A Glenmore Malnutrition Death in 1938

Last week while helping a student complete a history project we came across a Glenmore woman who died of malnutrition in 1938. Seven decades after the Great Famine, on the cusp of World War II, it is difficult to understand how anyone could die of malnutrition in 1938. Further research revealed that her husband died of a hernia a couple years earlier.

Bridget Nolan née Delahunty (1899-1938)

Today, we are going to feature this tragic couple. Bridget Nolan, the widow of John Nolan, died on the 6^th of July 1938 at the Central Hospital of Kilkenny. The death register provides that Bridget was 49 when she died and a resident of Rochestown, Glenmore. Her obituary in the Munster Express (Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8) states that she was 35 when she died, and the daughter of Mr. and Mr. Patrick Delahunty of Rochestown, Glenmore.

A review of the Glenmore baptismal records revealed that Bridget Delahunty was born on 3 July 1899, the daughter of Patrick Delahunty (labourer) and his wife, Lizzie Hawe. Thus, Bridget died just 3 days after her 39th birthday. Brigid had been a patient in the Central Hospital of Kilkenny for two weeks before her death (Munster Express, Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8). The death register states that Brigid died of malnutrition.

Bridget’s Parents & Siblings of Rochestown, Glenmore

Bridget’s parents, Patrick Delahunty (1878-1945) and Elizabeth Hawe (1877-1951) were married on 14 September 1898 at Glenmore. Patrick was a labourer and the son of John Delahunty and his wife Mary Walsh. At the time of his birth the family was living in Ballyconnaght, Tullogher. Elizabeth was the daughter of Michael Hawe (boatman) and Catherine Malone of Rochetown. The 1911 Census for Rochestown, Glenmore provides that Patrick was 32 and working as a fisherman. Lizzie was 33 and there were 7 children in the family at that time, but a family obituary revealed another two daughters born after 1911.

Bridget Delahunty and her siblings were a typical Glenmore family in the first half of the 20^th Century. Some stayed in Glenmore, some emigrated to England for work and some emigrated to the United States. They were also typical in that some of the siblings died young and some lived into their 70’s and 80’s.

[1] Bridget Delahunty (3 July 1899-6 July 1938) was the eldest. She married John Nolan (labourer) of Ballincreigh (Ballincre) on 30 January 1918 at Glenmore. John was the son of Martin Nolan (labourer).

[2] Catherine Delahunty (b. 21 Dec. 1900) arrived at Ellis Island on 19 July 1920. She had $25 and was going to her aunt Mrs. Mary Farnham at 40 Washburn Ave, Boston. She was described as being 5 feet, 1 inch tall, with dark hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. She married a man named G. Ryan. In 1979 per her brother Bill’s obituary she was residing in New York.

[3] William “Bill” Delahunty (16 June 1902-5 January 1979) worked at Loughcullen Creamery, Kilmacow and later worked for Kilkenny Co. Council. He married Josephine Roche of Ballymountain, Kilmacow and the couple had 9 known children. Bill died 5 January 1979 (Munster Express, 12 January 1979, p. 17).

[4] Michael Delahunty (b. 29 Dec. 1903—30 April 1974 ) never married and worked for years for Mai Roche of Scartnamore, Glenmore. He was a nice, jolly man. (Danny Dowling, Notebook 13).

[5] Richard Delahunty (4 Dec. 1905-13 July 1973) emigrated to Boston circa 1923, married, served in the US Army during WWII, and became an electrician. Richard died while home visiting Ireland on his way back to Shannon Airport in 1973 leaving his widow and children to mourn him.

[6] Mary “Molly” Delahunty (14 May 1908—1 Jan. 1990) married John Halligan (c. 1908-1983). The couple had four known children and the family resided in Aylwardstown. John worked for years for Kelly’s of Aylwardstown “looking after the cows.”.

[7] Patrick Delahunty (4 June 1910–?) never married and remained in Rochestown.

[8] Elizabeth Delahunty (10 Nov. 1913–22 Jan. 1982) married Patrick Carey ( ?   -16 March 1976) in Waterford in 1935. The couple with their children resided in Ballindud, Waterford on the road to Tramore.

[9] Margaret Delahunty (8 July 1916- ? ) per her father’s obituary she died in England years before he died in 1945.

Several of the Delahunty obituaries may be read on our Glenmore H Surname page.

Bridget’s Husband, John Nolan (1878-1935)

As previously stated, Bridget Delahunty married John Nolan (labourer) of Ballincreigh (Ballincre) Slieverue on 30 January 1918, at Glenmore. John was the son of Martin Nolan (labourer). Witnesses to the wedding were William Atkins and Lizzie Hawe. John Nolan was 21 years older than his wife Bridget. After the famine well into the twentieth century marriage patterns changed in Ireland. People married later, and it was not unusual for men to marry much younger women.

John Nolan (1878-1935) of Ballincrea, Slieverue

John Nolan was born on 2 September 1878, to Martin Nolan (farm labourer) and his wife Catherine Power of Ballincrea, Slieverue. A review of birth records revealed that John Nolan had at least 5 sisters: [1] Mary Nolan (b. 16 Nov. 1871);  [2] Ellen Nolan (b. 26 Aug. 1873); [3] Anne Nolan (b.12 April 1875) and [4] Catherine Nolan (b. 27 Feb. 1881).

In the 1901 Census of Ballincrea, Slieverue,  John Nolan (aged 20) was living with his mother Catherine Nolan (widow) aged 40 and his sister [5] Bridget Nolan, aged 13 (b.c. 1888). John was employed as a farm labourer and was actually 24 years of age. His mother, Catherine Nolan, could not read or write. This could explain why Catherine incorrectly gave her age as 40. Her daughter Mary was born in 1871, thus her daughter Mary was 30 in 1901.  The Census notes that John could read and only his sister Bridget, still at school, could read and write.

John and Bridget lived in Ballincrea, Slieverue. It does not appear that the couple had any children. John died 3 July 1935 in their home in Ballincrea, Slieverue. His widow, Bridget, was present when he died. From the death register it appears that he suffered a cardiac event after “hernia retention” (the handwriting is difficult to read).

Obituary of John Nolan (1878-1935)

The following obituary was published in the Munster Express (Fri. 5 July 1935, p. 8).

We regret to record the demise of Mr. John Nolan, which sad and unexpected event occurred at his residence at Ballincrea on Wednesday morning. Though not in entirely robust health for some time past, deceased retired to bed as usual on Tuesday night, but early the following morning complained of feeling unwell and expired in a short time afterwards.

Aged about 60 years, the late Mr. Nolan was a very popular and esteemed inhabitant of the district, where his demise, coming as it did with such tragic suddenness, evoked feelings of sincere regret. Much sympathy will be extended to the widow on the sad bereavement she has sustained. The interment takes place today (Friday) at Slieverue. R.I.P.

A shorter article appeared the following week in the Munster Express (Fri.12 July 1935, p. 8).

Requiem Office and High Mass were offered up at Bigwood Church on Friday morning for the repose of the soul of the late Mr. John Nolan, Ballincrea (whose demise we announced last week). The celebrant of the Mass was Rev. M. Doyle, C.C., Slieverue, and the other clergy present were: Rev. Hally, .C.C, do;  Rev. M. Gibbons, D.D. C.C., do; and Rev. P. Darcey, C.C. Mullinavat. The interment took place subsequently in the adjoining cemetery in the presence of a large attendance. Deceased was brother of Mrs. Martin, Knockbrack, Glenmore, and Miss Bridget Nolan, U.S.A.

Strangely none of his other sisters were mentioned. Three years later his wife Bridget died.

The Obituary of Bridget Nolan née Delahunty (1899-1938)

Bridget’s short obituary follows:

We regret to record the death of Mrs. B. Nolan, widow of the late Mr. John Nolan, Ballincrea, in which sad event occurred in hospital in Kilkenny on Wednesday last.

Deceased, who was aged 35 years, was daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Delahunty, Rochestown, Glenmore, and sister of Messrs J. and M. Delahunty, do.; William Delahunty, Ballincrea, and Mrs. Carew, Ballindud, to all of whom sincere sympathy will be extended on their sad bereavement.  She had been in failing health for some time, and was in hospital for the past fortnight. Her passing was learned of with regret in her native district, where she was well known and widely esteemed. R.I.P. (Munster Express, Fri. 8 July 1938, p. 8).

Malnutrition in Glenmore in 1938

According to medical websites there are several ways in which a person can become malnourished and die. The elderly and young children are in the highest risk groups. The first way malnutrition occurs, that often springs to mind particularly in Ireland, is due to a lack of food, or famine. There were tough times in the 1930’s for many families in Glenmore, but there was no famine. There was also little processed food, thus the most common problem today was not present.

Another reason a person may become malnourished is because their body cannot process the food eaten and use it. This is generally due to disease (e.g. Crohan’s) or injury. Nothing was recorded on the death registry concerning any disease or injury that may have caused Bridget’s malnutrition in 1938. A third possible cause of malnutrition is an eating disorder. Again there is nothing recorded regarding this, however, it would decades before eating disorders were widely recognised and understood by the medical community.

 Please send any corrections or additional information to glenmore.history@gmail.com. The feature photo above is of the Waterford City Infirmary, John’s Hill.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh