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A Chance Meeting!

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Barbara Moore and her sister Anne McGuiness at Gunning Catholic Cemetery

By Leslie Bush with contributions from Barbara Moore

Last September my fellow Graver, Cass and I were feeling like a bit of family tree investigating coming on, but the weather wasn't the best so we thought better not venture too far today.

Cass was looking for McDevitts in the Catholic Cemetery and I thought I would photograph all the headstones to add to the collection for the District. So off we go, she's searching and I am clicking away. Bit of a chill in the air, it's windy and the clouds are rolling in, better get this done quick!

Half way done and we chanced to meet these two lovely women who were also visiting. Barbara Moore and Anne McGuinness were there visiting the graves of their great-grandparents John and Ellen O’Brien, Patrick and Mary (Bartley) Clancy (photos below), their great-great grandparents, Laurence and Catherine Bartley and Patrick and Mary (Hannan) Clancy as well many other relatives.

On our trips around we have met some lovely people, people just like you and me who are interested in their family history, how they came here, what they did when they got here and where they now lie at rest. I asked to take their photo and they kindly obliged.

We started chatting and Barbara mentioned how she was a keen family history sleuth and how so many of their family were from the area. We exchanged information and as the weather was getting worse they decided to call it a day. A few weeks later I received an email from Barbara with some information on her family and photos. What she didn't tell me is that she is a published author with quite a few books to her credit. Talk about 'hiding your light under a bushel'.

Grave of Barbara and Anne's Ancestor Patrick Clancy taken in 1905



Patrick Clancy and his wife Mary's grave taken in 1989 - time marches on!


Anne and Barbara are the twin daughters of Winifred McGuinness (nee O’Brien) who was born at Breadalbane in 1902.

Barbara has researched and is writing another book about her ancestors telling their stories back in Ireland; the Clancy and Bartley families in County Clare and the O’Brien family in County Wicklow, and their lives from when they first settled in the Gunning area.

Their Mother Winifred attended the Gunning Catholic School along with her brothers and sisters. This building (now a private residence) still stands today opposite the new Catholic Church and is a testament to the workmanship of the era. The school was built in 1912 so this photo might possibly be of the first lot of school children who attended. Officially opened in 1914 by Dr. Gallagher the then Bishop of Goulburn, it was deemed a beautiful addition to the town of Gunning. In later years the School was used for many community events including Flower and Art shows.


Class of 1913 Gunning St. Francis Xavier Catholic School 


Barbara states "this is the Class of 1913 at the Catholic School and the names as my mother told me.
The names in bold are my mother and her two brothers and four sisters. All the Clancy’s and other O’Brien are relatives"

BACK ROW:
Vince O’Brien, Ted Sutton, Ollie Grogan, Walter O’Brien, Sid White
SECOND ROW FROM BACK:
Father Sharkey, Maggie Lynch, Nellie Clancy, Nellie O’Brien, Cassie Clancy, Winnie Clancy, Amy Hopper, Phyllis Green, Grace O’Brien, Agnes O’Brien
THIRD ROW FROM BACK:
Kitty Clancy, Maggie Clune, Patrick Clancy, (three boys) Bishop Gallagher, John O’Brien, (four boys)
FRONT ROW SEATED
Zita O’Brien, Winnie O’Brien, Francis Clancy, Nellie Clancy, Teresa O’Brien, (four girls) Mollie O’Brien, (boy)

Are any of your family in this photo? 

List of Barbara's books already published -


  • From Doonas to Gunning: A history of Laurence and Catherine Bartley and their family
  • Eurasian roots: A story of the life and times of George Ah Kin and Mary Higgins and their descendant
  • Our Irish forebears: A story of the Moore, Boyle and Egan families
  • Soldier, sailor, convict, jailor: A story of the McGuinness and McIvor families in Australia 

Barbara Moore is also a member of the Canberra & District Historical Society.
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