The Wholey name was first recorded in northern England where they held a family seat in Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire.  Later some moved to Ireland.  The name was adopted by some O'Driscoll families located in County Cork.  It is worth noting that the surname has a variety of spelling versions including Wholley, Wholey, Whooly, Whooley, Whorly, Houley, Houly, Hooly, Howley, Hooley and more.

 Richard Wholey's first marriage to Mary Donovan 

Richard Wholey and Mary Donovan married but we do not have the record.  Indeed records do not exist for that era in Kilmacabea Parish and marriage and baptism records are only available from June 1832 onwards.  However from Richard's Death Certificate we see he was aged 80 years on his death in 1880.  This suggests he was born in the very early 1800's but many aged quoted at death are very approximate, especially those ending in decades.

The first record of a child being baptised is Dec 1832 but of course there may have been otherr children born earlier than that. From family lore we read that Julia had a sister Ellen to stayed in Ireland.
 

Children born in Knockskagh, Leap and baptised in Kilmacabea (Leap) Church on dates from Baptismal Register included:

Ellen Wholey

Julia Houley, 6 Dec 1832.  Sponsors: Patrick Crowley, Ansty Crowley.  According to Katherine Donovan Porteus, who was a daughter of Julia, Mary (Donovan) Wholey died and Richard remarried. Julia did not like her stepmother and emigrated in 1846 with an aunt.

John Howley, 4 June 1835.  Sponsors: James Donovan, Peg Burns
 

Death:
It appears that Mary Wholey died but death records are not available in that era.
 

Baptism:
There is a Baptism record in Kilmacabea Catholic Parish of a child born to a couple Richard Wholey and Ellen Crowley

Catherine Wholey, born Killinga and baptised 7 Apr 1847.  Sponsors: Jerry Crowley, Anastacia Crowley. (Note Killinga is adjoining Knockskeagh).
 

 Richard Wholey's second marriage to Ellen Crowley 

Richard Whooley and Ellen Crowley married in the Parish of Kilmacabea on 19 August 1848.  The Witnesses were Thomas Sheahan and Mary Sheahan.

​Children born at Knockskagh and baptised in Kilmacabea Parish on dates on Baptismal Register:

Margaret Wholy, 1 July 1849.  Sponsors: Willian Shealy, Catherine Lynch.  Margaret died 28 May 1925 at Knockskagh.  She was single

Richard Whooley, 31 Aug 1851.  Sponsors: Michael Whooley, Eliza Whooley

Mary Wholey, 30 May 1854.  Sponsors: Denis Wholey, Kate Lynch

Patrick Wholey, 16 Nov 1856.  Sponsors: Michael Connolly, Honora Collins

Death:
Richard Wholey died at Knockskagh on 15 May 1880.  From his death record he was married, aged 80 years, a farmer.  Present at his death and the Informant of it to the Civil Registrar was Ellen Wholey of Knockskeagh.
 

​Census 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Cork/Knockskagh/Knockskagh/1157404/

​Death:
Ellen Whooley died on 22 November 1906 at Knockskagh. From her death record she was a widow, aged 80 years, a farmer's widow.  Present at her death and the Informant to the Civil Registrar was Mary Whooley, her daughter-in-law.
 

Griffith's Valuation:
In Griffith's Valuation for Knockskagh of circa 1850 we see that Richard Hooley occupies a number of small parcels of land with a few shared with a Donovan man.  Unusual that in Knockskagh townland we see that tenants occupy several small acerages in comparison with other townlands.

We can see in yellow on the Plot Number Map below that the parcels of land were very scattered.