Martin is the son of John (Curly) Phillips and Nell (Tramp) Dooney. John had brothers Jimmy (Curly) Phillips and Tommie (Curly) Phillips. Martin's cousin James married Tina Carney.

Nell Dooney had at least one brother Martin who married Maggie Ann Roddy from Cloonlumley. They lived in Glanmore, Derrinacartha.

The Tramp Dooneys were so called because Nell's father owned a stallion horse. He worked on hire with the horse in the summer. In the autumn he walked around collecting money for the work and thats how he got the name of Tramp.

Many thanks for the additional information on this page to Pauline O'Hara.