Rev. John Hoynes (1916-1978) of Ballybrahee

Today, we feature Richard Canon Aylward (1872-1954) a native of Ballinclare, Glenmore. Canon Aylward had a love of the Irish language and from 2009 has a biographical sketch in the Dictionary of Irish Biography written by Lesa Ní Mhunghaile. Unfortunately, the biographical sketch has his birthplace wrong. Canon Aylward was born and reared in Ballinclare, Glenmore, not Aylwardstown, Glenmore.  

Historian Julian Walton wrote an article regarding Canon Aylward which was published in the Old Kikenny Review in December 1978 (p. 349-351). Julian Walton sent a copy of his article to Danny Dowling (1927-2021) Glenmore’s historian with a note to Danny stating “With Compliments.” This article is now available on line.

Early Life

Canon Aylward was born at Ballinclare, Glenmore on 26 January 1872 to Edmund/Edward Aylward (c. 1835-1908 and his wife Johanna Phelan (1834-1922).

 Ballinclare has two Aylward families. According to locals the two Aylward families were the same family going back. Another Richard Aylward was baptized at Glenmore on 23 January 1871 to Thomas Aylward and his wife Judtih Hennessy.  This has proved difficult for some people tracing their family trees who have wrongly identified Canon Aylward as a married man with three children.

Canon Aylward wrote in 1927 that both his parents could speak Irish, but they did not speak Irish to their children (Walton, p. 349). Canon Aylward noted that after he became a priest and learned “a few books of O’Growney”…”they really delighted to speak it to me” (Walton, p. 350).

Siblings of Canon Aylward

Edmund/Edward Aylward (1835-1908) a farmer of Ballinclare married on 13 Feb.1868, at Glenmore, Johanna Phelan (1834-1922) of Ballyfacey. Edmund’s father was John Aylward (farmer) and Johanna’s father was Richard Phelan (farmer). To this union we have found in parish records that six children were born:

[1] Mary Aylward (b. 27 Nov. 1868)
[2] John Aylward (9 Feb. 1870—6 Jan. 1956) [Per death register John never married.]
[3] Richard Aylward (26 Jan. 1872—1 Dec. 1954) [Canon Aylward]
[4] Edmund Aylward (25 May 1873—19 Dec. 1904) [Died aged 30 of suspected T.B.]
[5] Michael Aylward (29 Oct. 1874—3 March 1961) [Married Maryann Irish of Ballinlammy on 11 July 1907 in Waterford City].
[6] Johanna Aylward (25 July 1878—8 April 1890) [We believe that Johanna died at the age of 12 of influenza at Ballinclare. Michael Aylward was present when she died].

Obituaries

Several newspapers published obituaries for Canan Aylward outlining his education and work. Below is the obituary from the Kilkenny People (Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 7) which perhaps unsurprisingly provides the most detail concerning his education and work. Additional information gleaned from other sources has been added in square brackets [  ].

Other obituaries for Canon Aylward not cited elsewhere in this post include: Irish Times (Fri. 3 Dec. 1954, p. 7); Irish Independent (Fri. 3 Dec. 1954, p. 10); Irish Examiner (Fri. 3 Dec. 1954, p. 4); and Evening Herald (Thur. 2 Dec. 1954, p. 1).

Death of Very Rev. Richard Canon Aylward, Native of Glenmore (Kilkenny People, Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 7)

We very deeply regret to announce that the Very Rev. Richard Canon Aylward, P.P. Durrow, died at Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny, on Wednesday. He had been in failing health for some time past and was in Aut Even for about 6 weeks before his death. [Per the death register Canon Aylward died of a cerebral thrombosis or blood clot in the brain. He suffered with it for 6 weeks]. By his death the Diocese of Ossory has lost one of its best-known priests.

Education

Born 82 years ago in Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny, he received his early education at the local Schools [Glenmore National School per Fr. M. Mernagh, (2000) Glenmore Times, p. 41] and at the old Classical College, Kilmacow. He later went to St. Kieran’s College and Maynooth. [Per Fr. M. Mernagh he studied for the priesthood at Maynooth.] He was ordained in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on June 9, 1898.

Appointments

His first appointment was to the curacy of Dundee, Scotland, and on his return to his native diocese he was appointed Bishop’s Secretary [Canon Aylward was secretary to Bishop Brownrigg (Munster Express, Fri. 10 Dec. 1954, p. 8)]. [Before taking up his role as Secretary to the Bishop he was curate of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny (New Ross Standard, Fri. 10 Dec. 1954, p. 2)].

In 1905 Canon Aylward was appointed first Professor of Irish in St. Kieran’s College, and in 1919 he succeeded Very Rev. C. Canon McNamara, P.P., VF. Castlecomer, as President of St. Kieran’s. His appointment to the Presidency came at a very critical time when the minds of people were turned away, to some extent, from educational natters, but his sterling qualities of mind and health fitted him admirably for the responsible work which he was called upon to perform.

[Per Lesa Ní Mhunghaile, Canon Aylward in 1920 wrote a document “strongly criticising the educational standards attained by boys entering the college, as he believed that they had not received in national school the basic training required for entry to St Kieran’s. During his presidency the college was raided on more than one occasion by crown forces in search of evidence of students or staff being involved in subversive acts.”]

In 1925, he was appointed Parish Priest of Durrow, being succeeded as President of St. Kieran’s by Father Patrick Collier, now [in 1954] the Bishop of Ossory. In Durrow, Canon Aylward succeeded a man of similar interests, the Very Rev. Canon Carrigan [(1850-1924)] whose History of the Diocese of Ossory is the leading work of its kind.

Irish Revival Movement

Canon Aylward took an early interest in the Irish Revival Movement and it was while Professor of Irish in St. Kieran’s that he was asked by the local branch of the Gaelic League to give a lecture on his great kinsman, John O’Donovan [(1806-1861)] of Slieverue, whose greatest work The Annals of the Four Masters, is numbered among the Irish classics.

Canon Aylward’s interest in O’Donovan was aroused at an early age and he spent many years of his life in research on the subject. The fruits of his labour will be seen when his original work, The Life of John O’Donovan will be published.  

[According to Julian Walton (1978) after Canon Aylward’s death his work was given to Father Peter Birch and Professor Delargy, with a view to having it published. Father Birch later became the Bishop of Ossory. Scholars who reviewed it all agreed that it represented a vast amount of work, but it was too long and cumbersome and full of transcripts of materials published elsewhere. No publisher would touch it. “So the work on which Canon Aylward had lavished so much care over so many years remains unpublished to this day.”]

The Irish language was ever dear to Canon Aylward’s heart. He was one of the foundation members of Ring College [Waterford, officially recognised in 1907], and was appointed to the committee of Management of that college in 1920. The Chalice presented by him is still used. [He spent many years as teacher in the summer courses at Ring College and while there presented a chalice which is used in the chapel (Kilkenny Journal, Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 7)].

As a Parish Priest

Canon Aylward was not only a great priest but a great Irishman, imbued as he was with all the qualities that go to make an Irish priest. He was quiet and unassuming to the point of shyness, and it was characteristic of him that in 1948 on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of his ordination, at his own request, no public demonstration was held to mark this event other than the prayers of his parishioners. He was fond of his books, but scrupulously exact in his attention to his duties of his state.

His kind and gentlemanly character won for him the love and devotion of his people. His special friends were the children of the parish, whom he loved tenderly and for whom he always had a wonderful attraction. [According to the Nationalist & Leinster Times (Sun. 11 Dec. 1954, p. 22) Canon Aylward during “his 30 years ministry in the South Laois parish…endeared himself to the parishioners. His charity knew no bounds and his saintly ways were an edification.”]

Parish Building Projects

As Parish Priest of Durrow he was responsible for the renovation of Cullohill schools the building of Gurteen new school, the extension of Durrow cemetery and securing of sites for a new boys’ school and parochial House in Durrow.

Survived By

Canon Aylward was survived by two brothers Messrs Michael and John Aylward, Ballinclare, Glenmore. He was uncle of Sister Alphonsus [Mary Aylward (1913-1992)], Presentation Convent, Kilkenny, and Sister Philomena [Catherine Aylward (1918-1997)] of California. He was a first cousin of Mother Gerard, Mother-General of the Order of the Sacred Heart, Marymount, United States, and a distant relative of Mother Mary Butler of the same Order, the Cause of whose Beatification is being promoted. He was also a cousin of Rev. John Hoynes [(1916-1978) native of Ballybrahee] C.C., Callan.    [Fr. Hoynes paternal grandmother was Margaret Hoynes née Aylward of Ballybrahee, Glenmore.]

[The Bishop of Ossory, Most Rev. Dr. Collier presided at Office and Requiem Mass in Durrow Parish Church, after which the funeral took place (Irish Press (Sat. 4 Dec. 1954, p. 11)].

Canon Aylward’s Glenmore Grandparents

Canon Aylward’s paternal grandparents were John Aylward (Ballinclare) and Mary Walsh (Davidstown). They were married at Glenmore on 4 Feb. 1834.

Canon Aylward’s maternal grandparents were Richard Phelan and Judith/Joanna Dunphy. Richard Phelan and his wife Judith/Joanna Dunphy were also the grandparents of Mother Gerard (1873-1960). Canon Aylward’s mother, Johanna Aylward née Phelan (1834-1922) was a sister of Mother Gerard’s father John Phelan (bapt. 1832).

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See our post of 28 Jan. 2021 regarding the Very Rev. Mother Marie Gerard Phelan (1873-1960).
See our post of 24 Jan. 2021 regarding Nicholas F. Phelan (1857-1941), Mother Gerard’s brother and family.
See our post of 13 March 2021 regarding John O’Donovan (1806- 1861).
See our post of 17 Sept. 2021 regarding William Canon Carrigan (1860-1924).

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

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

The photo above of a young Richard Canon Aylward (1872-1954) was taken from his memory card.