Sergeant Garvey (1895-1960) and His Glenmore Bride

Last week we highlighted the determination of the Garda Siochána to have a presence in Glenmore as well as a list of the sergeants that served in the Glenmore Garda Station over the years. One of these sergeants was Nicholas Garvey (1895-1960) who, according to the list Danny Dowling put together, was the Sergeant in Glenmore from 1936 – 1938. Today, we are going to highlight how Sergeant Garvey’s duties in Glenmore brought him to Rathinure to meet the woman who was to become his wife, Mary Grace (1913-1988). This story provides a glimpse into parish life in the 1930’s.

Prior to coming to Glenmore, Sergeant Garvey tragically lost his first wife, Mary Garvey née Aylward on the 19^th August 1934. Mary Garvey née Aylward (c. 1902-1934) was only 32 when she died at her parent’s home on New Street in Carrick-on-Suir after an illness “of some months” duration. (Munster Express, 31 Aug. 1934, p. 8).  At the time of Mary’s death Sergeant Garvey was stationed at Ballylanders, Co. Limerick (Irish Independent, 4 Oct. 1934) and the couple had two young daughters, Kathleen and Monica Garvey. With his young children being cared for by their maternal grandparents in Carrick-on-Suir, the widower, Sergeant Garvey was transferred first to Tullogher and then to Glenmore. While at Tullogher the locals made up a verse regarding the Sergeant and his four men, “Garvey let Lyons Loose to catch Salmon on the Shannon.” (This verse or ditty was given to Johnny Garvey by Dick Cotteral (c.1920 -2008) native of Ballycroney, Glenmore).

The petty session records from the 1930’s reflect that the Gardaí in Glenmore spent most of their time issuing summons for public intoxication, noxious weeds, dog licenses and wandering livestock. According to Danny Dowling, as often happened, some of the various Rathinure neighbours fell out with each other although the majority of Rathinure residents were related. During threshing times neighbours generally helped one another. The threshing would commence on one farm and move on to the next until the harvest was complete. Shortly after Sergeant Garvey came to Glenmore, the hamlet of Rathinure and the neighbours, who were generally named Kennedy or were descendants of Kennedy’s, were divided when the threshing was to commence.

The Grant brothers, of Carriganura, Slieverue were threshing for John Sean Óg Kennedy, of Rathinure, Glenmore. On the same day another rival threshing set by the name of Power were threshing for Statia Roche née Kennedy. Statia was a daughter of the late William Kennedy. The Grants were very intolerant of any opposition or competition. Some of the Grant brothers were very fond of the drink, but all were reported to be fond of fighting. Further information on the Grant brothers is below.

With the two rival threshing sets in close proximity, a Rathinure resident notified the Gardaí of the impending breach of peace which may have been termed a faction fight in earlier times. In response, the Glenmore Garda Station was emptied and Sergeant Nicholas Garvey and the four officers proceeded with due haste to Rathinure where they spent most of the day keeping the rival threshing sets from fighting. During the course of the day Sergeant Garvey met Mary Grace, the niece who was living with John Sean Óg Kennedy and his sister Mary Sean Óg Kennedy. According to Danny Dowling, Mary Grace offered the Sergeant a cup of tea and a bit of cake and he was smitten. According to the wedding announcement that appeared in the Munster Express, Mary Grant had lived in Rathinure for 8 years before she married.

Jimmy Roche, of Rathinure (1927- 2018) was just a young fellow when Sergeant Garvey used to walk from the Village to Rathinure. It is assumed that he followed the mass path that provided a direct route from Glenmore Village to the Bushing Fada lane that led to the back of John Sean Óg Kennedy’s house. Jimmy Roche told me years ago that Sergeant Garvey thought that he was not observed arriving via the Bushing Fada lane, but all the local youngsters were gathered in a field to play hurling and observed the courting bound Sergeant Garvey. Within a short time all the Rathinure adults also were observing how often Sergeant Garvey found his way to Rathinure.

Ultimately Sergeant Nicholas Garvey married Mary Grace (1913-1988) at the Pro-Cathedral of Dublin in the summer of 1937. Mr. John Grace, the bride’s brother was best man and the bride “was attended by her niece.” The bride wore cream satin dress with a hat to mach. A wedding breakfast was held in the Ormond Hotel, Dublin and the newlyweds honeymooned in Blackpool. (Munster Express, 16 July 1937, p. 7).

After the couple were married Sergeant Garvey was transferred to Cork. In addition to the two daughters Kathleen and Monica that Sergeant Garvey had with his first wife, he and Mary Grace had 9 children: [1] Patrick Garvey; [2] William Garvey; [3] Margaret Garvey; [4] Johnny Garvey; [5] Frederick Garvey; [6] Mary Garvey [7] & [8] Twins Peter and Paul Garvey (died in infancy); and [9] Bernadette Garvey. When he retired from An Garda Siochana the couple ran a guest house in Tramore. At the age of 15 Johnny Garvey, like his mother before him, moved to Rathinure to work with his great-uncle and aunt, John Sean Óg Kennedy and Mary (Sean Óg) and has remained in Rathinure to this day.

The year 1960 was a very tragic year for Mary Garvey née Grace. Her father, William Grace (c. 1881-1960) died in March (Munster Express, 25 March 1960, p. 2) and her husband, retired Sergeant Nicholas Garvey died in June (Munster Express, Friday 17 June 1960, p. 8). In 1960 according to William’s obituary Patrick Garvey, was with Customs and Excise, in Tullamore, Offaly. William Garvey, was with the Tourist Board, London. Johnny Garvey was farming in Rathinure while Margaret Garvey was employed by London and Newcastle in Waterford. Fred, Mary and Bernie Garvey were living in Tramore.

Mary Garvey née Grace died on 21 July 1988 at the age of 75. At the time of her death Bill Garvey, was working for British Airways, London, and Fred Garvey, was a Garda Inspector, at the Templemore Training Centre. Fred Garvey was the only child to follow his father into An Garda Siochána. Ultimately Fred became a Chief Superintendent based in Tralee and served in one of the stations where his father previously served. Margaret Fitzsimmons née Garvey, Mary Walsh née Garvey and Bernie Martin, née Garvey were all married and living in Dublin (Munster Express, Fri. 29 July 1988, p. 15). Her step-daughters were both married and Monica Clancy née Garvey lived in Carrick-on-Suir and Kathleen Burke née Garvey lived in Dublin.

Ancestors of Mary Garvey née Grace (1913-1988)

Mary Garvey née Grace was born on 29 January 1913, the daughter of William Grace and his wife Margaret Grace, née Kennedy of Ballyhomuck, Big Wood, Mullinavat. William and Margaret were married on 16 February 1909 at Glenmore. Margaret Grace née Kennedy (b. 1880) was 28 years of age when she married and she was the daughter of John Kennedy (c. 1840-1920) and Ellen Kennedy née Walshe (c. 1942-1911) of Rathinure. William Grace and his wife Margaret Grace née Kennedy had five children: [1] William Grace; [2] Ed Grace; [2] John Grace; [3] Ellie Grace and [4] Mary Garvey née Grace. Mary was the only Grace sibling to marry.

Mary Garvey née Grace’s maternal grandparents were John Kennedy ( c. 1840-1920) of Rathinure, and Ellen Walshe (c. 1842-1911), of Jamestown, Glenmore who married on 10 Feb. 1879. The bridegroom was the son of John Kennedy and the bride was the daughter of Walter Walshe. The couple had five children: [1] Margaret Kennedy (b. 24 Feb. 1880) married William Grace; [2] Mary Kennedy (13 April 1881-8 Feb. 1971); [3] Anne Kennedy (b. 11 Jan. 1883) (Church record Honor) Hannie Sean Óg married James Donovan the first creamery manager in Glenmore. [4] John Kennedy (John Sean Óg), 11 Feb. 1885-11 Feb. 1962); [5] Patrick Kennedy called Patsy Sean Óg (20 Jan. 1887-5 Nov. 1951) (married Catherine O’Grady, 22 Nov. 1939 Chicago Cathedral).

Parents and Siblings of Sergeant Nicholas Garvey

Nicholas Garvey was born 10 October 1895 at Mornington, Co. Meath son of Patrick Garvey (c. 1855-before 1931) and his wife, Kate Garvey née Reynolds (c. 1858- 1931). At the time of his birth, Patrick Garvey gave his profession as pilot. Mornington is a coastal village on the River Boyne estuary and means “Town of the Mariner.” In 1895 a pilot worked on a ship. Ships took on pilots who were responsible for navigating the ship into port or up a river.  Nicholas Garvey was the youngest of the children listed in the 1901 Census. [1] Mary Anne Garvey (aged 24); [2] John Garvey (aged 20); [3] Peter Garvey (aged 19); [4] Patrick Garvey (aged 19); [5] Bridget Garvey (aged 17); [6] Anastatia Garvey (aged 15); [7] Lawrence Garvey (aged 12); [8] Philomena Garvey (aged 10); [9] William Garvey (aged 8); and [10] Nicholas Garvey (aged 6).

The Grant Brothers

The Grant brothers were all big, rough men. There were five brothers and none of them married. Their parents were John Grant and Anne Aylward who were married on 13 February 1899 in Waterford. The couple were married by Rev. Father Thomas Grant, C.C. of St. Dominick’s. John was the son of William Grant. Anne Grant née Aylward was born on 12 August 1870 to Thomas Aylward and Ellen Henebery of Ballytasnia, Ballyhale. According to the 1911 census of Carrignurra, Slieverue John Grant was 11 years older than his wife.

The first four Grant brothers were born at Ballytasnia, Ballyhale. [1] William Grant (8 Oct. 1902-19 July 1956); [2] Thomas Grant (2 Feb. 1905-4 Jan. 1973); [3] James Grant (b. 20 Nov. 1906) and [4] John Joe Grant (8 June 1908-7 April 1987). [5] Richard Grant was born on 20 August 1917 at Carrignurra, Slieverue and died on 18 January 2001. This information was obtained from the birth registry and the Grant headstone in Glenmore cemetery.

Special thanks to Johnny and Breda Garvey for sharing their family photos and providing family information. Please send any and all corrections, omissions or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh