Chawke Johannanee Fitzpatrick…July 17th, 1955…Death of Johanna Chawke, Ballyvologue, Granagh, widow of Dick, above. Limerick Leader 1905-current, Saturday, August 06, 1955 – Page 8. http://www.irishnewspaperarchives.com
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Chawke Ned,Granagh won an All Ireland Senior Hurling championship medal with Limerick in 1940. Ned’s mother, Johanna Fitzpatrick was my grandaunt. Ned was honoured and presented with a silver tray by the local G.A.A. club on May 21st, 1953 at the local school in Granagh on the occasion of his recent marriage. The presentation was made by Fr. Lyons C.C. Chairman. Limerick Leader Wed June 3rd, 1953, page 3. http://www.irishnewspaperarchives.com
On Feb 21st, 1903 at Glin church, JeremiahMulvihill, Aughrim, Moyvane, Co. Kerry married JOHANNA MULLANE, born on June 7th, 1866, died on July 21st, 1932, daughter of Denis Mullane and Johanna Scanlon. The witnesses for the wedding were Denis Mulvihill & Johanna Granvillle.Johanna Scanlon was born in 1822 in Dirreen, Athea, County Limerick. She died on Jan 27th, 1912 in Dromreask, Glin, County Limerick aged 90 years, her daughter Johanna Mulvihill present at her death. Denis Mullane, Derreen, Athea was a blacksmith by trade and had his smithy at the Lower Dirreen/Knocknagorna crossroads. Denis died on March 11th, 1889 at Dirreen, Athea, aged 68 years, his son Patrick (Patsy) Mullane present at his death. Following the death of Denis, his widow Johanna, along with her son Patrick (Patsy) and daughter Johanna moved to Dromreask, Glin, Co. Limerick to a farm that had been vacated, when Johanna’s daughter Ellen Mullane, who was married to John Granville had emigrated to New Zealand. According to the 1901 census, Patrick (Patsy) Mullane was head of the family. Jeremiah Mulvihill married into the Mullane place in Dromreask. (Patrick (Patsy) was still there in 1905 as he was listed as occupier when present at the birth of Denis Mulvihill.(Denny Jer)
Census Years 1901 Limerick Kilfergus Dromreask Residents of a house
Residents of a house 5 in Dromreask (Kilfergus, Limerick)
Surname Forename Age Sex Relation to head Religion
Mullane Patrick 44 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic
Mullane (Scanlon)Johanna 70 Female Mother Roman Catholic
Mullane Johanna 28 Female Sister Roman Catholic
From what we know Johanna Scanlon and Denis Mullane had the following family of 5 –
(1)Margaret Mullane.
(2)Ellen Mullane.
(3)Patrick (Patsy) Mullane.
(4)Johanna Mullane.
(5) Mary Mullane.
(1) Margaret Mullane daughter of Denis Mullane and Johanna Scanlon married Mike O’ Shea who lived in Dromreask, Glin on the left side of the Athea to Glin road overlooking Blaine bog. Mike was the son of David (Dave) O’Shea & Mary Windle.Mike O’Shea & Margaret Mullane had the following family of three –
David Shea born on January 5th, 1872 at Dromreask
John (Jack) Shea born on January 6th, 1874 at Dromreask.
Michael Shea born March 13th, 1876 at Dromreask.
Following Mike’s death from pneumonia on Feb 6th, 1876 aged 35 years, Margaret Mullane O’Shea emigrated to New Zealand taking with her, their three young children. Margaret didn’t re-marry after that.
Roadway into O’Shea’s, Dromreask. (Google Maps)
More on the O’Shea family.
David (Dave) O’Shea lived in Dromreask, Glin, Co. Limerick. He was married to Mary Windle from Knockfinnisk, Athea, Co. Limerick. Mary was born c1817 and died at Dromreask on Jan 7th, 1893 aged 76 years, Michael Wallace, her son in law living in Dromreask present at her death. David (Dave) O’Shea was born circa 1799 and died at Dromreask on Feb 13th, 1883 aged 84 years, his daughter Bridget O’Shea present at his death. Family from David (Dave) O’Shea & Mary Windle that I know of, as follows –
Mike O’Shea who was married to Margaret Mullane as above.
Kitty O’Shea born circa 1855, who on Feb 19th, 1878 married Mike Wallace aged 23 years, from Tullyleague, Glin, son of John Wallace. (Mike Wallace married into the O’Shea farm). The witnesses to the wedding were Johanna Windle and Daniel Culhane.
Family from Michael Wallace and Kitty (Kate) O’Shea as follows –
i.Jack Wallace.
ii.Mary Wallace.
iii.Johanna Wallace.
iv.Ellen Wallace.
v.David Wallace. Born Feb 1890 and died March 3rd 1890 aged 9 days, his father Michael present at death.
Kitty died on March 1st, 1890 aged 35 years which would give her a birth year of 1855. Following Kitty’s death Mike Wallace re-married to Margaret Geoghegan, Turraree, Glin, Co. Limerick as follows – Margaret Geoghegan(Daughter of John Geoghegan & Catherine Mulcaire) b21 4 1859) m.23 2 1893 to Michael Wallace, Dromreask, Glin, aged 41 years, born 1852, son of John Wallace, Tullyleague, Glin, the witnesses being Michael Culhane and Mary Geoghegan. Margaret’s age given as 32 years on marriage cert – children from that union as follows –
(1)Patrick Wallace
(2)Brian Wallace
(3)Catherine (Katie) Wallace.
(4) Michael Wallace
(5) Thomas Wallace.
None of the Wallace family married. I knew Brian, Katie and Tom as I saved hay there in the 1960’s with my grandfather Paddy Langan and some years afterwards I mowed rushes with a tractor and mowing bar there in the days when I was a vital cog in the well-oiled machine of my father’s agricultural contracting business. Donie Wallace, Tullyleague nephew, son of Daniel Wallace inherited the farm and subsequently sold it on to the Forestry Dept. The entire farm is now under plantation as can be seen from photograph above.
Mary O’Shea who on July 3rd, 1873 at Glin church, married her neighbour James O’Donoghue, son of Patrick O’Donoghue, Dromreask, the witnesses being Thomas Morgan & Johanna Walsh.
Bridget O’Shea whom on Feb 10th, 1891 married John Wallace from the Mall, Glin, a cooper by trade, son of Daniel Wallace who was also a cooper and who was alive. Bridget’s father Dave O’Shea was listed as being dead.
Margaret O’Shea married John McInerney, Ballyguiltenane, Glin before 1865. Family as follows –
i.Elizabeth (Liz) McInerney who on Oct 10th, 1903 married Jack Wallace, Tullyleague, son of Johnny Wallace, Tullyleague and Margaret Costelloe, Tenakilla, Ballyhahill, the witnesses being, James Wallace &Margaret Cregan. Can’t locate a birth cert for Liz, must be born pre 1864. Marriage of Johnny Wallace & Margaret Costelloe as follows – Johnny aged 29 years, son of John Wallace and Margaret aged 22 years, daughter of ? Costelloe were married on Feb 14th, 1874 at Glin church, the witnesses being, Michael Costelloe & John Wallace.
ii.Mary McInerney born on April 6th, 1865 at Ballyguiltenane.
iii.John McInerney born on July 13th, 1869 at Ballyguiltenane.
iv.Michael McInerney born on March 26th, 1871 at Ballyguiltenane
v.Sarah McInerney born on April 4th, 1873 at Ballyguiltenane.
vi.Patrick McInerney born on April 19th, 1875 at Tullyleague.
vii.David (Dave) McInerney born July 12th, 1877 at Ballyguiltenane who had three sons that I know of as follows – Dave McInerney, Ballinamadough, Johnny McInerney, Ballyguiltenane & Paddy McInerney. South Mall, Glin town. Paddy McInerney married my aunt Maureen Langan, daughter of Paddy Langan & Babe Fitzpatrick, Glenagragra and had one daughter Maura McInerney ,born 19–.
viii.Margaret McInerney born on April 21st, 1880 at Tullyleague.
(2) Ellen Mullane, who on July 23rd, 1873 at Glin church married John Granville, son of Maurice Granville and Mary ?, the witnesses being Nicholas Granville& Margaret Hanrahan. Margaret Hanrahan lived in the farm next to Nicholas Granville. Bill Woods lived there in my time. Mary Granville died a widow at Dromreask on Dec 25th, 1882 aged 70 years, her son John Granville present at her death. Maurice Granville died of heart disease on July 25th,1878 at Dromreask, aged 70 years, his son John present at his death. It’s of the belief that John Granville & Nicholas Granville, were 1st cousins.
Family as follows –
Mary Granville born May, 9th, 1874.
Maurice Granville born on Nov 1st, 1875 and died at Dromreask on Jan 23rd, 1881 aged 5 years.
Johanna Granville born on March 16th, 1877.
Margaret Granville born on May 23rd, 1878.
Ellen Granville born on Nov1st, 1879 and died at Dromreask on Sept 15th, 1884 aged 4 years.
Denis Granville born on April, 5th, 1883 and died at Dromreask on Sept 6th, 1884 aged 16 months.
Ellen & John Granville emigrated with a young family to new Zealand where more family members were born.
Nicholas Granville, age 50 as in Census hereunder, a labourer from Ballyguiltenane was the son of James Granville, and Julia ?. Julia died a widow at Dromreask on Oct 11th, 1885 aged 80 years. Her husband James Granville died on June 18th, 1881 aged 65 years, his daughter in law, Nicholas’ wife Judith(Julie) present at his death in Dromreask. On Feb 19th, 1870 at Athea church, Nicholas married Judith (Julie) Enright aged 27, daughter of William Enright, Dirreen, Athea, the witnesses being ? Granville & Michael Mulvihill.
Family as follows –
James Granville born on Dec 1st, 1870.
Mary Granville born on Sept 13th, 1872.
Elizabeth Granville born on April 4th, 1874.
Julia Granville born on March 4th, 1876.
Johanna Granville born on Aug 1st, 1877 at Ballyguiltenane/Dromreask, one and the same place back then.
William Granville born on April 26th, 1879.
Census Years 1901 Limerick Kilfergus Dromreask Residents of a house 15
Surname Forename Age Sex Relation to head Religion
Granville Nicholas 50 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic
Granville nee Enright Julia 56 Female Wife Roman Catholic
Granville James 30 Male Son Roman Catholic
Granville Johanna 23 Female Daughter Roman Catholic
James (Jim) Granville, son of Nicholas as aged 30 in census hereunder married Katie Shanahan. Katie Shanahan was an aunt to John Shanahan, Glin who was married to Hannie ‘The Weaver’ Mulvihill. Hannie was a sister to Paddy ‘The Weaver’ Mulvihill, Tobbertoureen, Moyvane who was married to Mollie Shanahan, Glenagragra. Paddy ‘The Weaver’ married into the Shanahan place. Molly Shanahan’s mother was an aunt to Paddy Faley, Glasha & Glenbawn. The Mulvihill farm was bounding the Lyons farm in Dromreask. Donie Lyons was telling me that the Mulvihill children came across the mountain and along by his place on their way to Ballyguiltenane school. James Granville died at a relatively young age and his widow Katie re-married to a Paddy Granville, Listowel, no relation to James, so I was told by Buddy Feury. It was said that Katie brought him home from Listowel in an ass and cart. James Granville’s house was situated opposite to where a local road known as ‘the new road’ has its intersection with the Glin/Athea road and is still known today as ‘Granville’s Cross’.
Granville’s Cross at the R524 Glin/Athea road. Nicholas Granville’s house was situated on the side of the road in the shrubs to the left on the R524. Aughrim hills on the background.
Photo 2007.
Census Years 1911 Limerick Kilfergus Dromreask Residents of a house
Residents of a house 15 in Dromreask (Kilfergus, Limerick)
Surname Forename Age Sex Relation to head Religion
Granville James 41 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic
Granville nee Shanahan Catherine 38 Female Wife Roman Catholic
Granville Nicholas 64 Male Father Roman Catholic
Granville Julia 74 Female Mother Roman Catholic
Mc Auliffe Bridget 11 Female Cousin Roman Catholic
(3)Patrick (Patsy) Mullane aged 44 in census, son of Denis and Johanna Scanlon Mullane remained single in life. Patsy lived at Dromreask with his mother Johanna and his sister who was also called Johanna. Following Johanna’s marriage to Jer Mulvihill (below) a major rumpus (for want of a better word) occurred resulting in Patrick (Patsy) having to vacate the place hence his name not appearing in the 1911 census. Patsy was there up to 1905 as he was listed as occupier at the birth of Denis Mulvihill. I’m being told he finished up living back in Dirreen with his 1st cousin, Mary Mullane Scanlon. In fact Brian Moriarty, (Brian being the great grandson of Michael Griffin and Mary Mullane) you are correct where you say you found a Patrick Mullane boarding with Timothy Scanlon at Dirreen, Athea. Timothy Scanlon was married to Mary Mullane, Patrick (Patsy’s) Mullane 1st cousin as per census hereunder. Timothy Scanlon married into the Mullane home.
Census Years 1911 Limerick Kilmoylan Derreen Residents of a house
Residents of a house 46 in Derreen (Kilmoylan, Limerick)
Show all information
Surname Forename Age Sex Relation to head Religion
Scanlon Timothy 40 Male Head of Family Roman Catholic
Scanlon (Mullane) Mary 39 Female Wife Roman Catholic
Scanlon Catherine 8 Female Daughter Roman Catholic
Scanlon Annie 7 Female Daughter Roman Catholic
Scanlon John 5 Male Son Roman Catholic
Scanlon Denis 4 Male Son Roman Catholic
Scanlon Micheal 2 Male Son Roman Catholic
Scanlon Mary 1 Female Daughter Roman Catholic
Mullane (Patsy )Patrick 60 Male Boarder Roman Catholic
O’Connor Joseph 28 Male Servant Roman Catholic
Healy William 25 Male Servant Roman Catholic
The 1911 census for the Mulvihill family now reads as follows –
Census Years 1911 Limerick Kilfergus Dromreask Residents of a house
Residents of a house 14 in Dromreask (Kilfergus, Limerick)
Surname Forename Age Sex Relation to head Religion
Mulvihill Jeremiah 40 Male Head of Family Catholic
Mulvihill (Mullane) Johanna 44 Female Wife Catholic
Mulvihill Hanna 7 Female Daughter Catholic
Mulvihill Denis 5 Male Son Catholic
Mulvihill Mary 4 Female Daughter Catholic
Mulvihill Patt 3 Male Son Catholic
Mulvihill Honorah 1 Female Daughter Catholic
Mullane (Scanlon)Johanna 88 Female Mother in Law Catholic
Mc Inerny Thomas 21 Male Servant Catholic
Thomas McInerny (McEniry) (Male Servant above) lived in the next farm to Mullane’s/Mulvihill’s. Jimmy Lyons, Derra, Listowel (father of renowned flautist and singer Donie Lyons) would later buy the McInerny (McEniry) place. (Spelt McEniry as well)
(4)Johanna Mullane daughter age 28 in census married Jer Mulvihill and became the parents of
Hannah Mulvihill.
Mary(Molly) Mulvihill, born Nov 1st, 1906.
Patrick Mulvihill.
Norah Mulvihill.
Denny Jer Mulvihill. Denny Jer married to Dora Barrett, Knocknagorna, Athea, as already stated above.
(5) Mary Mullane emigrated to New Zealand and married Michael Griffin from Glenagragra, Michael having emigrated some years before her. (George Langan)
Peter Langan (1), son of Patrick (1) lived at Kilpadogue. On Jan 8th, 1898 at Tarbert church Peter Langan married Anne Goulding from Carhoona daughter of John Goulding and Ann Hynes. The witnesses being Edmond McNamara and Katie Moloney.John Goulding was the son of Hugh Goulding, Carhoona and Anne Hynes was the daughter of Michael Hynes, Lisreidy, Ballyhahill, Co. Limerick. They were married on Feb 17th 1874 at Glin church, the witnesses were Hugh Goulding and Michael Hynes. Anne’s age given as 21 years and John’s age given as 28 years. Children from Peter Langan and Anne Goulding as follows -:
Nora………………..b21/06/1899.
Patrick………….b10/07/1901.
John…………….b07/05/1904.
Mary……………b19/06/1905.
Eileen………………b20/04/1907.
Anne…………….b29/07/1908.
Jerry……………b17/10/1909.
Maurice (Mossie)…………b28/01/1911.
Peter……………b14/07/1912.
Margaret……….b15/01/1914.
Elizabeth………..b ? (the youngest)
Nora married a Con Sullivan in America and had one son John. Nora died in 1994.
Patrick married Mary Cahill from Co. Clare and had six children – Peter Joseph, Diarmuid, Patrick (Paudie), Cyril, Anne & Leo.
John married Rita Buckley from Moyvane and had seven children – Peter, Larry, Maurice, Roseanne, Mary, Norma & Joseph.
Mary married John Sullivan and had at least four children -: Jimmy, Fr. Con, Ann and Eileen.
Eileen married John Mahony in America and had four children.
Anne went to the U.S. She was married twice one of her husbands name was Gough. No family from either husband.
Jerry married in England to Bridget Shaughnessey, sister to John Shaughnessy, Public House, Glin. They had four children. Joseph, Francis, Anne & Carmel. Joseph died as a young child during the 2nd World War. He was sent from England to the family home in Kilpadogue for safety. Tragically he fell into the old black pot of boiling water in the kitchen and died as a result a couple of days later.
Maurice (Mossie) joined the Royal Navy and lost his life June 8th 1940 in World War 2 during the sinking of the aircraft carrier, H.M.S. Glorious.
Peter, the youngest son who on May 27th 1937 married Ellen ‘Bon’ Wallace of Tarbert Island daughter of Patrick Wallace and had six children – Eileen, Thomas, Joseph, Alex, Mary & Nora. Margaret married John Hill in London. He was a Welshman from Mountain Ash – one son Kevin who now resides in Listowel. Elizabeth married John O’Connor of Ballylongford and had five children – Kathleen, Donal, Anthony, Ted & Anne. The 1901 Census for Peter Langan (1) of Kilpadogue reads as follows -:
Census Kilpadogue 1901.
Peter…Aged 34.
Anne…Aged 21, (Peter’s wife.)
Also Present…Ellen..Aged 34. (Peter’s sister, single)
Mary..Aged 35. (Peter’s sister, single)
Question -: (1) Is Peter and Ellen’s age incorrect on the Census forum? (See Patrick Langan (1)
(2) Mary who was present during the Census would have been the same age as her brother Patrick. This would indicate that they could have been twins or if not, a very quick conception had taken place that same year. (See also Patrick Langan (1))
Census Kilpadogue 1911.
Peter…………………..Aged 46.
Anne…………………..Aged 34. (Wife)
Children.
Nora………………………Aged 12.
Paddy………………..Aged 10.
John……………………Aged 7.
Mary…………………..Aged 6.
Eileen………………….Aged 4.
Anne…………………..Aged 3.
Jerry……………………Aged 1.
Maurice………………..Aged 2 months.
In total, Peter Langan (1) had 38 grandchildren. All the Langan’s resident in and around the Tarbert area today are his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Tom Langan who lived in Glenagragra was one of the best-known men in Munster during the 1798 Rising. He was known locally as ‘Captain Steele’ because he allegedly killed a man of that name during the said Rising in Co. Wexford. Tom, along with Gerald Fitzgerald, brother to John Bateman Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin took charge of operations around Glin parish. My aunt Maureen McInerney Langan told the story on how a party that included Tom, Murty McElligott and other Glin townsmen, raided the military barracks in Tarbert and stole kegs of gunpowder, which they carried upon their backs across the fields and marshes, seeking shelter in a cave within the Knight’s demesne during the process. This story she got from her father Paddy Langan of Glenagragra. The party were subsequently arrested which led to the imprisonment of Tom who was sentenced to be hanged. It is said that due to the intervention of the Knight the sentence was commuted from execution to transportation. The fact that his father Sean and uncle Michael MacPeadair had acted as agents for the Knight helped his case no end. He along with other political prisoners drawn from the ranks of the United Irishmen were transported to the penal colony of New South Wales which the English Government established in 1786 in an effort to overcome the overcrowding of prisoners in Britain. As a result, under the provisions of the Insurrection Act, the Justices ordered Tom at a sessions, held in the County of Limerick, to be transported for seven years as a disorderly person to the said colony. ‘Twas at the time Michael Og wrote the following lines – In 1799 the boors (foreigners) exiled Thomas Langan (son of John son of Peter) to Botany Bay. It was he who was called Captain Steele from the time of Vinegar Hill. He was responsible for the parish of Glin of the Knight. There were not many ‘’better Boys’’ than him in Munster during his time. On June 20th 1800, he sailed from Cork on board the convict ship ‘Luz St. Anne’, spending two hundred and forty days at sea eventually arriving at Sydney on February 21st 1801. The conditions on board the ship were appalling so much so that a mutiny broke out with Tom Langan one of the chief mutineers along with Marcus Sheehy and a Phil Cunningham. Sheehy, the ringleader, was shot and Tom and Cunningham would have received the same fate but for a Fr. Peter O’Neill who interceded with the captain of the ship on their behalf. The said Fr. O’Neill, who was aged 33, was the parish priest of Ballymacodda, Co. Cork. He was being transported for his alleged involvement in the death of an informer. The ringleaders can count themselves very fortunate to have the said Fr. O’Neill in their midst at all. Was it not for the fact that the late arrival in Cove of a letter from a Youghal Court of Inquiry instructing that he, Fr. O’Neill should be taken off the convict ship, Tom and his companions might have suffered the same destiny as Marcus Sheehy on that dark day. Tom and Fr. O’Neill became very good friends thereafter. All the mutineers were sent to Norfolk Island, a colony where prisoners were dehumanised to such an extent that they almost cried out for death. Major Joseph Foveaux was the officer in charge of the prisoners there. Seemingly, he received some information that the Irish were going to take over the island. It was he who carried out those illegal barbarous deeds in the hope that it would avert any such takeover. It was said, ‘Neither male nor female were spared the anguish’. It was known as ‘the island of the hell of the doubly dammed’. In 1803, a decision was made to colonise Van Dieman’s Land, an island off Australia’s south east coast. This led to the evacuation of some of the prisoners from Norfolk Island.
Convict List.
As held under General Muster of New South Wales, Norfolk Island and Van Dieman’s Land, 1805-1806.
Ref. – 3472. Reservation. – N.S.W. Status – Convict. Sex. – Male. Name. – Langan, Thomas. Ship of Arrival. – Anne. Trial Date. – Feb 1800. Trial Place. – Limerick. Sentence. – Life. Remarks. – Que. Pro. – n3001. Ao. – 3047. The remark ‘Que’ is the Clerk’s comment, generally noted after the sentence. This was an indication that the Clerk was questioning the accuracy of the sentence. On New Year’s Day 1810, Lachlan Macquarie was appointed Governor of New South Wales, replacing William Bligh (Bligh of ‘The Bounty’ fame). Lachlan appointed as his secretary a Major Finnucane who had relatives living in North Kerry, around the Tarbert area. At the request of Finnucane, Tom Langan was taken to Sydney and assigned as his servant there. The Finnucane’s were very kind toward Tom. He saved one of their children, Susan, from drowning. Susan later married Captain Hayes O’Grady and subsequently became the mother of the great Irish scholar Standish Hayes O’Grady. Macquaries wife, Elizabeth, was very popular with the Irish. She celebrated with them St. Patrick’s Day, which was supposed to be the first official recognition of our national day in New South Wales. Back home in Ireland, the Knight of Glin was having talks with the Limerick Grand Jury, urging them to secure the release of Tom Langan who had now spent ten years in captivity, three more than his original sentence. Apparently, an incorrect certificate of his sentence was transmitted to New South Wales, the vessel having sailed without a regular list of convicts on board. The following are three documents from the Australian National Archives relating to Tom’s release. Major- General Bunbury to Governor Macquarie. (Despatch per ship ‘Northampton’) Acknowledged by Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst, 24th June 1815. 12th Sept,Re- Transportation of Thomas Langan.Downing St, 12 Sept, 1814. Sir, I transmit to you herewith the copy of a letter which has been addressed to me by direction of His Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Home Department, enclosing the copy of one from the Rt. Hon. Robert Peel, which states the circumstances attending the transportation of a convict, named Thomas Langan, from Cork to New South Wales in the ship ‘Anne’ in the year 1800. And I am directed by Ld. Bathurst to desire that this person may have permission to return to Ireland by the first opportunity. I have, &c,H.E. Bunbury. (Enclosure No 1) Under Secretary Beckett to Major General Bunbury. Thomas Langan to be permitted to return to Ireland. Whitehall, 7th Sept, 1814. Sir, I am directed by Lord Sidmouth to transmit to you the within copy of a letter, which has been received trom The Right Hon. R. Peel, relative to a man of the name of Thomas Langan, who sailed from Cork for New South Wales in the convict ship ‘Anne’ in June 1800, and to desire that you will lay the same before Lord Bathurst, and move His Lordship to be pleased to give directions to the Governor of New South Wales to permit the person in question to return to Ireland by the first opportunity. I am, &c.J. Beckett. (Enclosure No 2.) The Right Hon. R. Peel to Under-Secretary Beckett. Dublin Castle, 2nd Sept, 1814. Sir, In the year 1779, a man of the name of Thomas Langan was, under the provisions of the Insurrection Act, ordered by the Justices at a sessions, held in the County of Limerick, to be transported for seven years as a disorderly person, and who sailed from Cork for New South Wales in the convict ship ‘Anne’ in June 1800. It is apprehended that a correct certificate of the said Thos. Langan’s sentence was not transmitted to New South Wales, the vessel having sailed without a regular list of convicts on board; and application being now made by the Grand Jury of the County of Limerick that he may be allowed to return to Ireland, his term of transportation having long since expired. I am directed by the Lord Lieutenant to desire that you will lay the matter before Lord Sidmouth, with His Excellency’s request, that His Lordship will cause instructions to be transmitted to the Governor of New South Wales to permit the said Thomas Langan to return to Ireland by the first opportunity. I am &c.R. Peel. Tom’s eventual release came in 1817; his liberation being secured by a Captain Terence Murray of Balliston, near Shanagolden, whose father lost a leg in an encounter with George Leak’s reprehensible yeomanry near Shanid. Terence, who arrived in Australia in 1816, was an officer in the British Army. He was married to Ellen Fitzgerald of Newcastle West. There was great jubilation when Tom returned to Glin. A short while after that it appears that he lost an eye in a fight with a press gang. Once again Michael Og O’Longain mentions this in a verse of a poem that he composed for Tom; ‘Do bhain Sanasach suil as I gcomhrac aonfhir iar dteacht abhaile dho sa bhliain 1817’. (An Englishman knocked his eye out in a duel after he came home in 1817) However, having examined his pardon note dated 28th day of June 1815 and signed by L. Macquarie, it would appear that he had no sight in the left eye anyway prior to his release from Sydney as his description was given as follows ;
Native Place – Glin, Co. Limerick.
Trade – Labourer. Age – 58yrs. Height – 5ft – 3ins. Complexion – Sallow. Hair – Black and Curly. Eyes – Hazel (left blind) General Appearance – Slender – Weakly. Norfolk Island was used as a penal colony until 1856. In that year, settlers from Pitcairn Island were moved to the island, a distance of more than 3,000 miles. In 1914, Norfolk Island was separated from New South Wales and became s federal territory of the Australian Commonwealth. On his return home, Tom, spent much of his time in Ballymacoda with the aforementioned Fr. O’Neil, who, following his pardon in 1802, returned to his native Cork where he remained until his death in 1846. It is unlikely that Tom ever got married, as he would have been sixty years of age then. He died around the year 1845 and was interred in Kilfergus cemetery Glin, supposedly, in the same grave as that of the famous poet and piper, Sean Ban Aerach O’Flannagain, (merry white haired John). Sean, who was a native of Tulla, Co. Clare, spent much of his time around Glin as tutor to the children of the Knight, Thomas Fitzgerald. The reason for O’Flannagain being buried in the same grave as Tom remains a mystery. Johnny Hayes told ‘Launey’ that Sean Ban Aerach married a Kennedy girl from Nantinan and that she was a relative of the O’Longain’s, as Peadar O’Longain, Michael Og’s grandfather, was married to a woman of the same name. Maybe therein the mystery lies. However, Michael in all of his manuscripts there is no reference whatsoever to any of Sean Ban’s poetry. The following is a verse from Sean Ban’s ‘Aisling’, translated for me by my very good friend the late John Guilfoyle from Kilbeggan. John was a Sergeant in An Garda Siochana, and was fluent in the Irish language.
‘One time as I was before bad luck it came over me
A woman was mine in Magh an Iubhair or lovely Nantinan
A fresh and affectionate gentle woman without disgrace
One who to London would go with me if necessary
In lovely Glin there’s a woman of gentle good manners
And in Athea is my hearts desire
In Askeaton there’s a woman, and I tell you no lie
I was struck on her, way back in my gay younger days
Evermore while I live, shall I bother with anyone
Except me and my baby, and we two together.’
Thomas F. Culhane (Launey) in a letter to the Limerick Leader newspaper dated January 9th 1926 stated that at that time Tom Langan’s ‘grave may still be seen in Kilfergus’ cemetery. In the month of September 1987, the late Paddy Faley R.I.P. (‘Bard of Sweet Glenbawn’), and I paid a visit to Kilfergus in an effort to locate the grave but our efforts proved unsuccessful. Apparently, there are no records on hand for the old part of the cemetery and it seems to be a free for all out there at present. Once upon a time, the Langan plot consisted of six graves but that has now dwindled to approximately half of that. It is indeed a sad state of affairs as there is neither cross nor do stone mark the last resting place of two great honourable men.
Tom Langan was 58 years of age. Height 5 ft-3ins. Dark curly hair. Blind in left eye. Regarding being blind in left eye – This contradicts Thomas F. Culhane’s statement in Traditions of Glin and its Neighbourhood where he says Tom lost an eye in a press-gang fight after he returning to Glin…
List of convicts being transported to New South Wales that included Tom Langan are as follows..
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Langan Tom contd……letter from the R.I.A. to George Langan re- info on Tom Langan (Captain Steele)….
