Peter Mernagh (1892-1990)
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Captain C.F. McLoughlin (1897-1967) of the Glenmore Volunteers, Part I
The Military Service Pension Act 1934 caused the former officers of the old IRA to be contacted in 1935 to obtain the names, ranks and dates of service on two designated dates, 11 July 1921 and 1 July 1922, of the men who served in their units. A list was duly made and submitted. See our list of members of the Glenmore Company of the old IRA.
C.F. McLoughlin applied for a pension noting that he was a Captain with the Glenmore Volunteers in 1915 on. However, McLoughlin does not appear on the Glenmore list submitted, and McLaughlin wasn’t a name generally associated with Glenmore.
It transpires that C.F. McLoughlin, was Cornelius Frederick McLoughlin born in Callan, Kilkenny in 1897 the eldest child of R.I.C. Sergeant, John McLoughlin (c. 1864-1944) and his wife Sarah Jane Heffernan (1866-1923) of Glenmore. The couple were married in Glenmore on 17 June 1896. Sarah Jane, of Cappagh, Glenmore, was a dressmaker and her father was Michael Heffernan (c. 1839 -1914) a retired R.I.C, sergeant. John MacLoughlin was a native of Roscommon. John and Sarah Jane McLoughlin had 9 known children; 5 boys and 4 girls.
Evidence Submitted in 1938
In 1938, C.F. McLoughlin was seeking recognition and a pension for his work as an Irish Volunteer from 1915-1923. His first application was rejected. The National Library of Ireland has digitalized four letters that were sent by Glenmore people to provide information concerning his work as a Volunteer. The letters include: [1] Michael Heffernan’s letter dated 1 February 1938; [2] James Power, Jr. of Jamestown letter dated 27 December 1937; [3] Peter Mernagh’s letter dated 27 December 1937; and [4] Widow Ellen Cassin’s letter dated 1 February 1938.
The First Glenmore Volunteers
Ellen Cassin née Malone (c.1879-1963) moved to Glenmore in 1899. She first heard of the Volunteer movement when men began drilling in Glenmore under Nick Curran, John Dunphy and Jim Fluskey about 1913 or 1914. George Jones, an ex-soldier of the British Army used to instruct them. The movement fell away for a time, but it began to revive again on a smaller scale at the end of 1915 when “Freddie McLoughlin began training men. (Cassin letter p.1).
Michael Heffernan (c. 1877-1951) in 1938, was the Peace Commissioner in Glenmore. He stated that C.F., or Fred, as he was known in the family was his nephew. “He spent a great part of his youth and usually all his holidays in Glenmore. After finishing at Blackrock College in the summer of 1915 he had some difference with his father and came to live with his aunts—my sisters—Mrs. J.K. Walsh [1884-1955] and Miss M. Heffernan [Mary “Minnie” Heffernan (c. 1872-1944)] in Glenmore. About that period, the autumn or winter of 1915, he began organising and training a company of Irish Volunteers. We knew some of the men who were with him, but we had not exact knowledge of all he was doing, and it was not his practice to talk much to anybody. Some things we could not help noticing. (Heffernan letter p. 1).
Peter Mernagh (1892-1990) stated that he joined the Irish Volunteers at Glenmore in October or November 1915. “C.F. McLoughlin, known to us then as Fred, and sometimes now as Conn, was the Captain at the time.” (Mernagh letter, p. 1)
The Glenmore Volunteers of 1915
- Neddy Purell (moved to America)
- Johnny Barron (died in America)
- Johnnie Power, Jr. of Jamestown
- Jimmy Roche, of Weatherstown
- Jim Mernagh (moved to Castlecomer)
- Batty Mernagh (deceased)
- Little Mick Power
- Tom Dunne (moved to Wexford)
- Needy (sic) Doolan, of Shanbogh
- Paddy Barron, of Carrickcloney (moved to England)
- Peter Mernagh, of Ballyverneen
- Captain C.F. McLoughlin
The men drilled regularly, about twice a week, at Cappagh Lane, in the lane at Graiguenakill, in Doyle’s big field opposite the schoolhouse, Robinstown, and at Haggard Line, Mullinahone. (Mernagh letter, p. 1).
Warnings & Threats
“On several occasions before the 1916 Rising an R.I.C. man in New Ross who was friendly disposed asked me [Michael Heffernan] to speak to my nephew and to advise him to be careful in what he was doing. The Parish Priest at the time, Fr. Phelan, also asked me to get him to stop this work; but my nephew was set on his purpose. As far as I recall he used only to smile when I mentioned these things, and to carry on as before. He was not a person to be easily altered once he was set on a thing.”
“On the second occasion that Fr. Phelan spoke to me, I remember he threatened something to the effect that if I was not able to influence young McLoughlin he would take steps to have him shifted as the activities he was engaged in might create disturbances in the parish. Anyhow, my nephew carried on in spite of these warnings and advices. He was drilling men over the Cappagh Road and in other places.”(Heffernan letter, p. 1)
A day or two before the actual Rising of 1916 Fred visited Michael Heffernan and his wife, to say goodbye. He did not expect to see them for some time. A few days later they heard of the Rising and they then realized that something serious was afoot.
Easter Week 1916
Before the Rising the Glenmore Volunteers had an idea that something was “to come off.” Peter Mernagh knew that at any time he could get a shotgun from John Dunphy, of Ballyverneen. Dunphy was sympathetic and allowed Peter Mernagh to sleep on his premises. (Mernagh letter, p. 1)
On the Tuesday after Easter, Peter’s brother Batt relayed orders from Captain McLoughlin to proceed to Buttersbridge, Rosbercon about dusk to meet others. Batty knew that the Rising had started in Dublin and they were hopeful that they would get rifles in New Ross and join up there. Captain McLaughlin returned from New Ross and told the men to quietly return to Glenmore. (Mernagh letter, p. 2)
For the rest of that week Peter Mernagh kept an eye on the “New Line” (main road from Waterford to New Ross). He worked in John Dunphy’s fields and had a view of the “New Line” from the Creamery Manager’s house to Ballyverneen. Peter Mernagh got very little sleep that week watching the road night and day. (Mernagh letter, p. 3)
Arrest in Glenmore
The week after Easter Week, on Tuesday the Glenmore Volunteers heard of the surrender in Dublin. “We were not disposed to believe it.” The volunteers were disappointed that they did not have an active part in the Rising. “The police began to come out again and to show some activity.” (Mernagh letter, p. 3)
Michael Heffernan heard of arrests in New Ross. “One day when I met the friendly policeman in New Ross he informed me that my nephew Fred was noted as one of the ringleaders in the district and was a marked man, and it was not advisable for him to remain in the area.” When Michael Heffernan told Fred he was not frightened by the news and determined to carry on as before. (Heffernan letter, p. 1)
Captain McLoughlin was arrested. John Dunphy broke the news of the arrest to Peter Mernagh. Peter thought that it was the 6th of May 1916, and he expected that he too would be arrested. However, he was not. (Mernagh letter, p. 4)
Ellen Cassin was working for Fred’s aunts and was milking a cow when the police arrived to arrest Fred. “There was great excitement in the Village that day over Freddie’s arrest. It was expected that others might be taken at any moment. Freddy’s aunts were very upset…” No other arrests were made and the excitement died down.” (Cassin letter, p. 1)
Michael Heffernan learned one morning that the police and military were arresting Fred at his sister’s house in Glenmore Village. He was not surprised. “I went to see what was happening and saw the R.I.C. and military with rifles standing about the house where Fred was sleeping. There was some little delay. I went to hunt fowl out of the new potatoes that were coming up in my garden on the hill. On clapping my hands loudly, I remember that two R.I.C. turned the corner at the bridge. They appeared to have some interest in the noise, but I explained that I was only frightening fowl away, and the incident ended. I saw Fred being taken off under escort a few minutes afterwards…” (Heffernan letter, p. 1).
John McLoughlin’s Letter of 18 May 1916
John McLoughlin wrote to Robert Chalmers, expressing his disappointment in his 18-year-old son Cornelius F. McLoughlin. Sir Robert Chalmers, was famous for being the rudest man in Whitehall whose “pomposity and cynicism concealed his many benefactions,” as Under Secretary. (G.C. Peden, “Chalmers, Robert, Baron Chalmers (1858-1938),” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as cited by Martin Maguire (2008) in The Civil Service and the Revolution in Ireland, 1912-38, Manchester University Press, p. 39.)
Sir,
I have just heard that my son Cornelius F. McLoughlin, who is aged 18 years and 10 months, has been arrested in connection with this Sinn Fein insurrection, at the residence of his aunt (Miss Minnie Heffernan) at Glenmore, Waterford where he resided for the past five months, and has been deported to some part of England. If this boy has by Overt act or otherwise done anything to merit punishment I trust the authorities will deal with him in a firm manner. I spent a considerable sum of money in the bringing up and education of this boy, up to the summer examinations of last year, where he completed his Intermediate course. As he was young, able, active, clever and physically fit, and in my opinion eminently suitable for his Majesty’s forces, I did my utmost during the autumn of last year to induce him to join the O.T.C. or other branch of the regular forces but failed. As he had no taste for soldiering and as he expressed a wish to go seek his fortune in America and join friends who are out there, and so I had no employment for him here. I consented to his wish. It was just then that the stampede of young men took place which caused the Government to prevent the departure of passengers unless provided with passports. He filed papers with the view of getting one, and as he saw there were some obstacles put in the way, he allowed the matter drop and changed his mind. As he was not willing to join the army or go to America and so I had no business for him, he went to his aunt’s at Glenmore.
While under my charge he never mixed with any evil companions, what evil company he with since he left me, I do not know. How or when he became connected with this Sinn Finn business, if he has been so connected, I have no knowledge. I need hardly say I have no sympathy for him in his present miserable predicament, and that is m reason for saying that I trust he may be fittingly punished if there is any evidence of guilt brought home to him, as I do mot believe in making heroes of young fellows by arrest and discharge without adequate punishment, which would be a lesson to them in the future.
As I look upon this attempted insurrection as the greatest curse that could befall this unhappy land when everyone should be united in the midst of this awful war to combat and beat the enemy. I am compelled by a strong sense of duty to write this letter. I am a ex Sargeant of the R.I.C. and had the honour of serving my King and country for 30 years.
This is confidential and the contents are not to be shown or made known to the boy as it might cause him to have ill feeling toward me afterward.
I am, Sir
Your Obedient Servant
J. McLoughlin
(National Archives of Ireland; Chief Secretary’s Office Registered Papers, CSO RP/1916/5611/8501/1) To view a copy of the handwritten letter see the website, Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Times: Letters 1916-1923.
Impact of His Father’s Letter
By January 1913 John McLoughlin had retired from the R.I.C. and was living at Maryville, Tullow, Co. Carlow with his wife and children. That month he was appointed Collector of Income Taxes for 26 districts in Carlow and parts of Kilkenny (Carlow Sentinel, Sat. 18 Jan. 1913, p. 2). His post as Tax Collector was omitted in his extraordinary 1916 letter regarding his son’s arrest and detention.
Given that Fred was detained about a month. It is unlikely that the letter had a negative impact on his case. It transpired that he was sent to Wakefield Prison in Western Yorkshire, England. After the 1916 Rising, Wakefield Prison was taken over by the military. In Part 2 we will outline Fred’s continued work as a Volunteer and information we found regarding his later life.
Please send any corrections, further information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com . Also we would like your thoughts concerning John Loughlin’s 1916 letter.
The featured photo is Wakefield Prison in 1916 courtesy of wikimedia commons [http://maggieblanck.com/Land/WakefieldPrison/WP5.jpg Maggie Blanck] |Date=1916 |Author={{author|unknown}}.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Enduring Love: Peter & May Mernagh
It is often said that the true test of love is whether an individual wants to spend the rest of his or her life with another person. Today in honour of Valentine’s Day we are featuring Peter and May Mernagh who were married in Rosbercon on the 9th of July 1924 after a long courtship. Thus began a marriage that flourished until the couple were only parted when Peter died on the 16th of November 1990. When I asked their son Liam Mernagh if they ever spoke of why their marriage endured for over six decades he said with a laugh, “they didn’t have time to fight.”
The Groom
Peter Mernagh was born the 29th of February 1892 at Sparrowland, Bree, Wexford. He was one of 16 children born to John (Jack) Mernagh and Mary Mernagh née Kielthy. Peter’s parents were married on the 28th of November 1885. John Mernagh was from Galbally, Bree, Wexford and Mary Mernagh née Kielthy was from Ballybrennan, Wexford.
On 2 February 2020 we published a blog on the New Ross to Waterford railway and highlighted the tragic death of Peter’s father, Jack Mernagh, in a threshing accident in the autumn of 1911. (The blog post is available at https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-and-the-new-ross-to-waterford-railway-line/). The Mernagh family had moved around 1906 from Wexford to Ballyverneen, Glenmore. Jack Mernagh was employed as a ganger with the railway. From a 1988 newspaper interview we have Peter’s memories recorded concerning his father’s tragic death. His father was on the threshing machine feeding in the sheaths when one of his legs became entangled in the beater. “I’ll never forget when they told us. The man said that my father’s last words spoken in a quiet tone were ‘I’ve lost my leg.’ The Mernagh family were poor and it took all of his mother’s savings to buy the coffin. A box would cost you around nine or ten shillings.” Peter was consoled that his father had last rites before he died. The local curate had a premonition that someone was dying and made it to the injured man before he died. (Kilkenny People, Fri. 23 Dec. 1988, p. 4).
The Bride
Mary Cashin was born on the 14th of March 1897 at Shanbogh, Rosbercon. She was one of 14 children born to Thomas Cassin (sic) of Shanbo (sic) a fisherman and Statia Cassin née Roche. Thomas Cassion (sic) married Statia Roche on the 24th of May 1885 at Glenmore. Thomas was the son of Michael Cassion (sic), and Statia Roche was the daughter of William Roche of Jamestown, Glenmore.
Mary was generally known as May. As was the custom at the time when May was Confirmed her formal education ended. May was 11 when she was Confirmed and was walking with her mother one day when the widow Ellen Dunphy stopped on the road. She asked May’s mother how old May was and said that when she returned she would take the girl home with her. Thus in 1908 May Cashin moved to the Dunphy farm in Ballyverneen where she worked until she married in 1924 at the age of 27. Liam Mernagh stated that May Cashin was well treated and was fond of Mrs. Dunphy.
According to a newspaper article May revealed that she met her future husband in 1910 when he also went to work on the Dunphy farm. The 1911 Census reveals that the widow, Ellen Dunphy was 53 years of age. Her son John Dunphy was 31 years of age. There were three servants listed in the household: Mary Cashin, age 14; Peter Mernagh, age 18 and Thomas Brophy, age 33. Peter was a ploughman “who worked behind the horses from dawn ’til dusk,” and from shortly after they first met in 1910 Peter had only had eyes for May, who worked as a housemaid. (George Jacob, New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 March 1986, p. 12).
The Courting Years
Although May joked that Peter was a slow starter and it took 14 years after they met for Peter to propose (Jacob, New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 March 1986, p. 12), in addition to the couple being very young and poor the country was in turmoil for most of the years between 1910 to 1924.
Liam Mernagh stated yesterday that his parents did not speak a lot about their involvement in the Old IRA and Cumann na mBan. For our international readers Cumann na mBan was an Irish Republican women’s paramilitary organisation.
Peter came from a very republican family. In 1916 he armed himself with a double-barrel shotgun and set out walking with other members of his family for Enniscorthy to join in the Easter Rising. They were on the Enniscorthy side of New Ross when the countermand came from McNeill. They returned home (New Ross Standard, Thurs. 22 Nov. 1990, p. 10). During the War of Independence Peter was a known Republican. In a 1986 newspaper interview Peter recollected being awoken by his mother at around 4 a.m. one night with the Black and Tans at the door. “It was a frosty night …, and when I said to hold on while I’d get some clothes, they said I didn’t need any. I didn’t wait much longer after that, and leapt out the window with them firing after me.” When he later returned home his mother informed him that the Black and Tans were not actually looking for him that night (Jacob, New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 March 1986, p. 12).
On another occasion the Black and Tans raided his mother’s house and fearing for his life he fled the house in his nightshirt and spent the night in his bare feet in muck, kept warm by the farm animals which gave him cover. “When I got back to the house the following morning my mother noticed I was bleeding.” A bullet had grazed his backside apparently when he was escaping over the ditch (Kilkenny People, Fri. 23 Dec. 1988, p. 4).
Very little is known about May’s work in the Cumann na mBan, but Liam Mernagh stated yesterday that his mother did say that she carried hidden weapons and messages in farm buckets. Although some of the women in Dublin acted as snipers the majority of women in the organisation gathered information and carried weapons and communications.
Notwithstanding the dangers associated with the War of Independence Glenmore continued to have dances, music and sports. Glenmore, like a lot of parishes in the south, danced sets known as lancers. The dances would go on all night. Dances would be held at the end of threshing, in barns and at crossroads (Jacob, New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 March 1986, p. 12).
If the dance was held in a barn or home of a big farmer there would be supper, and if the host was well off he would buy a barrel of beer which cost about £10 in the early twenties. According to Peter the young and old would dance on the hard concrete floors of the houses. “That time all weddings were held in the houses and were called breakfasts, even though they would not finish ’till breakfast the following day.” Dances at cross roads were frowned upon and the young people were always worried about that the clergy appearing. “According to Peter the biggest threat were the Nightingales…correspondents from local papers would go to these parties or dances and would publish a list of those who attended. It was a terrible thing if your name was printed in the paper as the parish priest would also see it” (Kilkenny People, Fri. 23 Dec. 1988, p. 4).
As a talented musician Peter sang, played fiddle and melodian at these types of gatherings and he was a member of the Glenmore Redmond Volunteer fife and drum band. (For information regarding the Glenmore Redmond Volunteers and the Fife and Drum Band see, https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-redmond-volunteers-and-the-fife-drum-band/ ). When his family moved to Glenmore they continued mumming and helped introduce it into the area. Sports were a popular pastime, and Peter along with the Hanrahan’s of Glenmore was responsible for introducing hurling to the parish. Peter remembered a time when there wasn’t a hurler in Glenmore. “It was all football in the 1920’s…My old friend Mick Heffernan played and the best sportsman that Glenmore ever had, Dick Hanrahan played his football with Wexford (Kilkenny People, Fri. 23 Dec. 1988, p. 4). “[Hurling] was quite a different game then though, as you’d rarely get to play on a cut field and could spend half the time looking for the ball in the long grass” (Jacob, New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 March 1986, p. 12).
Marriage
Concerning their long courtship Peter in his 1988 interview explained, “Sure we couldn’t afford it — we were hardly making £1 a year hiring out…You’d hardly get a house that time because there was none going and you would be saving a good four or five years for a wedding.” Reflecting on marriage Peter opined that young people today don’t wait long enough before getting married. “They only know each other a couple of months and they are married. The following year they are parted…The problem is that they don’t give the matter proper consideration in the first place” (Kilkenny People, Fri. 23 Dec. 1988, p. 4).
On the 9th of July 1924 the couple were married at Rosbercon by the curate, Fr. Greene. Peter was 32 when they tied the knot and May was 27. James Mernagh served his brother as best man and Kate Cashin served her sister as the maid of honour. Peter and May enjoyed a trip for breakfast to Waterford, and an afternoon in Tramore as their honeymoon. Peter had just 3s. 6d. in his pocket (New Ross Standard, 21 March 1986, p. 12). After working at Dunphy’s Peter then went to work for Jim Fluskey as the farm manager. He remained at Fluskey’s until he retired after he suffered a road accident on his way to work one morning on his bicycle.
To this union ten children were born and May proudly noted that she reared nine children on just 10 shillings per week and expressed that they were blessed because at the time she was rearing her family many families were wiped out by consumption and other diseases. (Jacob, New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 March 1986, p. 12). May went to work at 11, served in the War of Independence and reared a large family on 10 shillings per week and never indulged in alcohol or tobacco. May only survived Peter by a year and a half.
Peter and May had 3 daughters and 7 sons. Their daughters include: Maureen Mernagh, Biddy Duggan and Cissie Power. Their sons include: Liam Mernagh, Seamus Mernagh, Paddy Mernagh, Fr. Michael Mernagh, Jack Mernagh, Thomas Mernagh and their youngest child, Louis Mernagh, who died at the age of six months.
Special thanks to Fr. Michael Mernagh and particularly Liam Mernagh for sharing the family photos. The featured photo above was taken on Peter and May’s 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
55th Wedding Anniversary
Front row (left to right) Cissy, Peter, May and Maureen; Back row (left to right) Liam, Seamus, Paddy, Biddy, Tom, Fr. Michael and Jack.