Liverpool Irish National League 1890

While reading the book 'Liverpool The Irish Connection' by Michael Kelly, in Chapter Three, 'Dandy Pat Byrne', I came across the name E.Tiernan. He had attended the funeral of Patrick Byrne on 7th May 1890. He was one of the members representing the West Toxteth branch & Parnell Branch of the Liverpool Irish National League. Dandy Pat Byrne was the respected Irishman who had fought hard to improve the lives of the Irish in Liverpool at that time.

It was an exciting & significant find for me as my great grandfather's name was Edward Tiernan as was my grandfather's. I had been contemplating tracing my Irish roots for some time & this spurred me on. I wondered if this man was in fact my ancestor!

A regular visitor to the West of Ireland, I called at the Genealogy Centre in Strokestown, Roscommon in 2005 as I knew Edward Tiernan had come from that county.I promised to forward my ancestor's father's name. With the help of Liverpool Record Office, I discovered through the 1861 & 1871 censuses that he was married & living in Old Swan , Liverpool in 1858. His marriage certificate gave his father's name & occupation.

Unfortunately, no Edward son of Patrick Tiernan could be found registered in any of those churches which kept records. As he was born circa 1837 some churches didn't keep records until it became law in 1864.

Liverpool Irish National Club Ltd Catalogue Reference: (PRO) BT 31/7997/57483

I realised he must have been a boy of only 10yrs when the Famine was at its height. His father was a farmer so one can only speculate about what he saw & experienced of that terrible period in Irish history. I have no idea when he actually arrived in Liverpool. My father told me he was a Hedge teacher in Ireland. At first his occupation in Liverpool was given as a labourer but he eventually had his own business as did my grandfather. It was disappointing that I was unable to find where exactly he came from in Roscommon. I was also informed that Edward was a rare name at that time in Ireland. It was suggested that perhaps his family admired Lord Edward Fitzgerald, the campaigner for Home Rule who was eventually executed for his political aspirations. Given that my great grandfather lived during the Famine in Ireland, it seems feasible that he would become a member of the Irish National League. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any information about the Liverpool organisation. Our Record Office hasn't any records of it. I even visited the Michael Davitt Museum in county Mayo to see if any light could be shed on the matter. His organisation had also been represented at the funeral of Patrick Byrne all those years ago. I just want to determine whether E.Tiernan (The Parnell Branch) was in fact my great grandfather. Can anyone out there help?