The son of Thomas John Donnelly and Nora Heffernan Donnelly, Thomas James Donnelly was born December 18, 1900 in Canastota, Madison County, New York. (While Thomas said he was born in Canastota in Madison County, his birth certificate says he was born in Lenox in Madison County.) 210 North Main Street in Canastota was the family home when he was born. Thomas was the sixth of seven children. He was named "Thomas" for his father and "James" for his father's brother. (His maternal grandfather was also named "Thomas.") His eyes were blue, his hair brown, and he was of medium height. Tom graduated from Syracuse University.
He was a salesman of Fleischmann's Yeast who moved from Madison County, New York to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio when he married Cincinnati native, Clare Cecilia Meiners Donnelly, on October 12, 1929 (Columbus Day) at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church in Cincinnati. The wedding was just 16 days before the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. As a salesman, Tom was based out of nearby Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, and he and "Ceil" met through a co-worker of Tom's from Cincinnati who knew the Meiners family. In 1930 they lived at 1038 Kreis Lane in Cincinnati. Most of their married life they lived at 5620 Wynnburne Avenue in the Green Hills area. Together they had five children: Mary Clare Donnelly Minges, Thomas J. Donnelly (Mary's twin who died in infancy), Anne ("Nancy") Roger Donnelly Riley, Thomas Meiners Donnelly, and Catherine ("Katie") Therese Donnelly O'Fallon. Katie's godmother was visionary and mystic Rhoda Wise, now on the path to sainthood.
Later in life Tom managed a Saint Vincent de Paul store on Bank Street in Cincinnati and took over the operation of the family's Sacred Heart Press from his father-in-law. For fun he enjoyed bowling. Thomas loved having his grandchildren visit at his Wynnburne home in Green Hills. His grandson Tom Donnelly recalls staying over at his grandparents' home and falling asleep to the sounds of his grandparents saying the rosary.
Thomas died of complications from emphysema and prostate cancer at age 79 on September 25, 1980 in Cincinnati. He is buried next to his wonderful wife Ceil in the Meiners family plot in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Biennially a family reunion of all the descendants of Tom and Ceil Donnelly is held, usually in Columbus, Ohio, midway between Cincinnati and Cleveland where the vast majority of descendants live. It is organized by their first-born grandchild, Mary Ann "Sugie" Minges.
DNA tests on his direct-line male descendants reveal him to be a Celt descended from the Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the Irish High Kingship from 600 to 1000 AD. Niall of the Nine Hostages was one of the most prominent descendants of Conn of the Hundred Battles who was the first high king of Ireland. On one of Niall's raids into Britain, a child later to become Saint Patrick was abducted. The four treasures of Ireland were the Lia Fail (the Stone of Destiny), the Spear Luin (the Spear of Direction), the Claiomh Solais (the Sword of Truth), and the Coire Anseasc (the Cauldron of Prosperity). The Stone of Destiny would cry out when a true King of Ireland stood on it. Conn of the Hundred Battles found the Stone of Destiny. The Spear of Direction was renowned for accuracy, and no one carrying it ever lost a battle. No one ever escaped from the Sword of Truth once it was pulled from its sheath. The Cauldron of Prosperity was bottomless, capable of feeding an army.
DNA testing also reveals Thomas Donnelly and his direct male descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
Thanks to his children and grandson Thomas C. Donnelly for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
He was a salesman of Fleischmann's Yeast who moved from Madison County, New York to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio when he married Cincinnati native, Clare Cecilia Meiners Donnelly, on October 12, 1929 (Columbus Day) at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church in Cincinnati. The wedding was just 16 days before the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. As a salesman, Tom was based out of nearby Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, and he and "Ceil" met through a co-worker of Tom's from Cincinnati who knew the Meiners family. In 1930 they lived at 1038 Kreis Lane in Cincinnati. Most of their married life they lived at 5620 Wynnburne Avenue in the Green Hills area. Together they had five children: Mary Clare Donnelly Minges, Thomas J. Donnelly (Mary's twin who died in infancy), Anne ("Nancy") Roger Donnelly Riley, Thomas Meiners Donnelly, and Catherine ("Katie") Therese Donnelly O'Fallon. Katie's godmother was visionary and mystic Rhoda Wise, now on the path to sainthood.
Later in life Tom managed a Saint Vincent de Paul store on Bank Street in Cincinnati and took over the operation of the family's Sacred Heart Press from his father-in-law. For fun he enjoyed bowling. Thomas loved having his grandchildren visit at his Wynnburne home in Green Hills. His grandson Tom Donnelly recalls staying over at his grandparents' home and falling asleep to the sounds of his grandparents saying the rosary.
Thomas died of complications from emphysema and prostate cancer at age 79 on September 25, 1980 in Cincinnati. He is buried next to his wonderful wife Ceil in the Meiners family plot in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Biennially a family reunion of all the descendants of Tom and Ceil Donnelly is held, usually in Columbus, Ohio, midway between Cincinnati and Cleveland where the vast majority of descendants live. It is organized by their first-born grandchild, Mary Ann "Sugie" Minges.
DNA tests on his direct-line male descendants reveal him to be a Celt descended from the Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the Irish High Kingship from 600 to 1000 AD. Niall of the Nine Hostages was one of the most prominent descendants of Conn of the Hundred Battles who was the first high king of Ireland. On one of Niall's raids into Britain, a child later to become Saint Patrick was abducted. The four treasures of Ireland were the Lia Fail (the Stone of Destiny), the Spear Luin (the Spear of Direction), the Claiomh Solais (the Sword of Truth), and the Coire Anseasc (the Cauldron of Prosperity). The Stone of Destiny would cry out when a true King of Ireland stood on it. Conn of the Hundred Battles found the Stone of Destiny. The Spear of Direction was renowned for accuracy, and no one carrying it ever lost a battle. No one ever escaped from the Sword of Truth once it was pulled from its sheath. The Cauldron of Prosperity was bottomless, capable of feeding an army.
DNA testing also reveals Thomas Donnelly and his direct male descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
Thanks to his children and grandson Thomas C. Donnelly for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
The son of Thomas John Donnelly and Nora Heffernan Donnelly, Thomas James Donnelly was born December 18, 1900 in Canastota, Madison County, New York. (While Thomas said he was born in Canastota in Madison County, his birth certificate says he was born in Lenox in Madison County.) 210 North Main Street in Canastota was the family home when he was born. Thomas was the sixth of seven children. He was named "Thomas" for his father and "James" for his father's brother. (His maternal grandfather was also named "Thomas.") His eyes were blue, his hair brown, and he was of medium height. Tom graduated from Syracuse University.
He was a salesman of Fleischmann's Yeast who moved from Madison County, New York to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio when he married Cincinnati native, Clare Cecilia Meiners Donnelly, on October 12, 1929 (Columbus Day) at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church in Cincinnati. The wedding was just 16 days before the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. As a salesman, Tom was based out of nearby Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, and he and "Ceil" met through a co-worker of Tom's from Cincinnati who knew the Meiners family. In 1930 they lived at 1038 Kreis Lane in Cincinnati. Most of their married life they lived at 5620 Wynnburne Avenue in the Green Hills area. Together they had five children: Mary Clare Donnelly Minges, Thomas J. Donnelly (Mary's twin who died in infancy), Anne ("Nancy") Roger Donnelly Riley, Thomas Meiners Donnelly, and Catherine ("Katie") Therese Donnelly O'Fallon. Katie's godmother was visionary and mystic Rhoda Wise, now on the path to sainthood.
Later in life Tom managed a Saint Vincent de Paul store on Bank Street in Cincinnati and took over the operation of the family's Sacred Heart Press from his father-in-law. For fun he enjoyed bowling. Thomas loved having his grandchildren visit at his Wynnburne home in Green Hills. His grandson Tom Donnelly recalls staying over at his grandparents' home and falling asleep to the sounds of his grandparents saying the rosary.
Thomas died of complications from emphysema and prostate cancer at age 79 on September 25, 1980 in Cincinnati. He is buried next to his wonderful wife Ceil in the Meiners family plot in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Biennially a family reunion of all the descendants of Tom and Ceil Donnelly is held, usually in Columbus, Ohio, midway between Cincinnati and Cleveland where the vast majority of descendants live. It is organized by their first-born grandchild, Mary Ann "Sugie" Minges.
DNA tests on his direct-line male descendants reveal him to be a Celt descended from the Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the Irish High Kingship from 600 to 1000 AD. Niall of the Nine Hostages was one of the most prominent descendants of Conn of the Hundred Battles who was the first high king of Ireland. On one of Niall's raids into Britain, a child later to become Saint Patrick was abducted. The four treasures of Ireland were the Lia Fail (the Stone of Destiny), the Spear Luin (the Spear of Direction), the Claiomh Solais (the Sword of Truth), and the Coire Anseasc (the Cauldron of Prosperity). The Stone of Destiny would cry out when a true King of Ireland stood on it. Conn of the Hundred Battles found the Stone of Destiny. The Spear of Direction was renowned for accuracy, and no one carrying it ever lost a battle. No one ever escaped from the Sword of Truth once it was pulled from its sheath. The Cauldron of Prosperity was bottomless, capable of feeding an army.
DNA testing also reveals Thomas Donnelly and his direct male descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
Thanks to his children and grandson Thomas C. Donnelly for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
He was a salesman of Fleischmann's Yeast who moved from Madison County, New York to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio when he married Cincinnati native, Clare Cecilia Meiners Donnelly, on October 12, 1929 (Columbus Day) at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church in Cincinnati. The wedding was just 16 days before the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. As a salesman, Tom was based out of nearby Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, and he and "Ceil" met through a co-worker of Tom's from Cincinnati who knew the Meiners family. In 1930 they lived at 1038 Kreis Lane in Cincinnati. Most of their married life they lived at 5620 Wynnburne Avenue in the Green Hills area. Together they had five children: Mary Clare Donnelly Minges, Thomas J. Donnelly (Mary's twin who died in infancy), Anne ("Nancy") Roger Donnelly Riley, Thomas Meiners Donnelly, and Catherine ("Katie") Therese Donnelly O'Fallon. Katie's godmother was visionary and mystic Rhoda Wise, now on the path to sainthood.
Later in life Tom managed a Saint Vincent de Paul store on Bank Street in Cincinnati and took over the operation of the family's Sacred Heart Press from his father-in-law. For fun he enjoyed bowling. Thomas loved having his grandchildren visit at his Wynnburne home in Green Hills. His grandson Tom Donnelly recalls staying over at his grandparents' home and falling asleep to the sounds of his grandparents saying the rosary.
Thomas died of complications from emphysema and prostate cancer at age 79 on September 25, 1980 in Cincinnati. He is buried next to his wonderful wife Ceil in the Meiners family plot in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Biennially a family reunion of all the descendants of Tom and Ceil Donnelly is held, usually in Columbus, Ohio, midway between Cincinnati and Cleveland where the vast majority of descendants live. It is organized by their first-born grandchild, Mary Ann "Sugie" Minges.
DNA tests on his direct-line male descendants reveal him to be a Celt descended from the Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the Irish High Kingship from 600 to 1000 AD. Niall of the Nine Hostages was one of the most prominent descendants of Conn of the Hundred Battles who was the first high king of Ireland. On one of Niall's raids into Britain, a child later to become Saint Patrick was abducted. The four treasures of Ireland were the Lia Fail (the Stone of Destiny), the Spear Luin (the Spear of Direction), the Claiomh Solais (the Sword of Truth), and the Coire Anseasc (the Cauldron of Prosperity). The Stone of Destiny would cry out when a true King of Ireland stood on it. Conn of the Hundred Battles found the Stone of Destiny. The Spear of Direction was renowned for accuracy, and no one carrying it ever lost a battle. No one ever escaped from the Sword of Truth once it was pulled from its sheath. The Cauldron of Prosperity was bottomless, capable of feeding an army.
DNA testing also reveals Thomas Donnelly and his direct male descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
Thanks to his children and grandson Thomas C. Donnelly for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions.
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