Genealogy of Cardinal Paul Cullen (1803-1878)

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The Family History of
Cardinal Paul Cullen (1803-1878)
from the "Reportorium Novum" by Peadar Mac Suibhne,
FTM World Family Tree, Family histories, and other sources

If you would like to make a more in-depth study of the family history of Cardinal Paul Cullen, there is another page on the Internet maintained by John Quigley of Co Cork, Ireland that I highly recommend visiting. John's site is the Quigley Homepage (O'Coigligh), which is mainly concerned with the families of John's maternal granparents, Cooney and Mescall, but also includes much material on his wife's family. Here is where you will find the Maher, Brennan, and Cullen information. Just click the Family History Pages link on John's homepage.

Thanks to the efforts of the Cullen Family and other relatives, there are now four extra pages detailing the family history of Cardinal Paul Cullen

Descendants of Hugh Cullen of Prospect: Hugh Cullen of Prospect, Co Kildare, was the father of Cardinal Cullen.
Descendants of Garrett Cullen of Craan: Garrett Cullen of Crann, Co Carlow, was the brother of the above Hugh Cullen and an uncle to Cardinal Cullen.
Letter by Rev Edmund Cullen during WWI: Transcript of the letter written in 1915 to his niece Catherine.
Notes and Biographical Material concerning relatives of Cardinal Paul Cullen: There are also collected bits of information from other parts of this site.

Paul Cullen, Bishop of Armagh (1849), Archbishop of Dublin (1852), and Ireland's first Cardinal (1866), was born near Ballitore in County Kildare, Ireland on the 29'th of April 1803. The genealogy of Cardinal Paul Cullen can be found in the "Reportorium Novum" by Peadar Mac Suibhne. The following information is extracted from that work, Burke's Irish Family Records, the Mormon IGI, family histories, and from other sources. The now ruined Liscarton Castle, located about 2-1/2 miles northwest of Navan, at the heart of Co Meath, is said to have been one home to the relatives of Cardinal Cullen. Some notable relatives of Cardinal Cullen are: Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran, Australia's first Cardinal, who arrived in Sydney in 1884; Bishop Michael Verdon of Dunedin; Father James Maher, parish priest; Father Michael Cullen, parish priest of Narraghmore.

Patrick Moran 1'st Bishop of Dunedin	St. Joseph's Cathedral Dunedin, New Zealand	Michael Verdon 2'nd Bishop of Dunedin
Many thanks for the above photos to Marc Peyroux, who maintains a website devoted to St. Joseph's Cathedral in New Zealand. These are just two of many photographs from Marc's site. St Joseph's Cathedral is the Mother church and the Parish Church and is home for the Bishops of the Diocese of Dunedin in New Zealand. Please visit Marc's Homepage for more information on notable personalities and events concerning St. Joseph's.

Cardinal Cullen's Genealogy has been included on the Related Families pages even though the connection to the other related Cullen families is not confirmed. The main reason for suspecting the connection is that the Cullens in the Normanised baronies of County Wexford were all likely related and Cardinal Paul Cullen seems to share that ancestral homeland with the other Norman Cullens. Peadar Mac Suibhne states that Cullenstown in the parish of Bannow claims to be the original home of the Cardinal's ancestors. According to Burke's, Thomas Cullen of Cullenstown, who suffered forfeiture under Cromwell, was almost certainly the same as Lt-General Thomas Cullen who forfeited 222acres in 1641. It is suggested that this Thomas Cullen was the "father or uncle" of the Hugh Cullen that begins the Cardinal's genealogy below. Hilary Murphy confirms this general idea in "The Families of County Wexford", stating that the Cardinal was descended from a Cullen that migrated from the parish of Oylegate to County Kildare in the mid-17'th century. Oylegate is a village about halfway between Wexford town and Enniscorthy, on route N11 in the southeast corner of Co. Wexford.

O'Curry provides us with the opposing viewpoint and states that Cardinal Paul Cullen is descended from a minor Gaelic sept, O Cuileamhain, which is recognized today by the surnames Culloon or Culhoun. This is hard to dismiss at once since even Cullenstown, the principal residence of the Norman family Cullen, was also known as "Ballycoloun". As usual, the more information we find, the more we are confused by it.

The line begins with Hugh Cullen (b. abt. 1660) and, according to the Cardinal, Hugh Cullen was "one who was engaged in the whole campaign of the Williamite Wars and whose father or uncle held a commission in the Irish Army during the Confederate war" (1649-51). According to many, including the Cardinal's family, the Cullens lost their property under Cromwell (right about 1650). There is a gap of time before the above-mentioned Hugh Cullen is said to have settled at Rathornan in Co. Carlow. His son Edmund, a short time later, settled in Craan (Cranavonane). This was just about 1751 and, at this point, begins the bulk of the genealogy contained in the "Reportorium Novum".

At about the same time he settled in Craan, Edmund Cullen (1717-1819) married Alice Kinsella (1741-Aug 1793) of Kilballyhugh, daughter of Dan Kinsella. Edmund Cullen was married twice. Michael and Catherine were children from the first marriage. Edmund and Alice Cullen (both are buried at Nurney) had eight children together. Here are the known histories of all ten children:

The Rev. Michael Cullen (1753-16 Aug 1803): The eldest son and was ordained P.P. of Narraghmore, Co Kildare on 13 Oct 1796. Michael's name is inscribed on a family stone at Nurney where he is also probably buried.
Hugh Cullen (1760-09 Apr 1832): There is now a separate page in progress for the descendants of Hugh Cullen. Known as Hugh Cullen of Prospect and was the father of Cardinal Paul Cullen. Hugh was married twice. His first wife, Elizabeth Murphy of Muinebegg, bore him one child, a daughter Alicia Mary (1791-23 Nov 1831). Alicia married Patrick Moran and their son, Patrick Francis Moran (16 Sep 1830-16 Aug 1911), was the future Cardinal Moran. Patrick and Alicia Moran are buried at Ballinkillen. Hugh's first wife Elizabeth died after only four years of marriage. Hugh Cullen's second wife was Mary Maher of Donore (1773-01 Dec 1845), daughter of Patrick Maher of Kilrush and Catherine Moore. Hugh Cullen and Mary Maher were married about 1790 in Muinebegg and five years later moved to Ballitore. Mary Maher was the sister of James Maher (d.1874), P.P. of Carlow-Craigue and of Leighlin from 1827-1830. Depending on which source you check, Hugh and Mary had as many as fifteen children. Hugh's third son, Cardinal Paul Cullen, was born in 1803 in Ballitore. Hugh's second wife Mary died 01 Dec 1845 at 72 years of age. Hugh and his wife Mary are buried at Ballinabranna.
Garrett Cullen (1773-09 May 1845): Garrett Cullen of Cran married about 1798. His wife's name was Judith Maher (b. 1783), the sister of the Mary Maher that was Hugh Cullen's wife. Garrett and Judith Cullen had 17 children, 5 of whom are buried in Nurney. They had a son Michael who was born in 1812. He married Margaret Kehoe and one of their son, Hugh, was born 22 Aug 1866 at Maynooth in Co. Kildare. Michael died 18 May 1879 and is buried at Ballinabranna near his two infant sons, Hugh and Gerald. Garrett and his wife Judith (who died 11 Dec 1861 at 78y) are buried at Ballinabranna.
Thomas Cullen (?-1800): Thomas Cullen of Carlow married the daughter of a cloth-merchant named Pollen but had no children. Thomas is buried at Nurney.
Lieut. Paul Cullen (1774-21 May 1798): Paul Cullen of Craan. Executed in Leighlin in 1798. Buried at Nurney. Paul is the hero of the Cullen family. His execution was due to his refusal to give up his horse to one of the gentry of Co. Carlow, Sir Richard Butler, for the legal 5pound asking price for a papist's horse. Paul's horse was worth much more. Butler, determined to have the horse as his own, had Paul court-martialed as a rebel. The next morning the sentence was carried out; Paul Cullen AND his three companions were shot to death at Bloody Lane, Leighlinbridge, on the 21'st of May, 1798. These three companions were: Jack Brennan, a cousin, son of Jack and Catherine (Cullen) Brennan; Jack Hughes, a near relative from Kilcruit; Michael Carroll. At the time of his execution, Paul was engaged to be married to Honoria Maher, another daughter of Patrick Maher and Catherine Moore.
Catherine Cullen (1756-18 Jul 1811): Catherine married Pierce Brennan of Tinnegarney. Pierce had two brothers; Jack Brennan and Lieut. Philip Brennan, both of whom were shot by firing squad in 1798. Pierce died 18 Dec 1829 at 88 years of age. Both Pierce and his wife Catherine are buried in Old Leighlin.
Mary Cullen: Married into the Clowry Family of Carlow. Her husband is likely the Thomas Clowry who is said to have been executed on his own property in 1798 for aiding rebels.
Judith Cullen: Married into the Nolan Family of Carlow. Her husband is believed to be an uncle of Rev. Edward Nolan, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin from 1834 to 1837.
Bridget Cullen (1768-1828): Married Philip Brennan of Gormana. Both buried at Nurney. Bridget's stone reads that she died 9 Aug 1820 at age 52; the 52 not being very clear. Their son, Jack Brennan, was executed along with Paul Cullen of Craan. Philip Brennan perished, probably in 1798, and after that Bridget married Robert Kehoe of Bagenalstown. Robert was of the Kehoe or Keogh family originating in Carrigbeg. Dr. Keogh of Bagenalstown was a son of Robert and Bridget.
Margaret (Peggy) Cullen (1784-26 Mar 1838): Married Terence O'Toole of Fontstown, Co. Kildare. Both are buried at Ballinabranna.

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