George Lynch 1817-1866.
(son of James)
George Lynch married Mary Flavin, b1816-1907. (Spelt Flahavan back then) daughter of John (Criona) Flahavan, and Kate Creedon?, Glenagragra. Not sure if she was Creedon but I often heard my grandfather, George Lynch mention the name when we were discussing our relations. Along with John Lynch, George had two other brothers, William and Patrick Lynch and a sister Catherine Lynch whom we’ve already dealt with.
Further research carried out by my 2nd cousin Mike Connolly indicates that the earliest traceable records for the Lynch family are contained in the September 1830 Tithe Book. There is a John Lynch living in Plot 6 in Upper Ballyguiltenane on a farm of 36acres. There is another Lynch listed, no Christian name, sharing land in Clounleharde with Cornelius Nolan on plot 217 consisting of 80acres. There isn’t any mention of Glashapullagh as a town-land in 1830 but Clounleharde is divided into east and west town-lands. It is quite possible that Glasha may have been part of Clounleharde back then and might be the explanation for the difference in place names and the addresses on some of our family’s birth certificates i.e. Michael Lynch given as Dirreen and Catherine Lynch given as Clounleharde. It is my belief that the Clounleharde Lynch was George Lynch, my great great grandfather and there is evidence to indicate same as George & Mary gave Clounleharde as their address on the baptismal record of their son James who was born in 1846. However, under the Registry of Parishioners for Dirreen East 1851 it is recorded where John and George Lynch paid 1/6 each towards the religious and educational institutions of the parish. So was Glasha part of Dirreen East then?
Griffiths Valuation records of 1852 states that George and John Lynch jointly occupy plot 1 in Glasha consisting of 155acres of land and bog on which John has offices and a house. It also states that they jointly lease another plot of about 11acres, known in our time as ‘Faley’s place’.
If we look at Griffiths map of 1852, at 1b, ‘Faley’s place’ there is a piece of land jutting eastwards that resembles a cone. This portion is part of the Higgins estate. It was on this plot during the famine years that potatoes were sowed and obviously failed as the imprint of the un-dug ridges were still visible right up until the time that it was sold to the forestry for plantation. I saw these ridges myself and always felt the plot should have been listed i.e. a protected area. There was no talk back then about the ‘hen harrier’ or the ‘sparrow hawk’. There was no legislation when the forestry ploughs tore away at what was once an expertly tilled garden and in doing so destroyed another link with our forbearers and what they must have gone through back in 1847.
Returning to the subject matter, George doesn’t own a house in Glasha but could be living there with his brother John or indeed could be living in Clounleharde, hence the reason for Catherine’s birth certificate address given as above. Looking again at Griffith’s Valuation of 1852 the area of Glashapullagh is just over 480 acres. There are four main occupiers having their leases from Samuel A. Dixon, they are – John & George Lynch in plot 1A and 1B, James Dalton in plot 2A with three sub-tenants with no land only houses, Daniel, Jeremiah John Nolan on plot 3A. with John Neill, Mary Neill and Johanna Guerin or Cussen having 272 acres in plots 3A, B and C. The O’Neill siblings emigrated to the U.S.A. and were later joined there by their parents.
By 1868 Mary Lynch had taken over from her husband George and John Lynch is the lesser of Catherine Nolan’s house which is on James Dalton’s plot. By 1904 Patrick (Patsy) Lynch had taken over from his father John the lesser being George W. Dixon. In 1905 the original plots of 1A and 1B became a single plot jointly owned by James, Patrick and Bridget Lynch and the land had now been purchased under the 1904 Wyndam Land Act (LAP). So the question is when was the farm divided between the two Lynch families? The view of Mike and myself is that it was divided sometime around 1860. It must be by mutual agreement as the farm was still under lease and there is no record in the land registry of any such transaction taking place. It would be around this time that George built for himself a farmhouse of his own, that same home where my mother’s side of the family descended from. Other evidence to suggest that George had the farm around this time is that in 1866 George, shortly before he died, invited the late Paddy Faley’s grandparents, Denis Faley and his wife Ellen Sheahan to come and live in part of his farm. That part of the farm turned out to be the corner of the 11 acre plot as mentioned heretofore and it was there for 93yrs that three generations of the Faley family resided. And so a friendship was born, bonded and cemented through the years and I’m happy to say that, that closeness and comradeship still exits to this present day. Denis and Ellen had been living in a shack in Templeathea when they received the call from George. (George Langan)
The land records for 1868 show, that James Dalton had been replaced by his son John and he in turn had been replaced by his son James, born 1874. The Lynch’s retained a right of way through the Dalton farm to their plot of 11 acres at ‘Faley’s place. More on the Dalton’s presently just to mention at this point that my uncle Dan Lynch in Chicago informed me that he often heard his father speak of the very close relationship between the said Dalton’s and John Lynch’s family. The only connections that I can come up with in that regard are as follows –
John Lynch’s son Patrick (Patsy) Lynch was married to Johanna Dalton from Upper Athea. Johanna had a sister Mary Dalton who married John Sheehy, Templeathea East. She had another sister Catherine Dalton who married James Ahern, Knockfinnisk and a brother Tim Dalton who married Ellen Scanlon, Templeathea West. The Scanlon home was located, down a boreen off the Glin road opposite Denny William Mullane’s. Jimmy Dalton lived there in my time. When James Lynch(Jimeen) R.I.P. February 3rd 1965, (son of Patsy) was born May 16th 1888 one of his sponsors was Tim Dalton and when John Lynch (son of Patsy) was born May 15th 1884 his sponsors were Tim Dalton & Julia Dalton. So it seems that the relationship was there alright confirming what my grandfather had told Dan.
By now, 1905, plot 3 is leased by John Behan and Cornelius Higgins. By 1917, James (Jimeen) Lynch, had taken over from his father Patsy and George Lynch, my grandfather, had taken over from his mother Bridget. James ‘The Cooper’ Lynch, whom we have already dealt with, had a house and shop. He in turn is replaced by his widow Hanora Lynch, known to all and sundry as Hannie Casey. Also by this time Plot 3 was jointly leased by Thomas Behan,(my wife Vera’s granduncle) and brothers, Maurice and Patrick Higgins. The Higgins’s were married to Nora & Margaret Langan, my two grand-aunts. The Higgins family would appear to have come from Knockdown, their father Cornelius Higgins and his father John Higgins being listed there in 1860/1870. The Behan family listed under Glenbawn in 1852, Roger Behan, Tom’s grandfather having 91 acres there at that time. Thomas (Tom) Behan was the son of John Behan (above), John being married to Ellen Barrett b1843, Dirreen, the same Barrett family as that of my grandmother Nora. For Barrett family see hereunder and also https://georgelangan.wordpress.co
Tom inherited this farm making it three in total in his possession at that time. Tom sold the farm to Jack Higgins, Glasha, (son of Maurice Higgins) who subsequently sold it on to his brother Mick. This is the same farm from where my brother Eddie Langan operates a stone and pencil quarry. Eddie bought the quarry site from Mick Higgins and another corner from Dan Barrett, Turraree. Paul Higgins, grandson of Maurice currently owns the Behan and Higgins farms. Looking at an 1843 map of Glasha it would appear that the original Lynch family home was situated on the hill overlooking the valley and was inherited by John’s son Patrick Lynch (Patsy), followed by James (Jimeen), son of Patsy, then Jimeen’s son Jack and is now in the ownership of Jim Lynch, son of Jack.
Anyway, whenever the farm was divided George acquired the southern portion of the original Lynch farm and in addition to that, five or six acres at the south-eastern corner bounding Higgins’s estate that being part of the 11 acre plot as per 1852 records. George also obtained three acres on the northern side of the farm along by the Glasha river, that area being known as the ‘glen’ where I was born and reared. His brother John, along with having the northern half of the farm also had five or six acres next to George in the aforementioned south-eastern corner. John had the portion along by the river that divides Glasha from Knocknagorna. This was the other part of the plot of 11 acres mentioned heretofore. It was like an oasis in the desert, two beautiful green fields surrounded by mountain on each side. That was in keeping with the way farms were divided back in those days, a field here and a field there. The Lynch’s had a right of way to that part of the farm via the river and through part of their near neighbours’ farm, the aforementioned Dalton’s. George Lynch died in Glashapullagh in 1866, his death being registered by his brother Patrick Lynch.
George Lynch and Mary Flahavan had the following family of (8)
1.James Lynch 1846-1893. (son of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) was baptised in Athea RC Church, November 4th 1846 his sponsors being John Flavin and Maria Lyons. The baptismal record shows that his parents George and Mary Lynch were living in Clounleharde. James died of a back ailment, August 4th 1893 and is buried in Templeathea Cemetery with his mother Mary who died on January 24th 1908 at the age of 90yrs. He got married on February 23rd 1878 at Moyvane Church to Bridget Culhane 1858-1930, Leitrim Middle, Moyvane, Co Kerry. Bridget’s father was Thomas Culhane. The witnesses were John Lynch who was either his uncle or his younger brother who later emigrated to New Zealand and Patrick Culhane, Bridget’s brother. Whilst the Lynch family lived in Glashapullagh, many of the early records indicate that James and Bridget were living in Clounleharde. Records from the early 1800’s show that Glashapullagh was not a separate townland but was part of the said Clounleharde as were a number of its surrounding townlands. It seems that under Griffith’s Valuation of 1852 it became a separate townland. Like his father before him James was a road building contractor and he took over the family business when his father died in 1866. Bridget went to the U.S. on July 29th 1914 on the SS Oceanic sailing from Queenstown. She was going to visit a Mrs. Franklin at 2067 Mackoon Ave, New York. Bridget was 76yrs of age when she died in 1930. It is not known whether she’s buried with her husband James or not as there is no marking as such on the Lynch family plot. Prior to his death James, who along with being a farmer was also a road contractor and had secured the contract for the building of part of the ‘Kerryline’ roadway, having taken over the road construction from his late father, George. However, he passed to his eternal reward before the job was completed. The roadway locally named ‘Kerryline’ as it connects counties Limerick and Kerry from near Shanagolden in the former to Listowel in the latter passing by the old Lynch homestead in Glasha to the crossroads of Glin and Athea at a place known locally as Blaine.
The main contract for the building of this road went to a John Roche, Athea, for 541 perches between the cross of Glin road and Miss Ahern’s cross, at £8,3/4d. Sub contracts to James Lynch, address given as Clounleharde and Timothy McCoy, Dromadda on a bond of £39 8s 11d. The roadway had to be 18 feet wide, with 100 cubic yards of stone or gravel to be applied yearly during the winter and spring months with footpaths, channels, walls and ditches to be kept in repair.
Following James’ death, his wife Bridget took up the mantle so to speak and took on the responsibility of ensuring that the task was completed, which it was. In the words of Paddy Faley – ‘His widow Bridget Culhane of Leitrim, Moyvane did not despair. Being the determined woman that she was, possessing an indomitable spirit, she carried on the business as efficiently and successfully as her husband and reared and cared for her family single-handed’.
As previously stated, Glasha may have been incorporated into Clounleharde West or vise versa at the time, hence the reason for James giving Clounleharde as his address for above. My 2nd cousin Mike Connolly of Welwyn Garden City, Hertforshire is of the same opinion. (See O’Connor Josephine (Phine).
Paddy Faley also informed me that James was an educated intelligent man. Says Paddy – ‘one day he called to the meadow where he had Jack Aherne, my father and my uncle mowing hay. He said to them, ‘tis the last time you’ll be mowing it boys the horses will be cutting it next year. There was no appearance of mowing machines then and he left the three men very puzzled.’
(Jack Aherne lived where Paudie ‘Padden’ Mulvihill now lives. Jack Aherne’s daughter Minnie Aherne married Michael Mulvihill, grandfather of Paudie)
Paddy Faley often heard his father Denis speak about a collie dog that was at Lynch’s where he worked. It would appear that Denis and the dog became very attached to one another. Faley’s house was approximately one mile from Lynch’s and Denis would walk to and from work each morning and evening. It so happened that Denis was unfortunate enough to catch the influenza bug on an occasion and being confined to the bed, was unable to attend work. Each morning during the time he was sick ‘Flora’, which was the dog’s name, would arrive at the door and finding it open, as it always was, would enter and visit Denis at his sick bed. The dog would lick Denis’s outstretched hand, depart and return the next morning and do the same thing all over again. Affection between man and beast at times most astounding. My mother remembers ‘Flora’ very well.
Maggie White, Paddy Faley’s aunt was a servant girl at Lynch’s as per 1911 census. Maggie was 20yrs of age on said date.
On March 28th, 1893 when Dan Faley (uncle of Paddy) bought his Turraree farm, the said James Lynch along with Patrick (Patsy) Griffin, Glenagragra witnessed the indenture. Those in the legal profession, amongst others, passed afterwards the remark, that the wordiness in the said bond was the most eloquent piece of work that they had ever seen. Local opinion have it that it may have been James’ brother William the solicitor in Lr. Ormond Quay, Dublin that drew up the document.
Family from the James Lynch/Bridget Culhane union (8) as follows –
(1) Mary Agnes Lynch1879-1973. (daughter of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane) was born March 11th 1879 in Leitrim Middle and baptised March 13th 1879 at Moyvane Church, sponsors Patrick Culhane and Ellen Lynch. Mary being the first child born, her mother Bridget must have gone home to her parents for the birth. Bridget’s parents were Thomas Culhane and Margaret Hegarty. On March 9th 1899 Mary emigrated to the U.S. on board the SS Teutonic going to her aunt Mrs M. Culhane who lived at 160 Centre Drive, Rochester, New York. She returned home in April 1903 but returned again to Rochester on August 30th 1903 on board the SS Arabic. She was travelling with Catherine Culhane aged 26, Catherine who was also returning to Rochester. Catherine was most likely her cousin, the eldest daughter of John Culhane & Kate Flahavan, Leitrim Middle, Newtownsandes. On December 30th 1906 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York Mary married Pat Bunce, son of Patrick Bunce & Honora Carr of Leitrim East. Pat was baptised on February 21st 1881 at the Annunciation RC Church, Newtownsandes. The sponsors were Michael and Catherine Carr. He emigrated to New York on May 17th 1903 from Queenstown on board the SS Cedric and travelled with his cousin Johanna Culhane to her sister Mrs Bunce in Canadaigera, Ontario, New York. Mary and Pat had a family of three as follows:
(i) Marie Theresa Bunce born 1906 in New York, died on April 19th, 1913 at Rochester, Monroe County. Her address in 1910 as follows – Rochester Ward 9, Monroe, New York, USA
(ii)John Patrick Bunce born on April 11th, 1908. Married Christina ‘Tina’ M Pringle on April 27th, 1933. John died on Feb 24th, 1980 at Davie County, North Carolina. Had a family of three.
Lilian & Arnie Duiker.
(iii) Lilian Catherine Bunce b August 23rd 1911 and died Jan 3rd 2007. Married Arnie Duiker. They had no family.
(iv)Rosemary Bunce born on June 21st, 1921. Died on Jan 24th, 1983. Rosemary Married Louie Scannella. They had two daughters, Patricia & Mary Louise Scanella.
Mary Lynch Bunce, (daughter of James Lynch) passed to her eternal reward on February 20th 1973 at Rochester, Monroe County, aged 93yrs. Her husband Pat Bunce died on Jan 7th, 1949 at Rochester, Monroe County, New York.
Group Photo taken on Thanksgiving, Rochester, New York 1960.
Arnie Duiker say’s on back of photo – ‘Mom was getting little then – My painting on the wall’
Left to Right – Patricia, Mary Louise Scanella daughter of Louie and Rosemary, Lilian Bunce Duiker, Lilian’s mother Mary Lynch Bunce at 81yrs, Mary Rose (Rosemary) Bunce Scanella, Louie Scanella & Arnie Duiker.
(2) Margaret Lynch 1881-1964.
(2)Margaret (Maggie) Lynch (daughter of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane), was born in Clounleharde and baptised January 29th 1881 in Athea RC Church, her sponsors being – Michael Aherne and Ellen Culhane. All records for the Lynch family are in Athea Parish Register and had they been born in Clounleharde West those records would surely be in Ballyhahill, thus confirming what we already said about the townlands and their boundaries. On Feb 7th 1911 at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea Margaret married James O’Connor 1879-1956., Ballyguiltenane, Glin, her 2nd cousin, their respective grandmother’s being the sister’s Margaret & Mary Flavin. The witnesses for the wedding being Patrick J. Dore, Glin & Ellen Barrett, Dirreen. Margaret died in 1964 aged 83 years and is buried with her husband James and daughter Kathleen in the O’Connor family plot at Kilfergus Cemetery, Glin. Margaret and James had a family of six daughters, all born at the family farm in Ballyguiltenane.
Left – Maggie, her sister Ellen (Sr, Dominic) and her brother George Lynch, Photo at Kelly’s/O’Connor’s, Ballyguiltenane 1961.
( 3) George Lynch (1883-1971.
(son of James)
Photo taken during his time in U.S.
(3) George Lynch, my grandfather (son of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane)) was baptised in Athea church on June 9th 1883 his sponsors being – John Lynch and Margaret (Peg) Hegarty. John Lynch being his paternal granduncle and Margaret (Peg) Hegarty his maternal grandmother. George inherited the family farm from his mother Bridget nee Culhane, Leitrim Middle, Co. Kerry. He was a learned man and to the best of my knowledge was offered a teaching position in his younger days, which he declined. He was brilliant at arithmetic and would always help in our school homework. On July 27th 1911 at the age of 28 he left Glasha for a spell in the US. He sailed from Queenstown on board the SS Adriatic and was going to stay with his cousin Mrs. Hannah Kinsella at 807 West 13th St, Kansas City. It is likely that Hannah was his mother’s sister, the daughter of Thomas Culhane & Margaret Hegarty of Leitrim Middle, Newtownsandes, Co. Kerry.
He stayed initially with his sister Ellen (Sr.Domnic) in St. Louis before moving to Kansas City where he worked with the railway company there. It seems that he was held in very high regard at his place of work so much so that he was offered promotion but he declined the offer and returned to Ireland after a year or so.
On February 14th 1914 at Athea church George married Nora Barrett April 15th, 1883-1955 daughter of John Barrett , Lr. Dirreen, Athea and Johanna Thornton, Kilbaha, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. (MORE ON THE BARRETT FAMILY FURTHER ON)
Photo – George & Nora Lynch 1955
at their home in Glasha.
The witnesses for the wedding were Ambrose (Amby) Kelly of Ballygoughlin, Glin and Margaret Barrett, Bedford, Listowel. Amby’s brother Johnny Kelly would later marry George’s niece Ita O’Connor, Ballyguiltenane. Amby’s father was Davy (David) Kelly who was married to Johanna Wallace the same Johanna Wallace who was in receipt of the annual Christmas presents from the Lynch’s of Howth. (see Lynch William) Apparently, Davy was a great friend of the Lynch’s and used to visit Glasha on horse and side-saddle regularly. It was stated that the said Davy was one of the finest plough-men in three parishes.
The earliest traceable record for the Kelly’s go back to the 1830 Tithe Book and the Kilfergus Parish Register. There was an Ambrose Kelly born in Co. Kerry, possibly in Tarmons in 1834. In 1863 at Glin RC Church, Ambrose married Mary Moore, probably the daughter of David Moore, Ballyculhane. Ambrose was still alive at the time of the 1911 census, given as a widower so Mary had died before the said census. Ambrose and Mary had at least 8 children as follows -.
(1)David Kelly (son of Ambrose & Mary) 1866-1949 who in 1896 married Johanna Wallace 1869-1940 and had at least 4 children –
(i)Ambrose (Amby) Kelly 1897-1971. Ambrose took over from his father David. He remained single and lived with his sister Peg who did not marry until late in life. Amby had a shop in his Ballygoughlin home. I have a vivid recollection of Mickey ‘Marshall’ McMahon and myself calling to Amby’s when we were selling turnips for my father back in the years 1969/70. My father would buy the turnips by the ton back in North Kerry and we would deliver them by the bag around the locality thereafter. Mickey and myself had some memorable days going around in our tractor and trailer. We would always sell a bag in the Q/T to purchase a couple of packets of cigarettes for ourselves.
(ii)Mary Kelly 1900-?.
No information to date on Mary.
(iii)Johnny Kelly 1902-1987. Johnny married Mary Ita O’Connor the eldest daughter of James O’Connor and Margaret Lynch, Ballyguiltenane. John Kelly, the youngest son of Johnny and Ita now lives in the Ballygoughlin farm.
Left – George Lynch (3), Sr. Dominic, Johnny & Ita Kelly.
Photo 1961.
(iv)Margaret (Peg) Kelly 1907-1997. Peg married late in life to a McGrath. She died October 1st 1997 as is buried in Kilfergus Cemetery in the family grave.
(2)Francis (Frank) Kelly 1869-? (son of Ambrose & Mary) Emigrated to the US and in 1896 married Mary Lynch. According to the US census of 1910 they had 7 children – Ambrose (13), Anna (11), Joseph (8), Thomas (7), Francis (6), Agnes (5) and Mary (2).
(3)Bridget Kelly 1871-?. (daughter of Ambrose & Mary)
(4)Patrick Kelly 1873-?. (son of Ambrose & Mary)
(5)Margaret Kelly 1878-?. (daughter of Ambrose & Mary) Emigrated to the US firstly on 1909 with her 1st cousin Lizzie Bunce aged 22yrs from Tarbert and again in 1911.
(6)Mary Kelly 1893-? (daughter of Ambrose & Mary) Emigrated to the US in 1908 to her brother Frank who lived at 458 East 34 St, Flat Bush, Brooklyn, New York.
(7)Ambrose Kelly 1883-?. (son of Ambrose & Mary)
(8)Jeremiah Kelly 1885-?. (son of Ambrose & Mary) Emigrated to the US in 1906 and married Margaret ?.
Standing left – My mother Delia Lynch Langan, Josie Riordan Lynch wife of
John Lynch, George Lynch (3) and his wife Nora Barrett Lynch seated.
Note the thongs and the old black kettle to the left of the open fire with the crane
overhead for the hanging of the pots. Also the rosary beads hanging on right over calendar.
Photo 1955.
George Lynch had a meadow of hay in the aforementioned field over in the mountain where the Faley family resided. A corner of this field was fenced in and was known as ‘the half acre’. Either the Government or the Land Commission of an earlier day brought in a law directing all landowner’s to let a half acre of their farm to any family who had a house built on their property. The rent for this half acre should amount to not more than one pound per year.
Saving the hay at Faley’s 1947.
Left – Dan Lynch, Delia Lynch & Ned Langan.
The greatest joy to din the ears of Paddy Faley was that of George’s horses and mowing bar when he’d arrive each summer to cut down the meadow near the house. Say’s Paddy – ‘ we hurried home from school to behold the beautiful sight of the two horses stepping it out together with the long shaft of the machine stretching between them to which they were harnessed with traces and quins.’ George would sit on the seat with long reins from the winkers, which enabled him to keep the horses under control. He also had a whip to remind one of the horses not to be leaving more than his share of the work to his teammate. A very pleasant sound to Paddy’s ears then was the musical notes of the clicking ratchet wheel of the machine when it was turned out of gear when reversing to be lined up at the end, changing course at right angles. Paddy watched with interest, as George would place one of the long knives of the machine over a tub of water and with stone in hand would commence to sharpen each v-shaped section of the blade.
George sharpening a blade at Faley’s.
Photo 1940’s.
George had great time for his neighbours, his family and their friends. Paddy Faley often told me how George would join in every frolic and caper that the youngsters would get up to around his spacious kitchen, that was of course when his wife Nora had gone next door for a chat with their neighbour Bridge ‘Martin’ Dalton. Nora wouldn’t be too happy when she’d have to darn the heels of her husband’s socks, they having come worn from his hopping around the kitchen with all the lads. One night he sported a black eye having been on the receiving end of a right hook from Sonny Reidy during the playing of a game of balloons, accidentally of course according to the said Sonny. The Reidy family lived on the mountainside half way between the Lynch and Faley homes. (See under Reidy family)
Seated left – George Lynch (3) & son James,
Standing left – Kathy Windle Lynch wife of James
and my mother Delia Lynch Langan.
Photo October 1970.
Bridge White Faley.
Photo Circa 1944.
George Lynch was not the only person to be up to antics and frolics in fact his wife Nora (None) Barrett and Bridget (Bridge) White Faley used to race one another across the fields. It seems that Nora always won these races but Bridge wouldn’t give it to say to her, she’d deliberately fall when she would be getting tired thus declaring the race null and void. Back in those days, many of the wife’s were addressed by their maiden names e.g. None Barrett, Bridge White and Bridge ‘Martin’ Liston etc.
George Lynch (3) 1970.
George Lynch and Nora Barrett had a family of 8 -:
(1) James Lynch 1915-2000.
(son of George & Nora Barrett)
(1) James Lynch (son of George Lynch & Nora Barrett) was left the farm in Leitrim Middle by his uncle granduncle Dan Culhane who had no family. He was only seven years of age when he left his home in Glasha to take up his inheritance in Leitrim Middle. James married Kathy Windle from Leitrim East, Moyvane, daughter of Dan Windle R.I.P. 1952 and Nora Mulvihill R.I.P. 1964 of Glenalappa, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. This Nora Mulvihill was a sister to Jer Mulvihill who was the father of Denny Jer Mulvihill, Dromreask, Glin. Denny Jer was married to Dora Barrett, Athea. Kathy Windle had a sister Mary Windle who emigrated to the U.S. and died in 1995 age 83yrs. She is buried in Murhur cemetery, Moyvane with her father and mother. Mary was married to Frank Murphy, born in Rochester in the 1930’s and died c1950. They had no family. My aunt Joan stayed a few days in Rochester N.Y. in 1950 when she was on her way to Chicago and spent a night at the home of Mary Windle Murphy. Kathy had a brother Denny who went to his eternal reward in 1982.
Dan Windle’s father was Henry Windle who was married to Catherine Enright.
Dan Windle’s grandfather was Patrick Windle who was married to Ann Culhane one of the Jack ‘Maurice’ Culhane’s.
James Lynch died on Monday Sept 25th 2000. His wife, Kathy Windle went to her eternal reward on March 18th 2006. They had the following family of (9):
(1) Danny Lynch.
Left – Danny Lynch and his sister Mary. Best man on her marriage to Sean Liston, Athea in 1968.
(1)Danny Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) emigrated to the U.S. died in 1994. Danny was married to Kathleen Watson, Roscommon and had one daughter Cathy Lynch. Danny was the owner of a racehorse namely Uncle Dan whom he ran at Leopardstown in the early 1990’s finishing 3rd in a bumper to the highly rated Buck House. Uncle Dan was prone to breaking blood vessels only for that he’d be up there with the best of them. I remember Danny during the 1960’s trying his hand as a cattle jobber going around in a van buying and selling calves bringing them to various fairs etc. Danny’s wife and daughter are still living in New York.
Left – My mother Delia Lynch Langan,
Bridie Sheahan Cox & Danny Lynch 1948
at Bridie’s 1st Communion
(2) PRIVATE FEMALE Lynch.
(2)Private Lynch (daughter of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) married Private Liston, Athea and lives in Newcastle West. They have a family of two, a son and a daughter, Private and Private. Private Female married Private Ahern a Cork man and both are living in Cork. Private Male currently working in Canada and is unmarried.
Left -Mary Lynch, Mairead Langan and Nora O’Connor 1980’s.
(3) Private Male Lynch.
(3)Private Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) married Private Byrne from Dunleer, Co.Louth and lives in Leitrim Middle. They had three sons, Private, Private and Liam. Liam was tragically killed on the ‘Mail Road’ on Aug 29th 1984 at the tender age of 4yrs. Private is married to a Korean girl and both are living in Korea with their son. Private who is single lives in Limerick city.
(4) James Lynch.
(4)James Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) emigrated to the U.S. Married Private McGovern from Co. Cavan. Family of three girls that includes (twins)
(5) Private Male Lynch.
(5)Private Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) emigrated to the U.S. Married to Private Dore from Moyvane. One son and one daughter.
(6) Private Male Lynch.
(6)Private Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) married Private Roche and lives in the home place in Leitrim. Private was born in Foxford, Co.Mayo and reared in Co.Kildare. One son and two daughters. Private Male also spent some time in the U.S.
(7) Michael Lynch.
(7)Michael Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) lives in the home place. Married Teresa Walsh from Listowel. One daughter. Michael an excellent tradesman with a gifted pair of hands.
(8) Private Male Lynch.
(8)Private Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) emigrated to the U.S. Married Private Love, American born of Irish parents. Reared in Louisburgh, Co. Mayo. One son and two daughters.
(9) Liam Lynch.
(9)Liam Lynch (son of James Lynch & Kathy Windle) was tragically killed off his bicycle near Moyvane in 1971. He was only 15yrs of age.
(2)Bridget(Delia) Lynch
(2)Delia Lynch (my mother, daughter of George Lynch & Nora Barrett)) married Ned Langan, son of Paddy Langan, Glenagragra and Babe Fitzpatrick, Granagh on Thursday September 23rd 1948 at Athea church – the witnesses being Con Bob Higgins & Johanna M. Lynch. Following the nuptials, the party, this included her sister Joan who was bridesmaid, the best man Bob Higgins, the Chawkes from Granagh and many close friends and neighbours all made their way back to the family farmhouse for the reception. Following an evening of music, song and dance the newlyweds continued on their way to Ballybunion on their honeymoon. They stayed in a hotel on the left side of the street down by the cliff top that afforded a panoramic view of the mighty Atlantic ocean.
In 1923, at the age of seven years mother had the occasion to attend the Meath hospital with a leg complaint. Her father accompanied her to Dublin by train. Following her admittance to the hospital, her father told her he was going out to buy her sweets but he never returned until her discharge nine months later. He knew that if he returned to her bedside it would break her heart and probably his as well when eventually he’d have to go. It must have been a warm summer that year as mother often told me of how by day the patients would spend a few hours out on the veranda that surrounded the outside of the hospital. She remembered one day in particular that remained in her memory ’till the day she died. Say’s mother – ‘it was just like any other day with all the beds pushed out onto the veranda. Towards evening, the nurses pushed the beds back into the ward and for some reason or other, they forgot about me. I nearly lost my life, there was I staring up at the evening sky wondering what was going to happen to me, would it rain on top of me I wondered, or worse still would somebody climb onto the veranda and snatch me from my bed. Luckily enough, whether I was missed or whatever happened, a nurse came along and took me in.’
She received her Primary education at Ballyguiltenane National School under the tutorship of Maggie ‘Dave’ Connolly, Glenagragra who was the head mistress there. Her classmates included – Emily Fennell, Glenagragra, Kathy Morgan Moran, Glenagragra mother of renowned hotelier Tommy Moran, Toureendonnell, Athea, Agatha O’Connor, Ballyguiltenane and Mary ‘Mikeen’ Culhane, Ballyguiltenane who married Bill Hayes, Fairystreet, Athea. The four girls were 16yrs of age when they received their confirmation and remained on in Ballyguiltenane ‘till they reached 7th class. Mother received post primary at the Technical school in Listowel but she didn’t stay there very long as she had the majority of the curriculum learned during her time in 7th class in Ballyguiltenane. During her short time in Listowel, she stayed in B/B at a two-storey house on the left as one enters the town.
My mother displaying a chair from the parlour of her home.
Photo 1940’s
Mother was great friends with her classmate Emily Fennell and often-stayed nights back in her home but even though the curse of emigration took Emily to England still, they remained very good friends. When Emily would come home to Glenagragra she would stay several nights back in Glasha with mother, however, over the passing of time they sadly drifted apart and did not see one another after that. I hope that they are now unified once again, joyfully rejoicing with the angels and saints in God’s glorious kingdom. Emily had a brother Mick Fennell b1907 whom I knew very well. He was a great poet and passed to his eternal reward on January 4th 2000 aged 93yrs. Mick was a nephew of Ned Fennell b1865 who was appointed teacher at Ballyguiltenane school in 1886. (For more information on Mick Fennell see Book ‘Year of the Elderly’.)
My mother knew Emily’s father and mother very well, her mother being Ellen O’Connor Fennell, Glenagragra, born February 16th, 1876 and died there on June 27th, 1968. Extracts from Ellen’s diary can be found in B.R.J. 1980 p58 & 75. Emily’s father was Michael Fennell b1863 and her grandmother was Catherine Fennell b1834 and who in 1901 was a widow.
Emily had a sister Eibhlis (Liz Anne) who attended Irish classes at Ballyguiltenane National School 1937-38. Liz Anne married Michael ‘Dublin’ O’Brien, Glenagragra who had a farm of land across the road from Paddy and Jim Hanrahan. The O’Brien’s relocated to a farm at Altavilla, Askeaton and the aforementioned Mick Fennell built for himself and his wife Mary a new cottage in part of the vacated farm. Michael O’Brien had two brothers – Pat and John. The three brothers went under the a.k.a. – ‘Dublin’, ‘Bac’ and ‘Citeog’. Michael O’Brien died July 31st 1972 age 60yrs.
Mothers’ house in Glasha had a parlour off the kitchen at the eastern side. Any visitors that came were usually entertained in this part of the house and they included her uncle’s Paddy and Jim Barrett from England, the Hale’s and Lynch’s from Dublin. (See Barrett Family, Dirreen) The Barrett’s usually stayed at Leen’s Hotel in Abbeyfeale on such visits but would come to Glasha each day for their dinner. When my mother’s 1st cousin, Minnie Barrett Tierney’s daughter Josie went to England, she stayed with her uncle the aforementioned Jim Barrett who was a policeman in London. Jim was married to an Englishwoman, Ellie Lowe. They had no family. When Josie returned home, she married Dick White, publican in Athea village. My mother often told me that the parlour was their pride and joy with its beautiful table and chairs to match with priceless ornaments adorning the mantelpiece. Alas, when Josie and John Lynch took over, all these irreplaceable ornaments and other valuables were sold off to the itinerant’s for pittance. The house originally had only three bedrooms but her mother had the lower room near Dalton’s divided making it into four rooms. For some reason or other, the Dalton and Lynch homes shared the same yard and despite being so adjacent to one another still, there was never a cross word spoken between the two families. The parents kept to themselves except for the odd time Nora Lynch would enjoy a pinch of snuff with Bridge Dalton. Peggy Dalton, the youngest of the Dalton family was very friendly with mother. Peggy would always call into Lynch’s especially when on her way to the well for a bucket of spring water. Peggy married Jack Danaher, Park, Athea.
Sometime after my parent’s marriage, my mother’s father George Lynch gave part of the farm known as ‘The Glen’ to my mother as a wedding present. It was on the advice of her aunt, the previously mentioned Minnie Barrett Tierney that mother asked her father for the place. Every Sunday at Mass in Athea Minnie would say to my mother, ‘did you ask him yet’? and mother would reply no. Eventually she dug up the courage to pop the question and of course, her father said yes. He was very pleased to sign it over to her, after all, she deserved something for all the hard work that she did around the house and farm in her younger days. One of her principal chores was to milk the cows in the ‘Glen’ morning and evening. The cows grazed the after-grass in that part of the farm each summer following the cutting of the hay there. In the early days, the cows would be driven back to the farmhouse each evening for milking, kept in the field below the house each night and driven over again in the mornings, a task that fell to her brothers whilst on their way to and from school. However, from all the walking back and forth the cows suffered sore feet and as a result went back in the milk so a decision was made to leave them over there for as such time as they had the place grazed.
Mother, happy and contented milking the cows in Glasha during the 1940’s.
Each morning mother would arise at 5am, put down a fire of turf, no electrics back then, and while she’d be waiting for the kettle to boil to make a cup of tea, would tackle the ass and bring the tank of night milk to the road gate where a stand was in place to accommodate the said tank.
She would then proceed to the ‘Glen’ bringing with her an empty tank into which, following straining, she would pour the milk that she had just received from the cows that morning. The cows had to be driven down to where the dwelling house now stands and each one in their turn would willingly give the milk without spancelling (Tying the legs of the cow with a rope to prevent it kicking out during the milking) or otherwise. Sometime during those years, my mother had been going out with Jack Feury of Glenagragra, I do not know for how long but anyway at some stage, the romance broke off. Jack was a bit of a schemer and knowing that mother had to milk the cows, would hide her milking stool before she’d arrive. She knew well that it was one of Jack’s pranks and had often to milk the cows down on her hunkers, harmless fun back then.
Left – Delia Lynch, Mary (Moll) O’Connor and Lizzie Lynch in 1940’s
There was great friendly rivalry between mother and her close friend and cousin Lizzie Lynch who did the creamery chore for her father, Jimeen (James) Lynch. Lizzie said to my mother – ‘I’ll race you tomorrow morning Delia’. My mother agreed to the challenge, did her usual morning routine, the same time, no cheating and was passing back Jimeen’s gate and on looking up towards the house there was Lizzie coming down the rather steep road from the house. Realising that she was a little behind schedule Lizzie urged her ass to go a little faster and in doing so the ass fell with the cart load of milk tanks going out over its head. My mother waved up to Lizzie as she passed by and all she could see was Jimeen and and his son Jack running to her help and Lizzie’s voice echoing in the still morning air ‘God blast you Delia’. Fortunately the ass and rider escaped unscathed following the accident. Mother and Lizzie had many a good laugh afterwards when they spoke about the incident.
Mother would bring her ass and cart as far as Griffin’s in Blaine where at such time she would change over to their Jennet as she took Griffin’s milk to the creamery as well as her own. Her ass, though willing would not be strong enough to cart the four tanks as far as Athea. The Lynch’s were great friends with the said Griffin’s and it was probably because of that friendship that mother had a romantic relationship with Tom Griffin for many years. In any case, nothing became of it and Tom lived out his life as a single man. She always made sure she got to the creamery early as the queue could be down to ‘Bat’ Fitzgerald’s public house if she happened to be anyway late at all. There was one particular farmer from Knockanure whose route to the village was via the Lower Rd. This man would sometimes take advantage of mother, instead of going down the village to join the queue would as an alternative, cut across in front of her into the creamery yard. Mick Mathews would take in the fresh cream milk and Tommie ‘The Doctor’ Woulfe gave out the ‘back milk’ (Skimmed) as it was called. When Tommie would see mother coming round for the milk he was known to shout the following remark – ‘come on None Barrett’. My mother’s mother was always known by her maiden name, as were many of the local married women back then. Paddy Moore was the boiler-man at the creamery at the time and mother was one of the very few that Paddy would allow in to warm themselves on a cold, frosty morning.
Photo from late 1930’s early 1940’s. My mother Delia Langan R.I.P.
(not in picture) outside of Pa Mullane’s shed in Athea with Griffin’s (of Blaine) white
jennet which she used back then for the bringing of the milk to Athea creamery.
Woman crossing street could be Miss Fitzgibbon the local school teacher.
On her way home from the creamery she would give a gallon of ‘back milk’ to Tom ‘Bah’ White’s wife who was Mary King from Templeglantine. Mary would always meet her at the gate but there was one particular day mother had occasion to go into the house to light a fag. Mother used to smoke at the time and on this particular morning she hadn’t any match to light up so a coal from Mary’s open fire would be the perfect alternative.. The house was just a little ‘bohan’ with a canvass bag tied across an opening, which acted as a door and on stepping inside there at the end of the kitchen was a dairy cow chewing the cud to her hearts content. White’s house was located in Mullane’s (Hustle’s) farm of land on the left hand side of the road at the bottom of the hill known locally as ‘Thade’s’ hill heading upwards. Andy Riordan is the current owner of the farm. also Faley family, She would also give a gallon of milk to Catherine Lynch of Blaine, wife of Tom Lynch. Yes generous to a fault, that was my mother.
The first time my mother met my father was of a Sunday circa 1938. She always remembers this fine man in a pen-stripe suit cycling back the road towards Hanny Casey’s, laying his leg on the wall where all the girls and fellas had gathered as they usually did on Sunday afternoon’s back then. The girls were wondering who he was as they hadn’t seen him before then, my father being working at Paddy McMahon’s of Kilmacow, Kilfinny and was rarely back around Glasha until that particular Sunday. They started going out together a few years afterwards but the course of love didn’t always run smoothly I suppose just like many courting couples there were break ‘offs’ and back ‘ons’ during the courtship. I know that the final back on was secured with the mediation of Johnny Windle of Glenagragra.
Ned Langan & Delia Lynch at Lynch’s of Glasha circa 1947.
Anyway on Thursday September 23rd, 1948 my father Ned Langan married Bridget (Delia) Lynch of Glasha. Family from that union as follows –
Langan Patrick 1950-2023.
Langan…Living
Langan….living
Patrick and myself were born back in my mother’s house in Glasha, Eddie born in the house where he still resides. Even though I was only 5yrs of age I remember well the night Eddie was born and the midwife, nurse Desmond from Athea, calling to the house. The next day, Mother gathered us around the kitchen table, her eyes twinkling with excitement and hinting at the surprise she was about to share. We watched her with innocent curiosity, completely unaware of the life-changing news she was preparing to deliver. In those innocent days, when the world seemed vast and full of magic, a new baby was the greatest wonder of all. It was a time when acceptance came easily, and love was as abundant as the sunlight streaming through the windows of our cozy home.
My father and mother stayed back in Glasha after getting married, as they had no house of their own at the time. They had planning permission sought and it granted to build a new house in the ‘Glen’ prior to them applying for a council cottage, which they subsequently received. Matty Dillon of Park, Athea secured the contract for the building of the house.
Aerial view of Langan home in Glasha c1962.
(Note the ridges of potatoes, turnips, carrots and rhubarb in the garden, expertly tilled by my grandfather George Lynch.)
Life at Grandfather Langan’s
During the construction period, Matty and his crew found a home away from home at Grandfather Langan’s for their dinners. This arrangement was made to ease the burden on Grandmother Langan, ensuring that she didn’t have to handle the cooking chores for the entire crew. Consequently, my mother, Patrick, and I moved in temporarily , allowing my mother to take over the cooking duties.
Our Living Arrangements
While my father remained back at Lynch’s in Glasha, my mother’s family home, Patrick and I settled into Grandmother Langan’s room at the front of the house. It was a cozy space that offered us comfort and warmth. Meanwhile, my mother occupied the room at the back of the house, a room with a rich history of its own.
I have a vivid recollection of being in a cradle in that front room. My uncle Tom Langan was working with the Co. Council roads at the time and I must have been talking or crying as Tom was going out the door when he shouted ‘go to slave’, meaning go to sleep I presume. Anyway whatever he meant I received the fright of my life as it was pitch dark and and I being so childish I didn’t know who spoke or where the voice came from. I can still hear that voice to this present day.
A Room with History
The back room, where my mother slept, was constructed by Tom Langan in the 1930s. It had served various purposes over the years, evolving to meet the needs of the family. Initially a bedroom, it later transformed into a utility room. The space stored essentials like flour, meal, and butter-boxes filled with bottled porter. My grandfather was particularly skilled at muling—or curing—porter before indulging in it, a craft he took great pride in. To take a verse from the song –
‘The stout it was cured with the poker,
The Poteen the said cured the flu,
The bacon it hung from the ceiling,
Sure, this story I tell you is true.’
This temporary arrangement at Grandfather Langan’s not only brought us closer as a family but also provided us with cherished memories and a deeper appreciation for the rich history embedded in the walls of the house. For myself it was a longing to stay with my grandparents permanently and I more or less got my way.
A Longing Fulfilled: My Time with Grandparents
The longing to stay with my grandparents was a persistent and deep-seated desire. Their home was a haven of warmth, love, and the comforting scent of freshly baked apple tarts and currant bread. The allure of their cozy cottage, nestled on the river bank by the side of the road, was irresistible. Luckily, this longing was more or less fulfilled, as I found myself spending every weekend and school holiday at their welcoming abode.
Weekends of Adventure
Each weekend with my grandparents was an adventure in its own right. From picking the crab apples and gooseberries in their neat garden to exploring the mountain, hill and valley, every moment was filled with wonder and excitement. My grandfather, with his vast knowledge of nature, would teach me about the different types of trees and the songs of various birds.
School Holidays: A Time of Bonding
During school holidays, the visits extended beyond weekends, giving me the opportunity to deepen my bond with them. These longer stays allowed me to experience their daily routines and participate in more substantial projects. Grandfather brought me to the garden and showed me how to sow the various vegetables and then at night he would enthrall me with stories of fairies and Leprechaun’s. Meanwhile, my grandmother, with her nurturing spirit, always had a new recipe to try or a different card game to play. I remember her favourite game was Solitaire.
A Sanctuary of Love
Above all, my grandparents’ home was a sanctuary. It was a place where I felt completely accepted and loved. Their unwavering support and encouragement helped shape who I am today. The lessons learned and the memories created during those precious times are treasures I carry with me always.
Staying with my grandparents permanently may have been a longing, but the time I did spend with them was more than I could have ever hoped for. Their home was my second home, and their love, a guiding light in my life.
The Journey to School
In the quaint setting of Ballyguiltenane my brother Patrick began his educational journey. Each morning, he embarked on a trek from grandfather’s in Glenagragra, a routine that became as familiar as the rising sun. The path to knowledge was not just metaphorical but literal, as Patrick would first make his way to Connors’s, a neighboring family. From there, he joined them, forming a small procession of eager learners, as they traversed over Feury’s mountain. This scenic route, with its rolling hills and panoramic views, set the stage for a day of learning at the humble schoolhouse nestled in the valley below. We had moved into our new house by the time I started going to school, September 1957.
Remembering Nora Barrett Lynch
A Life Marked by Resilience
Nora Barrett Lynch, my grandmother, passed away on July 13th, 1955. Her final year was marked by the challenges that followed a debilitating stroke, which left her semi-paralyzed and with a severe speech disorder. Despite these difficulties, she remained a cherished matron of our family, her spirit undiminished by her physical limitations.
The Miracle of Speech
In the year after her stroke, Nora was mostly silent. However, there was one remarkable moment that the family still speaks of with awe. During a family rosary, when it was her turn to recite a decade, she stunned everyone by clearly reciting the Hail Mary. This moment was profound, a testament to her deep faith and inner strength. It was the only time she spoke after the stroke, a sacred memory for all who witnessed it.
A Daughter’s Devotion
Throughout Nora’s illness, my mother was her primary caregiver. She tirelessly attended to her needs, lifting her in and out of bed and placing her in an armchair by the kitchen fire. In those days in Glasha, wheelchairs were not available, making my mother’s efforts all the more significant. This labour of love left my mother with a painful back for the rest of her life, a testament to her dedication and the sacrifices she made for her mother.
A Legacy of Love
The story of Nora Barrett Lynch is one of resilience, faith, and familial love. Her life, and the way she faced her final challenges, left an indelible mark on our family. Her memory continues to inspire us, reminding us of the strength found in faith and the enduring bonds of family.
My grandmother Nora Lynch circa 1955.
Nora and George’s son John Lynch and his wife Josie Riordan were living there by then, having returned from England and moved in so to speak. There was no one else in line for the place although John’s brother Mick Lynch thought he might inherit it but seeing that that idea wasn’t coming to fruition he departed for the U.S. James Lynch had gone back to his granduncle Dan Culhane in Leitrim Middle, Tom and Dan Lynch had emigrated as had Joan and Bill had bought Ballinamadough thus leaving the gate open for John and Josie. A few years after the death of his wife Nora, George, on the request of my father moved over to the ‘Glen’ to live with us. It isn’t every son-in-law that would invite his father-in-law to come and live with him but such was the open-handedness of my father. That was circa 1959/60 and it was there he remained ‘till his death on April 3rd 1971, aged 88yrs. George would go to Athea every Friday to collect the old age pension spending most of the afternoon having a tipple or three at his son Mick’s pub and might at times remain there ‘till nightfall. The main reason he would stay in the pub was to spend a little so as Mick would have the money, he wasn’t a drinker as such but his philosophy was to support your own at all costs and rightly so. One particular night he got a lift home from the pub and the kind driver dropped him off at our roadside gap. There was no bridge over the river at the time just an opening from the road in with a few large rocks to add as stepping stones across the shallow part of the river. Unfortunately George turned in a few yards west of what he thought was the normal entrance, his intellect I suppose at that stage being slightly darkened from the recent intake of alcohol from Mick’s hostelry. My father thought he heard a car pulling up outside and said to my mother – ‘I wonder is that your father’. They waited for a while and seeing that there was no appearance; my father decided to get the flash-lamp and go out and have a look. On arriving at the river, father found George a few yards west of the opening, buried inside a ‘scairt’ (gaelic for heap or cluster) of briars. Say’s George – ‘Jakest Mara where am I’. He was lucky it wasn’t the day of September 16th 1961 as hurricane ‘Debbie’ would have taken him.
Speaking of hurricane ‘Debbie’, I remember that day well and can still see mother being blown over the yard with her two buckets of milk following her milking of the three cows. Say’s mother, ‘If it wasn’t for the small house at the end of the yard I’d be blown over the field’. Tiles were blown off the roof of our dwelling house with trees uprooted throughout the locality along with other damage. Going back to the flash-lamp there was no electric light at the time locally, we had to wait ‘till May 1962 for that amenity and what a boon to rural life that became, although we were not too bad as we had what was known at the ‘tilly lamp’ back then. This type of lamp consisted of a mantle, which enabled it to generate a far brighter light than that of the ordinary oil lamp that was in use at the time. In addition, with the advent of the electricity along came our first electric Bush radio, June 11th 1962, bought at Pa O’Connor’s in Athea.
George Lynch was an accomplished gardener and his sowing and tilling was a joy to behold. He would be out in the garden all day and if a shower of rain happened to fall he would take no notice but keep on toiling to his hearts content and there was my mother and she shouting her head off advising him to put on his hat and to take shelter, but to no avail. She looked after him very well and was always there in his hour of need.
Anyway, it was in this fertile area that my parents set up home, which subsequently brought the Langan,’s to where they are today. On June 21st 1965 mother went to the Regional Hospital to have a hernia operation and it was around this time that she called on the services of Hannah Reidy of Glasha to help with the housework every other week. In the accompaniment of Spot our affectionate collie dog, many’s the day I ran the entire journey to Hannah’s home in the mountain to inquire if she was available for the work. (See also Reidy’s of Glasha)
Looking at mother’s diary I see where on July 23rd 1965 she purchased a gas cooker from Pakie Culhane in Glin, got her first pair of glasses December 17th 1966, got her false teeth July 1969 and went to the mission in Athea Sept 1969, (women on the first week and men the second). It was in the month of August 1992 that I looked at the diary and the gas cooker was still going strong at that time. My mother passed to her eternal reward on Tuesday, May 5th 2009 just two months short of her 93rd birthday.
JohnLynch 1919-1985.
(son of George 3)
(3)John Lynch (son of George Lynch & Nora Barrett) was left the family farm in Glasha. He spent his early years as a stable lad at the powerful Darby Rogers racehorse stables at the Curragh, Co. Kildare. He worked with some noted horsemen such as Jimmy Brogan (Father of Barry, ex jockey), the Prendergast’s and the Sleator’s. John was educated at Ballyguiltenane National School and was part of the class of 1926. His classmates at the time being -; Paddy Faley, Glasha/Glenbawn, John Fennell, Dick Normile, Dromreask, Paddy Mulvihill, Pat Enright, Dromeask, Tom Hanrahan, Kinard, Mick Hanrahan, Kinard, Sean Casey, (Son of Tim) Con Higgins, Glasha, Mick Mulvihill, Paddy Sweeney, (Ballyguiltenane), Pat Culhane, Ballyguiltenane, Paddy Hogan, Kinard, (Paddy got killed off a tractor at a relatively very young age), Michael Fitzgerald, Ballyguiltenane and Tom Cregan, Kinard. School photo taken in 1928 includes some of the above mentioned pupils in B.R.J. 1992 p136.
John married Josie Riordan b nov 1918, d Oct 2009, daughter of Tim Riordan, Dirreen and Hannie Hudson, Kilbaha. Josie had two sisters Peg and Mary who emigrated and one brother Eamon Riordan (see below) who inherited the home place and got married to Bridie Sheahan, Ballyguiltenane. Tim Riordan’s father was called Ned Riordan and his mother was Johanna Hanley from Rooskagh. Tim had three sisters – Hannie Riordan who married her neighbour Thade Shine who both went to live in Tarbert. (Joe Vaughan lived in the Shine homestead thereafter). Maisie Riordan emigrated as did her sister Kate Riordan following her marriage to Richard ‘Dick’ Feury, Glenagragra. Kate and Dick emigrated to the U.S.A. soon after receiving their nuptials. Hannie Hudson’s father was Richard Hudson, Kilbaha and her mother was Margaret Thornton from Kilbaha.
Hannie Hudson was born on 31 Dec 1888 in Kilbaha, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. She was christened on 1 Jan 1889 in Moyvane, Co. Kerry. She died on 7 Jul 1961 in Limerick. She was buried in probably Murhur Cemetery, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. Sponsors at Hannie’s baptism were Daniel Kennelly & Catherine Casey. Johanna married Timothy (Tim) RIORDAN, son of Edmond or Edward (Ned) RIORDAN and Johanna HANLEY, in 1918. On Feb 10th, 1880 at Athea church, Edmond Riordan, aged 28 years, son of Timothy Riordan, Direen, married Johanna Hanley, aged 27 years, daughter of Thomas Hanley, Rooska, the witnesses being – Thomas Riordan & Maggie Liston. Timothy was born about 1885 in probably Upper Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick. He died on 3 Dec 1973 in Upper Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick. He was buried in Ahavoher Cemetery, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. Timothy Riordan & Johanna Hudson had the following family of 4 –
(1) Peg Margaret Riordan was born on 28 Sep 1920 in Upper Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick. She was christened on 29 Sep 1920 in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea, Co. Limerick. She died on 6 May 2011 in England. She was buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Leytonstone, London. Peg married Peter FLATLEY in 1950 in Cricklewood, Middlesex. Peter was born on 8 Aug 1916 in Charlestown, Co. Mayo. He died on 9 Jul 1969. He was buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Leytonstone, London. They had two children Peter & Margaret Flatley.
(2) Josie Riordan married my uncle John Lynch, (see Lynch John above)
Josie Riordan Lynch right with her daughter
Joan Lynch Carroll at Knockdown Arms
April 1999.
3) Mary Riordan who married Patsy Fitzgerald, England. One daughter Ann Fitzgerald.
(4) Eamonn Riordan was born about 1922 in probably Upper Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick. He died on 12 Sep 2006 in Upper Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick. He was buried on 15 Sep 2006 in Ahavoher Cemetery, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. Eamonn, who was a fine musician, was a farmer and greyhound breeder.
Eamonn married Bridget (Bride) SHEAHAN in 1947. Bridget was born about 1919 in Ballyguiltenane, Glin, Co. Limerick. She died on 27 Jul 1995 in Tralee, Co. Kerry. She was buried in Ahavoher Cemetery, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. Eamonn and Bride lived in Dirreen, Athea, Co. Limerick and had a family of 8 –
Left – Tim Joe Riordan on bodhran and myself
on flute at Knockdown Arms 2002.
From Helen’s Family Trees & George Langan
Lynch farmhouse, Glasha 1953, built circa 1860.
This is the house where all the Lynch’s were born and where
I was born in 19.. and my brother Patrick in 1950
We moved to our own house in 1956 which had just been built.
Hannie Hudson had a sister Margaret (Maggie) Hudson who was born on 13 Feb 1884 in Kilbaha, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. She was christened on 16 Feb 1884 in Moyvane, Co. Kerry. She died on 26 Aug 1962. She was buried in Athea Cemetery, Co. Limerick.
Sponsors at Maggie’s baptism were John Ahern and Ellen [surname not recorded].
Maggie is not listed in the 1901 census return for her father’s household. There is, however, a Margaret Hudson, aged 13, listed as a visitor in the household of a Thomas Sheehan of Kilbaha South (Maggie’s older sister, Mary Anne, was married to a Thomas Sheehan in Kilbaha).
Margaret Thornton, Kilbaha, Moyvane married Richard Hudson, Kilbaha. Margaret was my great grandaunt. Their daughter Hannie Hudson was born on 31 Dec 1888 in Kilbaha, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. She was christened on 1 Jan 1889 in Moyvane, Co. Kerry. She died on 7 Jul 1961 in Limerick. She was buried in probably Murhur Cemetery, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. Sponsors at Hannie’s baptism were Daniel Kennelly & Catherine Casey.
Mick Lynch 1921-2003.
(4)Mick Lynch (son of George Lynch & Nora Barrett) married Sheila O’Connor, Lower Athea and had the following family of (3):
(1)Living Lynch. (2) Living Lynch. (Twins)
(3)Living Lynch.
Photo – Left – Kathleen Lynch wife of Dan Lynch, Mick Lynch with twins Private & Private, Sheila wife of Mick Lynch, Sr. Rose O’Connor, Dan Lynch and Sr. Domnic Lynch,
Photo taken at – Niagara Falls 1956/57.
The twins, Private Male and Private Female were born in the U.S in 19… Mick and Sheila, who had been going out with one another for some time, emigrated to the U.S. on October 31st 1952.
Mick worked as a stationery engineer in Loyola University Chicago. They used to call him the ‘professor’. He also did some maintenance work in the same university, he being in charge of the lighting system. There was an occasion when Mick forgot to switch on some light in the building and it so happened that Padraig (Pat) Casey a son of Tim Casey the former schoolmaster in Ballyguiltenane was the member in charge of that part of the university. Padraig who also became professor of English there did not know Mick personally and on questioning him to explain why the light had not been turned on, Mick replied, ‘you hadn’t much light when you were in Ballyguiltenane’. Young Casey became fascinated by the remark and when he found out whom Mick really was they became the best of friends from that day on. In fact, he became friendly with all the Lynch’s in Chicago of that time, going out to dinner with them on several occasions whilst he was living there. I do not know if Mick and he were in the same class in Ballyguiltenane or not but Padraig’s brother, Sean Casey was in Mick’s brother John’s class. Sean Casey became a Jesuit priest in Limerick and died there some years ago. The other Casey brother Timothy J.Casey became professor of German at U.C.G. The Casey family who lived at The Terrace, Glin originally came from Kilbehenny near Mitchelstown in Co. Cork. Timothy J. snr, sold the family home at the Terrace circa 1956 and shared the remainder of his life with his sisters Nora in Dungarvan, Mary in Kilbehenny and his son Timothy in Dublin. He died in December 1958.
Mick Lynch got married in 1953 and returned to Co. Limerick circa 1957, where they opened a public house in the village of Athea. In fact it was Shelia’s brother Jimmy ‘Danny’ O’Connor whom acquired the pub on their behalf, they at the time being still in the U.S. Rice Danaher, Athea village, owned the pub, which was closed at the time. Rice, whose business and home were located across from the Chapel gate, would only open the pub whenever a customer required drink to take-away. I believe Hanah Nelligan who married Michael Thade Scanlon (Mickeen Thade) served her time at the said pub. Following their retirement from the pub business in the early 1980’s Mick & Sheila moved to a new home in Upper Athea. Mick also drove the school bus for many years.
A John B. Keane article in relation to Athea carnival which appeared in the Limerick Leader newspaper dated June 19th 1965 entitled ‘Out in the Open’ , went as follows –
‘There are twelve pubs and they were all packed to the doors. I visited as many as I could and everywhere there was music and song. When we left Dick White’s we began all over again at Mick Lynch’s. Mick went to Chicago in 1952, returned to Ireland in 1957, and married Sheila O’Connor, Lower Athea. He does not mind the long hours of the public house because he has a son Danny coming up to him’ and Mick Says, ‘Danny is better than myself behind the counter’.
Mick and Sheila celebrated 40 years of married bliss on Oct 15th 1993 and reached their golden anniversary ten years later.
Mick Lynch passed to his eternal reward on November 28th 2003.
Sheila Lynch passed to her eternal reward on May 30th 2014
Sheila O’Connor’s father was Dan O’Connor, son of Dan O’Connor, Lower Athea and Mary Lynch, Finuge. Sheila’s mother was Julia Ahern, daughter of Jim Ahern, Knockfinisk and Kate Dalton, Parkana, Athea.
Family from Dan O’Connor and Julia Ahern as follows -;
Mary O’Connor Farrell, Ballylongford.
Kitty O’Connor Barrett, London. Married Ned Barrett brother of Tom Barrett, publican, Athea.
Sr. De Paul O’Connor, Texas, U.S.A.
Sr. Eymard O’Connor, Texas, U.S.A.
James O’Connor, Lower Athea.
Sheila O’Connor Lynch, Upper Athea.
Ann O’Connor Creedon, Rathkeale.
Family from Dan O’Connor and Mary Lynch, 5 as follows -;
i.Dan O’Connor, Lower Athea.
ii.Jack O’Connor, Australia. (Unmarried)
iii.Pat O’Connor, Limerick City. (Unmarried)
iv.Ellie O’Connor Scollard, Knockfinisk.
v.Bridget O’Connor who was married to Michael Windle, Knockfinnisk as follows – On Feb 21st, 1903 at Athea church, Bridget O’Connor aged 24, daughter of Daniel O’Connor, Lower Athea, married Michael Windle aged 25, son of Thomas Windle, Knockfinnisk, the witnesses being Thomas Windle & Ellie O’Connor.
1901 Census for the O’Connor family hereunder. It says that Dan wife’s christian name is Ellen but her grand-daughter Sheila told me circa 2001 that her grandmother was Mary Lynch from Finuge, it may be that she was known as Mary Ellen. The 1911 Census has her as Mary.
Residents of a house 10 in Athea Lower (Glenagower, Limerick)
Show all information
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OConnor | Daniel | 51 | Male | Farmer | Roman Catcholic |
| OConnor | Mary Ellen nee Lynch | 50 | Female | Wife | R Catholic |
| OConnor | Bridgie | 24 | Female | Daughter | R Catcholic |
| OConnor | Ellie | 22 | Female | Daughter | R Catcholic |
| OConnor | John | 26 | Male | Son | R Catcholic |
| OConnor | Mary | 18 | Female | Daughter | R Catcholic |
| OConnor | Dan | 16 | Male | Son | R Catcholic |
1911 Census for same family.
Residents of a house 3 in Athea Lower (Glenagower, Limerick)
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OConnor | Daniel | 68 | Male | Head of Family | Roman Catholic |
| OConnor nee Lynch | Mary | 70 | Female | Wife | Roman Catholic |
| OConnor | Patrick | 28 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| OConnor | Mary | 25 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| OConnor | Daniel | 24 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Windle | Catherine | 5 | Female | Grand Daughter | Roman Catholic |
Family from Jim Ahern and Kate Dalton as follows and as per 1901 Census -; N.B. Kate not listed on Census.
Mary O’Connor, Ardagh.
Hanna Ahern, New York
Mick Ahern, Knockfinnisk.
Bill Ahern, New York, U.S.A.
Jim Ahern, London.
Kate Ahern, New York.
Ellie Ahern Dooley, Carrickerry
Residents of a house 14 in Knockfinnisk (Glensharrold, Limerick)
Show all information
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahern | James | 60 | Male | Head of Family | Roman Catholic |
| Ahern | Kate nee Dalton | 50 | Female | Wife | Roman Catholic |
| Ahern | Mary | 25 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Ahern | Michael | 24 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Ahern | Johanna | 17 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Ahern | Julia | 15 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Ahern | William | 12 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Ahern | James | 9 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
Tom Lynch 1922-2013.
(son of George Lynch 2)
(5)Tom Lynch (son of George Lynch & Nora Barrett) emigrated early in life retired aged 65 with Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick being his last place of abode before he entered Beechwood House nursing home, Newcastle West. He got his primary education at Ballyguiltenane National School under the tutorship of Mr. O’Grady and the aforementioned Mr. Tim Casey. His class-mates as far as he recalls were as follows – Tom Sheahan, Ballyguiltenane, Ned Enright, Dromreask, Mossie Higgins, Glasha, John Culhane, (Tom Kit) Ballyguiltenane, (he died when he was in 6th class), Mikey ‘The Widow’ Culhane, Ballyguiltenane, Dan ‘Mikeen’ Culhane, Ballyguiltenane and Mr. Casey’s two sons Sean and Padraig. (Sean Casey became a priest and Padraig Casey became professor of German at U.C.G and both lived with their parents at The Terrace, Glin.) Tom got some sort of secondary education from Mr. James Dore in an old empty farmer’s house that was in the ownership of Mick Adams, Glin. After leaving there, he served his apprenticeship to a solicitor in Listowel. In the year 1946, at the age of twenty four, he went to England where he remained for five years. He later headed for the U.S. to join his brother Dan and his sister Joan. His father and mother took him to Newcastle West by pony and trap from where he got the bus to Cobh having spent the previous night in the Central Hotel, Bridge St., Newcastle West. My grandmother Babe Langan accompanied them to N.C.W. Say’s Tom ‘’the sailing took six days, eating, drinking and dancing every night ‘till dawn.’’ He initially stayed with his aunt Mary Lynch Bunce at 124 Villa Street, Rochester, New York. Soon afterwards, he went to live and work in Chicago. As far as he can recall his first visit home to Glasha was in 1955. Tom gave the following account on his life and times for an exhibition that went on display at Newcastle West Library in 2004.
‘My name is Tom Lynch. I was born on Dec 27th 1922 at Glasha, Athea, one of a family of eight to George Lynch and Nora Barrett. My grandfather was James Lynch and my great-grandfather was called George. James was married to Brigid Culhane from Leitrim Middle, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. James, who died on 4-8-1893 at a relatively very young age (46yrs), from a back ailment, so I believe, was responsible for the opening and making of the famous Kerry Line roadway. Following his death, his wife took over the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of this road. My father George died on 3-4-1971 aged 88 yrs. Like so many of my fellow citizens back in the forties, I endured the heartbreak of taking the emigrant ship to England to seek employment. I also worked in the U.S. but now I’ve returned home and am enjoying a well earned retirement in my beautiful Co. Limerick. Over the years, I’ve dabbled in a bit of poetry from time to time but from whom I inherited the gift I cannot say. I cannot recall there being any poets or sages in the Lynch family. Perhaps my nephew the poet and historian George Langan may uncover somebody in the course of his researching. Listed hereunder are my writings to date. Copies of the said writings are also included in the exhibition’. Tom Lynch.
Modern Progress – BRJ – 1981 p24.
Congratulations – (BRJ) – Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal, 1980 p75.
On A Wing And A Prayer – (APJ) – Athea Parish Journal, 1990 p61.
Photo – BRJ 1988 p85.
Photo – (W/O) – Weekly Observer Newspaper, 12-4-2000 p41.
Letter Poem – To my nephew, the afore-mentioned George Langan.
How Times Change – (APJ) 1999 p131.
William Bill Lynch 1925-2007.
(son of George Lynch 2)
(6) Bill Lynch ( son of George Lynch & Nora Barrett) lived at Ballinamadough, Glin on a farm that he purchased from Mary Lynch, born 28.11.1874, Mary being the daughter of William Lynch, Glasha and Ellen O’Shea, Ballinagoul, Glin. (see also Lynch Mary earlier) William married into the farm in Ballinamadough which was owned by Ellen.
Bill spent two years cutting turf in the Bog of Allen from Feb 22nd 1944 to December 12th 1946. Bob Higgins, Glasha (son of Con) worked there during the same time as Bill. They were billeted near the town of Rathangan, Co. Kildare. Long before the construction of the concrete bridge o’er the Glasha River, the only way onto the Lynch homestead in Glasha was through the river itself. It was passable when the river was shallow but the crossing could become very intricate when a flood arrived. Bill got the brainy idea of purchasing a chassis of a lorry, which he laid across the river from bank to bank forming a very adequate makeshift crossing in the process. The evening before Bill left for Rathangan he uprooted the chassis and sold it on to some lucrative buyer. His father was completely unaware of what had happened and did not realise so until the following morning when, on arriving down at the river with horse and trap, he found the bridge missing and his son long gone. After all, it was Bill’s property and the few bob would have been of great benefit to him especially on his journey to Co. Kildare.
Bill went to England in 1948, married Lil Reidy, the daughter of Patrick J.Reidy, Knockdown and Catherine O’Keeffe from Duagh, Co.Kerry. Issue from that union, 5 as follow -,
(1) Living Female Lynch, who is a nurse, married Living Flynn, Ballynash, Foynes.
(2) Living Female Lynch, who is also a nurse, married and lives in London
(3) Living Female Lynch, married Living Sheahan, son of Tom Sheahan, Ballyguiltenane, Glin.
(4) Living FemaleLynch, married Living Shaughnessy, Borrigone, Askeaton.
(5) Living Male Lynch, who lives in the home place, married Living O’Connell from the Creggs, Borrigone, Askeaton.
It was on their return from England that Bill bought the farm in Ballinamadough.
For the Irish Folklore Schools Collection of 1938, Bill wrote the following on Oct 15th, 1938 –
School:Baile Giolla tSionáin (B.), An Gleann(roll number 11307)
Location: Ballygiltenan Upper, Co. Limerick Teacher: Tadhg Ó Cathasaigh
Folklore – Hidden Treasure
”It is said that there is a horse skin of gold buried in some corner of our meadow. It is said that people went looking for it and when they were digging for some time a bird resembling a duck flew out from the hold they had dug and the men got frightened and went away and no one ever since went looking for it. There was a man in America and before he died he asked if there was any one from Glacha or Glenogragra and that he would make them rich for ever. It is though he knew where it was buried.”
Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
History COLLECTOR William Lynch Gender male Address Glashapullagh, Co. Limerick INFORMANT Neighbours Address Glashapullagh, Co. Limerick LANGUAGE English
The following is an account on a happening, which took place during the 1950’s on the road between Ardagh and Newcastle West when Bill and his brother in law Jimmy Reidy were on their way home after selling a lorry of turf in Kilmallock that day. I will let Bill tell the story -;‘On our journey home from Newcastle through the village of Ardagh at the turn of the road at ‘Massies Stables’, around 12 midnight, the lights went out on our truck. When Jimmy Reidy got them going again we saw coming towards us walking on the left hand side of the road a priest and a policeman leading about 10 or 12 young boys. The priest had a prayer book under his arm and the policeman had his thumbs inside his tunic. I just stepped across and asked one boy what was happening. The boy said a funeral was coming. We enquired afterwards in Ardagh and were told that there was no funeral that night. We were also informed that they had been seen there before. Jimmy’s brother Nelia died sometime after that’. Bill swore to me, on his parent’s grave that what they had seen that night was true and Jimmy Reidy verified it to me on December 2008 when I mentioned it to him. Says Jimmy – ‘The hairs stood up on the top of my head that night’.
Photo – Bill Lynch and his sister Joan.
Photo taken in England c1945.
Lil Reidy’s father was Patrick J. Reidy, son of James Reidy, Knockdown and Mary Griffin, Glenagragra. (Sister to Michael Griffin) Lil’s mother was Catherine O’Keeffe, daughter of Con O’Keeffe, Duagh and Julia McCarthy, Kilmorna.
Bill Lynch 2004.
Family from Patrick J. Reidy and Catherine O’Keeffe as follows -;
(i) Mary Anne Reidy. (Mary was a schoolteacher in England. Died aged 27yrs.)
(ii) Kathleen Reidy Denham, Dublin.
(iii) Hannah Reidy Geoghegan, Turraree.
(iv) Sheila Reidy Fitzgerald, Ballyguiltenane.
(v) Jimmy Reidy, Croagh.
(vi) Neila Reidy, Knockdown. (Died aged 18yrs. See Bill’s account of night near Ardagh)
(vii) Lil Reidy Lynch, Ballinamadough.
Family from James Reidy and Mary Griffin as follows and as per 1901 Census -;
Patrick J. Reidy, Knockdown.
Jim Reidy, Tullyglass, Glin. (Married to a Ms. Donovan.)
Kit Reidy, Geoghegan, Turraree.
Hannah Reidy, U.S.A. (Married Jack Normile, Turraree. (Crough.)
Lil Reidy, U.S.A. (Married to a Mr. Kavanagh from Co. Cavan.
Residents of a house 8 in Knockdown (Kilmoylan, Limerick)
Show all information
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riedy | James | 52 | Male | Head of Family | Roman Catholic |
| Riedy nee Griffin | Mary | 48 | Female | Wife | Roman Catholic |
| Riedy | Patt | 22 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
| Riedy | Nora | 18 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Riedy | Kate | 15 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Riedy | Lizzy | 9 | Female | Daughter | Roman Catholic |
| Riedy | James | 5 | Male | Son | Roman Catholic |
Family from Con O’Keeffe and Julia McCarthy as follows -;
Joe O’Keeffe, Kilmorna.
Jack O’Keeffe, Asdee, Co. Kerry.
Con O’Keeffe, Kilmaney, (Near Listowel)
Julia O’Keeffe, Asdee, Co. Kerry.
Liz O’Keeffe, Knockanure.
Nora O’Keeffe, Ballylongford.
Catherine O’Keeffe Reidy, Knockdown.
Joan Lynch 1927-2018.
(daughter of George Lynch 2)
(7)Joan Lynch (daughter of George Lynch & Nora Barrett) married Anthony Tony O’Connor, Athea. Joan received her primary education at Ballyguiltenane National School and spent a year doing post primary at a convent in Lixnaw, Co. Kerry.
Photo – Dan Lynch, Chicago & Glasha with his sister Joan, nee O’Connor Lr. Road, Athea. Photo US 1950’s
Joan was another pupil that submitted a poem for the 1938 Folklore collection, which she received from John Histon, Dirreen, Athea, aged 50yrs.
There was no title to the poem but it related to a quarry at Blaine opposite Griffin’s known as the Carraigeen which Limerick Co.Council opened up back in the 1930’s to supply the raw material for the making of the local roads.
Paddy dear you’re welcome here from Cappamore so gay.
Yourself and Jim the stones to break, in Blaine so near Athea.
The Carraigeen which once had been a hill of old renown.
And since you came her with delight ‘tis quickly tumbling down.
The grant has come and gone and still it will not be forgotten
And Pat and Jim will come again the stones to break and rattle
At the call of the drum the men will come and there they’ll take their stand
In the Carraigeen which once had been a hill so high and grand
But now instead a water bed which never cease to flow
When the work is out, the men will shout for the dole again we’ll go.
The farmers too they’d never do till they got the job in Blaine
But rather for them it’s out of place it’s rather low and mean.
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0480, Page 081 Image and data
© National Folklore Collection, UCD.
Joan’s two best friends at Ballyguiltenane were the aforementioned Josie Lynch, Glasha and Mary ‘Tom Kit’ Culhane, Ballyguiltenane. Mary Culhane is now married to Jack Connolly, Ballinamadough, Glin. Joan went to England in 1945 and stayed there until 1950. She trained as a nurse for about three years and later worked for a large telephone company in London. In the year 1950, she was on the move again this time across the Atlantic to the U.S.A.
The day before she sailed she travelled to Cobh in John Liston’s hackney car and stayed the night in some guesthouse there. John Liston was married to Pixie Liston and they ran a public house in Athea that was owned by Dr. Philip McGrath. Pixie’s father, Dan ‘Martin’Liston, from Dirreen, Athea. had the pub rented from Dr. McGrath. The pub in question is now J.P. Collins’.
Even though Joan had booked her digs in advance, when she arrived at the guesthouse in Cobh she found that not alone was the place booked out but people were sleeping on chairs or anywhere they could get comfortable for the night. Joan was lucky enough to secure a chair all to herself. They had a great time on board the liner singing and dancing all the way through the passage. She became friendly with a Donegal girl, a brilliant dancer who coincidentally wore much the same clothes as Joan did, so much so that they were referred to as the dancing twins. The captain of the ship was so impressed with their hornpipe dancing that he gave them both a powder compact with a replica of the liner engraved on its side. The liner by the way was the ‘Mauretania’.
”The Mauretania the second ocean liner with the name Mauretania was launched in 1938 by the Cunard White Star Line. It made its maiden voyage the following year and, like its predecessor, was noted for its luxury and service. With the outbreak of World War II, the Mauretania became a transport ship but resumed its passenger service in 1947. In the late 1950s the ship’s popularity began to wane, and the Mauretania was scrapped in 1965”.
On her arrival at Ellis Island Joan was met by Murt Liston who was a brother to John. Joan and Tony were married in Chicago in November 1952 and returned to Athea the following year.
During their time in the states they became very friendly with Fr. Myles Kearney from Kilbaha, in fact Myles was friendly with all the Lynch’s and their associates in the States He would regularly drive from his place of ministry in Baton Rogue all the way to Chicago.
Myles Kearney was born on 23 Apr 1913 in Newtownsandes (Moyvane), Co. Kerry. He died on 18 Jul 1979 in Moyvane, Co. Kerry. He was buried on 20 Jul 1979 in Ahavoher Cemetery, Moyvane, Co. Kerry. Myles was educated at St. Michael’s College, Listowel, Co. Kerry after which he studied for the priesthood at St. Patrick’s College in Carlow. He was ordained in 1938 and travelled to the United States in that year to serve in the diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming. He subsequently worked in Louisiana, initially in Baton Rouge, and was later appointed parish priest at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in St. Francisville in Louisiana where he spent 18 years. It is known that he was at Mount Carmel at the time of the death of his mother in December 1957.
Myles retired about 1973. He died at the home of his sister Bunty only a short time after returning to live in Ireland.
Myles had a nephew, another Myles Kearney who was ordained in 1971.
In late 1956, Tony and Joan opened a shop in the village in a house that they bought from John Shanahan, nephew of Kate Shanahan who was married to Johnny O’Sullivan, Johnny ‘Sean Haidh’ as he was known by. Johnny had been running some sort of a carpentry business from the house making common horse cars etc at the time. Johnny and Kate had no children so they left the place to Kate’s nephew, John Shanahan, Dirreen. Back then it was very common for people at home to receive a parcel from a relative in America and in Johnny’s case it was no different. It came about that Johnny received a very bright dressing gown in one of the parcels and not having seen one before decided on one cold day to put it on over his jacket to keep him warm going to the bog. On meeting somebody on the way, Johnny enquired what he or she thought of the new overcoat? Said the passer-by – ‘whatever about keeping you warm I don’t think it is something that should be worn outside of the house’.
CHICAGO 1952 – TONY & JOAN AT REAR OF FR. MYLES KEARNEY’S CAR.
Joan Lynch and Tony O’Connor had the following family of (5):
(1) Private O’Connor.
Private who was is married Private McCarthy, Graigue, Abbeyfeale and have two children – Private and Private.
(2) Private O’Connor.
Private was married Private Barry, son of Danjoe, Cratloe.
(3) Private O’Connor.
Private O’Connor married Private O’Connor, daughter of ‘Brown Joe’, Upper Athea and have two children – Private and Private.
(4)Private O’Connor.
Private, who up to now has remained single in life.
(5)Maura O’Connor. R.I.P.
Maura married Private Dalton son of Paddy, Clounleharde. (Known as Dalton’s at the Beam, pronounced Bame) and had two children – Private Dalton and Private Dalton. Sady Maura has passed to her eternal reward since I wrote this.
Tony O’Connor’s father was Tom O’Connor, Ardagh, son of James O’Connor and Margaret Purtill. Tony’s mother was Hanna Leahy, Beenanaspug, Athea daughter of Timothy Leahy and Johanna Cummane, Gortdromagonna, Moyvane.
Family from Tom O’Connor and Hanna Leahy as follows -;
Jimmy O’Connor, Newcastle West.
Danny O’Connor, Chicago.
Josie O’Connor Danaher, Athea.
Peggie O’Connor Browne, Athea.
Ted O’Connor, Athea.
Tony O’Connor, Athea.
Joan O’Connor nee Lynch died on Saturday March 24th, 2018 aged 90 years.
Dan Lynch 1930-2021
(son of George Lynch 2)
(8)Dan Lynch (son of George Lynch & Nora Barrett), got his primary education at Ballyguiltenane National School under the tutorship of Tom O’Grady and Jim Casey. His class-mates as follows – Patrick Ruddle, Mikey ‘Shine’ Culhane, Willie Higgins, Liam Higgins, Jim Flavin, Connie Flaherty, Tim ‘Mull’ Mulvihill, Gerry Mulvihill, Mossie Wallace, Jim Mulvihill, John Barry, Neddy Hanlon and Con Hogan. He left national school at the age of seventeen to become an a apprentice at O’Shaughnessy’s, the Square, Glin. He emigrated to Chicago, U.S.A. November 20th 1949. It was the country that he always wanted to go to and had no regrets in doing so. Says Dan, ”I never regretted leaving but I always regretted that I had to leave”. When I asked him what did he remember of the day he left home he replied thus – ‘’There was an American wake at our house the night before and nobody went to bed. I left at 7am for Cobh via Newcastle West bus. Mam, Dad and Joan went with me, Joan all the way to Cobh. As I said goodbye to Dad he said’’ – ‘’I have nothing to say to you only say your prayers’’.
On arriving at Cobh, the S.S. Washington (46,000 Tons) was anchored ready and waiting to take him to the promise land. He can’t recall any neighbours being on board that day although Denis Casey, Lr. Athea and Kitty Woulfe, Bridgehouse, Athea had gone to U.S. shortly before. It took five and a half days to reach New York, the first two days of the passage being very rough as the North Atlantic can be. He spent a few days in Rochester before arriving in Chicago on December 10th. . Say’s Dan – ‘’the same day as that of an old annual fair in Newcastle West’’. He got his first job in the stack room of Bell & Howell the movie camera company. Made his first visit back home September 1953 on board a 4 engine propeller plane, 16 hours at a fare of 515$. During the month of June or July 1953, Dan met his future wife Kathleen O’Hagan from Caul, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, (daughter of Joseph Hagan and Ellen Hopkins,) at a football game in Chicago. Kathleen had been living in Cleveland, Ohio at the time but later came to live in the Chicago. They got married on May 26th 1956 at St. Leo’s Church, Chicago, the witnesses being his brother Tom Lynch and Kathleen’s sister Eileen O’Hagan. Dan’s next visit to the land of his birth was in 1969.
Dan Lynch & Kathleen O’Hagan had the following family of 6:
(1)Private Lynch.
Married to Private Maloney and have three children.
(2)Private Lynch.
Married to Jackie with one child.
(3)Private Lynch.
Married with five children.
(4)Private Lynch.
Married to Private Snowden with two children Private and Private.
(5)Private Lynch.
Married to Janet with children
(6)Private Lynch.
Married with three children.
Dan Lynch went to his eternal reward on Sunday April 18th, 2021.
Daniel J. Lynch Obituary
Daniel J. “Beans” Lynch, age 90, of Arlington Heights and formerly of Athea, County Limerick, Ireland. Beloved husband of the late Kathleen (Hagan) Lynch. Devoted father to Eileen (Bill) Maloney, George (Jackie) Lynch, Kathy (Jim) Kass, Daniel J. (Joanne) Lynch, Mary (Andrew) Snowdon, and Michael (Janet) Lynch. Cherished grandpa “Beans” of 19 and great grandpa of 8. Loving uncle, cousin, and friend to so many here and in Ireland. Dan was a devoted member of the Pioneers of the Sacred Heart, as well as a proud member of Local 399 Stationary Engineers. A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy. Palatine IL., from 4:00-8:00pm. A Funeral mass will be held Thursday April 22 , at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish at 11:00am. If you would like to attend the mass, you must sign up on the church website. Interment at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CDGA Foundation https://cdgafoundation.org/ The CDGA Foundation utilizes the game of golf to enhance the lives of individuals with special needs, veterans and youth. For more information please call the funeral home 847-359-8020.
(4) Catherine (Katie) Lynch 1885-1908.
(4)Catherine (Katie) Lynch (daughter of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane) was baptised in Athea church on May 30th 1885 her sponsors being – William Lynch, Ballinamadough (brother to Jim ‘the cooper’ Lynch, Glasha) and Margaret Culhane, Clounleharde East, (sister to Mary Culhane ‘the cooper’s’ wife). On October 11th 1903 at the age of 18yrs, Katie sailed for the US on board the SS Umbria from Queenstown. She travelled with Ellie Corbett who was 19 yrs and from Athea. She was also accompanied by two sisters from the Mercy Convent along with a group of other prospective postulants. Katie joined the Sisters of Mercy nuns at the Saint Michael Novitiate, Missouri. She died in 1907 at the age of 22yrs.
(5) Bridget Delia Lynch 1887-1972.
(5)Bridget Delia Lynch (daughter of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane) was baptised in Athea church on June 26th 1887 her sponsors being – Dan & Margaret Faley, Glasha, brother & sister to Denis Faley, Paddy’s father. The said Dan Faley married Hannie O’Sullivan, Knocknaclugga, Carrickerry and Margaret Faley married Tom Brosnan, Knocknagorna, Athea. Delia Lynch emigrated to the U.S. but the exact date is not known as she does not appear on the Ellis Island records and she may have traveled through another east coast port.
Bridget Delia Lynch Moran at home in Rochester.
She married Jim Moran who was a Lieutenant in the Rochester Police. Date of marriage not known but they were both listed in the 1910 US Census for Rochester, New York. The said census show that James was 28yrs and was born in New York, his father was Irish and his mother an American citizen having been born in New York. Delia was given as 22yrs of age. The 1930 census show that James and Delia had three children as follows:
Madeline Moran.b1911.
Marion Moran.b1912.
Jimmy Moran.b1921.
(6) Tom Joseph Lynch. 1889-1935.
(6)Tom Joseph Lynch (son of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane) was baptised in Athea church on February 5th 1889 his sponsors being – Tom Aherne & Johanna Dalton. Tom emigrated to New York on August 22nd 1913 at the age of 24 on board the SS Baltic from Queenstown. He was going to stay with his sister Mary Bunce Lynch who lived at 124 Villa St. Rochester. On April 28th 1918 at Manhattan, New York. Tom married his 2nd cousin Katie Lynch, daughter of William Lynch & Ellen O’Shea, Ballinamadough, Glin, Co. Limerick. (William, son of John Glasha) The witnesses were Cornelius Shine and Mary Mangan. At the time of their marriage Thomas’ occupation was a bookkeeper for the Irish Bar’s in New York City and was living at 163 West 102nd St. Manhattan. Katie was living at 228 West 4th St, New York. Looking at the Glin Parish records and at the 1901 census survey it appears that there were two Katie Lynch’s in the family. The first Katie being born March 21st 1883. Her sponsors being – John Connolly & Maria Connolly. She must have died as a child as we have a second Lynch Katie born in 1888 (13 yrs old in 1901 census) who emigrated to the U.S. arriving there Sept 28th 1910.
On May 10th 1942 (Mother’s Day) Katie died from pulmonary tuberculosis at Fordham Hospital, Bronx, New York. Although she died on Sunday the death wasn’t registered ‘till the following day Monday 11th. Her husband Tom Lynch died July 22nd 1942 at St. Joseph’s Hospital For Chest Diseases, Bronx, suffering from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis. Tom and Katie had the following two children:
i.Thomas Michael Lynch. 1919-1990.
(i)Thomas (Tom) Lynch was born March 28th 1919. He got married circa 1940 but sadly his wife who was pregnant died from cancer approximately eight months into the marriage. I don’t know her name. In 1941 he enlisted as a private in the US Military. Tom re-married in the early 1950’s to Frances T. Tucker, born May 9th 1919 and died October 1975 from cancer. There was no issue from this marriage. Tom died October 28th 1990.
(ii) Ellen Teresa Lynch. 1922-2003.
(ii)Ellen Teresa Lynch was born on February 7th 1922, died July 2nd 2003 at St. Raphael’s Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut following a stroke. On May 28th 1941 at St. Margaret Mary’s Rectory, 125 E. 177th St, Bronx she married Jack Allen Wright born July 5th 1918, Dwight, Illinois. Ellen and Jack had three children as follows:
(1) Barbara Anne Wright.
(1) Barbara Ann Wright born March 12th 1942, Bronx, New York. Barbara worked as an Operating Room Nurse, is now retired and living in Charleston, South Carolina. She remained single in life
(2) Craig Thomas Wright
(2) Craig Thomas Wright was born march 25th 1943, Bronx, New York and is now a retired electrician living in Durango, Colorado. In August 1969 at Flom, Minnesota, he married Charlotte Ann Waller born June 24th 1944, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. They have one child Christine Elizabeth Wright born May 27th 1976, Durango, Colorado. Christine works as a psychologist, is unmarried and lives in San Francisco, California.
(3) Diane Ellen Wright.
(3) Diane Ellen Wright born September 25th 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut. Diane lives in Bulleen, Victoria, Australia and works as a teacher. On August 7th 1993 she married Paul Peter Vella in Melbourne. They have two children – Jarrah Mark Vella Wright born Sept 8th 1995 and Jade Xiaoqing Vella Wright born January 5th 2001. (Jade Adopted Nov 21st 2001 in Nanning, Guangxi, China.) Jade is a student in Grade 6 & elite stream artistic gymnast. (May 2012)
Lynch home in Ballinamadough where Katie Lynch was born 1888. Photo 2009.
(7) Ellen Lynch 1890-1970.
(7)Ellen Lynch (daughter of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane) was born in Glasha in 1890. On November 23rd 1905 at the age of 15yrs she sailed from Queenstown on board th SS Cedric bound for New York. She travelled by herself, was listed as a schoolgirl, was in possession of 30$ and had paid her own fare. Ellen also joined the Sisters of Mercy nuns in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. and following her being professed in 1910 became Sr. Mary Dominic. For the next fifteen years she worked in the pharmacy at St. John’s Hospital, St Louis, very strict I believe. After this she became Mother Superior at Webster Groves for 12 yrs before moving back to St. John’s. In 1951 she was sent to Springfield where she spent the remainder of her life. Her Golden Jubilee in 1958 was attended by her two sisters, Mary and Catherine who both lived in Rochester. I remember her paying a visit to Glasha in the early 1960’s, 1961 if I’m not mistaken. My aunt Joan and her husband Tony O’Connor paid her a visit back in 1953 when they were on their way back to Ireland. That was the one and only occasion that they met her during their time in the States. Ellen died in Springfield in 1970 aged 80yrs.
Above – George Lynch with his sister Ellen,(Sr. Dominic),Johnny Kelly and his son John Kelly
Photo c1961.
Left – Maggie Lynch O’Connor her
daughter Kathleen, Sr. Dominic, Johnny Kelly,
George Lynch & John Kelly son of Johnny.
Photo at Kelly’s Ballyguiltenane 1961.
(8) Patrick Lynch 1892-1947.
(8) Patrick Lynch (son of James Lynch & Bridget Culhane) was baptised in Athea church on August 4th 1892 his sponsors being – John Aherne and Margaret Lynch. Patrick entered the order of the De La Salle Brothers at Castletown Retreat, Castletown, Co. Laois. He worked in India/China for many years before returning to Ireland in ill health. He came on holidays to Glasha circa 1946 to his brother George and to Ballyguiltenane to his sister Maggie. They were absolutely shocked at the sight of him it being quite apparent that not alone was the man seriously ill but was also on the brink of starvation. George and Maggie fed him the best of food during his stay sending him back to Castletown in far better condition than when he arrived. It did not say much for the food and shelter at Castletown. When he was in Glasha he loved going around visiting the neighbours and relations. On one particular evening, he had the occasion to visit his neighbour Mary Dalton who was married to Jack ‘George’ Griffin in Glenagragra. He asked my mother and her friend Peggy Dalton to accompany him up to Griffin’s not knowing that the two girls had dates with Jack Feury and Pat ‘Carty’ Enright respectively that same evening. As faith might have it the meeting place for the date was at the shortcut entrance to the Griffin home, a pathway over the ditch, that was located at the turn of what was known back then and still is known today as the ‘new road’. The official right of way to the farmhouse was down by Dan O’Connor’s estate, formally Billy Griffin’s. Not wanting to give the game away to Bro. Hugh, the two boys hid inside the opposite ditch ‘till the travelling party had passed by. After spending an hour or so at Griffin’s the three started out on the journey back home and on arriving at the ditch they found their exit blocked by a furze bush that had been laid across their path. Says Bro. Hugh, ‘my God what’s going on here’ as the stones and divots came raining down on top of them from the far side of the road with the two girls fit to explode in their attempt to keep in the laughing. I can tell you that it wasn’t long ‘till Hugh became wise to what was going on and being the diplomatic person that he was, he never let on a word.
A year or so afterwards, Bro. Hugh’s condition deteriorated and it seems that Glasha was kept in the dark so to speak with nobody being kept up to date as to the state of his health until a note arrived informing them that he was dead. Many years afterwards, realising that they had a broken bridge to mend, a De-La- Salle Bro. who apparently knew Bro. Hugh quite well, paid a visit to my mother and her sister Joan but I’m afraid at that stage it was too little too late. Bro. Hugh died on May 8th 1947 and is buried in Castletown, Co. Laois.
Patrick Lynch. 1849-1884.
(2).Patrick Lynch (son of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) was baptised in Athea Church on July 17th 1849 his sponsors being John & Catherine Lyons. John & Catherine were probably brother and sister as the Catholic Church always give the maiden names of females where they are sponsors or witnesses. It is thought that Patrick died at Glasha in 1884 aged 35yrs. It is probable that he is interred in Templeathea but there is no headstone there to confirm this.
(3) John Lynch (son of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) was baptised December 17th 1850 at Athea parish Church, his sponsors being – Daniel Scanlan (probably a brother to Ellen Scanlan, Templeathea West) and Johanna Flavin who was probably his aunt. (his mother’s sister). John emigrated to New Zealand circa 1880. According to the New Zealand Land Settlers Return of 1882 John is listed as having 30 acres at Longridge. Despite having his own land it is believed that he lived with his brother George and Johanna Lynch. He died at home at Riversdale on June 8th 1938. His headstone has his age as 93 yrs but that is incorrect. He is buried in the same grave as his grand-nephew, George Charles Lynch who died March 29th 1917 age 4 months. It is not known if he ever paid a return visit to his homeland. (Mike Connolly)
(4 Michael Lynch (son of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) was baptised Sept 18th 1852, address on birth cert given as Dirreen. As already stated, Glasha and Dirreen East were as one back then. The sponsors for Michael as follows – Maurice Higgins and Maria (Mary) Higgins. (Maurice & Mary Higgins either brother and sister or niece and nephew of Con Higgins 1, Glasha) Michael Lynch may have gone to live in Dublin city, in Ballybough as far as I know. I don’t know whether he practised law or not but he had a son George Lynch who was a solicitors clerk and might have a son John Lynch. Looking at the 1901 census for the Lynch’s of Howth there was a John Lynch age 30yrs present in the home of William Lynch. (We will deal with William at a later stage) This John could have been the nephew of William, the son of Michael above and might be a visitor on census day. (George Langan)
(5) Catherine Lynch (daughter of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) was baptised May 28th 1854. Address on birth cert given as Clounleharde. Sponsors for Catherine as follows – Michael Connors and Margaret Flahavan. Michael Connors was probably the brother of James Connors who was married to the said Margaret Flahavan. Strangely enough, when Catherine Lynch’s brother James applied to carry out the construction of the ‘Kerry Line’ roadway he also gave his address as Clounleharde. His father George had the original contract. Catherine emigrated to New Zealand in 1876 as a Government assisted emigrant. She sailed from Glasgow on the ‘Dunedin’ accompanied by her younger brother George and his wife Johanna McCarthy, arriving in Otago on November 9th 1876. From there they travelled by coastal boat to Lyttleton. They spent some time in a farming community outside of Christchurch and on Feb 5th 1878 at Shands Track, Lincoln, Canterbury she married her 1st cousin, Michael (Mick) O’Connor 1856-1931, son of James O’Connor and Margaret Flahavan, Ballyguiltenane. (Margaret Flahavan being the sister to George Lynch’s wife, Mary Flahavan) The witnesses at their wedding were James & Mary McCabe. It is not known who they were or where they came from. Michael emigrated to New Zealand in 1876. He sailed on the ‘City of Dunedin’ from Glasgow on March 5th 1876 arriving at Lyttelton, the port of Christchurch on July 1st 1876. Other passengers who sailed with Michael were Matthew Ryan 22yrs and John and Johanna Mulvihill with their family all believed to be from the Glin area. In 1882 Catherine Lynch and Michael (Mick) Connors moved to Longridge Valley, Kingston Crossing. They were accompanied by Michael’s brother John O’Connor and Michael’s brother -in-law George Lynch and his wife Johanna McCarthy. Michael O’Connor died in 1931, his wife Catherine Lynch died in 1939. Michael O’Connor and Catherine Lynch had eleven children as follows-
James O’Connor 1879-1955.
James married Jessie Stephenson Coutts, Catholic Church Gore on February 2 1910. Jim was a labourer who lived in Riversdale most of his life before retiring to Invercargill where he died in 1955, Jessie in 1956. Family: Catherine O’Connor b 1910 married John William Duffy; Teresa Mary b 1912 married Daniel Bray; Archibald George b 1914 married Catherine Ann Hawke; William Patrick b 1917 married Teresa Mary Ellen Newson; Ernest James b 1919 married Doris McDonald; and Leonard Michael b 1925. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Teresa Mary O’Connor 1880-1946.
Teresa Mary married William John Holmes in 1910. They had one son Michael James and lived in Rolleston. He was a farm labourer. She died in 1946. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Margaret O’Connor 1883-1956.
Margaret married Patrick Joseph Holland, a blacksmith, at her home in Kingston Crossing 1904. Family: Mary Amelia 1905 married John McKay; Thomas Michael 1906 married Jeannie Smyth; Patrick James 1908 married Moira Isobel Shea; Margaret 1910 married George Condon; Isaac Joseph 1911 died in infancy; James 1920 never married. Patrick Joseph Holland [the husband] worked in Gore and was kicked by a horse and died young. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Vincent O’Connor 1884-1956.
Vincent never married. Michael’s half of the original ballot of land was sold to Vincent in 1912. Vincent later farmed at Waimea on 379 acres, part of Section 120, which he bought in 1918 at the auction of land belonging to George Lynch, his uncle. Prior to this he owned a traction engine and mill and worked in the local area. He was killed in May 1956 when his tractor rolled carting a load of coal from Gore. He is buried with his parents in Riversdale Cemetery. His farm was looked after by Fred Perwick and family until it was sold to Reg Moffatt, then J. Cullen and now owned by David McLean. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
George Archibald O’Connor 1885-1905.
George Archibald died of Typhoid fever in 1905, buried with his parents in Riversdale cemetery. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Paul John O’Connor 1887-1917.
Paul John, who was a carpenter, bought 294 acres Allot 4 of 407A as No 715 also Section 196 and Pts of 147 and 639 from Elias Butel in 1909 and sold it to George Butel in 1911. He was engaged to Margaret (Dol) Holland in Gore when he went to war and was killed in action in 1917. In 1917, Paul O’Connor above enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 26th Reinforcements Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company. He embarked at Wellington bound for Devon port, England. He was killed in action at the third battle of Ypres in Belgium on December 3rd 1917. (Patrick N.O’Neill & Mike Connolly)
Thomas Michael O’Connor 1887-1981.
Thomas Michael was unmarried and owned one of the first Case tin mills. He lived in Gore and worked mainly in the Waimumu area. He died in 1981. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Catherine Kate O’Connor 1889-1975.
Catherine married Alfred Perwick. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Dominic Bernard O’Connor 1891-1964.
Dominic Bernard worked as a labourer sometimes for his Uncle, George Lynch, and latterly at the Balfour Lime works. He was never married and died in Dunedin and he is buried in the soldiers’ plot in Andersons Bay Cemetery. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Matilda O’Connor 1893-1985.
Matilda was engaged to Stephen Perwick when he died of tuberculosis in 1924. She married Gregory Perwick in 1928 and lived at the Black Swamp. (Patrick N.O’Neill)
Issac William O’Connor 1896-1962.
Isaac William was a motor driver in Timaru before he enlisted in 1915 and went to WWI in January 1916. He enlisted as a Rifleman in the New Rifle Brigade 3rd Reinforcements 2nd Battalion, F Co. He embarked at Wellington on January 16th 1916 bound for Suez.
He was badly gassed in 1917 and spent eight months in England recuperating before he rejoined his unit. While on sick leave in England he paid a visit to his family, the Flahavan’s in Glenagragra and the O’Connor’s in Ballyguiltenane on at least three occasions. He arrived home in June 1919 and returned to civilian life driving taxis. He married Margaret Nolan in 1938. He later drove the Municipal buses in Timaru but suffered ill health with lung damage from the gassing and died in 1952. He is buried in Timaru Cemetery. Margaret shifted to Christchurch and died in 1978. Family: Michael Bevan b 1939 married Catherine Flora Corby; Carole Mary b 1942 married her 1st cousin, Alfred Joseph Perwick; and Paul William b 1949 married Anne Katherine Craven. (Patrick N.O’Neill & Mike Connolly)
Paul and Thomas Michael O’Connor were twins.
All these O’Connors were 1st cousins to my grandfather, George Lynch. (George Langan
19770706 – NZ Ministry of Defence – 24-1773 Isaac William O’Connor
Catherine Lynch O’Connor, my great grand-aunt, died in Timura on Oct 16th 1939.
Michael and Catherine O’Connor family at daughter Margaret’s wedding, 1904 to Patrick Holland: back: Paul, Vincent, James, Archie; middle: –, Catherine nee Lynch, Richard Ferris (Best Man), Patrick Holland, Margaret (bride), Mary, Michael (father), –; front: Catherine, Dominic, Tom, Matilda, Isaac. (Photo courtesy of Patrick N.O’Neill)
Michael (Mick) O’Connor had a 1st, cousin Thomas (Tom) O’Connor 1846-1906 who on Feb 11th, 1879 married Mary Sheahan 1854-1897 daughter of Patrick Sheahan and Kitty Frawley. One of their daughters, Ellen (Nell) O’Connor 1896-1982 corresponded with her 1st, cousin Catherine O’Connor, daughter of John O’Connor in New Zealand, one of those letters transcripted by Patrick N.O’Neill as follows –
29/10/1919
Dear Cousin
I trust you and my relations are first class. Is cousin Dominic home? Tell
him write to me as I would love to hear always from him. How is Cousin
Ike making out? The poor fellow must be delighted to be back in the dear
old home. He was often telling us about your good nature, how often you
would write to him during the awful war. Tell him when he has rested
& is himself once more to write to us. Tell Ike Paddy Flavahan got a
young daughter since he left. He will be sorry to hear his wife is not well,
she is in hospital. I am sending you some news papers, they will let you
know how things are going on here.
All your relations here wishes to be remembered to you and all the family
circle. Remember me to your Mother, Brother & Sister.
Goodbye, Dear Cousin, God bless you.
From your loving Cousin Nell
By the way, did you get the Photos I send you?
On Nov 12th, 1927 at Glin church Ellen (Nell) O’Connor married John Lucey, a farmer from Fanelton, Macroom, Co. Cork, son of Patrick Lucey. The witnesses being Michael Lucey and Mary Meade. As far as I know they had a family of three as follows – Teresa Anne Lucey born on Oct 3rd, 1933, died at Cork on Oct 12th, 1998. Mary Rose Lucey lives in Chicago and is married to Tehan. Chris Lucey lives in Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick. He lived for a time in a caravan next to Ned O’Shaughnessy, Knockdown, Athea, Co. Limerick.
For more on the O’Connor family and their connections see the following site by Patrick N.O’Neill – Our Irish Connections
(6) Mary Lynch (daughter of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) was Baptised Nov 9th 1856 her sponsors being – John Flavin (b1855 son of Paddy) and Helena Kennelly. There are two certificates concerning Mary’s marriage as follows – On Feb 10th 1880 at Athea church, Mary Lynch, Glasha, daughter of George Lynch, deceased, married James Costelloe from Turraree, Glin son of Michael Costelloe a farmer, the witnesses being Murty Costelloe and Ellen Lynch. James’s age given as 26 years and Mary’s age given as 24. Mary’s father George was deceased.
The second marriage certificate reads thus – On Feb 10th 1881 at Athea church Mary Lynch from Glasha, Athea, daughter of George Lynch, deceased, married John Costelloe from Turraree, Glin, son of Michael Costelloe, a deceased farmer, the witnesses being Mortimer Costelloe and Ellen Lynch. John aged 30 years and Mary aged 25 years.
Were John & James Costelloe brothers and if James died and Mary married John why then was Mary’s condition on the marriage cert described as spinster and not widow as should be the case. My uncle Tom Lynch, Mary’s grand-nephew told me before he died that something strange went on in that house but he didn’t know exactly what it was suffice to say that Mary was rarely spoken of in the Lynch household in Glasha. My own take on the matter is that one of the certs is null and void as the first child born on Jan 1st, 1881 was Kate Costelloe to John Costelloe and Mary Lynch. The 1901 Census gives John Costelloe as head of the family and Mary Lynch given as his wife. The day and month of each of the marriages are the same and the same people witnessed both marriages.
John Costelloe, who was originally from nearby Mohernagh, Ballyhahill, bought the Turraree farm circa 1850 from a widow woman by the name of Mrs Sheehy. I’ve been reliably informed by three different sources that this Mary Lynch came from the George Lynch farm in Glasha. Tommy Sheehy R.I.P. of Turraree remembered her well, as did his neighbour the late Mossy Breen R.I.P who was pushing 98 yrs of age when I interviewed him. Mrs Mary O’Brien, R.I.P. Tenakilla, who was 89 yrs of age when I spoke with her remembers Mary Lynch baking a cake of bread one day when she called to the house in the 1930’s. Mike Costelloe, Turraree (no relation despite the fact that both families lived in the same avenue and both farmhouse’s were located in the one farmyard) confirmed same when I spoke to him on Nov 1st 2011. My uncle Tom Lynch remembers calling down to Costelloe’s with his father George circa 1941 and he has a vivid recollection of meeting his grand-aunt Mary and some of her sons. Tom went on to inform me that for some reason or other this family were rarely spoken about in the Lynch household hence, the reason that I never knew my grandfather had an aunt Mary.
John Costelloe and Mary Lynch had the following family
(i) Mary Costelloe, R.I.P. 1971
(ii) George Costelloe. R.I.P. 1944
(iii) Dan Costelloe.
(iv) Mike Costelloe.
(v) Kate Costelloe. born Jan 1st, 1881.
(vi) Jack Costelloe. 1890-1969
(vii) Tom Costelloe. 1884-1973
(viii) Jim Costello, died as a child
(i) Mary Costelloe married Mike Wallace, Coole, Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick. No family.
(ii) George Costelloe who died in 1944 remained single and lived in the home place with his brothers Tom and Jack. During the time of the ‘Black and Tans’ a local girl allegedly made a wrongful accusation to the said ‘Tan’s’ that she was assaulted by George. A lorry of drunken ‘Tan’s’ from Newcastle West arrived at George’s door one morning, dragged him from his home, spread-eagled him against the wall and threatened to shoot him. They then asked the girl to show them exactly what had occurred and on seeing her re-enactment of the incident, they knew straight away that there was no substance whatsoever to the complaint. The ‘Tan’s’ turned and walked away, leaving George in a broken and shaken state from which he never recovered. They had just destroyed a straight, honest and innocent man.
(iii) Dan, (iv) Mike & (v) Kate Costelloe sometime in the early 1900’s, at the tender ages of 13, 14, and 15 the two brothers and sister emigrated to their uncle in Australia on the same ship, on the same day and never returned. Kate married and had a daughter who married a man by the name of Munroe who’s daughter Joanne Munroe had communication with Mike Costello, Turraree up until a couple of years ago.
(vi) Jack Costelloe remained single and lived in the home place. He went to his eternal reward February 26th 1969.
(vii) Tom Costelloe who died on Christmas Eve 1973 also remained single and lived out his life in the home place along with George and Jack. Tom being the last surviving member in the home place signed the farm over to his next-door neighbour Mike Costelloe who was no relation. My uncle Mick Lynch was of the belief that he might fall in for the place so to speak but those aspirations were truly quelled following Jack’s death. It seems that Jack had more time for Mick than his brother Tom had.
John Costelloe died of heart disease at Turraree on Jan 9th, 1921, aged 76 years, his son John Costelloe present at his death.
Mary Costelloe died a widow at Turraree on Feb 26th, 1939, aged 83 years, John Costelloe present at her death.
In relation to Mike Costelloe, (the no relation one above) his great-grandfather was Jack Costelloe born circa 1845. On Feb 14th, 1871 at Glin church John (Jack) Costelloe, a farmer, son of Mortimer Costelloe, farmer of Turraree, Glin married Bridget McEniry, daughter of John McEniry, a farmer from Glin, (Mike Costelloe says Bridget was from Tobbertoureen, Moyvane, Co. Kerry.) the witnesses being – John Costelloe and Bridget O’Connor.
1901 Census for John (Jack) Costelloe, Turraree Lower.
Residents of a house 20 in Tooraree Lower (Kilfergus, Limerick)
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costelloe | John M | 56 | Male | Head of Family | Catholic |
| Costelloe Nee McEniry | Bridget | 50 | Female | Wife | Catholic |
| Costelloe | Michael | 27 | Male | Son | Catholic |
| Costelloe | John | 26 | Male | Son | Catholic |
| Costelloe | Denis | 24 | Male | Son | Catholic |
| Jameson | Margeratt | 22 | Female | Servant | Catholic |
Margaret Jameson listed above was the daughter of Robert Jamieson & Mary McEniry of Ballyculhane, Glin. At the time of Margaret’s birth, her father Robert Jameson’s address is given as Ballinagoul and Margaret’s birthplace given as Ballyguiltenane, Glin. On July 30th 1911, at Glin church this Margaret Jameson married Edmund (Ned) McEniry, Tubbertoureen, Moyvane, Co. Kerry son of Michael McEniry a farmer, the witnesses being David J. Ruddle and Bridget O’Reilly,
1911 Census for John (Jack) Costelloe, Turraree, Glin.
| Surname | Forename | Age | Sex | Relation to head | Religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costello | John | 70 | Male | Head of Family | R Catholic |
| Costello Nee McEniry | Bridget | 69 | Female | Wife | R Catholic |
| Costello | Michael | 38 | Male | Son | R Catholic |
| Costello | John | 36 | Male | Son | R Catholic |
| Costello | Denis | 34 | Male | Son | R Catholic |
John (Jack) Costelloe and Bridget McEniry had three sons as in above Census but in more detail set out hereunder –
(1) John Costelloe. (son of John (Jack) Costelloe & Bridget McEniry) who was born on Nov 20th, 1872 suffered from epilepsy. Sometime when in his 40’s James suffered a bout, fell into a stream and drowned.
(2) Mick Costelloe (son of John (Jack) Costelloe & Bridget McEniry) born on Nov 20th, 1871, married Bridget (Bridge) Culhane, Turraree Cross, Glin. They had an only son Johnny Costelloe born circa 1920 who married Catherine Buckley, Duagh, Co. Kerry. Johnny subsequently became the father of the said Mike Costelloe above.
(3) Denis Costelloe (son of John (Jack) Costelloe & Bridget McEniry) who was born on May 24th, 1875, married Catherine Kiely, Toureendonnell. Catherine was a grand-aunt to my wife Vera Kiely Langan, Rooskagh East. Kate Kiely was born on Jan 29th, 1880 at Toureendonnell, father John Kiely and mother Bridget Connell. (They lived in Mulderricksfield, Borrigone, Askeaton in Catherine’s farm. From whom Catherine acquired the farm I have not ascertained as of yet. I can only assume it was through her mother’s people, she being Bridget Connell, a relative of the Connell’s of Hazelfield, Borrigone whose farm was adjoining or maybe forming part of Catherine’s. The farm was quite small but was later increased following the acquisition of several acres from the Land Commission when Cooper’s nearby farm was divided among the farmer’s. There was no water in Catherine’s farm and Denis had to draw water with horse and cart from a well that was located somewhere close to where Corbet’s pub once stood, on the main Limerick road. They had ample running water after getting the extra land as a stream flowed through the centre of it.
Marriage details of Denis Costelloe and Catherine Kiely as follows – On June 18th, 1914 at Athea church, Catherine Kiely from Keale, Athea, daughter of John Kiely a farmer, married Denis Costelloe from Turraree, Glin, son of John Costelloe, a farmer, the witnesses being Michael Costelloe, Turraree and Mary Kiely, Templeathea. Denis & Catherine had the following family –
i.John Costelloe, born May 22nd, 1917 at Craggs, Borrigone, Askeaton, Co. Limerick. John was godfather to my wife Vera. I knew John quite well.
ii.Michael Costelloe, born May 19th, 1918 at Craggs, Borrigone, Askeaton. Michael worked in the Post Office at Cecil St., Limerick.
iii.Ita Costelloe, Borrigone, Askeaton, Co. Limerick.
iv.Denis Costelloe, Borrigone, Askeaton, Co. Limerick.
v.Mary Costelloe was the only one of the family to marry. She married Timothy Dillane, Rooskagh East, Carrickerry, Athea, son of Michael Dillane, Athea Parish and Catherine Frawley, Monemohill, Kilcoleman, Co. Limerick. Family from that union as follows –
Living… Dillane, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork.
Living… Dillane, Ballincollig, Cork.
Living… Dillane Rooskagh East, Carrickerry, Athea.
Living… Dillane, Rooskagh East, Carrickerry, Athea, Co. Limerick.
Issue from Michael Dillane/Catherine Frawley union as follows –
William Dillane, Dublin.
Tom Dillane, Rooskagh East.
Patrick Dillane, California.
John Dillane, Detroit.
James Dillane, Detroit.
Michael Dillane, Shanagolden.
David Dillane, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Timothy Dillane, Rooskagh East.
Joseph Dillane, Rooskagh East.
Con Dillane, Rooskagh East.
Mary (Molly) Dillane, Rooskagh East.who married her neighbour Tommy Madigan, Rooskagh East.
Timothy Dillane’s grandfather was William Dillane and his grandmother was Margaret Murray. Catherine Frawley’s father was Thomas Frawley and her mother was Margaret Sheehan. (George Langan)
7. George Lynch 1858-1918. (son of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) the youngest child of George and Mary was baptised at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Athea on March 4th 1858 his sponsors being – John Mulvihill and Johanna Flavin. Johanna was probably his aunt, his mother’s sister. He died suddenly at Riversdale, New Zealand on November 8th 1918 aged 60 years.
In Monagea RC Church on July 4th 1876, George married Johanna McCarthy, Monagea, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. Johanna was the daughter of Moses McCarthy, a farmer from Monagea. The witnesses were Daniel Shea & Bridget Green. About two week’s after they getting married, George, along with his wife Johanna and his sister Catherine above, travelled to Glasgow where they embarked on the ship ‘Dunedin’ bound for Otago, New Zealand. The ship left Glasgow on June 29th arriving in Otago on November 9th 1876. From Otago they sailed to Lyttleton on the coastal ship ‘Maori’. George and Johanna settled at Shand’s Track where they settled on lands that had been balloted out to settlers in blocks of 30 to 200 acres. Shand’s Track which was later known as Lincoln is in Canterbury immediately south of Christchurch. In 1881 George along with brothers Michael & John O’Connor and Henry Windle paid a visit to Waimea Plains where George took up a 50 acre section at Longridge village. Like his father before him George was also a road contractor and took on much work in that field in his adopted country. It would appear the road contracting didn’t do as good as had been expected as on Tuesday Nov 26th 1889 George made application to the courts under the Bankruptcy Act, 1883 for an order releasing him from his contract he having gone bankrupt on Oct 6th 1887 as per hereunder. Following his release from bankruptcy he concentrated more on farming, buying up several holdings locally, the last one bought in November 1912 which comprised of 1,600 acres. At one stage he had 5,000 acres to his name. By 1883 Michael O’Connor and his brother John were granted by ballot 200 acres of land at Longridge. In 1894 Michael bought a further section and farmed both till 1908 at such time he sold out to his brother in law George Lynch. Looking at the sheep returns for 1912 George had 2,100 head. George would appear to very highly respected in the area so much so that a road known locally as Lynch Road was named in his honour, the road connected Kingston Crossing Road to School Road.
Lynch Road to right at its intersection with Kingston Crossing Road, New Zealand. Photo taken from Google Maps.
On Feb 26th 1888 the Rev Fr.Newport celebrated mass at the Lynch household.
On March 8th 1889 at a meeting of Southland Co. Council tenders were sought for repairs and upgrading the road between Waikaia Bridge to the cemetery and 3 chains of gravelling near McGrigor’s at Wendonside. George submissions for two blocks at £32 -19 -2 and £58 -1-8 were accepted as were other tenders.
It was reported in the OTAGO WITNESS, ISSUE 2002, 7 JULY 1892 that George bought 84 acres known as Waimea Railway Paddock at 16 shillings per acre.
On April 5th 1900 at a Waimea Land Sale George Lynch bought bought Block 53 consisting of 160 acres of agricultural land at £1 per acre. George’s address given as Longridge Village.
George was chosen foreman of a jury at the inquest into the death of John O’Connor who was fatally injured when thrown from his horse at Kingston Crossing in 1896. John was originally from Ballyguiltenane, Glin, Co. Limerick and was married to Catherine O’Connell formerly from Glenagragra, Glin. Both had emigrated around the same time.
Homebush in Longridge was the name of George’ Lynch’s estate. The only other Homebush listed, is the one 56 kms west of Christchurch i.e Homebush Stables.
By 1913 George was failing in health and put up over half his farms for sale including the 370 acres he had earlier purchased from Henry Windle.
Come August 1918 the remainder of George’s farm was up for auction.
George’s total holdings at one period amounted to 5,000 acres, the last purchase being ‘The Camp’ which consisted of 1,600 acres.
George Lynch died suddenly from heart failure at Gore on Nov 8th 1918 aged 60 years.
George Lynch and Johanna McCarthy had 10 children ;-
(i) George Lynch.
(ii) Anne Teresa Lynch.
(iii) Mary Lynch.
(iv) Hanora Ellen Lynch.
(v) Johanna Elizabeth Lynch.
(vi) Moses Lynch.
(vii) Eileen Lynch.
(viii) Patrick Sarsfield Lynch.
(ix) Thomas Lynch. (died World War 1)
(x) Margaret Lynch.
(i)George Lynch (son of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) was born May 19th 1877 in Lincoln, died in 1965 – his sponsors being Michael Ryan & his aunt Catherine Lynch. George married Jane Smith 1877 – 1976 of Luggate on June 21st 1905. Luggate is a small township in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 6 between Wanaka and Cromwell, near the junction with State Highway 8A, approximately 15 km from the Wanaka township, just past Wanaka Airport. In 1910 George advertised for tenders towards the building of stables at Homebush, Longridge, offers to close by April 2nd. Also in MATAURA ENSIGN, 10 OCTOBER 1910 George placed an advertisement that poison was laid for dogs on all the land that he owned in the Hokonui and Oreti ridings of the Southland county. Towards the end of the year 1912 George sold 430 acres of land at Sandstone to a Mrs M. Conaghan.
George held the post as surfaceman till his resignation in 1920.
In the yearly years, George and his wife Jane Smith used to travel to Fiordland for the summer season and manage a hut at Quintin for the hiker’s overnight stay. He owned some land but seemed to move around, trading one piece for another. George died June 24th 1965 and Jane in 1976. Both are buried in Riversdale.
George Lynch & Jane Smith had the following family –
Awaleita Lynch b October 17th 1907 and died September 15th 1999 at Gore and is buried in Riversdale. Awaleita remained single in life. At the annual ‘break up’ of the Riversdale school in connection with the 1916 Christmas holidays Awaleita as a Junior scholar received 2nd place for good conduct.
There must have been other family members in between.
William Leonard Lynch, 1915-1967
Charlie Lynch, b 1916, died 1916, Riversdale.
It would appear from the following that another member of the family George Charles Lynch died March 1917 –
(ii)Annie Theresa Lynch (daughter of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) was born in 1879 at Christchurch and died of TB on July 12th 1915 in Balfour. On January 20th 1904 Annie married Robert Sydney Condon (? – 1948) at the residence of George Lynch, Kingston Crossing, New Zealand. Family from that union as follows –
Catherine Amelia Condon bFeb 17th 1905, m Bernard William Redman Feb 21st 1925 at Riversdale.
Johanna Condon born March 9th 1906 in Balfour and married Edward Gilder on Jan 25 1925 at George Lynch’s home, Riversdale. Johanna lived with her grandparents until she married and later in life was slightly resentful of that, as she never got to know her brother or sisters when they were young and found them strangers as adults. She died March 26th 2004 and is buried in Gore cemetery. Her husband died Jan 2nd 1961. They had three daughters and three sons.
Roberta May Condon, bJune 4th 1907, m William John Holland July 20th 1927 at Gore. He died March 22nd 1930. Roberta re-married and died in 1983 and is buried Blenheim/Seddon.
Robert Sydney Condon, b July 11th 1908, died October 11th 1908 at Balfour.
George Gerard Condon, b1912 in Balfour. On April 28th 1936 at Gore, George married his 2nd cousin Margaret Holland who was the daughter of Margaret O’Connor and grand-daughter of Michael O’Connor and Catherine Lynch. Margaret O’Connor was the 2nd daughter of Michael and Catherine. George and Margaret had 2 children.
Annie Theresa Condon, bAugust 22nd 1913, Balfour m William John Nolan, April 9th 1936 at Gore. Annie died April 26th 1988 and William February 1969 without issue.
William Leonard Condon, born August 20th 1914, Balfour. His mother died of TB on July 12th 1915. William was adopted by his grandparents George & Jane Lynch on July 28th 1916. His name was subsequently changed to Lynch.
(iii)Mary Lynch (daughter of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) born 1880 Christchurch, died Sept 29th 1967 at Riversdale. Mary remained single in life.
(iv)Honorah Ellen Lynch, (daughter of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) born August 15th 1881, Kingston Crossing. Died February 23rd 1958 at Riversdale. Known as Cissy, she was the housekeeper for all the family and also worked tirelessly on the farm of which she was a partner in. Cissy also remained single in life.
(v)Johanna Elizabeth Lynch, (daughter of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) bMay 1st 1882 at Riversdale, died of TB April 13th 1925, Sydney, Australia. She had one child, George Bernard Lynch, born August 28th 1923.
(vi)Moses Lynch, (son of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) b Sept 27th 1884, Kingston Crossing. Died November 21st 1935 at Riversdale. Known as Mody, he worked on the farm with the horses. He served in World War 1 in the 31st Reinforcements Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company having being recruited on June 5th, departed for the North on July 23rd 1917. It was reported in the MATAURA ENSIGN, 13 NOVEMBER 1916 that Moses was no longer a member of the partnership of George Lynch & Sons. Moses embarked with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Liverpool on November 16th 1917. He was wounded in France and was admitted to hospital back in home soil on October 1st 1918. Moses died of TB on November 21st 1935 and is buried in Riversdale cemetery.
(vii)Eileen Lynch (daughter of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) b October 17th 1886 at Kingston Crossing. Died June 17th 1963 at Garston, New Zealand. Eileen married Archibald John McLean on Oct 16th 1914 in George Lynch’s homestead, Riversdale. Archibald died May 2nd 1936.
They had the following family – Archibald Joseph McLean, b 1909, married Doreen Winifred.? Had two daughters.
James Lynch McLean b1915, Died December 28th 1970 at Gore, married Barbara Dunlop Ness, May 1946. No issue from that union.
Christina Mildred McLean, b1920, Died Aug 17th 1994, Nightcaps. Two sons and one daughter.
(viii)Patrick Sarsfield Lynch, (son of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) b March 10th 1889, Kingston Crossing. Died October 27th 1965, Riversdale. Known as Major, he remained single and worked all his life on the family farm.
(ix)Thomas Lynch, (son of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) b April 20th 1891, Kingston Crossing. Died Wednesday Aug 8th 1917, Belgium, W.W 1. Thomas enlisted with the 7th Reinforcements (Earl of Liverpool’s Own) Rifle Brigade in Sept 1915. He was killed in action aged 26 years. Thomas who was my 1st cousin thrice removed was a member of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade and was killed in action during the Third Battle of Ypres, Belgium on August 8th 1917 one week after going into battle.
x)Margaret Lynch, (daughter of George Lynch & Johanna McCarthy) b June 20 1893, Kingston Crossing. Died Sept 21st 1962, and is buried in Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. Margaret became a nun
(8)William Lynch 1860-1910 (son of George Lynch & Mary Flahavan) was baptised July 7th 1860 his sponsors being Patrick Lynch and Maria (Mary) Higgins. Patrick Lynch being his uncle, brother of George. Maria Higgins being the sister of Con Higgins, Glasha. William applied to work in the Civil Service as a Prison Warder at Kilmainham Jail in Dublin in the early 1880’s. On Oct 6th 1890, William married Elizabeth (Lizzie) O’Connor at Baldoyle RC Church.
Elizabeth was the daughter of Patrick O’Connor and the niece of Elizabeth O’Connor who in 1846 married a man by the name of Flewett who was the deputy Governor of Kilmainham Jail. The Flewett’s came from Chester, England and memorials to that family can be found at the Anglican Cathedral there. The witnesses for the marriage of William Lynch & Lizzie O’Connor were Daniel McCartan & Mary Jane Flewil. Daniel McCartan who came from Co. Down was a solicitor and was married to a Cussen girl from Newcastle West, Co. Limerick. Whether she was a relative of the Solicitor Cussen’s in N.C.W. I do not know. When William died the said Dan McCartan was an executor to his will and for a brief time was part of the firm. At the time of their marriage they were both living in Howth, Co. Dublin. Lizzie’s family were builders who built in and around Howth where Lizzie acquired some property. Following their marriage, they moved into Mount Pleasant on Thormanby Rd, a house with land around it. William studied law, qualified as a solicitor in September 1894 and took up rooms at Lr. Ormond Quay, Dublin 1. Each Christmas Lizzy would send a tin of biscuits down to Glasha and and in return a turkey would be delivered to the O’Connor home in Howth. William’s grandson Bryan Lynch reminds me that gifts were also passed to a Mrs. Wallace in Glin parish. The only Wallace that I know of with a Lynch connection is Johanna Wallace, wife of David Kelly, Ballygoughlin. The Lynch’s and Kelly’s were very close friends so close that David Kelly’s son Ambrose (Amby) was my grandfathers’ best man (George Lynch) on his wedding day. It was a practice back then that many wife’s carried on using their maiden names following their marriages and so could be the case with Johanna Wallace.
When my mother was in the Meath Hospital in 1923 with her leg complaint, she remembers Lizzy calling in to visit her. Says mother, ‘’she always wore a hat and a veil over her face’’. My mother has no memory of William and Lizzy coming to Glasha; how could she as William died in the year 1910, however, she has a vivid recollection of William’s son Marcus Lynch coming to visit on several occasions. Patsy Connolly, the harness-maker from Glenagragra was often known to pass the following remark ‘’tamaill an dire, and there was Marcus’’. Patsy’s home was the local gathering house so to speak back in those days. My aunt Joan O’Connor remembers how she along with her uncle Paddy Barrett paid a visit to Marcus Lynch a solicitor at Ormonde Quay back in 1948.
1901 census for William Lynch, Howth, Co. Dublin as follows :
William, age 40, birthplace Co. Limerick, head of family.
Lizzie, age 34, birthplace Howth, wife.
Marcus, age 9, son.
George, age 7, son.
John Lynch, age 30. Relation to head of family not given.
Emma Brady, Queens County, (Co.Laois) servent.
1911 census for same family as follows :
Lizzie, age 44, head of family.
Marcus, age 19, son.
George, age 17, son.
Nora, age 9, daughter, scholar.
Mary Meehan, age 31, bookkeeper.(niece of Lizzie)
Mary Jane Gibney, female servant. This must be the Mary Jane Flewil, one of the witnesses at William’s wedding.
William Lynch died suddenly from appendicitis in 1910 at the age of 50. Elizabeth died in 1946 aged 77yrs.
Family of William Lynch and Lizzie O’Connor, four, as follows;
(1) Marcus Lynch 1890-1959.
(2) George Lynch.b1894.
(3) Nora Lynch 1900-1916.
(4) William Lynch (2) b1907
(1) Marcus Lynch 1890-1959 (son of William Lynch & Lizzie O’Connor,) took over the family practice when he qualified in 1914. On Sept 18th, 1935 at Monkstown Church, Marcus Lynch of Mt Pleasant, Howth, married Mary Frances McLaughin of 18 Longford Tce, Monkstown, Co. Dublin, daughter of Francis McLoughlin M.D., the witnesses being – William Patrick Cowhie & Bridget McLoughlin. Mary died in 1988. Mary was from Derry. Marcus Lynch died of cancer in September 1959 at the age of 69yrs. They had the following family –
(i) Gregory Lynch b1936. It would appear that Gregory Lynch remained single in life.
(ii) John Marcus Lynch b1938 who in 1970 married Helen McElligott.
Family from John Marcus Lynch and Helen McElligott, three as follows ;
Private Lynch b19.. who Married Private McMahon and had the following family – Private male McMahon, Private female McMahon Private female McMahon and Private male McMahon.
Private Lynch b19.. who married Private O’Malley and had the following family – Private & Private O’Malley.
Private Lynch b19.. who married Private Freeman and had the following family – Private Lynch b20.. and Private born 20..
(iii) Bryan Francis Lynch b19– who in 19– married Louise Kissane.
Family from Bryan Lynch and Louise Kissane, two, as follows –
(1) Private Lynch. b19– who in 20– married Private Connolly and had a daughter Private Lynch b20–.
(2)Private Lynch born 19–.
Louise Kissane’s parental ancestors came from Leitrim East, Newtownsandes (Moyvane), Co. Kerry. Her grandfather John Kissane moved to Co. Tipperary in the early 1900’s. He acquired quite a large farm of land not far from Tipperary town. Her father John Kissane was a Pharmacist there and was president of the Irish pharmacies association. It was he in fact that was responsible for the unification of both the north and south pharmacies. Her granduncles in Leitrim East were of a family of 15 siblings, one of whom was Annie, who apparently did the majority of the work, not alone within the house but also around the farm. Their mothers’ name was Maria Walsh. who on Feb 1st, 1868 at the age of 15 years, daughter of John Walsh, Leitrim, married John Kissane, aged 28 years, son of John Kissane, Leitrim, the witnesses being – John Stack & Maurice Walsh. There were at least two priests among the fifteen, a Fr. Maurice Kissane, born ? and a Fr. Eddie Kissane born on Dec 23rd, 1896, both of whom emigrated to Syracuse, New York and were very close friends of a Mary Windle over there. (Mary Windle’s sister Kathy was married to my uncle James Lynch, Leitrim Middle, son of George Lynch, Glasha). In 1956 Fr. Maurice and Fr. Eddie made a special donation of funds towards the altar in Moyvane Church. They were attached to St. Michael’s Rectory, Onondaga Hill, Syracuse, New York. Fr. Eddie was ordained in 1919 and went to his eternal reward in 1973.
Michael Kissane son of John Kissane remained in the home place and on April 26th, 1926 married Anne Scanlon from Kilpadogue, Tarbert, daughter of Patrick Scanlon, the witnesses being – Patrick Lynch & Nora O’Sullvan. This Anne Scanlon was the sister of Michael, Mary, Katie and Brigid Scanlon who, on August 15th 1893 were tragically drowned in the river Shannon when a fishing boat that they had hired for a pleasure trip that day to Co Clare, sank on the return journey from Moyne Quay. In total seventeen people lost their lives on that fateful evening. The owner of the boat, Maurice Murphy and his son Paddy were among the seventeen that perished. (For more on the disaster see Ballyguiltenane Rural Journal 1981 p50 and B.R.J. 1992 p129 articles submitted by Tom O’Connor & Tom O’Donovan.)
Louise Kissane’s mother was Tess Reidy from Castleisland. They had a publichouse/grocery shop in the town, the rear of which stood facing towards the local river. Michael O’Sullivan from Farnamiller, Glin is the current owner of the Kissane farm in Leitrim, Moyvane. Michael is married with a family. Michael’s grandmother was another member of the Scanlon family, either a sister or a 1st cousin. The last of the Kissane’s, John Kissane, died tragically circa 1974/5.
(2) George Lynch (son of William Lynch & Lizzie O’Connor,) was born in 1894, qualified as a solicitor in 1916 and set up practice in Carrick-on-shannon, Co. Leitrim. George, on June 14th, 1918 at Fairview church, Dublin, George Lynch married Frances O’Neill from Bryanstown, Mullingar, daughter of farmer Hugh O’Neill, the withesses being – Marcus A. Lynch & Claire O’Neill. In the early 1920’s, George became State Solicitor for Sligo/Leitrim. George and Frances had a family of 6 as follows –
(i) Brendan Lynch.
(ii) Declan Marcus Lynch.
(iii) George Lynch.
(iv) William Basil Lynch.
(v) Gerald Lynch.
(vi) Hilary Lynch.
(i) Brendan Lynch 1918-2007 married Mary Leech. Brendan who was a state solicitor lived with his family in Carrick-on-shannon, Co Leitrim. My grandfather George Lynch along with his sons Mick & Dan, paid a visit on Brendan in 1969. Dan was home on holiday from Chicago.
(ii) Declan Marcus Lynch was married to Ruth ? and had 6 children.
(iii) George Lynch emigrated to the US and joined the priesthood there. He was ordained in 1954, Fr. Ibar George Lynch and administered in Seattle until his death in 2007. (the vocation seemed to follow along the generations) The Rev. Ibar George Lynch was born November 1, 1924 in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, Ireland, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lynch. He attended school in County Kildare and Dublin before entering Holy Ghost Novitiate, Kilshane County, Tipperary, in 1942. He was ordained at St. James Cathedral by Archbishop Connolly in 1952, He was assistant at Star of the Sea, Bremerton, St. James, Vancouver and Sacred Heart, Bellevue, before becoming pastor at St. Joseph, Pe Ell, in 1960. Pe Ell is a town in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 642 at the 2020 census.
(iv) William Basil Lynch R.I.P. 2006 married Bernice Shortall and had 5 children.
(v) Gerard Lynch b1937 married Judith Shiels 1968/9 and had 2 children.
(vi) Hilary Lynch married David Baker and had 2 children.
(3) Nora Lynch. (daughter of William Lynch & Lizzie O’Connor,) was born 1900 and died of TB at the age of 16 in 1916.
(4) William Lynch (son of William Lynch & Lizzie O’Connor,) born 1907 died aged 1year in 1908.
To be continued…….