The following is taken from a study of the Rooneys of Roslea by Oliver McCaffrey. Oliver has done extensive research and work in gathering together the information needed for the many projects he has been involved in. He and Jimmy Callaghan were among the main people responsible for the Roslea Heritage Centre.

Rooney Derrygannon

ROONEYS

Because of the large number of Rooneys in Derrygannon they mostly had nicknames.
The COOPER Rooneys got their name from the fact that they worked at the coopering trade. A Hugh Rooney was said to have learnt the trade from a Patrick Smyth of mullaghbrady, the Roslea Martyr who was executed on 12/10/1797. Because of his association with Smyth he was in danger of arrest so he fled with his family to Ballybay then to Drogheda and eventually came back to Derrygannon. Hugh married Mary Boyle from Derrygelly. Master Hugh Rooney (cooper) was taught by Master James Cassidy in Greaghawarren National School. He was appointed monitor at age 14 and half years at £5 per annum. He then went for teacher training in Drumcondra, Dublin for two years from 1900 to 1902. He taught in Ballymena from 1902 to 1906 and then moved to Bruscarnagh National School. In 1910 he moved to Cordoolagh and then St Tierneys in 1934 when it opened. He retired in 1945. Hugh Rooney was married to Emila Maguire who was a sister of Master Maguire who taught in Aughnashalvey. Others in the family were Mary Ann, Joseph, James, Alice and John. Joe married McAloon and went to Dernasell, James was a musician and played the flute. He played with Mick McMahon. John was a barman in Flynns pub in Roslea, also Clones and Enniskillen. He married Clare Fitzpatrick from Scotshouse and was a founder member of the Gaels club in Enniskillen. Alice married Hugh Martin of Derryneese.

The BUTCHER Rooneys are represented today by Packie Rooney. Their house was the 4th on the lane from Knocknalear. His father James used to kill pigs about the country hence the nickname. James was married to Catherine Beggan. James had 5 boys and three girls. Packie, Joe, John, Hughie, Eddie, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth Jane and Philomena. Packie used to travel around the country to cockfights. He went to places like Wards Cross and as far as Tipperary. He had an old grand uncle called James who was partly deaf. One time in 1921 the Black and Tans raided him and asked him if he was loyal to the king. James said he wouldn’t lodge with the king. James had an old thatched house with a hearth fire. One day when Packie was a gasun James was at the fire bent down and Packie hit him over the head with a porringer. But that evening he caught Packie by the ear and giving it a few twists and slaps he told him. “You’ll remember that now ‘til the day you die”.

The FRANCIE Rooneys had Hugh Rooney who was married to Catherine McMahon. The children were Joe married to Mary E. Connolly, Mary, Hugh, John, Margaret, James, Patrick and Gerard. Joe was a postman in Roslea. Hugh Sr. Was a keen huntsman and cardplayer and was also caretaker of Derrygannon Hall. The Hall was built in 1912 and it was originally built of corrugated iron with a concrete floor. People wore clogs and had ceilies in the hall. Tommy Flynn of Derryvolan used to play the fiddle. They also played cards during the winter months. A hill of Frank Rooneys was used to have a bonfire. The first man to work a gramophone in the hall had only one record. It played “Chick, chick, chicken lay a little egg for me”. The whole country for miles around went to hear it and dance around the bonfire. They also played football in Derrygannon at a field at the far side of Packie’s meadow. Hugh Rooney kept goals and John Rooney was a good footballer. People from the Free State also played on the team. Master Rooney also played and he was also fond of shooting. Skittles were played on the road near the hall before a dance and many would go and practice on week evenings. Sometimes played for money, a few pence. 100 points was a game. If you scored over the 100 with the final shot you went back to 50. You had to finish on the even 100. There were three middle skittles one in front of the other numbering 10, 15 and 20 with the two sides ones on each side numbering 5 each. You had three shots each turn. Most people in Packies younger days had a pony and trap to go to mass and he bought a pony with the first money he earned.

The PUTT Rooneys were the family of Hugh Rooney and Mary Gunne. They were the second house on the lane from Knocknalear. They were Patrick, James, Catherine, Hugh, John and Rose Anne. Catherine was married to Michael Carbin. Hugh putt Rooney played the fiddle. Joe was a good spademan and worked in Clyde Valley Engineering Company in the 1920’s. At that time every man was allocated his work for the day. Joe finished in good time and then decided to help one of his workmates who was finding the going tough and could have lost a days pay if he didn’t finish his work. Joe was helping him with a jackhammer and he had a serious accident when a splinter went into his eye which he then lost. When he applied for compensation he was refused by his bosses because he was not on the job allocated to him.

Philip Rooney was married to Alice Gallagher. They had two daughters named Mary Ann and Catherine.

The TIM Rooneys were the third house on the lane from Knocknalear. John Rooney was married to Helen McClave. They had children Catherine, James who married Jane McCaffrey of Tattygormican, Mary Ann who married Michael McGinnity of cornagilla, John, Margaret who married Bernard Murphy of Corragunt, Francis, Joseph who married Mary A. Sonna and Elizabeth who married Michael Clerkin of Derryneese.

The NANCY Rooneys lived in the house now owned by Owen Beggan (Farrick). A Patrick lived there in 1862.

Michael Rooney was married to Bridget McClave and had a son James who married Mary E. Bogue of Coonian.

Patrick Rooney was married to Elizabeth Flynn. Their children were Margaret born 1871, John, Patrick, James, Catherine and Elizabeth. Patrick was the grandfather of Packie Rooney (butcher).

A Francis Rooney was married to Catherine Gunne. The children were Jane born 1864, James born 1867 and Hugh born 1872.

The other family of Rooneys that we know are the MUNALLS. For years I thought that James name was Manall as he never got anything else. But it seems how they got the nickname was really strange. James's grandfather used to go to Fivemiletown (as indeed all out that country did earlier on) and there was an eating house there called Munalls and he was always bragging about the great feed he got there, so that is how the name stuck. These Rooneys were all the same in years gone by as also were the Rooneys of Killcreen and the Rooneys of Derryartney. James had one sister, Mary Ann and the McCaffreys of Knocknalear have that farm now.
Thomas Rooney married Ann McCaffrey and the children were Mary Ann b. 1894 and James (Munall) b. 1897.