Hi – welcome to Teach Mheana (or “House of Meana”), as I’ve called my website. In December 2008, I embarked on a blog-style makeover for the website, to present the different threads of my life in a more coherent manner.
Teach Mheana – what’s all that about?
My surname is Mulvenna, which in the original Irish is Ó Maoil Mheana, meaning descended from a devotee of the (river) Main. Given that many river names in Ireland are synonymous with local goddesses, such as Sinann (the Shannon) and Boann (the Boyne), I’m speculating that Meana may have been the goddess of the river Main (flowing near Randalstown in Co. Antrim).
Pure speculation it’s true, but I think Teach Mheana or House of Meana makes a nicer name for this virtual place than Gerry Mulvenna’s website.
Just messing about & stumbled on your site. Always interested in finding out more about the family name/tree.
I live in a small village called Ballygally, 5 miles north of Larne, Co Antrim. Where are you?
Johnny Mulvenna
Hi Johnny, Stumbled across your comment through Google. My name is Alan Turner, son of Doreen Mulvenna. I stayed in my grandmothers “Coastguard Cottage” at the age of 6 for 6 months in Ballygally. This was 40 years ago. I would like to trace some of my ancestry in Ireland. Are we related ?? Alan Turner
Thanks for your comments, guys. In case you didn’t know there is a MULVENNAs email group on Yahoo! at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MULVENNAs/ – it’s quite low traffic but good for making connections with related Mulvennas.
Gerry Mulvenna
So you’re a Singer/Songwriter as well eh!? I used to be too, was also in a Doors cover band in Dublin at the start of the decade! http://www.leonquinn.ie
I am a Mulvany on my mothers side of the family. I’m trying to locate the River Main and stumbled on your site. Can you tell me exactly where it is?
I’ve searched google map of Ireland, but can’t find it. help, please, My many thanks
Hi @Cynthia Maute[Mulvany] you can see where the River Main runs on National Geographic’s online atlas
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/map-machine#s=r&c=54.78722549643346,%20-6.299629211425781&z=11
Hello
Don’t know why the name of this river is written ‘Main’ . I think it should be written ‘MAINE’, or is this a mistake? Thank you.
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I think that you may have contacted me about twenty years ago when you read a paper that I had written while I was working for the U.S. National Institue of Standards and Technology. My name is also Gerard (Jerry) Mulvenna. Whoever contacted me also told me about the origin of the name “Mulvenna” and that the town that many Mulvennas came from was Glenarm in County Antrim. About 8 years ago , I visited Glenarm and had my picture with the ladies at the local tourist office and in front of the lord’s castle -like home. I noticed that several Mulvenna’s were buried in the local cemetery. It was a charming town. My grandfather, Francis Mulvenna, born in 1863, migrated to the U.S. In the nineteenth century when jobs (farming, weaving) were displaced by the Industrial Revolution. His brothers migrated to New Zealand. My aunt, who lived to be 106 years old, told me this information before she died in 1998. I am now 82 years old.
I have enjoyed your site! My grandfather came from Ballymena but ran away woth gypsies. Now, there is a substantial Mulvenna presence within the UK Gypsy community as old john had 15 kids.
Hope you’re well.