The O'Dea Families

     Thomas O'Dea was born in 1855 in Annagh, County Limerick. He was the son of Michael O'Dea and Hanora Neill. Thomas O'Dea married Johanna Quinn on August 15, 1890 in Kilfinane Church, Kilfinane, County Limerick. Tomothy O'Neill and Minnie Sheedy were witnesses at the wedding. Thomas O'Dea died on February 13, 1901 in Annagh, County Limerick. From his obituary: "The sterling and straightforward manner of the deceased endeared him to all. As a friend, he was simply a pillar of support, and he was an uncommpromising foe of cant and weakness. Endowed with a keen and quick perception, few men of the farming class have comeunder my observation so ready and capable to analyse character as the deceased. As a nationalist he played a conspicououse part all through the land league days.... It was in his land league days O'Dea displayed his bravest, most unselfish and truly heroic qualities. On the night of the evermemorable day than the blood of his fellow parishioner, lonergan, and his two other fellow vivtims drenched the streets of Mitchelstown, the Galbally contingent to that great meeting together with others on their return homewards drove the Galbally police into barracks...." He was buried in Kilteely Churchyard, Kilteely, County Limerick.¹