My father was a lifelong friend to Marvin O'Brien. They both worked at Bowman Dairy and played softball (fast pitch). Marvin left the dairy and started raising mice for I believe the UW for research. Marvin was born April 9, 1925 and died in Madison on Feb. 12, 1991 from lung cancer. His wife is still living. Her name is Virginia She taught Irish dancing in the Madison area, has been on numerous trips to Ireland and is an entertainer in her own right, singing. I called Virginia and she was on her way to work at the Avenue Bar. (See story below). She was quite excited to hear from me. It has been many years since we have seen each other. I think she has some baby pictures of me and at one time told me she would like me to have them. Your inquiry prompted all that. She will be calling me back. Yes, you do have the correct O'Brien family. She told me that Darby, as he was called, was actually William Emmet. Peter immigrated from County Cork in Ireland (per Virginia). Peter, and his wife, Julia, are in the 1920 and 1910 census records for Madison. In the 1920 census their son, called Emmett, is age 17, born in Wisconsin. It states that he came to America in 1881 and is a citizen, born in Ireland. In 1910 there is a daughter, Rose, age 10 and then William age 7. If you will send me your e-mail address to me at: marana@tds.net, I will provide you with her address and phone number. She gave her permission to do so. She is a wonderful person. Also, I live just outside of Madison and have done research for over 30 years at the state library. I would not have a problem looking up a few records for you on my next trip there. A reference to Virginia from the Wisconsin State Journal on March 18, 1996 Irish traditions on St. Patrick's Day - aside from raising beer glasses -- were renewed Sunday in a most spirited way as musicians and dancers filled the Capitol rotunda with reels and jigs. The Dane County Shamrock Club marked the day with a lively celebration that drew a crowd of 500. It was the 26th year that the group has gathered beneath the dome. Dozens of performers, from 6-year-olds through 78-year-old Bill Murphy, joined in celebrating their Irish lineage. Murphy, in knee socks and Irish attire, danced his solo jig at the end of the lineup, as he always does. ``They always put me on last,'' he said. ``And it always makes me feel good that they still want me to dance.'' One of nine connected Shamrock Clubs around the state, the Dane County chapter carries on the rest of the year with lower-key monthly meetings. But Sunday was its day to bring the public into the Irish fold. ``Everybody's Irish today,'' said Paul Vassalotti, who brought his family from Cross Plains to enjoy the jigs. Part Italian, part Irish, Vassalotti took a moment to inquire about membership with the Shamrock Club. Keeping his heritage alive, he said, would be good for his children. About 250 members of the club, many of them elderly, already feel that way. ``It takes a love of the Irish,'' said Virginia O'Brien, one of the group's charter members. ``Of course, it helps if you're married to one. Or if you have but a wee drop of Irish blood in you, you qualify.'' O'Brien is the one who started the groups Irish dancers. She has a friend come from Ireland each summer to teach and renew steps and dances. >From The Capital Times in 2000 SHE SINGS wonderful Dixieland jazz every Monday night with the Avenue Sizzlers at the Avenue Bar, but Virginia ``Ginny'' O'Brien, a Madison native and Central High grad, had never been to New Orleans. She went earlier this month with two Madison friends, Bob and Martha Fischer. ``I've followed the Dukes of Dixieland my whole life,'' O'Brien was saying Wednesday. ``I've got just about everything the Dukes did.'' The current seven-piece incarnation of the band plays three sets a night on a paddleboat on the Mississippi River, and O'Brien and the Fischers went to see them. ``I was on the top deck, right where the action is,'' O'Brien said. It was the beginning of the third set, and the drummer and band leader, Richard Taylor, said, ``We understand there is a jazz singer in the audience from Madison, Wisconsin. Would you like to come and sing with us?''``My heart stopped,'' O'Brien said. She thinks the Fischers tipped the band, but they're denying it. In any case she got up on stage. ``What would you like to do?'' Taylor asked. ``Well,'' O'Brien said, ``this is where it all started. How about `Birth of the Blues'? All I need is a four-bar intro.''Taylor laughed, ``I love this lady already.'' O'Brien did such a good job the band's cornet player asked her to stop and sing later that night at his gig at the El Matador on Decatur, which she did. ``Absolutely the experience of a lifetime,'' O'Brien said. ----- Original Message ----- From: <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com> To: <WIDANE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2007 11:12 PM Subject: [WIDANE] Darby or Darcy O'Brien > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Author: shatteredtiers > Surnames: O'Brien > Classification: queries > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.wisconsin.counties.dane/5774/mb.ashx > > Message Board Post: > > I have been researching my family tree off and on for the last couple > years. My grandfather died before I began my research, and my grandmother > couldn't really remember much about his side of the family...so I've hit a > brick wall. > > The farthest I have been able to go back is my great-grandfather. His name > was Darby (or Darcy?) O'Brien. He married my great-grandmother, Dorothy > (maiden name Cheyney), who is still living at age 102. They had five > children: Marvin, Richard (my grandpa), Jerry, Robert (Bob), and John > (Jack). > > I was hoping that someone may have some information on Darby O'Brien. We > think he was born around 1900. He worked for the railroad in Wisconsin. He > died around 1958. He was in his mid to late 50s when he died. He is buried > in Madison, Wisconsin. > > I no longer live in the Wisconsin area, so I don't have the option of > going to the records office to do research. I would love to find out more > about Darby O'Brien, and I would REALLY love to get some information about > his parents so I can go farther back in the family tree. > > Thanks in advance for your help! > > Important Note: > The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you > would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link > above and respond on the board. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > WIDANE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >