MARTIN DILLANE was born on 27 Nov 1895 in Kinard, Glin Co. Limerick. Martin, like his father before him, was a tailor and lived in Clounleharde, Ballyhahill. (Next to the school) I knew him well. I drew home the turf for him from Spa Hill bog back in 1970. On April 29th, 1930 at Ballyhahill church, Martin married Ellen (Nell) Enright, daughter of Mick ‘The Bram’ Enright, the witnesses being – John Dillane & Bridget Quinn. Ellen died in 1988 aged 90 years. Martin and Ellen had the following family of 5 –

i.Martin (Mar) Dillane who along with his 4-year-old son Martin, were fatally injured in a road traffic accident in 1984 in Co. Longford. It is of the belief that a drunk driver ran into them.

ii.John Joe Dillane N.T. emigrated to Zimbabwe where he settled down in Harare and married a native from there. They had a daughter Tracey Dillane who married Chippie Roberts who was a rugby player with Zimbabwe. Chippie & Tracey visited Clounleharde when the Zimbabwe rugby team toured Ireland over 30 years ago, I I’m almost sure it was 1991. John returned to Ireland as is now (Dec 30th, 2022) living in Portlaoise.

iii.Kathleen Dillane married Jim Donegan and they live in Dublin.

iv. Michael Dillane who is nearing the 92-age bracket (Dec 30th, 2022), is married and living in Listowel, Co. Kerry.

v.Paul Dillane emigrated to the U.S. and went to his eternal reward a good number of years ago.

Mick ‘The Bram’ Enright, on his return from the U.S. bought the original house where Martin & his wife lived (which was one of the brick houses) from a family of the O’Callaghan’s who emigrated to the U.S.A. Martin, later built a new bungalow close to the schoolhouse.

Mick ‘The Bram’ Enright was born at Clounleharde on Sept 27th, 1867, son of John Enright & Margaret Ahern. On Jan 20th, 1889 at Ballyhahill church, Mick who was aged 22 years, married Catherine Walsh, Clounleharde, daughter of labourer John Walsh, the witnesses being – Thomas & Bridget Enright.  Following their marriage, Mick and his wife went to live in Knockdown in the cottage by the side of the road where Ned O’Shaughnessy lived in my time. Mick ‘The Bram’ had a twin sister, Johanna Enright who died from the fever on July 28th, 1876, aged 8 years.

Mick had a family of 6 as follows, all whom emigrated to the U.S. They were – Paddy, Jack, Mick, Catherine, Bridget and Ellen Enright. 

Mick’s wife Catherine was born on Sept 13th. 1867 and died at Clounleharde from heart disease on Sept 18th, 1904, aged 37 years. Mick worked as an engine driver at the branch of the Cork and Kerry creamery in Crough, Turraree. After the creamery was burned down Mick sold his house to Con O’Shaughnessy and along with his youngest daughter Ellen, followed the rest of the family on the emigrant ship to the U.S. As alluded to above, on his return from the U.S. Mick bought the O’Callaghan home in Clounleharde. Ellen had returned with him and subsequently married Martin Dillane.  (George Langan & Paddy Faley)