The Kennedy family can trace their direct line back to Brian Boru.

Kennedy's have held their land in Upper and Lower Ormond for 600 years, resisting even the Norman Invasion.  They were called the Lords of Ormond and there is ample evidence to show that in that time they became a great cultured people.  They were deprived of over 90% of their land when the Cromwellian confiscations were carried out in the mid 1600's.  Rather than go to Hell or Connaught our branch of the Kennedy's took to the mountains around the area of Templederry.

The first of the Kennedy's which there is documented proof for is Patrick Kennedy born in approximately 1730 who lived in Tooreenbrien and married a Madden in approximately 1750.  This Patrick was the first Kennedy to live in Tooreenbrien.  Patrick had five sisters, Mrs. Shanahan (Curranaboola); Mrs Dawson (Templederry); Mrs Ryan (Cronavone); Mrs O'Brien (Croughlahan) and Mrs O'Brien (Ballyvoreen near Murroe).  The latter willed to be buried in the family plot in Templederry, and because of a heavy fall of snow, the body had to be carried on men's shoulders the 40 mile journey.  It was said that nine gallons of whiskey were consumed on the way, most of it at Cureeny, where the Templederry cousins came to meet the funeral. 

According to Father Rody Kennedy who wrote the Book "Bun Ciamalta Vale", Patrick Kennedy and Madden had a son Bryan Kennedy who married a Honora Meehan.  Bryan was born in 1757 and died in 1823.  Bryan is buried in the Graveyard in Templederry.  Patrick Kennedy who married Madden had a father who was married three times.

According to notes left by Father Rody Kennedy, he states:

Our branch of the Kennedy's came from Lower Ormond i.e. That part of Tipperary nearest to County Offaly.  According to good family traditions, after they were driven out by Cromwell about 1654 some of them settled in a townsland called Laconvara (Killenave) and around Templederry in Boolabane and Clohinch.  They acquired a family burial ground in Templederry, still used by the same Kennedys.

In the same notes Father Rody says that Patrick (Martin's Father) and Thomas Kennedy who were Bryan Kennedy's sons were the people responsible for the building of the Church where he attended Mass and made his First Communion which is the church in Toor.  Thomas Kennedy (Patrick's brother) and his wife Bridget Connors founded a dynasty of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  When he was ordained he was the 48th descendant in two generations from the family.  They had in that dynasty an Abbot, a Bishop, several priests, brothers and nuns.

Bryan Kennedy was born at Tooreenbrien near Rearcross in 1757. (Patrick's Father) He died there after a lifetime of farming and horse breeding.  An original slate roofed house can still be seen there. (Martin's Grandfather).