Long-lost relative could reap share of $1.9m

FANCY a share of a $1.9 million inheritance? Well if you happen to be living in north Cork or south Limerick you’d better start researching your family tree.

A lawyer in the US is looking for Irish relatives of a former chairman of the American Press Council, who died without naming heirs three years ago.

Richard Riordan-Schalk, who lived in Alexandria, Virginia, was also a former spokesman for the Forbes 500-listed American Aluminium company.

Distinguished genealogist Eileen O’Duill was employed by the deceased’s attorney to trace Riordan-Schalk’s Irish links.

She discovered that some of his forebears came from Freemount, Co Cork, and across the border in south Limerick.

Anybody who can prove they’re related to a David Riordan who was born circa 1808 and died on January 5, 1865, or his wife Mary (née McCarthy) could be in for a windfall. They lived somewhere in south Limerick.

It might prove an easier search for relatives of Bartholomew “Batt” Daly and Mary Daly (née Walsh) who were married in Freemount on March 28, 1852.

They moved to the US sometime later and records show that they had three children.

Elizabeth was born on Sept 9, 1858, and died in Chicago, Illinois on July 7, 1932. Her brother, Michael was born on October 10, 1856 and sister Ellen was born on February 2, 1864.

Anybody who believes they are related to him should contact Attorney Paul Lanzillotta, at the law firm Manning & Murray in Arlington, Virginia.