Thursday, November 26th, 2020

It is often difficult to find historical information regarding women because they often did not work outside the home or farm and there are few newspaper accounts of their activities. Today, we are going to feature, Margaret M. Walsh, a woman who was born and reared in Glenmore, lived abroad in Worcester, Massachusetts for a few years at the turn of the twentieth century, returned to Glenmore and spent the rest of her life in Glenmore. In many respects Maggie Walsh, as she was locally known, after returning to Ireland lived a typical life as a spinster in her brother’s home filled with her nieces and nephews. However, what is unique about Maggie is that she provided a handgun and ammunition to the local IRA during the Irish War of Independence.

According to the Glenmore parish records, Margaret M. Walsh was born on the 14^th of April 1879. She as the youngest child of Patrick Walsh (farmer) of Davidstown, and his wife Margaret Walsh née Kennedy of Rathinure. Patrick and Margaret Walsh were married on the 6^th of February 1868. Patrick was the son of Laurence Walsh (farmer) and Margaret was the daughter of Patrick Kennedy (farmer). At the time of the wedding in 1868 the fathers of both the bride and groom were deceased.

Maggie’s siblings included:

(1) Bridget Walsh (27 Nov. 1868-22 Dec. 1890) Bridget died at the age of 22 of TB while working in Massachusetts.

(2) Laurence Walsh (4 May 1871—9 Sept. 1940) Laurence was a twin with John. Laurence was the elder twin; he was born at 10:30 a.m. Both twins became priests.

(3) John Walsh  (4 May 1871—13 Dec. 1929) John was the younger twin and was born at 10:32.

(4) Robert Walsh (27 March 1872—12 Feb. 1951) married Mary Walsh, of Carriganura, Slieverue and they farmed in Davidstown, Glenmore. The couple had a large family.

(5) Mary Walsh (9 August 1873—12 April 1948) married Tom Mullins, of Flemingstown, Glenmore. The couple had a large family.

(6) Patrick Walsh (27 Feb. 1875—9 Jan. 1952) married Catherine Brennan, from around Knocktopher, and they farmed in Ballinacrea, Slieverue. Later they bought Charlestown House and were the parents of Robert “Robbie” Walsh who was wounded in Croke Park on Bloody Sunday in November 1920.

Although little is known about Maggie Walsh’s early life it is believed that she received the normal schooling of the era and generally helped around the house and farm. Her eldest sister Bridget went to Worcester, Massachusetts to their Uncle Rev. Robert Walsh (1841-1908). Bridget was a housekeeper for her Uncle. Father Robert Walsh lived in the house of the Immaculate Conception parish at 47 Prescott St. in Worcester. Father Michael Mernagh in Glenmore Times (2000, p. 40) disclosed that Father Robert Walsh attended a hedge-type school in “Irish’s barn.” He attended secondary school in Waterford “where he walked weekly.”  He studied at St. John’s in Waterford and was ordained in 1866 for the Springfield Diocese in Massachusetts. Bridget Walsh died in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1890 at the age of 22. She is buried in St. John’s cemetery of Worcester with her Uncle Father Robert Walsh who died in 1908.

Although Maggie is known to have gone to Massachusetts exactly when she went and when she returned to Glenmore is not known. The 1901 census for Grogan, Davidstown, Glenmore, provides that Maggie was 21 living at home with her father Patrick and mother Margaret, brother Robert and his wife Mary. Her nephew Patrick Walsh was 7 months old. In the 1911 Census of Grogan, Davidstown, Glenmore, Maggie was aged 31 and again living at home with her father Patrick, aged 72, and mother Margaret, aged 74. Patrick and Mary Walsh reported in the Census that they had been married 43 years, had 7 children, and 6 were alive in 1911. Also, in the house was Maggie’s brother Robert, aged 39, and his wife Mary, who was aged 32. Robert and Mary Walsh reported that they had been married for 12 years and had 6 children.

The U.S. Census of 1900 provides details concerning Father Robert Walsh and Maggie was not living in Worcester, Massachusetts at that time. Turning to immigration records, several records were found of Father Robert Walsh entering the U.S. For example, on 13 September 1891 Robert Walsh, Clergyman, aged 50, arrived at Boston, Massachusetts from Ireland. The only record located for Maggie entering the U.S. was in 1904. She sailed on the S.S. Republic from Queenstown, Ireland on the 24^th of June 1904 and arrived in Boston on the 1^st of July. Maggie was aged 25 and was traveling with her Uncle Father Robert Walsh (aged 63) and her brother Father John Walsh (aged 30).

When Father Robert Walsh died on 6 March 1908, at his home at 47 Prescott Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, Maggie was with him and provided the personal information for his death cert. Father Robert Walsh was the son of Laurence Walsh and Bridget Walsh née Murphy. In 1907, Father Robert Walsh executed a Will naming his niece Margaret M. Walsh as his executrix and gave her various personal items he owned which were located in the parochial residence on Prescott St. The personal property included an onyx mantel clock, silver teapots, sugar bowl, spoon holder and silver spoons marked with the letter W. In addition to several charities Father Robert Walsh in his Will gave the sum of one thousand dollars to M. M. Walsh to carry out intentions he communicated to her. The residue of his estate he gave outright to his niece Maggie.  There is no mention of a handgun, but when Maggie returned to Ireland prior to 1911 she had a handgun and ammunition in her possession.

Once Maggie returned to Glenmore she lived in her childhood home with her brother Robert, sister-in-law Mary and their large family. Maggie also spent a lot of time in Flemingtown, Glenmore with her sister Mary Mullins and her family. During the Irish War of Independence the local IRA sought firearms from persons that they knew owned firearms. Mostly they collected shotguns from farmers. Maggie’s nephew Nicky Walsh, of Davidstown, Glenmore informed Danny Dowling that when Maggie was approached concerning her handgun she readily handed it over to the “local lads” with the ammunition she had. Nicky stated that Maggie’s handgun was described as dainty, but he did not know if it was a small caliber revolver or a derringer.  Nicky thought that anyone who returned from the U.S. were approached as it was known generally that local people returning to Ireland often brought home weapons.

Maggie was the last of her family and in the end was living in her childhood home in Davidstown with her unmarried nephews Nicky and Mick Walsh. The following obituary appeared in the Kilkenny People on Saturday the 15^th of August 1959.

Death of Miss Margaret Walsh—We regret to record the death of Miss Margaret Walsh of Davidstown, Glenmore, which took place recently at the ripe old age of 80 years. The deceased lady was the youngest and last surviving member of a family of six. Two of her brothers were Ossory Priests, the late Very Rev. Laurence Walsh, P.P., of Johnstown, who died in September, 1940; and the late Very Rev. John Walsh, P.P., Gowran, both of whom were noted Churchmen. Fr. John Walsh laboured for a number of years as C.C. in Callan, where he will be long remembered as the priest who rode the white horse. He was an outstanding horseman.

Her sister, Mrs. M. Mullins of Flemingstown, Glenmore and two farming brothers, Patrick of Charlestown, Kilmacow, and Robert of Davidstown, pre-deceased her. She was sister-in-law of the late Rev. W. Walsh, Melbourne. She was highly respected by all who knew her, her kindly and charitable disposition being a strong trait of her noble character, and throughout her long life she was deeply religious. During her last illness, she was attended by the Very Rev. William Brennan, P.P., Glenmore, and Dr. Kehoe, Waterford. Her remains were removed to Slieverue Church on Tuesday evening and lay overnight before the High Altar. Office and High Mass were celebrated on Wednesday at which the Very Rev. J. Canon Ryan, P.P., Slieverue, presided. The celebrant was Rev. Dr. Hughes, C.C, Slieverue. Deacon, Rev. T. Greene, C.C., Mooncoin: Sub-Deacon. Rev. Fr. Phelan. M.C., Very Rev. W. Brennan, P.P., Glenmore. The interment took place at Slieverue in the family burial ground.

The chief mourners were — Tom Walsh, Rathenure; Larry Walsh, Waterford; Nicholas and Michael Walsh, Davidstown; Richard and John Walsh, England; Robert Walsh, Chicago; Mrs. Hickey, Kildrummy, Windgap; Mrs. Laridge, Ferrybank; Sister M. Brigid, Holy Faith Convent, Celbridge; Dr. Laurence Walsh, Charlestown; Dr. John Walsh, Quebec; Patrick Walsh, Ballincrea; James Walsh, Thomastown; Mrs. P. Rockett, Slieverue; Miss C. Walsh, do., and the Mullins family, Flemingstown (nephews and nieces). Mr. Power, Ferrybank, had charge of the funeral arrangements.

It is not known what role, if any, Maggie’s dainty handgun may have played in the Irish War of Independence but it must have been of some value because it was taken with thanks.

Special thanks to Margaret Claridge Phelan for the photos of Father Robert Walsh, the grave marker and the photos of Brigid and Maggie.   The featured photo of the Walsh sisters of Davidstown, Glenmore, in the cart, is from the Poole Collection and provided by courtesy of the National Archives. It is believed that the Walsh sister on the right is Brigid Walsh and the sister on the left is Maggie.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh