Danny Dowling (1927-2021)
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From Danny’s Files: The Search for Missing Friends
After Danny Dowling (1927-2021) retired he made frequent trips to various libraries around the country gathering information concerning Glenmore and her people. Recently a small red notebook was found in Danny’s voluminous files where he recorded information he gleaned from a set of books entitled The Search for Missing Friends: Irish Immigrant Advertisements Placed in the Boston Pilot. These books were published by the New England Historic Genealogical Society of Boston.
Irish family members emigrating to the United States often travelled at different times and landed in different ports. Communications were difficult and expensive. Often those who were not literate had to rely upon others to write or read their correspondence for them. Thus, family members searching for jobs or opportunities travelled around North America and often lost contact with other family members, particularly during and after the Great Famine (1845-1852) and the American Civil War (1861-1865).
All newspapers of the era published advertisements or notices seeking information or the whereabouts of friends or family, but the Boston Pilot in the 19th century was one of the newspapers of choice for Irish emigrants searching for loved ones. The books containing the advertisements in the Boston Pilot have been Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014, and volume VII covering 1871-1876 is available on line.
The newspaper advertisements or notices provide a lot of information regarding emigrants and are quite poignant. Danny recorded all references that he found to Glenmore from volumes II through V. We have found a few more advertisements or notices referring to Glenmore and added these to the list. We have also attempted to identify the dates of birth, townlands and parents etc. of the persons named in the Glenmore related advertisements or notices. Today, we will focus on the first six entries in Danny’s notebook and have attempted to retain the spellings as they appear in various records to aid others.
(1) Martin Butler (bapt. 14 Feb. 1822) of Flemingstown, Glenmore [Vol. II, p. 305, published in the Boston Pilot 13 Nov. 1852]
“Martin Butler, ship builder, native of Flemingstown, Parish Glenmore, Co Kilkenny, sailed from Liverpool about 4 years ago, for New Orleans. Last heard of was in Cincinnati. Any information respecting him will be thankfully received by his brothers Patrick and Thomas Butler, Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois.”
A review of the Glenmore Parish records reveals that John Butler married Catherine Murphy of Ballinlammy, Glenmore on 11 February 1817. The couple had at least 7 children and all but one were recorded as being born at Flemingstown. [1] Thomas Butler (bapt. 11 Jan. 1818); [2] Nicholas Butler (bapt. 7 April 1819); [3] Martin Butler (bapt. 14 Feb. 1822); [4] Bridget Butler (bapt. 20 Jan. 1827); [5] Patrick Butler (bapt. 27 June 1828); [6] Mary Butler (bapt. 31 Jan. 1830, Parkstown] and [7] Catherine Butler (bapt. 15 April 1832).
Of the three known Butler brothers in the U.S. we were able to locate in the Cincinnati City Directory of 1863 a Martin Butler living at Iva Ludlow and 2nd and working as a ship carpenter. We located little regarding Patrick and Thomas Butler in Jacksonville, Illinois. However, a Patrick Butler (1828-1905) was located. According to his headstone in the St. Augustine Cemetery in Ashland, Cass Co. Illinois, he was born in Co. Kilkenny on 20 Mar 1828. Thus, the birthdate is off by 3 months with the Glenmore records. According to the 1900 Census of Cartwright, Sangamon Co. Illinois, Patrick Butler (1828-1905) was a married, farmer and aged 72. He recorded that he was born in March 1828 in Ireland. He immigrated in 1851 and married Margaret Kennedy (1835-1913) in 1854. The headstone records that Margaret Butler née Kennedy was a native of Tipperary. The biographies recorded on findagrave provides that Patrick lived for two years in Jacksonville before moving to Sangamon County, Illinois. To view the headstone click here.
In attempting to determine if Patrick Butler (1828-1905) of Cartwright, Sangamon Co., Illinois was from Flemingstown we attempted to locate all Patrick Butlers born in Kilkenny in March 1828. There was a Patrick Butler (bapt 29 March 1828) born at Baristown, Ballyhale, Co. Kilkenny to Michael Butler and Bridget Mahon. However, no known children of Patrick Butler (1828-1905) were named Michael and the eldest son of Patrick Butler (1828-1905) was named John. Based on the circumstantial evidence, the fact Patrick lived in Jacksonville when he first immigrated, the advertisment in the Boston Pilot etc. it is believed that Patrick Butler (1828-1905) was a native of Flemingstown, Glenmore.
(2) Margaret Dugan, of Ballanerahee (sic) Glenmore [Vol. III, p. 333, published in the Boston Pilot 7 July 1855]
“Margaret Duggan of Ballanerahee, Parish Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who landed in Boston two years ago, and went to New York, last May 12 months ago. She said she would go to Savannah. Address her husband John Whealon, Whitewater, Wisconsin.”
A review of the Glenmore Parish records revealed several possible candidates and no marriage could be located for Margaret Duggan and John Whealon. (1)A Margaret Duggan was baptized 11 Dec. 1823 at Ballinerahe (sic) Glenmore to James Duggan and Nelly Costello. (2) A second, Margaret Dugan was baptized 20 May 1821 to Richard Dugan and Mary Geehan at Ballinarah (sic) Glenmore, and lastly (3) another Margaret Dugan was baptized 21 Feb. 1833 at Ballineraha (sic) to Patrick Dogan and Bridget Sutten.
(3) The Kirwan Family, of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny [Vol. III, p. 175 & 216, published in the Boston Pilot on 23 Sept. 1854 and on 25 Nov. 1854]
Published 23 Sept. 1854
“Bridget and Alice Kerivan of Weatherstown, Parish of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, who left home 4 years ago. When last heard from one year ago, were in St. Louis, Mo. Information will be received by their sister Catherine, in care of Malcolm McLoughlin, Roxbury, Mass.”
Published 25 Nov. 1854
“Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, William and Kate Kerevan from parish of Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny when last heard of were in Roxbury, near Boston. Information will be received by their sister Bridget, care of T.J. Fallan, Catholic Bookseller, St. Louis, Mo.”
It is not clear whether the two advertisements were from the same family as the one in September lists Weatherstown. Women are difficult to trace as their name’s changed upon marriage. However, one family seems to fit most of the persons named in the 25 November publication. [1] William Kearvan (bapt. 20 Jan. 1819) to Michael Kearvan and Margaret Hogan was born in Scartnamac (sic) Glenmore. Margaret Hogan was a native of Weatherstown and married Michael Kearvan on 16 Sept. 1817. Other children in this family included: [2] Margaret Kerwan (bapt. 3 March 1837 at Ballahuck (sic); [3] Mary Kirwan (bapt. 5 Feb. 1840) [4] Patrick Kerwin (bapt. 11 Jan. 1825; [5] Thomas Kerwan (bapt. 13 April 1832) and [6] Maurice Kerwan (bapt. 25 Sept. 1822). In 1854 after most of his siblings emigrated to the U.S. Maurice Kerwan married Mary Scanlon and resided at Ballyhobuck, Glenmore.
(4) Philip Kelly, of Rathinure, Glenmore [Vol. III, p. 175, published in the Boston Pilot on 23 Sept 1854]
“Philip Kelly of Parish Glenmore, Rahanewr (sic), Co. Kilkenny, who came to Quebec 4 year ago, and was last heard from in Philadelphia. Information will be received by his sister Mary Kelly, Cazenovia, Madison County, New York”
A Kelly family containing a Philip and Mary Kelly could not be located in Glenmore. A Mary Kelly was baptized with an address of Glenmore on 18 Oct. 1822 to Thomas Kelly and Anastatia English. A few years later another child named Mary Kelly was baptized on 25 August 1825 at Ballyhubuck (sic) the daughter of John Kelly and Catherine Denn. The townland of Ballhobuck abuts the townland of Rathinure. Unfortunately, no baptismal record could be located for a Philip Kellyof Ballyhobuck or Rathinure.
(5) Patrick Delahunty, Glenmore Parish [Vol. VI, p. 546, published in the Boston Pilot on 11 Dec. 1869]
“Patrick Delahunty, parish of Glenmore, county Kilkenny, Ireland, when last heard from seven or eight years ago, he was in Bloomington, Illinois, at that time he had charge of the freight house. Any person knowing his whereabouts will confer a favor on his brother, William, Hoosick Falls, Rensellaer (sic) county, N.Y.”
Little could be found regarding Patrick Delahunty. However, it appears that William Delehanty (sic) continued to reside in Hoosick Falls, New York and died 17 July 1883, aged 68. William is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County, New York. If his age at death was correct he was born about 1815. Just prior to his death William was living at 63 Church St. (Hoosick Falls Village Directory 1882-1882). A review of the Glenmore Parish records reveals that William Dullehanty (sic) was baptized 3 November 1811 at Glenmore to James Dullehanty and Catherine Crock of Coolaline (sic), Glenmore.
(6) Michael Culleton (1822-1889) of Glenmore, Kilkenny, Ireland [Vol. II, p. 216, published in the Boston Pilot on 8 May 1852]
“Michael Culliton, native of Parish Glanmore (sic) Co. Kilkenny, left home about 4 years since and landed in New York. When last heard of was in Pennsylvania. Any information respecting him thankfully received by his wife, Mrs. Anty Culliton, 28 Mathew St., Chelsea, Mass.”
A review of the Glenmore Parish records reveals that Michael Culleton was married on 19 February 1846 to Anastatia Walsh of Parkstown, Glenmore. Unfortunately, the parish priest did not record the names of the fathers of the couple. However, it is believed that Michael Culleton was the son of Michael Culleton and Ellen Culleton née Mullins of Kilbride, Glenmore and was baptized on 3 August 1822. An immigration records was located that showed that Michael Colleton arrived in New York on 16 May 1848, aged 25. He sailed on the A.Z. from Liverpool, and listed his profession as labourer.
It is not known if Mrs. Anty Culleton located her husband Michael, however it is likely that he joined his wife in the Boston area. On 22 September 1882, Michael Culliton (aged 60) married for a second time in Boston. His second bride was Mary Dunphy (spinster, aged 40). The records reveal that the couple were both born in Ireland. His parents were listed as Michael and Ellen Culliton and her parents were listed as Thomas and Mary Dunphy.
Michael Colliton died 20 May 1889, aged 66 at City Hospital of Boston. His cause of death is listed as pneumonia and exhaustion. At the time of his death, he was living at 26 Terry St.
We hope that you have enjoyed this brief glimpse into the lives of some Glenmore emigrants of the 19th century. Next month we will publish the last six entries from the notebook. Please send any additional information or corrections to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
The featured drawing above is from 1851 and entitled “Irish Emigrants Leaving Home–The Priest’s Blessing.” Courtesty of the New York City Library’s Digital Collection. (Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1851). Irish emigrants leaving home — the priest’s blessing Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e1-37f2-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Bittersweet Blog Milestone
Today, as we celebrate the second anniversary of Glenmore-History.com we are happy to announce that the blog has had 100,285 views and 25,298 visitors to the site. This post represents the 160th post. These milestones are a bit bittersweet because our founder Danny Dowling (1927-2021) is no longer physically with us to marvel at how far and wide his work has spread since 3 November 2019.
Over the past year we began posting on facebook because many readers could not, or had difficulty, accessing the blog website itself. Several photos that appeared and were shared on facebook have not been featured on the blog site and are included below to share with readers who aren’t on facebook. In addition to the blog posts we continue to add content to the website pages (obits, memory cards, articles by guest authors etc.) and update older posts with new information and photos that readers send in. We were delighted to share a link to Danny’s appearance on the Canadian programme Land and Sea and understand that Danny’s book on the Streets of Waterford is going to be featured at Eigse Slieverue this year. As more details become known about Eigse Slieverue we will share them.
Thanks to each and every person who has helped grow Glenmore-History.com, and we remain committed to Danny’s firmly held conviction that historical records should be freely accessible to allow individuals to discover their roots.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The feature photo above is Danny Dowling taken in 2020 at one of the Glenmore-History.com meetings. The group photo of the family of Edward & Mary Roche (née Forristal, the Mill), of the High Road, Rathinure, Glenmore, was shared by Marian Coady Hendrick. The photos from c. 1905 of Glenmore Village and the Churns road were shared by Salvator Mundi. The photo of Danny’s brother and sister-in-law, Pat and Mary Dowling (28 October 1967) of Cappagh, Glenmore was shared by their grandson Paraic Dowling. The photo of New Ross’s longest married couple, Glenmore native Patrick Condon (1898-1989) and Johanna Condon née Henneberry (married 1927) was shared by their son Frank Condon as well the photo of Kitty Murphy née Walsh, of Mullinahone, Glenmore. Other photos have been added to the original post.
Danny Dowling’s Appearance in Land & Sea: Talamh an Eisc
Commencing in 1964 the Canadian Broadcasting Co. began producing a television series entitled Land & Sea which went on to become their longest running series. In 1984 two Newfoundland men travelled to England and Ireland to visit their ancestoral lands. In this episode narrated by Dave Quinton, our very own Village Historian, Danny Dowling (1927-2021) appeared. In addition to the fascinating details that are provided regarding the descendents of the Irish in Newfoundland there is also some interesting footage of local scenery, New Ross and Waterford from the early 1980’s.
This episode is now available on you tube and can be accessed by clicking here. Danny appears at approximately 34:03 minutes. In the feature photo Danny is the gentleman on the right.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Month’s Mind
There is a lovely tradition in Ireland, particularly rural Ireland, called the month’s mind. A month after a person’s death a Requiem Mass is celebrated in memory of the deceased. Generally, the family of the deceased and close friends will attend the mass and will then share a meal or refreshments where the life of the deceased is celebrated. What most people today do not realize is that the month’s mind tradition is of ancient origin. In medieval England, the Venerable Bede (672-735) noted that the “minding days” were of great antiquity at that time and originated from the Norse minne, or ceremonial drinking to the dead.
Ireland is the only country where the month’s mind tradition is still widely practiced although there are still a few locations in England where it is said to survive. Further afield efforts have been undertaken to introduce the month’s mind. For example, in January 2015, Monsignor David Cassato, Chaplain of the New York Police Department at St. Athanasius Church, of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, New York, offered a Month’s Mind Mass to mark the one-month anniversary of the assassination of two local police officers. Monsignor Cassato explained, “In the Roman Catholic Church, a Month’s Mind Mass is really a big deal because it comes a month after the initial shock and grief of death. It is a time to honor the dead with prayers, a time to hope that their lives and deaths will have a lasting meaning…” (The Tablet, 22 January 2015).
Today, we celebrate and commemorate the life of our local historian, Danny Dowling and commit ourselves to preserve, present and continue his life’s work. For many this might simply involve the oral tradition of the passing down of family information or stories to the next generation, the sharing of local knowledge, or the keeping of local traditions. Pat Dowling shared a number of photos of his father for this pictorial month’s mind. Pat said that there aren’t as many photos of Danny as other family members because Danny was usually the person behind the camera. If readers have any photos or memories of Danny that they would like to share please forward them to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Further below are photos sent by the East Wall History Group depicting the commemoration ceremony held last Sunday to mark the 100th anniversary of Peter Freyne’s death who was killed in action while attacking the London, North Western Railway Hotel (North Wall) Dublin. I think Danny would have been happy that Peter Freyne’s sacrifice has not been forgotten and was commemorated notwithstanding the scourge of COVID.
Danny Dowling (15 February 1927-17 March 2021)
The Laying of a Wreath in memory of Peter Freyne (1903-1921) by the East Wall History Group on 11 April 2021
Due to COVID the commemoration was small. Four volunteers held a small boat parade. For further information concerning the attack on the L.N.W.R. Hotel on the 11th of April 1921, during the Irish War of Independence, see, https://glenmore-history.com/teenage-volunteers-in-the-war-of-independence-the-freyne-brothers-of-kilcullen-thomastown/.
Please send any corrections or further information to glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Sad Farewell
On Friday the 19th of March, a fine spring morning, people began to gather in the Village of Glenmore to bid a final and sad farewell to a man who had called Glenmore his home for 94 years. As friends and neighbours met, absent were the customary hugs and handshakes. The scourge of COVID continues and impacted on the customary Glenmore funeral practices. Undaunted, behind the mandated face masks and imposed distances, the gathered began to remanence and share fond memories of the wonderful, colourful Danny. As the bell of St. James began to toll the hearse carrying the earthly remains of Daniel Dowling (1927-2021) left the house where he was born in the village and slowly climbed the hill to the church followed by his family and a large crowd of mourners on foot. Along the roadway friends and neighbours stood in respect. At the gates of St. James’s, the hearse stopped and the six pallbearers placed the wooden coffin on their shoulders and carried it to the church. With COVID restrictions only ten family members could attend the funeral Mass, but loudspeakers broadcast the service to the mourners outside and the internet allowed family and friends across the globe to hear and see it. I was struck that Danny would have commented upon and written a note or two concerning the restrictions and the resulting blending of the old funeral customs with the new technology.
I had the privlege of meeting Danny and Mollie Dowling thirty years ago this coming October. My first, of what would become hundreds of outings with Danny, was to Kilcolumb ruins and graveyard. As Danny led me to the oldest Kennedy headstone in the parish he said, “None die so well as the poor.” He went on to explain that the poor did not feature in history and did not have headstones etc. There is little doubt that Danny embraced the field of social history as it emerged as an academic field of study in the mid-twentieth century. It was an alternative to conventional history that focused on great civilizations, politics and wars. Although Danny had an interest in history in general, he was far more interested in learning and recording the lives of ordinary local men and women. With absolutely no training, and few examples to follow, Danny went about interviewing and recording information regarding the local areas, events, traditions and people. Ever evolving and learning, Danny in 2018 told me that he thought that family history was the more correct title for his type of work.
Whatever category that may be put on Danny’s work, when Danny began what was to become his life’s work, he started with a simple pen and paper. There were no computers, internet, copiers or mobile phones. Danny never obtained a drivers license and traveled to libraries, archives, institutions and individuals via public transportation. He hand copied records into notebooks. He corresponded with a large number of individuals and institutions within Ireland and abroad. Danny often spent long hours reading old newspapers on micro-film in various libraries in order to find information to a query he received. Danny enjoyed his retirement where he devoted himself full time to pursuing his work armed with his transportation pass. When public transportation wasn’t available Mollie, or others, drove him to his destination. He was also a well known and well liked visitor to bookshops and book fairs across the country where he searched for books for his extensive collection.
Danny often remarked that there is no person that does not have an interest in history. It may not be the history taught in school, but it might be a history of their family, their land, sport, fashion, music or horse racing. He exhibited an uncanny ability to draw information out of people who often did not believe that what they provided was worth recording. Danny “never met a stranger” and never missed an opportunity to gather local information and record it. Some of his interviews were conducted after funerals, on the bus into Waterford, in the pub, in nursing homes or on the street when he encountered an old acquaintance. Danny always carried a small notebook, or sheets of paper, and would jot down notes of what was said. It is fascinating to transcribe Danny’s notebooks and follow his lines of inquiry across the years.
In education the term “life long learner” is a commonly used phrase, but Danny is actually one of the few people I have known who was a life long learner. In 2019 when Danny asked me to help put his work into a book about Glenmore, I suggested a blog. Danny had never seen a blog, didn’t understand how it would work, but liked the idea of a “weekly” history article backed by a website with static pages for family and townland information etc. Although 92 years of age he caught on quickly, and after we went live he soon began to ask how many visitors and “hits” we had and where they originated. He marveled at the ability of people around the world to view his work and to hear that descendents of long gone emigrants were able to research their way back to Glenmore. He expressed delight when he learned something new about Glenmore uncovered this past year in old newspapers now available on-line. Of course none of this would have been possible without the support and care Danny received as his health declined. It was no small task for Danny’s son Pat, and daughter-in-law Orla, to keep Danny well and safe particularly after COVID struck the country, but they succeeded.
Lest anyone who never met Danny is given the impression that he was a stuffy scholar, Danny, in fact, possessed a wicked sense of humour, had an infectious school boy giggle and his smile would light up the room. Like many others I shall miss my old friend, and thank him for asking and allowing me to help bring his life’s work to the world.
Ní beidh a leithéad ann arís. (His like won’t be here again.)
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Danny Dowling (1927-2021): The End of an Era
A wonderful gentleman, historian, friend and founder of Glenmore-History.com has passed away at the age of 94 years.
Condolences may be left via the following link https://rip.ie/death-notice/danny-dowling-glenmore-kilkenny/453083
Deepest sympathy to Pat, Orla, Aoife, young Danny and all extended family members.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé agus. (May he be at God's right hand.) Go neirí on bóthar leis ar neamh. (May the road rise to meet him in heaven.) Kathleen