James Heffernan (1882-1912) of Aylwardstown

Danny Dowling (1927-2021) for over 7 decades interviewed and recorded various Glenmore residents. We have discovered two short interviews that Danny recorded on 28 February 1964 and 28 August 1964. Both took place in Waterford. These interviews address some queries that we received earlier this year concerning the origin of the Heffernan family of Aylwardstown and the relationship between the Kennedys of Dunganstown and Rathinure. Dates of birth and death have been added, and other information not from the interviews has been placed in square brackets  [     ]. Andrew Heffernan was able to provide information back to the early years of the 19th Century.

From Haggard to Aylwardstown

According to Andy Heffernan, the Heffernan family came to Aylwardstown from Haggard, Glenmore. The Heffernan family had been evicted from Haggard.  They lived in Haggard where John Byrne (1893-1976) was in 1964.

[John Byrne married Mary Aylward (c. 1898-1983) of Haggard on 8 February 1932. Her father was John Aylward (farmer). John Byrne was a native of Taghmon, Wexford. He was the son of Laurence Byrne (farmer). As an interesting aside, (per Thomas Walsh (1908-1992)) John Byrne during WWII drove his horse to either Slieverue or Ferrybank seeking cigarettes. No cigarettes were available, but he heard that cigarettes were available in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary. He drove his horse all the way to Carrick-on-Suir and back. For our international readers Carrick is today (via the N24) about 43 km from Glenmore. However, if John cut across country on smaller lanes the journey would have been shorter.  We hope and assume it was a successful mission.]

In Aylwardstown there was a farm of about 100 [Irish] acres at the time the Heffernan family moved. This farm was divided among the Heffernan’s, two Morrissey families and the Delahunty’s. They all came to Aylwardstown together.  Each family had 25 [Irish] acres [or 40 statute acres]. Later, Delahunty’s bought the second Morrissey place.  

Heffernan Glenmore Burials

The Heffernan’s were buried in Kilivory. Andy told Danny to look for the headstone of Tim Heffernan. [Danny did find the headstone and recorded it as follows:

Erected by Tim Heferin of Haggard
in memory of his father Patrick Heferin
who dep’d this life April 7^th 1797 aged 60 yrs
Also the body o Bridget Heferin who dep’d this
life March 17^th 1797 aged 34 years]

Andy stated that his brother was the first of the family to be buried in Glenmore Cemetery. His brother died 52 years previously [or in 1912]. He came home from America owing to being delicate. [James Heffernan (1882-1912) died on 2 August 1912 at Aylwardstown. He was single, 30 years of age at the time and worked as a draper’s assistant. He died of heart disease, and his sister Mary O’Connor, of Ballyfacey, was present when he died. In 1908, James Heffernan (25, a draper) traveled with James Delahunty (35,farmer) aboard the Adriactic to New York landing on 1 October. The address in the old country was Glenmore, Waterford and they were going to Chicago, Illinois. Both gave James’s brother Richard Heffernan (1889-1947) as nearest relative or friend. Richard James Heffernan (1889-1947) resided in Chicago. ]

Rathinure Link with Dunganstown, Wexford?

Andy told Danny that he was a first cousin to Peter Kennedy (1878-1962) of Rathinure. [Andy’s mother was Bridget Heffernan née Kennedy (1854-1947) her father was Pierce Kennedy (b. 1809). Bridget Kennedy married Michael Heffernan (1847-1924) on 12 February 1879 at Glenmore. Their photo is above.] Andy often heard his mother say that the Kennedy’s of Dunganstown used to visit Rathinure regularly. She said that they were related. Andy believed that a Kennedy went to Dunganstown from Rathinure originally. Andy also stated that all the Kennedy families in Rathinure were originally the one family. [It is not surprising that Dunganstown came up in this interview. President Kennedy was assassinated just 3 months earlier in November 1963.] For more information on the Heffernan family see our H surname page.   For further information on Dunganstown see The Kennedy Homestead webpage. 

[Around 1996 an elderly lady named Mrs. Doyle stopped to ask me directions. She said that her grandmother, Hannie Kennedy, came from Rathinure and married her grandfather, Tom Shanahan, of Dunganstown. I took her to Danny who after asking a few questions started searching his copy of the parish records. He found a marriage that took place on 15 February 1843 at Glenmore between Thomas Shannon (sic) and Johanna Kennedy of Rahanure (sic). A notation in the record noted a certificate was provided by Rev. James Cullen, P.P. of Sutton Parish, Wexford for the groom. He explained to Mrs. Doyle that there were a lot of marriages across the Barrow. Before the automobile it was easier to travel by boat than by road.]

Grants of Aylwardstown, Glenmore

Andy stated that the Grants lived where Dick Brien (Fitzgerald) lived. [Per Ann Fitzgerald, Dick Brien was the name Richard Fitzgerald went by. The Fitzgerald family came to Aylwardstown in the early 1800’s from Ballinaraha, Glenmore. They used their mother’s maiden name (Brien) to distinguish themselves from other local Fitzgerald families.]

The last of the Grant’s was a woman. She had a public house there. [We believe that Andy was referring to the Half Way House of Aylwardstown located on the old Stage Coach or High Road.] Jim Dunphy (1855-1943) of Ballyverneen, born over the Rock, gave his life to the Clyde Shipping Company. Jim Dunphy told Andy that a British soldier got a drink in Grant’s public house on one occasion and was leaving without paying for it. The Grant woman told him he would pay or it would be on his soul. The soldier replied, “Will you give me another on my soul?” [Jim Dunphy’s obituary may be read on our D surname page. We are uncertain what “born over the rock” means in this context, but it is likely that he was referring to Jim Dunphy being born on the far side of the Pink Rock.]

The Brien Fitzgerald’s of Aylwardstown, Glenmore

Andy explained to Danny that Dick Brien’s uncle was the present Jim Brien’s father. [We believe that Andy was explaining that Dick Brien and Jim Brien (1896-1979) were first cousins. We were able to verify through parish records every statement made by Andy regarding the Brien Fitzgeralds.] See our F Surname page for further information on the Brien Fitzgerald’s.

Michael Coady of Carrickcloney, Glenmore was married to one of the Brien’s (Fitzgerald’s) of the Half-Way House. [We found in the parish records that Michael Cody married Catherine Fitzgerald of Aylworthstown (sic) on 3 February 1823.]

Pierrie Barron, of Carrigcloney, married into a Mrs. Kirwan née Brien of the Half-Way House. He was her second husband. He came from where Richie Barron had the farm in Carrigcloney. Pierrie Barron was Mikey’s father. [We found where Bridget Fitzgerald, of Aylwardstown, married Michael Kiervan (sic) on 29 February 1848 at Glenmore We also found where Peter Barron married Bridget Cervan (sic) on 22 January 1852. Michael Barron was baptized on 26 May 1855 at Carricklony (sic) to Pierce Barron and his wife Bridget Kerivan.]

Uncles Emigrated to U.S.

Andy told Danny that he had grand uncles who went to America in the early part of the last century [ie early 1800’s]. [See our post of 9 February 2025 regarding his grand-uncle James Heffernan (1825-1891). It is not altogether clear if Andy was also referring to John Dollard (1801-1888) who was married to his great-aunt Bridget Dollard née Heffernan (1811-1891) native of Aylwardstown.  See our post of 17 February  2025 regarding John Dollard and Bridget Dollard née Heffernan.

Andy also had two uncles who later went to America. They settled near Stone Wall City on virgin territory and called the settlement Glenmore. They also called the church there St. James’s. When Andy’s uncle John first went out first they could only go to Mass once a year on Christmas Day as they lived 40 miles from the nearest church. This man John on one occasion with a man called Brennan rode 40 miles to the Christmas Mass. Andy said that this took place in South Dakota. [We believe based on contemporary documents that these events actually took place in Glenmore, Wisconsin. We were not able to find a Glenmore in South Dakotas, but we did locate an obituary for Andy’s uncle John Heffernan (1842-1930) who was an early settler of Grant County, South Dakota.]

Grant County Review, Thurs. 19 June 1930

[A VALUED CITIZEN PASSED SATURDAY—Pioneer Settler Near Big Stone Victim of Heart Attack Last Saturday

Big Stone township and Grant county lost one of their most honorable citizens with the sudden death last Saturday evening of John Heffernan, a pioneer of this section. Exactly one month and one day previous to his death Mr. and Mrs. Heffernan celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.  At that time and since the deceased appeared to be enjoying ordinary health, was about daily and assisted his sons with work about the farm, taking a lively interest and apparently with many years of life and usefulness before him.  Saturday afternoon, accompanied by Mrs. Heffernan, he visited the pastures and looked over the stock, and made no complaint of felling ill until about 8:00 o’clock that evening.  He then told Mrs. Heffernan that he had a pain in his chest, and went and laid down for a short rest, which was not an unusual procedure on his part.  

When the pain persisted Mrs. Heffernan volunteered to apply a mustard plaster or something of that sort.  About that time, however, Mr. Heffernan remarked that it had left his chest and gone into his arm, and then without further word or complaint dropped peacefully into that long, last slumber.  Mrs. Heffernan was alone in the house at the time, but despite the shock managed to summon her son James, who was about the place, and also just at that time her son John and daughter Alice, who had been to town trading, arrived home.  Aid was immediately procured, but the spark of life had fled and all efforts to rekindle it were unavailing.

John Heffernan was born October 12, 1851, at Glenmore, county Kilkenny, Ireland.  In 1874, when 23 years of age, he came to America and located at DePere, Wis.  In 1879 he came among the pioneers to this county and filed on a homestead in Big Stone township.  The following year he returned to DePere and was united in marriage with Miss Mary Shea, his surviving wife.  Together they returned to this county and since that time have resided continuously in Big Stone township.  For better than a half century the deceased has commanded the respect, friendship and confidence of his neighbors and acquaintances in this section in a most unusual manner, and never hesitated  to lend his support to any worthy project or enterprise.  Religiously he was always a devout and faithful practitioner of the Catholic faith, and his home was truly a model husband and father.

Besides his wife the immediate family members are seven sons and two daughters, namely, James, John, Raymond, William and Norbert, all of Big Stone township;  Thomas, Omaha, Neb., and Dr. Bernard Heffernan, Milwaukee, Wis.; Miss Alice at home and Mrs. A. H. Flatley, Stockbridge, Wis.  All the children and their families were home to attend the funeral.

During his residence in Big Stone township deceased had served as a member of the school and township boards and at the time of his death was president of the Gib Stone Creamery Association, a position he had filled continuously since the association was organized and the creamery built 33 years ago.  It will be remembered also that when the Grant County Telephone Co. was organized in this city many years ago, Mr. Heffernan served it for some time as president and in able and praise-worth manner.  During the World War he served faithfully in the Liberty loan drive.  He was a member of the Milbank Council, Knights of Columbus, and also charter member of Milbank Camp 1887 Modern Woodmen of America.

The funeral services were held at 10:00 o’clock yesterday forenoon at St. Charles Catholic church, Big Stone City, with a solemn Requiem Mass celebrated by the pastor, Rev. Fr. Estergard, with Fr. Joseph O’Neill, of Danvers, Minn., as deacon, and Fr. P. J. Callanan, of Ortonville, Minn., as sub-deacon.  A short but very appropriate sermon was preached by Fr. Estergard at the conclusion of the services, and the remains then taken to the church cemetery and laid at rest. Members of Milbank Council, Knights of Columbus, attended in a body.  The pallbearers were John Gowan and Dr. O’Donnell, Ortonville, Minn.: Edward Rourk, Big Stone City, and John Huben, C. W. Martens and W. S. Dolan, Milbank.  As a mark of respect and the high esteem in which deceased was held in that community, the business places of Big Stone City remained closed yesterday forenoon.

Other relatives from a distance in attendance at the funeral were Mrs. Ellen Daugherty, Medford, Oregon;  Mr. and Mrs. Will Daugherty, Brainard, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Calnan and daughter Marguerite, DePere, Wis.; William Calnan and Miss Esther Calnan, Miss Ella Conley and George Peters, all of Green Bay, Wis.;  Mrs. Margaret Irish, Stockbridge, Wis., and Mrs. Carl Coe, Minneapolis.] To view John Heffernan’s grave see Find-a-Grave.

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Special thanks to Ann Fitzgerald for the information on the Brien Fitzgerald’s and texasceltfirl for posting John Heffernan’s obituary.

The featured photo above his Andy Heffernan’s parents, Michael Heffernan (1847-1924) and Bridget Heffernan née Kennedy (1854-1947) of Aylwardstown, Glenmore. A copy given to me in around 1993 by Nellie Doherty (their granddaughter). Nellie thought the photo was taken around 1920.

Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh