Christian Bros. Mt. Sion Waterford

Last week we highlighted the article written by Peter Roughan for the Kilkenny People concerning his interview of Michael J. Hanrahan. Today, we will focus on Mick’s early years as he disclosed to Peter Roughan in the 26 September 1959 article in the Kilkenny People. The interview is in italics. We conclude with some information we were able to find about Mick and his brother John’s time in the U.S.

Mick’s Early Life
Roughan quoted Mick, “Well, I suppose I’ll have to start now with the day I was born, although ’tis very little I can remember about that, but, dad — God be good to him — came from Powerswood, over near Thomastown. I was called after him; and God rest my mother, she was Hanora Mullins — they always called her Onie Mullins — from Gaulstown, here in Glenmore; and I was born on December 8, 1888, the very same year that Kilmacow footballers beat Wexford county team. I often heard them all talking about that match when I was a lad. We were living then in No. 2 Barronstrand Street, Waterford, and the place is a big shoe shop now.

A review of the Glenmore Parish records reveals that Michael Hanrahan (farmer) of Powerswood, Thomastown married Hanoria Mullins, of Gaulstown, Glenmore, on 23 July 1885. Michael was the son of Patrick Hanrahan (farmer) and Hanoria was the daughter of Nicholas Mullins (farmer). Hanoria Mullins was baptized in Glenmore on 16 Dec. 1854 the daughter of Nicholas Mullins (farmer) of Gaulestown, Glenmore and Mary Mullins née Mackey. In the Thomastown records a record was found where a Michael Hanrahan was baptized in 1848 in Powerswood, the son of Patrick Hanrahan and Ellen Hanrahan née Cassian.

Orphaned
Returning to Mick Hanrahan in his 1959 interview he recalled, “I was one of six lads, Pat — God rest him — died here in Glenmore about two years ago; Dick has a drapery business beyond in Ross, and Jim has a grocery and bar right opposite Dick’s place; poor Nick – Lord have mercy on him — died over in Gaulstown during the 1918 flu; and John is out in New York. We were all very young when we lost our parents, but thank God we struggled along nicely.”

The death register reveals that Michael Hanrahan, shopkeeper, died in Waterford on 3 October 1898, at the age of 45. His widow, Honora Hanrahan née Mullins died in Glenmore on 5 April 1902 at the age of 42. Her cousin John Hanrahan was present at her death. Per statements made to Danny Dowling by various Powerstown, Hanrahans, Michael Hanrahan was buried in Inistioge. Honora was buried in Glenmore.

The following children were born to the couple. Only Patrick the eldest was born in Gaulestown, Glenmore. All the other children were born on Barron-Strand St. in Waterford City.

(1) Patrick Hanrahan (26 June 1886-9 Sept. 1957)
(2) Nicholas Hanrahan (8 Dec. 1887-14 Nov. 1918)
(3) Michael Hanrahan (8 Dec. 1888- 1 June 1968)
(4) Ellen Hanrahan (bapt. 16 Feb. 1890-died young)
(5) James Hanrahan (5 May 1891-14 Sept. 1977)
(6) Richard Hanrahan (3 Sept. 1892- ?)
(7) John Hanrahan (3 Feb . 1894-15 Aug. 1980)

In the 1901 Census, three of the orphaned Hanrahan brothers, Nicholas (age 13), Mick (age 12) and John (age 7) were residing in Gaulestown, Glenmore on the Mullins farm with their maternal uncle Richard Mullins (age 39) and their two maternal aunts Kate (age 29) and Bridget Mullins (age 33). The other three orphaned Hanrahan brothers were living in Glenmore Village with John Hanrahan (age 55) who was listed as a farmer and cooper. Pat (age 14), James (age 9) and Richard (age 8) are listed as nephews although John Hanrahan is listed as their mother’s cousin on the death register. Also residing in the home of John Hanrahan in 1901 was his wife Ellen (age 60) and their 25 year old son James (farmer).

In the 1911 Census, John and Ellen Hanrahan are both aged 69. John is still working as a cooper. Two of their nephews are residing with them. Patrick is 24 and also working as a cooper. James is 19 and is employed as a shop assistant. On the Mullins farm in Gaulestown, Richard Mullin’s age is recorded as 62. Nicholas Hanrahan is 23 and Michael Hanrahan is 22. Richard Hanrahan is not recorded in either home and as discussed below John Hanrahan emigrated to the US in 1909.

School Days

Mick in speaking of his school days stated, “I first went to the Brothers’ school in Mount Sion [Waterford], where I can always remember a grand man there, Bro. Hamilton. who used to try to teach us to sing, he was a great singer himself, but he had a hard ]ob with some of us!

In my class at that time we had lads whose names I can remember very well, Nicky Gaule, Nicky Bowe, a chap of the Kervicks, and a lad named Colfer. I finished my schooling beyond in Ringville school under a man named Dick Grace, a great teacher Dick was.”

Farming

“I left school when I was confirmed, I was just turned eleven then, and took to the farm, and I was following a pair of horses long before I was fourteen. That was nothing in those days, lads were better able to manage a pair of horses then than driving a motor now. Sure farming today is a holiday compared to my time. I can remember the old harvest day. Begor we were going here and there after the threshing engine from one haggard to another giving a hand everyone used to help each other then. Now, the whole job is done in the field in less than a day with all the machinery they have in the country. In a way, ’tis a blessing, for farming in my young days was next door to slaving.”

Emigration

Naturalization Records filed by Mick on the 18^th of August 1913 reveals that he left Queenstown on the SS Philadelphia and arrived at the port of New York on the 24^th of January 1912. The physical description of Mick is provided in the application. Mick recorded that he was 5’9”, 155 lbs., with brown hair, blue eyes, ruddy complexion, with a scar in the middle of his forehead. Mick recorded that he was born in Waterford on the 8^th day of December 1888 and in 1913 was employed as a porter and residing at 524 First Avenue, New York City. The entry records from 1912 reveal that Michael gave his contact person in Ireland as his uncle Kieran Mullins of 25 St. Alphonsus Road, Waterford. He also stated that he was going to his brother John Hanrahan of 220 Harrison Street, Brooklyn, New York.

The 1930 Federal Census reveals that Mick had married and was residing at 2340 102nd St., Queens, New York. Mick was 41 years of age, recorded that he immigrated in 1912, was married to Anna, aged 35. The couple were parents to Richard, aged 8; Michael aged 4 and Laurence not yet a year. Mick reported that he was employed as a chauffeur for a builder. In the first half of the twentieth century people who drove professionally in most US states were required to obtain “chauffeur” licenses. Thus, truck drivers, bus drivers etc. were the holders of chauffeur licenses. During the World War II draft registration in 1942 Mick recorded his employer as Huron Stevedore Co., of Pier 57, New York City.

The following small death notice was located in the Daily News (New York, New York) of 3 June 1968 for Michael J. Hanrahan:

“Hanrahan—Michael J. On June 1^st–Native of Glen More (sic), Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Member of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Husband of the late Anna. Father of Richard, Michael and Laurence. Brother of John of Hampton Bays, and Richard and James of New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland. Survived by 7 grandchildren. Reposing at William E. Law Funeral Home, 1 Jerusalem Ave., Massapequa. Requiem Mass, Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, Massapequa Park, Wednesday, 9:45 A.M. Interment, St. Charles Cemetery.”

In researching Mick it came as a surprise to find that his youngest brother, John, emigrated to the US in November 1909 at the age of 15, three years before Mick emigrated. In most cases older siblings went to the US and later younger siblings joined them. However, in this instance John sailed on the SS Teutonic from Queenstown to New York. He listed his last address in Ireland was with his Uncle Richard Mullins, of Gaulestown, Glenmore and his final destination was to his uncle John Mullins, 283 Clinton St., Brooklyn, New York. John registered for the WW1 draft, listed his age as 23 with an address of 220 Harrison St. of Brooklyn. He was employed as a clerk. By 1930 he was married to Marion F., had a daughter also named Marion and was employed as a salesman (clothing). The 1942 WWII draft registration provided his physical description as 5’7” tall, with blond hair, gray eyes and was employed at Roger’s Peet Co. at 479 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The Social Security Index revealed that John died in August 1980.

Although Mick and his siblings were orphaned when they were young with the help of their extended family as Mick said himself “they struggled along nicely.” Three of the brothers became businessmen and raised families. Two emigrated to the US where they played Gaelic sports, worked and raised families, and one brother remained single and died tragically in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. The obituary of James Hanrahan is on the obituary page, accessed from the homepage by clicking on the Roots button and the death notice for Patrick Hanrahan is on the H family page.

The featured map is of New York City printed in the Commercial and Financial Chronical 1909 (c) University of Toronto.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh