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in O'Neill, Nebraska. He had at least one brother, Jeremiah, and at least two sisters, Margaret and Anne.