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Michael Joseph Grant (1858-1920) High Constable of Waterford & His Glenmore Connections
Last month Danny Dowling was able to state where Michael Joseph Grant, the High Constable of Waterford was buried in St. James’ Cemetery, Glenmore. The location was near the Colford grave, but unfortunately no legible Grant stone is now in the cemetery for the High Constable. Danny noted that the Office of High Constable was of ancient origin and survived until the time of the Free State in 1922.
Office of High Constable
Although it might be assumed that the Office of High Constable is associated with policing the office was established long before any police forces were established. The Metropolitan Police Force, London was established in 1829 by the then home secretary Robert Peel, and the Royal Irish Constabulary was established in 1836. In contrast the High Office of Constable developed in England shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The High Office of Constable was important and ranked as the seventh great office of the Crown. The person holding the office held civil and criminal powers. In feudal times, the holder of the High Office of Constable was of military rank and became the highest judge in military offences and in questions of chivalry and honour. He was the supreme judge in tilts, tournaments and other military type games. After 1521, the title of High Office of Constable was not granted except for a special ceremony of state. In Ireland the Office of the Lord High Constable of Ireland was established after the Acts of Union in 1800 to be used during coronations of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The Irish office was abolished upon the creation of the Free State in 1922
In addition to the Office of the Lord High Constable, Irish cities or boroughs also had offices entitled High Constables. Michael Joseph Grant served as High Constable of Waterford from 1895 until shortly before his death in 1920. There is a fascinating article in the Waterford Standard of the 16th of November 1910 where Michael Grant explained his duties in a hearing concerning the city abattoir, housing, overcrowding and the lack of sanitation in Waterford City. According to the Waterford Treasures webpage from 1851 to 1901 the official residence of the High Constable of Waterford was Reginald’s Tower. The website incorrectly states that James O’Mahony was the “very last High Constable of the City and died in Reginald’s Tower in 1901. See, http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/reginalds-tower/whats-inside/the-entrance-doorway-prison-door-1819. In fact, James O’Mahony was the High Constable first elected in 1873 and held the post until his retirement in 1895 when Michael Joseph Grant was appointed. James O’Mahoney died in Reginald’s Tower in 1907 not in 1901. (Waterford Standard ,18 May 1907).
Glenmore Connections
On 20 July 2020 Danny Dowling recalled that Grant, the High Constable of Waterford, or his father was from Rochestown, Glenmore. After extensive research it has been verified that the father of the High Constable of Waterford was a native of Glenmore. The roots of the Grant family go back to before Glenmore became a parish when it was separated from Slieverue parish.
A review of the death records revealed that Michael Grant, the High Constable, died on 3 October 1920. He was married and 63 years of age when he died at his home 4 Newgate St., Waterford. His sister Mary Byrne was present at his death. He suffered from diabetes and a “carbuncle on hand that turned gangrene.” According to Waterford marriage records the High Constable was married on 7 January 1899 to Alice Devereaux, of Barker Street. Alice was the daughter of Patrick Devereaux, a farmer. No children appear to have been born to the High Constable and his wife. The High Constable’s obituary is found in the Munster Express, of Saturday the 9th of October 1920 and provides several interesting and often conflicting facts.
Death of Ex-High Constable, Michael Grant—The death took place on Sunday last at his residence Barker Street, of Mr Michael Grant, late Borough High Constable to the Corporation. For some time past deceased had been in failing health, and, though his death was not altogether unexpected, it nevertheless caused keen regret to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. The late Mr. Grant was a familiar figure in the civic life of Waterford. He was for about 30 years in the service of the Corporation, first as Borough Constable and later as High Constable. Failing health induced him to retire from the latter office some months ago. He also held the office of food inspector under the Foods and Drugs Act, was inspector of markets, abattoirs and was the sanitary sub-officer. In his young days he followed the occupation of a sailmaker and kept a shop in Hanover Street. Of an unostentatious and unobtrusive disposition, he made many friends and was deservedly popular amongst all classes, He was over 6o years of age at the time of his death. The funeral took place on Tuesday to Glenmore and was attended by the members of the Waterford Corporation and officials, and a large number of the general public.
Luckily, the information regarding sail making greatly helped in locating information regarding the parents and siblings of the High Constable. The High Constable, Michael Joseph Grant was baptized in Waterford on the 18th of March 1858. He was the eldest child of Michael Grant (1823-1887) and Mary Anne Grant née Donovan (c. 1838-1899). Michael Joseph Grant had at least 7 siblings: Edward Grant (1863–? ); John Francis Grant (7 Mar. 1867- 1900); Joe Grant (c. 1878– ); James Francis Grant ( 18 Sept. 1868 –13 Nov. 1906); Patrick Laurence Grant (9 Aug. 1865–?); Sarah Grant (c. 1862– ); and Kate Grant who married Capt. Thomas Furniss.
The obituary for James Grant (brother of the High Constable) in 1906 provided the link to Rochestown. In addition to his siblings the chief mourners of the deceased included Thomas, James and John Walsh of Rochestown, as well as John and William Barry, of Carrigcloney, Matt and Andrew Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore (Munster Express 17 Nov. 1906).
In the 1901 Census for Rochestown, Glenmore the following Walsh family lived at Vereker’s Cross: Thomas Walsh, 54 farmer, Mary Walsh, 53; Bridget 27; James 24; Patrick, 23; Thomas, 26; Michael Walsh, 16; John Walsh, 15. A quick review of Glenmore marriage records revealed that Andrew Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore married Kate Power on 9 February 1875. John Barry on 3 November 1883 married Bridget Power, and Thomas Walsh, of Rochestown, married Mary Power. All three of the above Power women were the daughters of Thomas Power, of Kearneybay, Glenmore and their mother was Ellen Grant. Ellen Grant married Thomas Power (c. 1825-1880) on 3 February 1845 at Glenmore.
The father of the High Constable, was also named Michael Grant (1823-1887), and he was baptized in Glenmore on 10 August 1823. The grandfather of the High Constable, was also named Michael Grant. On the 30th of October 1809 at Glenmore he married Sally Murphy. The witnesses to the wedding were Walter Grant and Anastasia Hefernan (sic). The Slieverue/Glenmore Church records support the information that Danny recorded that the name Michael Grant is connected to Ballybrahee, Glenmore. It appears that the great-grandparents of the High Constable were Richard Grant and Mary Grant née Simpson, of Ballybrahee. Four known children were born to this union: Walter Grant (1785); Michael Grant (1780); Mary Grant (1776) and James Grant (1774).
The High Constables grandparents, Michael Grant and Sally Grant née Murphy of Glenmore had the following childrren: Bridget Grant (1809); Edward Grant (1814); Catherine Grant Colford (1815); Ellen Grant Power (1817); James Grant (1818); Michael Grant (1823)(father of the High Constable) and Patrick Grant (1826).
Thus the High Constable was a first cousin to Kate Power Lannon, of Gaulestown, Glenmore; Bridget Power Barry, of Carrigcloney, Glenmore and Mary Power, Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore. He was also a first cousin to the Colford brothers who perished at sea in 1895 when their ship Zoe sank. See, https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-the-final-resting-place-of-capt-patrick-colford-1811-1887/ .
In researching this family some interesting newspaper articles were found concerning the High Constable’s parents, Michael Grant (1823-1887) and Mary Anne Grant née Donovan (c. 1838-1899). Michael Grant (1823-1887) was a sailmaker and had his business premises at 16 King Street (now O’Connell Street) Waterford. On the night of the 30th of March 1863, a fish business owned by James Kent caught fire and threatened to destroy Grant’s premises. The newspapers of the time are full of details concerning the want of water, the private fire tenders that responded from the brewery and other business, and the barracks of the military and Royal Irish Constabulary turning out to fight the fire. Grant made a claim to Kent’s fire insurance company and he was paid the full amount he sought (£16, 12 s, 8d) on 7 April 1863 a week after the fire (Waterford News & Star, 10 April 1863). Today, can you imagine any insurance company settling a claim in a week?
On the 12th of August 1870 the Waterford News & Star on page 2 carried the following notice
“I hereby caution all parties against giving credit to my wife, Mary Anne Grant, as I will not be accountable therefor. Michael Grant, 16 King Street.”
When I told Danny Dowling about this unusual notice he remarked, “That must have made for strained marital relations.”
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured engraving is “Magna Charter” (1833) (c) Trustees of the British Museum.
Glenmore: The Final Resting Place of Capt. Patrick Colford (1811-1887)
Colford is not a name usually associated with the Glenmore area, hence when we were recently transcribing headstones in the cemetery adjacent to St. James’ parish church in Glenmore an old stone with the name Colford stood out. In attempting to determine the Colford connection to Glenmore we came across a shipwreck, a sailmaker from Glenmore and the High Constable from Waterford City. The inscription on the Colford stone simply reads;
In memory of CapT P. Colford of Waterford Who Died Nov 11th 1881 And his deceased children Sarah who died young And his wife Catherine Who Died August 5th 1894 Aged 73 years Pray for the souls of the undernamed Michael & Patrick who drowned at sea 3rd October 1895 Aged 38 and 37 years
What connection this family had to Glenmore was not apparent, without the wife’s maiden name, and unfortunately Danny Dowling was unable to provide a Glenmore connection. The British Merchant Service records were able to provide some information concerning Captain Patrick Colford, of Waterford. Per his Masters’ Certificate of Service (No. 36.954) Patrick Colfer (sic) was born at Slade, Wexford on 1 January 1811. In January 1851 it was noted that he had been employed as a Seaman Master and Master for 25 years in the British Merchant Service in the coasting and foreign trade.
Attached to the certificate was a copy of Captain Colford’s service record. From 1826-1830 he served as a seaman on the Hibernia, of London which was engaged in foreign trade. From 1830-1835 he served as a Mate on the Three Sisters, of Waterford which was engaged in coasting. During the period of 1835 to 1841 he served as a Master on the Pilgrim, of Waterford which was engaged in coasting. From 1841 to 1850 he returned to serve on the Three Sisters, this time as the Master.
A couple of years after obtaining his Masters’ Certificate, Patrick Colfer (sic) married Catherine Grant on 5 April 1853 at the Cathedral, Waterford. Danny Dowling explained today that there were numerous families of Grant in several townlands in Glenmore. The Glenmore headstone provides the names of two children born to Captain Colford and his wife Catherine (Kate) Colford née Grant. Michael Colford was born in 1857 and Patrick Colford in 1858.
The death register for Patrick Colford, who died on 11 Nov. 1881, states that he was a carpenter rather than a master mariner and lived on Queen’s Terrace in Waterford City. He was married, aged 75 and his wife, Kate Colford was present at his death. Kate Colford, née Grant died on 5 August 1894, aged 73. Her niece Sarah Grant was present when she died.
After a newspaper article revealed a close relationship between Patrick Colford, Jr. and Michael Grant, the High Constable, of Waterford, Danny Dowling easily made the Glenmore connection. Danny explained that the High Constable of Waterford in the late 19th and early 20th Century was Michael Grant and he was buried in the right hand side of the Glenmore cemetery near the road wall. Unfortunately, the marker is now gone or the marker is perhaps the one next to the Colford stone and is not legible.
The High Constable, Michael Joseph Grant (1858-1920) was the son of Michael Grant (1823–1887) who was baptized in Glenmore on the 10th of August 1823. His parents were Michael Grant and Sally Murphy, and it appears that he was the youngest child in the family. Michael Grant (1823—1887) went to Waterford and became a sailmaker. His sister Catherine (Kate) Colford née Grant (1821- 1894) married Captain Patrick Colford (1811-1887). Given that the graves in the front of the churchyard are the oldest it is believed that the Colford grave was utilised by the Grant family long before Captain Colford’s death in 1887. In notebook 13 Danny recorded several townlands where Grants lived and Michael Grant is associated with Ballybrahee. The farm later went to the Henneberry’s. Today, at the mention of Michael Grant being a sailmaker on King Street in Waterford Danny thought that this Grant family may have originated in Rochestown.
The sons, Captain Patrick Colford (c. 1858-1895) and Michael Colford (c. 1857-1895)
A little over a year after their mother died Patrick and Michael Colford drowned when their ship the Zoe sank. The Munster Express on the 5th of October 1895 printed that it had received a telegram at 10 that morning from the editor of the Swansea Daily Post stating “Brigantine Zoe supposed wrecked off Mumbles with all hands. Lifebuoy picked up.” The Munster printed that the crew all “belonged to Waterford. The Skipper was Captain Colfer (sic), Thomas Terrace, and the mate was his brother. They are near relations of the (Waterford) City High Constable Mr. Grant.”
The Irish Independent on Saturday, the 5th of October 1895 reported that the Mumbles lifeboat went at 2 a.m. on the 4th after the brigantine Zoe, of Waterford, was driven on to Mizen sands during a strong gale from the north west. The first alarm was raised by the women of Mumbles Head who could hear the cries of the ship wrecked mariners. The lifeboat men, reached Mizen in time to see the schooner sink suddenly, stern first, and then break up. All of her crew were lost. The lifeboat crew picked up a board from among the wreckage, bearing the words “Zoe, Waterford.” A Waterford correspondent reported that the brigantine Zoe was on her way to Swansea from Liverpool with a cargo of pitch. The Zoe put into Waterford “on Monday week,” and sailed again on last Wednesday evening. In addition to the two Colford brothers the crew consisted of Michael Hanley and his son.
A week later the Munster Express (12 October 1895) published what it stated was the complete list of the crew of the brigantine Zoe: Master, Patrick Colfer (sic), Waterford; mate, Michael Colfer (sic), Waterford; AB, Martin Hanlon, Cheekpoint; boy, Michael Hanlon, Cheekpoint; AB, shipped in Liverpool, name unknown. “Mr Kirwan, Mall-lane, and several other Waterford people have been to, the scene of the wreck, but excepting a few things washed ashore, which were identified as being portion of the things in the Zoe, no bodies have yet been recovered, although a ceaseless watch is being maintained.”
Later, the Kerry Weekly Reporter (Sat. 19 Oct. 1895) noted that the body of a man of about fifty years of age and bearing the initials J.B. on his left arm was washed ashore at Portcawl. Although it was stated that authorities believed that it was one of the crew of the brigantine Zoe, of Waterford, no further articles could be located.
A review of the personal estates of Michael Colford (mariner) and Patrick Colford (master mariner), of Queen’s Terrace, reveals that the men had a sister, Catherine Furniss the wife of Captain Thomas Furniss, of 46 the Glen, Waterford. Michael Colford left an estate of £120.11.2 and Patrick left an estate of £79.5.2. Kate Colford had married Thomas Furniss of Henry St., Waterford on the 19th of July 1891. Kate was 28 and Thomas Furniss was 35 and working as a master mariner. It is believed that Catherine Furniss put the inscription on the Colford headstone in the Glenmore cemetery for her two brothers who were drowned when the Zoe sank in 1895.
The Brigantine Zoe: Sank Twice
In 1880 the Belfast Newsletter (Fri. 14 Nov. 1880) advertised that the Zoe would be sold at Carrickfergus by Public Auction. She was described as being 96 feet in length, 26 feet in breadth, with a depth of 9 feet. It was noted that she carried 245 tons d.w. on 10 ½ feet of water. It is noted in the advertisement that the Zoe sank in Belfast lough on the 17th of March 1879 and was raised and placed in dry dock. She was to be sold in her damaged condition, together with all Masts, Spars, Rigging, Sails, Anchors and Chains etc. The advertisement concludes that “the Zoe was built at New Brunswick, in 1868, in a very strong and substantial manner, and she is copper fastened in the bottom. She is an admirable and profitable coaster, carries a large cargo on a light draught, sails fast, and crosses Channel without ballast.”
Eight years later the Munster Express (Sat. 15 Dec. 1888) published an article stating that a new coal vessel, the “handsome brigantine, the Zoe,” was towed up the river with a cargo of 294 tons of coal. “The Zoe has been purchased by Captain Colford, and others, and is intended for the Waterford trade, principally in coal…In 1882 she was completely remodelled at Fleetwood, and is now one of the fastest sailing and thoroughly-equipped coasting vessels afloat.” Unfortunately, after only 7 years engaging in the Waterford trade under Captain Patrick Colford (c. 1858-1895) she sank for the second time, taking the entire crew down with her.
Blog update—A link has been added to the Irish page of a transcript of a recording made of the last Glenmore native Irish speaker, Patrick Power (c. 1853-1945), of Jamestown, Glenmore. This was part of the work undertaken by the Folklore Commission in the 1930’s. The original is held at UCD.
Special thanks to Louise Walsh for the photos of St. James (taken 2019) and the Colford Stone (taken 2020).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Glenmore 1916: Stolen Butter, a Mysterious Death, a local WWI Pilot and the Wrong Man Summoned to Court
Recently a reader sent a link to a file in the National Archives concerning a claim made by the Glenmore Co-operative to the military and then to the Property Losses (Ireland) Committee 1916. This Committee operated for ten months processing claims for property losses incurred due to the 1916 Rising. In a nutshell 9 boxes of Glenmore Co-op butter were stolen from the Amien St. railway station [Connolly Station] in Dublin on or about the 24th of April 1916. In attempting to locate newspaper articles concerning the stolen butter we came across a number of newspaper articles concerning Glenmore events and people in turbulent 1916.
Stolen Glenmore Butter
On 22 April 1916, 16 boxes of Glenmore Co-op butter were handed to the Dublin and SE Railway at Aylwardstown, Glenmore. The following day the consigned butter arrived at the Amien St. Station, Dublin. It was Easter and the butter could not be transferred to the Great Northern Railway that day. On Easter Monday (24 April 1916) the British Military ordered the Railway Company’s staff to leave and the military took possession of the station. When the staff left the full consignment of butter was there, but when the staff returned 9 boxes of butter were missing. The railway informed Glenmore Co-op that the military commandeered the butter.
On 28 July 1916 Glenmore Co-op’s solicitor, P.A. Murphy, of O’Connell St., Waterford wrote to the Major General, of the Irish Command, outlined the above facts, and demanded £35.2.0 to cover the loss of the 9 boxes of butter. The military refused to accept any responsibility in the matter and referred the claim to the Property Losses (Ireland) Committee 1916. James O’Donovan, the Glenmore Creamery manager, duly filed a claim on 14 August. He stated in the claim that 9 boxes of butter consigned to C. Coats, upper Arthur St., Belfast were part of a consignment of 16 boxes and were damaged by the military authorities whilst in possession of the Amien St. Station, Dublin. In November 1916 the Property Losses Committee recommended that the claim of £35.2.0 should be paid to the Glenmore Co-op Creamery for the “looting” of the boxes of butter by “insurgents.”
This link will take you to the Property Losses (Ireland) Committee 1916 file held by the National Archives concerning the Glenmore butter claim. http://centenaries.nationalarchives.ie/centenaries/plic/results.jsp?surname=&location=&title=&business_name=Glenmore%20Cooperative%20Dairy%20Society%20Limited&search=Search
The Mystery Surrounding the Death of Peter Forristal, the Mill, Graiguenakill (1889-1916)
In the New Ross Standard on Friday, the 19th of May 1916, on page 6, an article details the annual meeting of the Glenmore Co-operative Creamery where the accounts for 1915 were approved. Items discussed during the meeting included the recent purchase of a cattle weigh bridge and shedding for storage at the Creamery as well as the heightened shipping costs. The increased shipping costs were due to the enormous loss of ships as a result of the German submarine policy. Nothing concerning the Glenmore butter loss in April 1916 was mentioned.
In the column to the left of the Glenmore Creamery Report is the following little statement placed within farming advertisements. “Returned Home—Some young men from the district who were at business in Dublin have returned home during the week for a rest after the recent disturbances in the capital,” (New Ross Standard, Friday 19 May 1916, p. 6).
Just below the Glenmore Creamery article is the following article regarding Peter Forristal, of the Mill, Graiguenakill.
“NEW ROSS MAN MISSING. SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED. The river at New Ross was dragged on Wednesday in search of the body of Peter Forrestal, believed to be drowned on the previous night. He was son of Mr. P. Forrestal, farmer, Ballyverneen, near Glenmore, and came up the river on a small boat on Tuesday with fish for New Ross. In the early part of the day it seems he took some drink and became noisy in the street. He was arrested and was detained in the police barracks until about five o’clock in the evening. After being let out he was seen down round the quay, and at about 9:30 that night some men at the Grand Canal steps heard a noise in the water, followed by what appeared to be a groan. Captain Ryder and others made an exhaustive search, but no trace, of the body was found up to Wednesday afternoon. During Wednesday a further search was made. It is surmised he went aboard the vessel “Tom Raner,” and on trying to reach his boat fell into the water one of his brothers was drowned some years ago off a boat coming up the river. The sincerest sympathy is felt with his parents and family” (New Ross Standard, Friday 19 May 1916, p. 6).
The following week the New Ross Standard reported that the body was recovered and corrected a lot of the information it incorrectly reported on the 19th.
“NEW ROSS DROWNING CASE. The body of the young man Peter Forrestal, of Graiguenakill, who drowned at New Ross in the early part of last week, was found at Garranbehy sometime on Monday morning by Patk. Fitzgerald, High-street, and John Doyle, Irishtown, fishermen. Sergeant Byrne, Rosbercon, communicated with the Coroner for South Kilkenny, but he happened to be away, from home, and Messrs. H.R. Hamilton, J.P., and A. J. Doyle, J.P., acted in his absence, and after hearing the particulars decided that an arrest was not necessary. It is surmised that the deceased lost his life whilst endeavouring to get into his boat from a coal vessel anchored in the harbour at 9 of 9:30 o’clock in the night. It is stated that on that evening he had his tea at Rosbercon. It appears he had not been at home for the past three months, and came to New Ross on that morning on a small boat. The sincerest sympathy is felt with his parents and family” (New Ross Standard, Friday 26 May 1916).
Peter Forristal was born on 27 March 1889 and was the son of Patrick Forristal and Margaret Forristal née Cardiff. He was a brother of William Forristal who was one of the Glenmore men who drowned in 1899. See, https://glenmore-history.com/a-double-drowning-at-rochestown-point-in-1899/ . No inquest was held and no death cert was filed for Peter Forristal in 1916. No further information was provided concerning where Peter Forristal had been in the three months prior to his death or concerning the short statement on the same page of the newspaper that young men from the district who were at business in Dublin returned home (during the week of the drowning) for a rest after the recent disturbances in the capital. No clarity is provided regarding how or why Peter Forristal was identified as the person who went into the river at New Ross on the 16th of May. Apparently there were no eye witnesses. Witnesses heard sounds and somehow Peter Forristal was identified as a person who was supposed drowned. The newspapers of the time are full of lists of men who were detained and arrested across the country after the Rising, yet there is no information as to why Peter Forristal was released from custody hours before his death if he had been, in fact, arrested earlier in the day.
The articles reporting the drowning are not similar to other drownings reported in the newspaper in the early years of the 20th century. The Peter Forristal articles lack the details found in other drownings reported. For example, who identified the body as being Peter Forristal? Perhaps the readers were expected to read between the lines, or perhaps the restrictions on the newspapers after the Rising were such that newspapers could not query deaths of persons released from police custody who end up in a river.
Irish Independent, Thur. 7 Sept. 1916–SITUATIONS VACANT.
WANTED, Man to follow Threshing Engine, also Man to take charge of Threshing Mill, for season. Apply to Glenmore Co-operative Threshing Society, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, stating Wages and qualifications.
New Ross Standard, Fri. 11 Aug. 1916–A One Bicycle Crash
POLICEMAN INJURED Whilst Const. Collins, Glenmore, was cycling from Glenmore to Mullinavat last week his bicycle got caught in a rut in the road and he was pitched forward and rendered temporarily unconscious. He was attended by the priest and doctor and was taken to hospital.
Mistaken Identity
Danny Dowling has explained that due to the number of people in the parish with the same name nick names were bestowed and whole families often had surnames that were not their proper surname. For example, Jim Brien was actually Jim Fitzgerald. Danny’s notebooks are full of notations that “his real name” was … In Glenmore all Whelans are Phelans. The following case reported in the newspaper in 1916 involved John Whelan, of Mullinahone being summoned for something he did not do.
“CASE AT NEW ROSS When the name of John Whelan, Mullinahone, Glenmore, for being drunk and disorderly was called at the New Ross Petty Sessions, a young man came forward on the witness table, and said that he was not the man at all. He said he had been served with a summons for the offence. Sergeant O’Sullivan—This is not the man at all that was drunk and disorderly. The man gave his name as John Whelan, of Mullinahone. A Glenmore constable gave evidence, that be served the summons on John Whelan, the man who appeared in court. Mr. Whelan—I am not the man at all, and it has caused me great inconvenience to come here. District Inspector McLean—We must only withdraw the prosecution. Mr. Whelan said there was no other man of that name in Mullinahone, and Sergeant O’Sullivan said he would know the man that was drunk and disorderly if he saw him. Mr. Griffin, R.M. (to Mr. Whelan) It was very nice of you to come to the court to-day. You showed great respect for the court by coming. We will dismiss the case on the merits. It must be understood that we are not blaming the police at all. They were led into this error by another person. They issued the summons on the name that was given to them.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 Sept. 1916)
Glenmore WWI Pilot: Lt. Michael Keegan
In our post on 15 February 2020 we highlighted Mick Keegan, who ranaway as a teenager to join the army, became a WWI Veteran and Ross Publican. The post was based on the 1980 interview Danny Dowling recorded of Dan Doyle concerning his time on the railway. Dan Doyle related the story of Mick Keegan who was the son of the Aylwardstown, Glenmore stationmaster. In 1916 three articles concerning Mick Keegan were found in the New Ross Standard. Here is the link to the 15 February 2020 post HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNY! (containing Mick Keegan, from Runaway to WWI Veteran and Ross Publican.)
The first of the articles was published on 12 May 1916. Michael Keegan, the son of Mr. Keegan, stationmaster, Glenmore received a commission as lieutenant. It reported “he has been a member of the Flying Corps, and has been several times mentioned in despatches for his bravery and efficiency.” The second article appeared on 6 October 1916 and announced his forthcoming marriage to Miss Brigid Doran, the Quay, New Ross. Although it was a personal announcement the majority of the article centred on his military exploits. “Lieutenant Keegan who is a member of the Royal Flying Corps, was favourably mentioned in despatches and warmly complimented by General French, for his pluck and bravery during his flying expeditions in connection with the war, and was awarded the Military Cross. He also won several cups as a crack shot in the army.” The last article was published on 15 December 1916 and stated that his marriage had taken place that week.
Special thanks to Veronica for sharing the link to the National Archive file concerning the 1916 claim for 9 boxes of Glenmore butter.
Special thanks to Jacqueline Walsh for the old photo of the Waterford Creamery c. 1922.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
An Unusual Glenmore Memorial: Fr. Thomas Walsh (1911-1945)
Earlier this month as we were recording inscriptions on headstones in the cemetery adjacent to St. James’ Parish Church in Glenmore we came across a number of unusual memorials. Today, we shall highlight Columban Father Thomas Walsh who died on 13 December 1945, aged 34, in Burma. The stone where his name and details appear is located in the centre of the back part of the Glenmore cemetery.
The Walsh Family
From the information on the Glenmore headstone we were able to determine that Fr. Thomas Walsh was born on the 11th of April 1911 at the family home at 5 Thomas Street in Waterford. He was the son of James Walsh and Catherine (Kate) Walsh née O’Sullivan. His parents were married on the 4th of September 1906 at the Rosbercon Chapel. The bride was from Glenballyvalley, Tullogher and her father is recorded as Thomas Sullivan (farmer). The groom was the son of Richard Walsh (farmer). The groom is listed in the marriage records as being a brewery foreman. Danny Dowling on the 20th of July 2020 stated that he believed that the bride was from the Ballyfoyle O’Sullivans.
Fr. Thomas Walsh had two sisters and three brothers. Most of the following information was obtained from obituaries, marriage, birth and death records. The Walsh family resided in the Cathedral parish in Waterford. The boys were educated at Mount Sion C.B.S.
- The eldest of the family was Mary (Sister Madeleine) Walsh (20 Aug. 1907–23 Nov 1974). Mary became a Sister of Mercy. According to her obituary in the Evening Echo (30 Nov. 1974) she trained, as a nurse in the Mercy Hospital, Cork and worked in St. Finbarr’s Hospital from 1939 until her retirement in 1972. She was described as gentle, artistic and musical.
- The second child, was Catherine Walsh (12 Aug. 1908—22 June 1998) who married Walter Cullen (c. 1908—31 May 1998) and had at least three children.
- The third child of the Walsh family was Richard Walsh (16 Sept. 1909—17 Nov. 1996). Richard worked for Customs and Excise and resided in Dublin.
- The fourth child in the family was Fr. Thomas.
- James Walsh (24 Apr. 1912– ? ) was the fifth child and he married Dorothy Connolly, of Douglas Road, Cork on 23 Sept. 1941 in a nuptial ceremony conducted in Irish. James Walsh, or Seamus Breathnach, had an MA in Modern Irish and worked on the translation staff of the Oireachtas, and as a lecturer in the Leinster School of Irish. James or Seamus is the only sibling not listed on the Glenmore headstone.
- The baby of the Walsh family was John Joseph (Sean) Walsh (1 Mar. 1918—30 Oct. 1921). This child tragically died of tubercular meningitis at the age of 3 years, 7 months.
James Walsh, Sr. worked at Strangman Brewery in Waterford. On the birth cert of the eldest child, Mary, he is listed as a weightmaster in the brewery. At the time of Catherine’s birth he is listed as the firemaster at the brewery. By the time of Father Thomas was born his father was listed as “brewery foreman” on his birth records. Danny stated that quite a number of Glenmore men worked at this brewery over the years both full time and as seasonal workers. (For a concise history of Strangman Brewery see, https://waterfordwhisky.com/element/william-strangman/). When Fr. Thomas sent a letter, dated the 23rd of July 1929, seeking to join the Columban Missionary Society, he noted that his father was foreman in Strangman’s brewery and had been employed there for over 40 years.
In this application letter Fr. Thomas also revealed that he was an 18 year old student at Mount Sion Christian Brothers Schools (1915-1929) and described himself as “…healthy as the average boy of my age.” He noted that his eldest brother was in the Civil Service since 1927 and his other brother had completed his leaving certificate in accordance with the pupil teaching scheme. Fr. Thomas reported that he failed the matriculation exam in the summer of 1929. He explained that he failed geography but passed maths, Irish, English and Latin. His parents were not against him entering a Missionary Society, but desired that he should enter St. John’s College in Waterford because, it was “near home, friends, cheap etc.”
The brief biography found in Fr. Thomas’ file held in the Columban archive reveals that he was admitted to the seminary, at St. Columban’s College, Dalgan Park, Galway in 1929 and was ordained a priest on the 21st of December 1935. For his first, and as it transpired only, appointment he was sent to Bhamo, Burma as a member of the Maynooth Mission to China in 1936.
Burma Assignment
Bhamo, Burma, now Myanmor, is in the north of the country. The first efforts to establish Catholicism began in 1856 when French Bishop Paul Bigandet visited the northern region. In 1873, three priests were sent to form a diocese. The mission work stalled due to malaria. Between 1873 -1901 fourteen priests died or became incapacitated due to malaria. The mission was slow to spread in the Kachin populations until 1936 when the first St. Columban Missionaries arrived from Ireland. (Official Catholic Directory 2016, p. 184, Catholic Bishop Conference of Myanmar Yangon).
The Maynooth Mission in 1936 was led by the Right Reverend Mgr. Patrick Usher, of Tullyallen, Co. Louth, who led the “pioneer band of young priests who were specially appointed to this difficult mission field which is considerably larger in extent than the whole of Ireland.” Within this pioneer band of young priests numbering 24 was Rev. Thomas Walsh (Waterford) and Rev. Thomas Murphy (Naas). (Catholic Standard, 5 June 1942). In addition to the difficult climate, missionaries found that each of the hill tribes had its own language, and twelve languages were spoken in the province. (Catholic Standard, 18 Feb. 1949).
After the Maynooth Mission group arrived in Burma, according to a letter written by Mgr. Usher on 13 December 1945, Fr. Thomas Walsh was assigned to a mission station in Namhapalan, sixty miles north of Bhamo. The language of his parish was Kachan. “In a difficult and lonely mission he never showed that he gave his troubles or hardships a thought.” When he met any of the other priests he was full of jokes and good humour in his quiet gentle way “and no joke had a sting in it at another’s expense.” He became fluid in the Kachan language, built a school and dedicated himself to his people.
World War II
In 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army captured Burma which cut off war supplies to China via the Burma Road. Desperate to keep the Japanese fighting on two fronts, the Allies air dropped supplies and built the Ledo Road through Bhamo to supply China. The Ledo Road was eventually named the Stillwell Road after an American General and was completed in early 1945. American veterans of the China-Burma-India campaigns referred to the jungle terrain surrounding the famous Burma Road and Ledo Road as the “Green Hell.” (Catholic Standard, 18 Feb. 1949). This difficult terrain is where Fr. Thomas Walsh worked.
There are various accounts of the internment by the Japaneese of the Columban Fathers in Burma. In May 1942 when the Japanese Imperial Army captured Bhamo the missionaries were held for a month, released and ordered to report to Mandalay. At Mandalay they were assigned to a house in the Agricultural College. They were bombed incessantly by the Allies as they were surrounded by Japanese troops. They were moved to St. John’s Leper Asylum (James Durney, “The Emperor’s Kildare Slaves”(2013) http://www.kildare.ie/library/ehistory/2013/07/the_emprerors_kildare_slaves.asp ).
According to a March 1946 interview of Mgr. Usher he recalled that from October 1942, twenty-one of the priests of the Maynooth Mission were interned in Mandalay. Two of his priests were interned in Rangoon and two others had crossed into India via China. For the last 18 months of the war the Mandalay internees were interned in the leper hospital with about 500 leper patients and most of the other missionaries from northern Burma including a number of French and Italian missionaries. Mgr. Usher stated, “To be staying in a leper hospital is not as terrible as it may seem for those who, like us, were used to seeing lepers. It is certainly not pleasant to see sufferers from the disease, but the disease itself is not very contagious” (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946). St. John’s Leper Hospital was conducted by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (Catholic Standard, 18 May 1945).
Contrary to the majority of films and books describing the brutal and inhumane treatment of civilians interned by the Japanese during the war, Monsignor Usher stated, “We were not treated too badly by the Japanese. They did not do very much for us, but they did not do much against us. They did not interfere with our private life. We could say Mass, but were not permitted to carry out our priestly duties.” He noted that it was a great worry that their parishioners were without priests for so long. He also said that the priests missed not having any communication with their relatives at home. They read all the books they could lay their hands on. When Monsignor Usher was asked about food, he stated that they were never hungry, although they did not have a variety of food. They lived mostly on rice, with some vegetables, tea and coffee. He stated that other missionaries fared much worse than they did. Mandalay was a good rice-growing area and was fairly self-supporting. (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946).
As the Allies were fighting to liberate Mandalay on the 16th of March 1945, Father Thomas Murphy (of Naas) and a number of other priests were saying Mass at different altars in the oratory when a shell burst over the one story building mortally wounding Father Murphy and injuring five or six of the other priests (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946). Father Thomas Walsh, (of Waterford) was one of the other priests wounded by the shrapnel. Although he had shrapnel wounds in both arms and with his back laid open with a great gash, he “hoisted on his back the first man he could see through the blinding dust and carried him to the dispensary conducted by missionary Nuns.” (Irish Press, 17 Dec. 1945).
The Rev. Edward J. McCarthy, sent a cablegram to the Columban’s, in Nebraska reporting Fr, Murphy’s death during the battle for the liberation of the priests. He explained that Fr. Murphy, was at one of the side altars, and was badly wounded when the shell exploded overhead. Fr. Murphy was anointed and died two hours later as he was being carried behind British lines. With the exception of the two Columban priests held in Rangoon, all Columban priests held by the Japanese in the Burma area were freed that day. (Catholic Standard, 18 May 1945).
After the War
Fr. Thomas Walsh after recovering from the wounds he received on 16 March 1945 returned to Bhamo in September. In early October he journeyed the 60 miles to his former mission station in Namhapalan and made a “complete tour of his district and found the position on the whole satisfactory.” Although his parishioners had been without a priest since 1942 the majority kept their faith (Usher, Letter 13 Dec. 1945). Most of the buildings used by the mission had been destroyed (Catholic Standard, 29 March 1946) and Fr. Thomas set about re-building his school which Msg. Usher noted was no easy task at that time (Usher, Letter 13 Dec. 1945).
In late November 1945, Fr. Thomas fell ill with malaria. He took a course of treatment, but after nine days when he could not shake off the illness he decided he needed to go to the hospital in Bhamo. His parishioners carried him to the foot of the hills and on the road he was picked up by an American truck and taken to the hospital in Bhamo. For three days he appeared to be improving, but on the 10th of December he took a turn for the worse. His lungs became congested. He received the last Sacrament fully conscious and did not have much pain. Although two Franciscan Sisters took turns staying at his bed side, and the hospital nurses and doctors did everything possible, Fr. Thomas died at 9:15 on the morning of the 13th of December 1945 of malaria at the age of 34. Msg. Usher wrote two personal paragraphs on the back of the letter he wrote that day. He noted the paragraphs were not for the Far East magazine. On the back of the page Msg. Usher expressed his grief and noted that the death of Fr. Thomas “is a terrible blow to us.” They had lost one of their very best missionaries and friend. He expressed that Fr. Thomas’ flock would be very saddened as “his people had a great affection for him. They could hardly help it because he had such an ardent affection for them” (Usher, Letter 13 Dec. 1945). Fr. Thomas Walsh was buried in the Christian Cemetery in Bhamo, Burma.
Gone But Not Forgotten
In a letter to his parents written a few months before his death, Fr. Thomas stated that had been offered an extended holiday in Ireland, but decided to stay at his post (Catholic Standard, 21 Dec. 1945). His father, James Walsh, Sr., died on the 10th of February 1956, at the age of 91, after falling while walking along the Quay in Waterford. His obituary stated that he was a native of Thomastown and worked for Strangman’s Brewery for 50 years until his retirement in 1936. Interment took place at the family burial ground at Glenmore (Munster Express, 17 Feb. 1956). His mother, Catherine Walsh née O’Sullivan died on the 5th of October 1970 at the age of 95. Her obituary in the Munster Express (9 Oct. 1970) reveals that one of Fr. Thomas’ nephews became a priest. Rev. Seamus (Fr. Majella) Cullen. O.F.M. was ordained in 1968 and was working in Rhodesia, Africa in 1970.
The Maynooth Mission to China, expanded in 1949, but by 1966 all missionaries were expelled from Burma. Only those who had been in the country prior to 1948 were allowed to remain. However, if a missionary left the country he or she could not return. The last of the Columbans left in 1977 (Fr. Pat O’Donoghue, “A Great Harvest, 24 June 2020 available at https://columbans.co.uk/a-great-harvest.) Eventually restrictions on missionaries eased, Burma has become Myanmar, and in 2010 Columban Father Neil Magill turned the old, disused, leper hospital, where the missionaries were interned by the Japanese during the war, into a higher education institution (Far East, Sept. 2015, “Education for the Poorest, but Brightest.”) In 2014 five Kachin priests were ordained and Fr. Bosco N-lam Hkun Seng when interviewed stated that his grandfather converted to Catholicism and his father studied in a Columban Mission School in Myitkina under Father Thomas Walsh who died of malaria in 1945 (Far East, March 2014).
Special thanks to Barbara Scally, Archivist, Columban Fathers, Dalgan Park and Louise Walsh for taking all the photos of the Glenmore headstones.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
For further information on Columban Father Thomas Murphy (1906-1945) of Naas, Kildare, see Columban Martyrs available at https://columbans.ie/about-us/columban-martyrs/
The Far East archive is available at https://www.columban.org.au/media-and-publications/the-far-east-magazine/archive/
The featured photo above of the fresco of St. Columban, was taken in 2007 by Davide Papalini – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brugnato-IMG_0141.JPG
For information regarding the work addressing leprosy in Burma/Myanmar see, https://leprosyhistory.org/geographical_region/country/myanmar
Wed & Dead Within a Week: The Widow’s Update
On the 21st of June we posted an article concerning the tragic circumstances surrounding the wedding and death of James Aylward, of Parkstown, Glenmore in 1909. Although the bride widow, Catherine (Kate) Aylward née Gaul was located in the 1911 census living with her father and brothers in Ballynooney West, of Rosbercon no further records could be located.
We are happy to report that through the help of a reader we were able to speak with a great-niece of the lady and learned that the woman widowed while on her honeymoon re-married, had four children and lived in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny.
We were not able to locate a marriage record for the widow Catherine (Kate) Aylward née Gaul but we were able to find a child born in Moyhora, Castlecomer on the 31st of July 1916 to Michael Murphy and Kate Murphy née Gaul. The child was named Kate Murphy. Unfortunately the public birth records end in 1919 and we were unable to discover the names of the other three children.
In terms of the Gaul family it was verified that the father, Luke Gaul, died on 7 February 1917 at the age of 70 and Kate had two brothers. John born on 19 April 1873 married and stayed on the Ballynooney farm. William Gaule was born on 23 September 1879; he married Honara Dalton and farmed in Keatingstown, Hugginstown, Co. Kilkenny. They had eight children. It was said that Honara lived to be 101 years of age.
Lastly, Cissy Kennedy, a native of Rathinure, Glenmore, aged 90 verified last week that John Joe Aylward of Parkstown, Glenmore (nephew of the tragic groom) had a sister Nellie Aylward who married a farmer from Wexford and had two sons.
Below is the headstone bearing the name of the tragic groom located during the recent survey of the Glenmore cemetery.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
James Aylward (c. 1869 -1909) of Parkstown, Glenmore: Wed and Dead Within a Week
It isn’t often that an event in 1909 resulted in the type of sensationalised headlines that became much more common in the last decades of the twentieth century. However, the tragic death of a Glenmore bridegroom in 1909 resulted in headlines such as “Wed and Dead Within a Week,” “Married and Buried Within a Week” and “Shrovetide Sensation.” Amazingly all the older Glenmore residents that were contacted this week knew the story of the Glenmore man who died on his honeymoon. Much less is known about his widow.
The man behind the headlines was James Aylward, of Parkstown, Glenmore. James was married in the neighbouring parish church in Mullinavat on Monday the 15th of February 1909. His bride was Catherine “Kate” Gaule, of Ballynooney, Mullinavat. James Aylward died in Cork City during their honeymoon on Saturday, the 20th of February 1909 and was buried in Glenmore on Monday the 22nd of February 1909. Danny Dowling preserved the diary of James Aylward, of Ballyhobuck, Glenmore. James Aylward, of Ballyhobuck, recorded in his diary the following: James Aylward, Parkstown and Kate Gaule, Ballynooney married 15 February 1909 and James was buried the following week.
The death cert for James Aylward reveals that James died on the 20th of February 1909 of acute peritonitis and suffered with it for 36 hours. Thus he began becoming unwell on Wednesday only two days after getting married. Peritonitis is often associated with a ruptured appendix.
The following two newspaper accounts provide details concerning the honeymoon as well as how the widow after only five days notified her in-laws concerning James becoming ill and dying.
“Sad Death of Glenmore Bridegroom. MARRIED AND BURIED WITHIN A WEEK. On Monday were laid in graveyard, Glenmore, the mortal remains of Mr. James Aylward, Parkstown. Glenmore, a large farmer, in the prime of life, who was married only that day week. Mr Aylward had most auspicious marriage and went for a most extensive tour on the honeymoon. Himself and his wife went to Cork, via Loughren, County Galway, where a relative of Aylward lives. They reached Cork nearing the weekend. On Friday evening Mr. Wm Aylward, shopkeeper, Waterford, a brother of the bridegroom, was startled by receipt of a telegram from Mrs Aylward that her husband was taken suddenly ill. This wire only prepared for the worst, for shortly afterwards came the sad news that James Aylward was dead. The intelligence was grievously shocking for the deceased’s brother and all the friends, and the misery of the young bride alone in a hotel in Cork with her husband turned to clay can only be faintly imagined. The remains reached Waterford at ten o’clock on Saturday night, whence they were taken home by hearse and a sad cavalcade at a late hour. Interment took place on Monday, and concurrence is regarded as the saddest which visited the parish for a very long time.” (Waterford Mirror and Tramore Visitor of Thursday the 25th of February 1909).
“A SHROVETIDE SENSATION. – The sad sudden death, whilst on his honeymoon, of a young and well-known Glenmore farmer, the sad particulars of which are narrated elsewhere, shocked the neighbourhood and district. Last Monday week James Aylward, the owner of a large farm, and in good circumstances, left his home a happy. bridegroom. Last Monday finds his remains under the green sod in Glenmore graveyard. Death reached him in Cork on Friday evening. The return of the dead bridegroom to his home in Parkstown furnishes one of the saddest episodes that could well be imagined, and certainly the mournful spectacle made the deepest impression on the people. From bright gaiety to blackest tragedy is often but a very short step in this fickle world. The suddenness of the transition here could not well be paralleled except we go to the chronic plague stricken topics, where it is not unusual to meet a person in the best of health in the morning and meet that same person’s funeral in the evening.” (New Ross Standard of Friday the 26th of February 1909).
The bride and groom were both from local farming families from neighbouring parishes.
The Glenmore Groom
It is difficult to determine when James Aylward was born. On the marriage records his age is listed as 40 (c. 1869) and yet less than a week later on his death certificate his age is listed as 42 (c.1867). A review of the 1901 Census provides that James was 30 years of age thus born about 1871). On the marriage records his father is listed as John Aylward, deceased.
The Glenmore Parish records provided several facts concerning the Aylward family of Parkstown. John Aylward, of Parkstown, married Bridget Costello, of Robinstown, on the 7th of March 1859. The witnesses to the wedding were James Walsh and Honora Fitzgerald. Bridget Costello was born the 13th of February 1836. She was the daughter of Thomas Costello and Judy Costello née Aylward.
A baptismal record for James Aylward could not be found for the years 1867 through 1875. However, several other baptisms were recorded for other children born to John Aylward and Bridget Aylward née Costello of Parkstown, Glenmore including: [1] Mary Aylward was born on the 19th of March 1863 and baptized the following day; [2] John Aylward was born on the 1st of September 1865; [3] Patrick Aylward was born on the 26 of May 1868; [4] William Aylward was born on the 10th of November 1870; [5] Bridget Aylward was born on the 25th of October 1875; and [6] Johanna Aylward was born on the 19th of June 1880.
The father, John Aylward, was dead by 1901. The 1901 Census lists the mother Brigid Aylward as 60 years of age and heading up the household that includes: James Aylward (age 30); William Aylward (age 26); Bridget Aylward (age 26) and Hannah Aylward (age 19). The eldest child, Mary Aylward had married Patrick Butler, of Parkstown, on the 26th of February 1895.
As outlined in the newspaper accounts William Aylward by 1909 was a shopkeeper in Waterford City. According to Danny Dowling this week William Aylward’s premises were on O’Connell Street in Waterford. He commenced trading as a grocer and obtained a spirit’s licence. The 1911 Census for Waterford places William Aylward living on O’Connell Street, single, aged 36. He recorded that he was a grocer and publican. Residing with him is his youngest sister Johanna Aylward who was 26 years of age and also single. In 1911 on the Aylward farm in Parkstown the mother Bridget Aylward is 73 and two of her children are residing with her. Patrick Aylward who was not living on the farm in 1901 returned home to take over the farm, was single and listed as 39 years of age while his sister Bridget Aylward’s age is difficult to decipher.
Danny said that Patrick Aylward went on to marry and had a family. A search revealed that Patrick Aylward, of Parkstown, on 1 November 1917 at Rosbercon, married Bridget Doolan, of Shambough. Bridget was the daughter of Dany Doolan a farmer. The witnesses to the wedding were John Aylward and Margaret Doolan. On the 2nd of October 1919 Patrick Aylward and his wife had a daughter Bridget Aylward. Danny identified John Joe Aylward as another child. John Joe Aylward died a couple of years ago (20 February 2018) and his sister Peggy Aylward died about a decade earlier (2009).
The Mullinavat Bride
Catherine “Kate” Gaule was born at Ballynooney, Mullinavat, on the 7th of January 1875, the daughter of Luke Gaule and Margaret Gaule née Corcoran. Luke Gaule, of Ballynooney, Mullinavat, married Margaret Corcoran, of Liserlin, Tullogher on the 13th of June 1872 at Mullinargle (sic). Witnesses to the wedding were Laurence Gaule and Johanna Walsh. Luke’s father was listed as John Gaule, deceased, farmer and Margaret’s father was listed as Edmund Corcoran, deceased, farmer. Kate Gaule had at least two brothers: John Gaule was born 19 April 1873 and William Gaul born on the 23rd of September 1879.
Margaret Gaule née Corcoran died on the 17th of November 1897, aged 60 of heart disease. The 1901 Census provides that Luke was 54 years of age and three of his children were residing with him. John Gaule was 27, Kate Gaule was 25, and William Gaule was 22. John Gaule married Margaret Ryan, of Ballynooney on the 26th of January 1916 at Mullinavat. Margaret was the daughter of Patrick Ryan, a farmer. A William Gaule, of Keatingstown, Thomastown married on the 15th of October 1914, Nora Dalton the daughter of farmer Pat Dalton. William Gaule, of Keatingstown, was a farmer and the son of Luke Gaule.
Kate Gaule married James Aylward in 1909 and became a widow 5 days later. Danny Dowling this week stated that he did not know what happened to James Aylward’s widow. The 1911 Census reveals that she was living with her father and brother, John on the Gaule farm in Ballynooney. In the 1911 Census: Luke Gaule was a widower aged 64; John Gaule was single and aged 36 and Catherine Aylward, a widow was aged 35. It is believed that Luke Gaule died on the 7th of February 1917 at the age of 70. The townland is listed as Ballyvatheen rather than Ballynooney on the death cert, but the person with the deceased was John Gaule the son of the deceased.
While James Aylward’s life was tragically cut short, unfortunately, we don’t know what happened to his widow, Catherine “Kate” Aylward née Gaule. Did she re-marry? Did she live out her life with one her brothers and his family? We hope that a reader has the answer to what happened to the woman from Mullinavat who was widowed 5 days after she was married.
Update: In our blog post of 15 July 2020 we revealed what we learned about the widow.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured image is of an ancient Egyptian funeral.