Michael Dunphy (1839-1916) native of Ballyfacey Glenmore

We had the pleasure of a tour of the Dunphy water powered corn mill of Deerpark, Mullinavat. Special thanks to John Dunphy for the interesting tour and information. Thanks to Noah Bradfield for taking photos. (Any photos that are not crisp and clear were not taken by Noah). The mill rightfully won the 2025 Kilkenny Heritage Award, and the mill will be open for tours on 15 August 2026 as part of Heritage Week. It is well worth a visit to step back in time and observe the mill in action and hear the water hitting the mill wheel. John Dunphy is not only passionate concerning the mill, but he is also patient when answering questions along the tour. Please see Kilkenny Heritage Week for further details regarding tours for 15 August 2026.

The Glenmore Connection: Michael Dunphy (1839-1916)

The Mill can be found on the first black and white survey maps which were undertaken between 1829 and 1842. It is believed that the earliest miller was Patrick Hayes and his name does appear in the Tithe Applotment Books. We were able to find a marriage record for Patrick Hayes and Ellen Holden The couple married on 25 May 1839 in the Parish/District of Kilmacow. The addresses of the parties at the time of the wedding was “Park.” The couple had four known children.

The first Dunphy to operate the mill was Michael Dunphy (1839-1916) a native of Ballyfacey, Glenmore. Michael began operating the mill upon his marriage to Mary Walsh of Deer Park on 25 October 1877. The current John Dunphy believed that Richard Hayes transferred the mill to Michael Dunphy after his marriage to Mary Walsh. Mary Walsh was taking care of Richard. In the marriage records Michael Dunphy was a farmer and the son of Michael Dunphy (deceased farmer). Mary Walsh (1846-1906) was the daughter of John Walsh (farmer). The witnesses to the wedding were Richard Hayes and Mary Hynes. It is not yet known what relation Richard Hayes may have been to Mary Walsh.

Although a death record could not be located for Patrick Hayes we did find one for Richard Hayes (c. 1827-1901) in 1901. He was a 74 year old bachelor when he died at Deer Park. “Michael Dunphy, Landlord” was present when he died. Richard Hayes (c. 1827-1901) was perhaps a brother or nephew of Patrick Hayes, but given his age at death he could not have been one of Patrick Hayes’s children. Richard Hayes was about 50 years of age when Michael Dunphy and Mary Walsh married in 1877.

Training of Michael Dunphy (1839-1916)?

One of the questions that struck me was how a farmer from Ballyfacey, Glenmore, would have the experience to run a corn mill? Obviously he could have been instructed by Richard Hayes or others. However, in researching Michael Dunphy several names associated with the Gaffney Mill of Glenmore were found as godparents to Michael and his siblings raising the possibility that Michael Dunphy gained milling experience in Glenmore prior to his marriage.

William Gaffney (c. 1762-1798) of Glenmore Village, married Bridget Dunphy, of old Ballfacey, on 30 October 1783 at Slieverue. William Gaffney was a miller. During the 1798 Rebellion William was the leader of the local United Irishmen, captured and executed. His widow, Bridget Gaffney née Dunphy, kept the Glenmore mill operating and their son Nicholas Gaffney (bapt. 19 Sept. 1790-1873) eventually took it over and ran it until his death. The widowed, Bridget Gaffney née Dunphy married her second husband Richard Young and had at least three children with him.

Siblings of Michael Dunphy (1839-1916)

Michael Dunphy’s (1839-1916) godfather was William Young. Michael’s siblings include:
(1) Judith Dunphy, bapt 10 Sept. 1830, at Ballyfacey, Godparents: James Dollard and Mary Young.
(2) Mary Dunphy bapt. 13 Nov. 1831 at Ballyfacey, Godparents: Richard Phelan and Anastasia Dollard.
(3) Richard Dunphy bapt. 20 Dec. 1833 at Ballyfacey, Godparents: John Doherty and Mary Doherty.
(4) Bridget Dunphy bapt 20 Feb. 1836 at Balyfacey, Godparents: Nicholas Dunphy and Ellen Roche.
(5) Margaret Dunphy bapt 1 Oct. 1837 at Ballyfacey. Godparents: William Gaffney and Catherine Long.

It is possible that Michael Dunphy (1839-1916) worked at Gaffney’s Mill in Glenmore Village. He was not the eldest brother in the family and was not destined to take over the farm in Ballyfacey. If he worked at Gaffney’s Mill, or another mill, he would have gained milling experience. It also appears likely that his marriage may have been an arranged match as was very common at that time.

Michael Dunphy’s (1839-1916) Father and Possible Grandfather

Michael Dunphy’s (1839-1916) father per his marriage cert. was Michael Dunphy. Michael Dunphy (bapt. 1794) was the son of Nicholas Dunfy (sic) and Margaret Dunfy. Nicholas Donphy (sic) married Margaret Donphy on 18 Feb. 1792 at Ballefacy (sic). Witnesses to the wedding were: James Roach; Rev. John Deen and James Roach, Jr. We located a Nicholas Dunphy baptized at “old Ballyfacy” on 26 February 1770 to Morris Dunphy and Joane Roach. We cannot be 100% certain that this is the correct Nicholas Dunphy, but the name in Ballyfacy was not common. We were unable to locate a baptismal record for Bridget Gaffney Young née Dunphy, but if she married in 1783 she was born c. 1763 or before. The earliest baptismal records for the joint Glenmore-Slieverue parish is 1766.

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

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

See our post of 22 Feb. 2020 regarding William Gaffney’s (c. 1762-1798) execution during the 1798 Rebellion.

See our post of 12 Aug. 2024 regarding the discovery of William Gaffney’s (c. 1762-1798) skeleton.