Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Royal Irish Constabulary

I think we have mentioned the Irish Home Rule movement that started in the last half of the nineteenth century - the Irish campaign to rule themselves in their own country in their own parliament. The English as well as the Protestants of Ulster were opposed to this. The struggle was on. 

Sidebar: I am especially interested in Charles Stewart Parnell - an Anglo-Irish Protestant in the forefront of the Irish fight - because his mother was American - her father at one time commanded the U.S.S. Constitution now based here in Boston. His mother and sister Fanny moved to New Jersey. Fanny raised money for the Land League - an organization working for poor tenant farmers - for fair rents and to stop evictions and then to purchase their holdings. My father, Beth, and I went by Avondale House, the former family home in Wicklow, in 1977. Fanny is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts - I attended a rededication of her grave site there.

But back to our story. So we have an idea of the background when young Jim Moriarty was growing up. We saw Jim Moriarty as a 14 year old scholar in the 1901 Irish Census - he was living with Uncle James Moriarty, the Schoolmaster, and his wife - there were 7 cousins there as well. 



1901 is also the year that Queen Victoria died, and memorial services took place all over Ireland. There was a service at the Tralee Parish Church in North Kerry at the same time as the funeral procession was going through the streets of London. There was a call for a day of mourning with the suspension of business in Tralee. The Kerryman Centennial edition quotes the Kerry Sentinal: "From what we can learn, however, the people of Tralee are not going to disappoint their customers on a market day and the day will only have to be observed as a Bank holiday. The newspaper continued 'Why should Irish men hypocritically feign grief at the death of an aged woman, of alien race, who was throughout her long occupancy of the throne bitterly opposed to every measure which had for its object the betterment, socially and economically of this country?' "  I wonder what went on in the rest of Kerry?

This same year there was a monster meeting held in Tralee by the local United Irish League calling for the right of the Irish people to govern themselves in an Irish Parliament. Fourteen members of the Glencar branch of the United Irish League (Glencar is between Sneem and Waterville) were charged with conspiracy, intimidation, and holding unlawful and seditious courts. Meanwhile, Thomas O'Donnell, Irish Member of Parliament, addressed the British Parliament in the Irish language. The Kerry Sentinel reported "It must be a grievous disappointment and surprise to our 'divinely appointed' rulers to find that the language which they have for so many centuries been endeavoring to stamp out is still alive to prove the indestructible vitality of Irish National sentiment."

On a lighter note, there was also a motor car rally from Killarney to Waterville in 1901 - this was the first time many people had seen a motor car! I wonder if they traveled through Sneem?

The next year saw Maud Gonne speak at the Tralee Concert Hall. "The lecturer spoke with pride and praise to the work of the Gaelic League, and the Irish literary revival. She referred to the possibilities of developing trade with France and other countries, the necessity of substituting Irish pastimes, music and plays for English importations, and above all the absolute essential duty of checking emigration by every available means." This same year there were ads in the paper for "Free Farms Offered in Canada" - "free grants of 160 acres of land in Manitoba and the North West - Crown grants in the other provinces." The ad looked for "Capitalists, persons with moderate incomes, Farmers, Farm Laborers, young men desiring to learn Farming, and Domestic Servants." Information was available from the Immigration Commissioner for Ireland, from the Allan, Dominion, and Elder Dempster Steamship Company, or the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. 

1903 saw the passage of the Wyndam Act - another land purchase act to help more tenants buy their holdings. Negotiations were going on between tenants and landlords - usually through the landlords' agents - sometimes the parish priests were involved on the side of the tenants. The English government provided loans to tenants at a reduced rate and offered bonuses to encourage landlords to sell their estates. The British thought if they gave in a little to the Irish, then the Irish would give up the quest for Home Rule. This same year the Kerryman Centennial edition has an article asking for justice for farm laborers now that many farmers were able to buy their holdings. 

The first All Ireland Senior Football title came to Kerry in 1905. Kerry beat Kildare; but then there was a forced rematch which ended in a draw. The final match up between Kerry and Kildare happened in the Cork Athletic Grounds. "The gate was by far the biggest the GAA had recorded up till then." Kerry won that match and went on to beat London Hibernians to take home the first of many All Ireland titles. 

On another note, a Kerry Board of Guardians received a communication "from Messrs F. and C. Downing stating they were instructed by Mr. Latchford to complain of a very serious nuisance caused to him by reason of the Council having turned the sewage of the workhouse and fever hospital on to the public road whence it passes by the gateway leading to his house." Mr. Latchford gave the Board of Guardians one week to clean up the sewerage from in front of his house or face legal action. Was he complaining that raw sewerage was flowing into the street! Yuck!

Starting out on this quest, I didn't know anything about Jim Moriarty except that he was brought up by his uncle and that he joined the Royal Irish Constabulary.

I received an email from Court Story when we were both researching the Burns family in Sneem.

"James Moriarty, Born in County Kerry in Feb, 1886, Member of RIC from About 1907 to 1921
Monday, November 15, 2010 2:54 PM
  From: 
"Court Storey" <Court.Storey@northmarq.com>
To: 
"Mary Ellen Murphy" <irishmomma4@yahoo.com>
Cc: 
"Pam Neary" <pamaloo@pressenter.com>
Hi Mary Ellen,

I have ordered the service records of brothers Timothy and Michael Byrnes/Burns from Bogare from Jim Herlihy who has access to the archives containing these records (see my 11/6/10 email below). I sent Jim an email this morning about your great uncle James Moriarty and you can see his response below. This must be your great uncle. As you can see, he is asking for a photo of James Moriarty which perhaps you could scan and email to him. In any case, Jim Herlihy will send you his service record if you mail him a check for $30 and your mailing address. Jim Herlihy's mailing address is in his 11/12/10 email below (which I highlighted in red). He said it will take about 10 days, probably a little longer given the time the mail will take. If you wish to proceed with this, you should communicate with Jim Herlihy directly.

Good luck, Court

From: Jim Herlihy [j_herlihy@esatclear.ie]
Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 1:13 PM
To: Court Storey
Subject: RE: James Moriarty, Born in County Kerry in Feb, 1886, Member of RIC from About 1907 to 1921


Hi Court,

I searched the RIC Index and I found JAMES MORIARTY, born in Co. Kerry in 1886 and joined the RIC in 1907.
He made the papers in 1920 and I added it to the RIC Database when he resigned as follows:-

(A native of Annascaul, Co. Kerry. Reported in the Cork Examiner, 10/9/1920 as having resigned from the RIC at Lisdoonvarna Station with three other RIC constables)

For my own information, does your friend have a photograph of him and does he know when and where he died and where he is buried?

US $30.00cts will cover providing the RIC Service Record.

Best regards,

JIM HERLIHY



From: Court Storey [mailto:Court.Storey@northmarq.com]
Sent: 15 November 2010 17:43
To: Jim Herlihy
Subject: James Moriarty, Born in County Kerry in Feb, 1886, Member of RIC from About 1907 to 1921


Hi Jim,

I have a friend in the US who may want the service record of James Moriarty who was born in County Kerry in Feb., 1886 and was a member of the RIC from about 1907 to 1921. Below is what I know from an email from my friend:

"James Moriarty, from Loughane/Lower Glenlough, in County Kerry. He grew up in Inch after his father drowned - we heard he was stationed in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare. He left the force at some point and came out to Boston in 1921."

Can you find his service record and what would be the charge in US dollars for you to mail a copy to my friend living near Boston, MA, USA?

Regards, Court"

I tried to contact this Jim Herlihy a couple of times but never received a reply. He wrote a book about 1999 - "The Royal Irish Constabulary: a complete alphabetical list of officers and men: 1816 - 1922." A used paperback copy costs $92.20 and a used hardcover costs $354.40 on www.amazon.com!!! I recently found out that O'Neill Library at Boston College may have a copy of this book. I sent an email to them to verify that they have it. Some time when I am up that way, I'll try to take a look at it. It may provide Jim Moriarty's service record - or at least his service number. I can contact the British National Archives in Kew if I have his service number and request his service records.

The Irish police force at the time of the Act of Union of Ireland with Great Britain in 1800 was still composed only of small groups of sub-constables. These part-time policemen, appointed by the local authorities (the grand juries) were few in number and poorly paid out of county funds. The passage of the Irish Constabulary Act 1836 finally brought a single, unified force into being. Power to appoint and discharge members of the force, to make rules and to fix salaries was vested in the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (appointed by the English king/parliament.)
The Irish Constabulary was responsible for the peace of the whole country except Dublin which had its own police – the Dublin Metropolitan Police. In September 1867 in recognition of its loyal and faithful services, the Constabulary was renamed the Royal Irish Constabulary. The duties of the Constabulary were gradually extended. At first it was solely concerned with keeping the peace. This included the suppression of armed rebellion, sectarian riots, or agrarian disturbances. Later it inherited the functions of the Revenue Police, made enquiries on behalf of departments of state, collected agricultural statistics, enforced the fishery laws and performed a variety of duties under laws relating to food and drugs, weights and measures, explosives and petroleum. Members of the force also acted as enumerators during the Irish censuses.

So it seems according to the above email that Jim Moriarty enlisted in 1907. I read somewhere that a young man had to be at least 19 years old and had to be recommended by a local magistrate, constable, or a prominent member of the community. I wonder if the Schoolmaster recommended Jim Moriarty?

Jim Moriarty in his RIC uniform.

And I haven't been able to find Jim Moriarty in the 1911 Irish census - he would have been stationed outside of Kerry but we don't know when he was dispatched to Lisdoonvarna.

The following newspaper article by Con Casey from the Friday, 26 August 1983 Kerryman describes life for the RIC in Tralee. Con did not belong to the RIC - he was on the opposite side. But I’ve included it to give some idea of what life might have been like for young Jim Moriarty.



Con states "I grew up in Bridge Street a little more than a stone throw of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks in High Street, Tralee … To us the movements of police coming on duty and going off duty at regular intervals was common place. You could set your watch by them, if you were old enough to have one, a possession that most boys did not acquire until they went to work …
"If you were around the lower end of the town and was so minded you could not fail to see the RIC sergeant and three or four constables marching up Bridge Street to take up duty. The sergeant, who may be accompanied by one of the constables, usually the most junior, patrolled the main thoroughfare. The others went off in different directions to show their presence in the side streets and suburbs. Tralee was then a more compact town than it is now. From time to time the sergeant took up position at the Munster and Leinster corner of Denny Street and there he received reports from the constables before they moved off again to patrol in other areas.
"It was foot patrolling so methodically ordered that it left no doubt on the public that the police men were vigilantly on the job. Very little escaped their notice as they moved at the regulation three miles an hour through their beat. This procedure was repeated two or three times during the day until the watchmen took over for the night hours.
"Other constables were out on bicycles keeping the rural portions of the Tralee police district under supervision. They were prepared to dismount and chat up civilians  and when the time came for taking annual returns of livestock and crops, they had access to every farm house in their charge and became acquainted with the occupants.
"All in all it was a quiet but most effective way for keeping tabs on everybody who lived and on everything that went on in Tralee and the rural surroundings.
"Nor could you enter or leave Tralee without being observed. There were attached to the force police men who were never seen in uniform. They were detectives. One of their duties was to be present at the railway station to note anybody of consequence or suspicion who was arriving or travelling.
"Law enforcement was the RIC man's duty and he performed it literally. Cycling without a light or a bell, cycling on a footpath, playing a ball game on the street, throwing stones at the cups on telephone or telegraph poles, not having your name and address on your car or a light on it, staggering drunk, cruelty to an animal, usually a donkey, raiding an orchard, owning or keeping an unlicensed dog and other petty offenses attracted their attention.
"Any one of these offenses could lead to your name being entered in a policeman's note book and on a summons to appear before the magistrates' court …
"The enforcing of the licensing laws was not a popular function of the RIC .. Anybody found on licensed premises outside of stipulated hours was fined and so was the publican for whom it was a serious matter as three endorsements on his license could put him in danger of losing it and his way of living …
"The RIC had also among its duties the supervision of weights and measures.
"The RIC also enforced the Food and Drugs Act. Samples of milk were taken on the way to the creamery to ensure that water was not added to it. Similarly samples of spirits were taken and analysed to ascertain if they were of legal strength. Butter offered for sale with excess of moisture could, as in the case of milk and spirits, lead to prosecution and unwelcome publicity.
"Youthful offenders got short shrift from the RIC. One or two appearances in court could lead to the administering of three strokes of a birch rod and if he persisted in his waywardness he could find himself in a Reformatory where discipline was strictly enforced.
"I would venture to say that Ireland was never so governable from the British point of view as it was in the first decade of this present century (20th.) The Royal Irish Constabulary, manned for the most part by native born stalwarts mainly from farming stock seemed to have law and order in their grip. There was, of course, an occasional serious crime. Their detection rate was high, their intelligence system in good shape, they were regarded as 'the eyes and ears' of Dublin Castle as an English Chief Secretary for Ireland declared. They obeyed their officers of different stock to themselves with unfailing obedience and discipline. Never was England so well served anywhere as it was by the RIC in Ireland.
"Ireland was quiescent in the first decade of the twentieth century; poverty, unemployment, and emigration had sapped her virility. The Wyndham Act of 1903 ended the land agitation. Local government put power, formerly held by the Grand Jury, into the hands of elected representatives. The only stirrings of nationalism were in the Gaelic League and the Gaelic Athletic Association. The Irish Party, recently united under John Redmond, dominated the political life of Ireland. It hoped that the Liberals, who came to power in England in 1906, would give Ireland Home Rule in return for its support in the British House of Commons. The eyes of the Irish people, for the most part, were turned towards Westminster and the Irish daily newspaper carried long reports detailing at length what transpired in the parliament there.
"..the officers of the RIC came to their rank through the Cadet system. Their background was different to that of the young men who served in the ranks … It was seldom that a man from the ranks became an officer in the RIC. The officers for the most part were Protestants and the men in the ranks were Catholics …
"The men in the ranks of the RIC had, for the most part, rural backgrounds and were splendid physical specimens selected after strict medical examination and conforming to regulation height and chest measurements. They were of good farming stock and needed local recommendations before being accepted for six months intensive training at the depot in Dublin. How in the short time they were turned from easy going country lads into efficient and stern instruments of British law enforcement in their native country was remarkable. A good brain washing job must have been done.
"The conditions of the time attracted into the RIC the second and other sons of farmers who might have emigrated or became apprentices to the drapery, grocery or hardware trade in their nearest town. To enter these callings a premium had to be paid to the employer before being accepted as an apprentice for a term of years.
"The value of money in the first decade of the twentieth century is well illustrated when it is realized that an experienced police constable was regarded as well paid at a pound a week. There might have been a few perks such as boot or bicycle allowance …
"The unmarried constables lived in the barracks. They were not permitted to marry until they had served a fixed number of years and if they married local girls a transfer to another county followed. Married or not, RIC men were not stationed in their native county …
"Behind the bottle green or blue-black uniform and the baton, and the roughness and rigour which some displayed in the enforcement of the law in all its details, and the reputation that they fostered among the public and neighbors of being loyal to England rather than to Ireland, there must have been sown in the homes of many RIC men the seeds of nationalism …
"I have read that in the first Dail Eirean (Irish Parliament) which made the declaration of allegiance to the Irish Republic and gave official recognition to the IRA as the Army of the Republic, fourteen of the members were the sons of RIC men. 
"What happened to the RIC in the seven years between then and 1921, is another and much more vivid story. And the numbers in Tralee now alive who could recall it from personal experience could be counted on fingers. The RIC attempted to hold the line for the British against the IRA (as the Volunteers became in January 1919) and the will of the people and failed.Their reinforcement by Black and Tans and Auxiliaries changed the RIC from a native Irish force to one infiltrated and dominated by Englishmen who were a law unto themselves and left stinking memories behind them."

An interesting description of the RIC. But it does give us some idea of what life was like initially for Jim Moriarty. As time went on and the War of Independence was fought, life must have been dicey for Ma's brother. The members of the Royal Irish Constabulary had to assist with evictions, were expected to give information about other Irish citizens, and later were expected to hunt down members of the Irish Republican Army. Not only that, but the RIC barracks were targeted and attacked by the Irish Republican Army who seized any available weapons. The constables themselves were also  targeted by the IRA. So it was a fairly dangerous profession. It may not have been only the danger that caused Jim Moriarty to leave the RIC, but the fact that he was working against fellow Irishmen must have caused him some inner turmoil. And we heard from Father Jim Moriarty that the Schoolmaster's children were involved in the fight for Irish freedom - even his daughters. Our Jim Moriarty was probably exposed to the same Nationalist sentiments as his cousins, don't you think? So how could he - who was described as so gentle and kind by his cousins Nuala and Tess Moriarty - work against his own people?

And what about the write up in the Cork Examiner when he resigned in 1920? He was stationed in Lisdonvarna, County Clare. I have read that there were deaths - assassinations as well - of RIC constables in County Clare during the Irish War of Independence but have seen nothing about Lisdoonvarna. If we can obtain Jim Moriarty's service records, we may be able to learn more about what happened where he was stationed.

I sent an email to the National Library of Ireland on Saturday, 18 January 2014 asking if they could send me a copy of the article in the Cork Examiner. I just received an email today - 20 January 2014 - from the National Library of Ireland.

"Good Morning,
I was wondering if I could obtain a copy of a 1920 newspaper article about my great uncle James Moriarty. If so, would you kindly let me know how much it would cost and how you would like payment. An email attachment would probably suffice. Whatever is easier.

James Moriarty resigned from the RIC in 1920 and apparently this was written up in the Cork Examiner of 10/9/1920.

(A native of Annascaul, Co. Kerry. Reported in the Cork Examiner, 10/9/1920 as having resigned from the RIC at Lisdoonvarna Station with three other RIC constables)

Thank you for your time,
Mary Ellen Murphy"

"Dear Mary Ellen

We charge 1.00Euro per page + there is a postage charge if you wish to go ahead with this order I would need the full address that you would like it posted to also I would need a credit card details you can do so by emailing me here or my number is 353 1 6030214.

Regards,

Berni Metcalfe (Ms)"


So we may have some news in a few days about why Jim Moriarty resigned from the RIC.

The Royal Irish Constabulary was disbanded on 30 August 1922. Pensions continued to be paid by the paymaster general in London, and the service records of members of the force passed to the Home Office in London. But Jim Moriarty had already left Ireland by this time.










Saturday, January 11, 2014

Jim Moriarty

I had heard about my grandmother's only brother, Jim Moriarty, growing up with his uncle - the Schoolmaster James Moriarty. I was wondering why the only son of Myles Moriarty and Ellen Leary would go to live with his uncle on the Dingle peninsula - especially after hearing that Ellen Leary did not want to break up her family to go to America. 

When I became interested in family history, Ma was already confused - she had dementia at the end of her life - and couldn't remember the circumstances. As I am writing this, I am wondering why my mother or aunts never asked Ma what had happened. Or perhaps they did, and she didn't know the details? After all, she wasn't even born when it happened.

If you can remember way back to the beginning of this blog, I mentioned that my father, my friend Beth, and I went looking for information about Jim Moriarty in 1977 at Foley's Pub in Inch - well, actually, my father was looking for information -  we were along for the ride. I vaguely remember before we left on that trip that my mother and father were wondering about where Jim Moriarty had lived in Dingle, what was the Schoolmaster like, why did Jim go to live with him. I had mentioned in the blog that Mike Shea, my grandmother's neighbor when they lived in Loughane, had told my father to go to Foley's Pub for information.

So we did and found out that the house where Schoolmaster James Moriarty used to live was the Inch Post Office. 



We stopped and met Kathleen Casey who now lived there and ran the Inch Post Office. When we told Kathleen our story, she said that she indeed knew the Moriartys. It was through Kathleen that I eventually began to correspond with my grandmother’s first cousins. Kathleen gave us Irish jam to take home to my grandmother.  
The following is the very first letter that I received in my quest for family information, and imagine how thrilled I was when it arrived!


                                                                    "Rocklands
                                                             9/7/79 Ferrybank
                                                                             Waterford

Dear Mrs. Manning
  Kathleen Casey has just sent on your letter to me as she is not able to answer the questions you asked her. Kathleen was ill for some time last winter & unable to attend to most things, then we had a five months postal strike (just finished ) so no mail was forwarded  anywhere from here.

  By the way, I had better introduce myself. I am Nuala Aylward (nee Moriarty) daughter of the school master James Moriarty. Am the eleventh in our family of twelve & now aged 72. Your grand uncle Jim was brought up by my parents after his father, my uncle Myles Moriarty was drowned in Sneem. My father James Moriarty was born & raised in Loughane & came to Inch to teach in a school nearby. His brother Myles farmed in the home place until he drowned. He left a widow & (I think) 4 girls & 1 boy, Jim. Jim was a delicate child & my father brought him to Inch to raise  & care for him. The widow married again to a Sullivan man. I believe the girls went to the USA. Jim joined the Police Force in Ireland but quit during the 



"2
War of Indepence here. Then in the early twenties he went to US. He spent some time in the East probably with his sisters and went to Chicago in 1924 where I had a brother Con, RIP and two sisters. I guess he knew our family better than his sisters by that time. We all loved Jim - he was a real brother to us and we never thought of him as anything else. He was very tall and auburn haired & so kind & gentle. He married Bridget Gallagher in Chicago when both were middle aged. He died first but I can’t remember the year.
  There are no relatives of ours in Inch now except my mother’s relatives. My eldest sister Mary Moriarty lives here with me & I have a sister Tess O’Donoghue lives in Bridge St. Cahirciveen Kerry. Tess knows more about the relatives in Sneem than I do as it is not so far from her & her late husband Denis, was very interested in tracing families. I have heard them speak of a Mary Moriarty who has a shop and Post Office in Caherdaniel, also not far from Sneem, who is related some way.

I spent ten years in Chicago & married there. My late husband Ed & I returned here to stay in 1935. We had four sons & a daughter - all married except one who died. So now I live alone with my sister Mary




“ 3
who is eighty eight & almost blind. There is a sister Catherine Callahan (85) lives in Chicago & a brother Monsignor John in St. Joseph, Missouri. Another brother & the youngest of the family Canon Myles is in Scotland. In the nephews we have two called Myles  & I have a Dermot Myles so Myles is a favorite name.
Kathleen Casey is not related to the famous Steve, I imagine. He(r) folks come from west Kerry near Dingle.
Now I think I have answered all your questions as well as I can so I hope the information will be of help to you.
Hope you have a nice vacation over here. My sister Tess O’Donoghue will be glad to help you if you are in Cahirciveen.
I revisited Chicago in ’72 with Ed and last October by myself.
If there is anything else you wish to know I will be glad to help.
Your cousin

Nuala Aylward"


Nuala’s letter answered the question I always had – why did the schoolmaster take her only son from Ellen Leary Moriarty? Even though he was so young – only 8 ½  or 9 - surely he would have been some help to his mother.


This second letter from Nuala tells us a little more about Jim.






"Telephone No                                                      Rocklands
    051 75733                                                   8/8/79  Ferrybank
                                                                                      Waterford
My dear Mary Ellen,
     Forgive my not answering yours sooner but I have been kept fairly busy. This is the time of year when friends relatives and my own family & grandchildren come to visit and it keeps me occupied.
     I have parts of an old diary of my Fathers. it seems he was born in Jan. 1860. He had brothers Con & Myles & sisters Helen & Maggie as far as I can figure out. There are addresses for Con & Maggie in Newport R.I. Helen married a man named Murray. they both died leaving two children who were raised by Uncle Con & his wife who had no children themselves. These people I name were your grandmothers uncles & aunts. The younger of those two children died on Oct. 30th last. She was Helen Nicholas & visited our home in Inch several times. She lived in Virginia D.C.
     My father, your grandmothers uncle was educated in Sneem until he went off to be trained for teaching. He taught in other schools in this country until he was appointed to the school near Inch. The Moriartys were all from Loughane & it would be impossible to say how long they were there. Probably many centuries. The farms used to pass from 



"2/
from Father to son and nobody kept note of time. Like my mothers folk in Inch (Fitzgeralds) they were always there or at least in living memory. 
     Jim, your grandmothers brother went to U.S.A. about 1921 so he could have been a godfather to your Mother. I think he went to Chicago in 1924 to be best man for my brother Con who married then. He (Con) died last December. R.I.P. Also perhaps he knew my sisters better than his own, being raised with them. As a boy when his Father drowned, he was very delicate which was the principle reason I believe my parents took him. I often heard my Dad used to take him to Dublin for treatment & he wore a spinal brace for years. But he grew up to be a fine man and one of the very best. R.I.P. His wife Bridget died a few years after he died.
     You asked about Uncle Myles' & my Dad's parents deaths. They died about the years 1881 - Mother & Father about 1884 & Myles sent my Dad telegrams according to diary.
     As I told you in last letter my sister Tess O'Donoghue Bridge Street Cahirciveen knows more about the families than I do, and a Mary Moriarty in Cahirdaniel Post Office is a cousin of ours too. Can't understand why it should have been hard to get any information around Loughane unless all the old folk are dead




"3/
It wouldn't be surprising if there were no people there who would remember. My Dad died in 1939 aged 79. So he would be 119 years old, if he lived.
     My sister Mary who lives with me is 88 years and sometimes gets confused too. My brother (Monsignor) Sean left here to go back to St. Joseph Mo. He was home for a month. Also had priests, one a nephew from Chicago & a niece, a nun who never visited Ireland before.
    Your visit in October will be short but if you can visit Waterford I will be very pleased. But please phone first as I will be taking a vacation sometime - as soon as I can manage - and would feel dreadful if you came & found the house empty.
    Hope your grandmother is keeping healthy & not suffering from any of the ailments most elderly people are afflicted with.
     Will finish now, hoping you & all my relatives are well & happy. God Bless
                                                                   Your sincere cousin

                                                                      Nuala Aylward"


Nuala mentions Mary/Maura Moriarty of the Cahirdaniel Post Office again – we've already spoken of her – her brother Reverend Edward Moriarty answered a letter I had sent to Maura and told us about his family and his uncle James Moriarty, a pioneer in Idaho.
Nuala’s sister Tess O’Donoghue provides a little more information about young Jim Moriarty.

         


                                                                                                   " 'St. Brendan's'
                                                                       Bridge St.
                                                                     Cahirciveen
                                                                         Dec '79

Dear Mrs. Manning,

     Sorry for not replying to your letter sooner, but I had been away when it arrived. Re - Moriarty  family - I am afraid I can add very little to your information, except, my father James Moriarty was born and reared in Loughane as also were his brothers Myles & Con & 3 sisters. his father (my grandfather) owned the farm in Loughane . at his death the farm became Myles. Myles married Ellen O'Leary a neighbor and had a son Jim who was raised with us in Inch and four girls, who went to America. I knew only one, Nellie who lived in Loughane with her step-brother - but Nellie spoke of            



"2
sister of hers Kate who lived in Boston and had a son a priest. I think she is dead. I've never met her tho she had been home to Loughane a few times.
My father brought Jim to Inch with him when (Myles) his father died. He lived with us except for a holiday to Loughane to see his mother & sisters every year and joined the R.I.C.   he left the force the time of the Irish trouble in 1920 & went to his sisters in Boston. he later went to Chicago where I had 2 sisters & a brother. he died there later.
His mother wasn't very strong after husband (Myles) died, so she married again and lived in Loughane for a long time after her second husband's death - I think Mary Moriarty would give you surer information regarding the other members of the family or if they are alive.




"3
My father James Moriarty went to school to Glenlough and later went to Dublin to train for a teacher. when he was trained a new school was built in Killeenagh Inch & he applied for it & got it. he taught there until 1925, and my husband taught there for some years after.
My fathers & Myles mother's name was Mary Sweeney. I think she came from Cahirdaniel. some years ago I met some relations of hers but don't know if they are still alive.
My fathers brother Con, went to Boston & got married, had no family but raised his sisters two children Helen & Joe Murray. all that family are dead. Helen died just twelve months ago. Con died suddenly as did my father & 2 sisters.
I hope I have given you some information.





"4
I am not surprised at Mike O'Sullivan not knowing anything of the Moriartys. long ago people did not discuss their families - which I think was a pity. some of my own family couldn't be bothered.
I hope you'll understand all this. I suffer a lot from arthritis & find writing difficult.
      Wishing you & all yours Very Happy Christmas & New Year.
                                                                        God bless
                                                                   Tess O'Donoghue."

Interesting that Tess wrote that Ellen Leary was not strong after Myles drowned. We know that she was pregnant. How did she and the 4 girls survive?!? Did Con Moriarty and his sister Margaret Dwyer send money to Ellen? What about their younger sister Helen - she hadn't married Joe Murray yet - did she help out? Did Ellen's sister Hannah send money from Hartford? Maybe her brothers sent money also. 

But what about daily living? What about turf for the fireplace that was used for cooking - who was cutting turf and harvesting it? What about water for cooking, drinking, washing clothes, and bathing? There was no running water at that time - it came from a well. I remember going with Larry and Hannah to the well at Danno McCarthy's for water - this was in the 1980s. You had to be strong to carry a bucket or two that distance - and how many would you bring each day? What well did Ellen Leary use?

Maybe it was a relief for Ellen Leary to have the Schoolmaster take her son Jim to Inch - especially if he had health problems - he was about 8. Did she think that the schoolmaster would take good care of Jim - better care than probably she could provide. Her three  young daughters remained, and another child was on the way. Was she hoping it was another boy who might be able to help her? We did hear that Ellen did not want to break up her family - what about that? Inch was a good distance from Loughane in those days. 

And imagine how sad that parting was - not just for Ellen but for Jim's three little sisters - who was going to take care of them? They lost their father - now they lost their big brother. They were so young - did they know what was even going on? They knew something horrible happened from all the upset in the house. There was no body, but was there some kind of wake? A funeral Mass? Or was there nothing but neighbors stopping by and the Schoolmaster coming. I guess we'll never know.

And how did young Jim Moriarty feel about being taken way from his home? He probably hardly knew the schoolmaster, and here he was heading off with him!




Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Some of the Learys

We just saw that Ellen's aunt Bridget Leary married John Shea of Miniflagh in 1874. 


I heard that some of their sons went to Chicago - my mother met some of them about 1939 when she went out to a family funeral in Chicago.

The children I found were:
  1. James Shea of Moneyflugh was baptized 4 November 1879 - sponsors were Daniel Coffey and Mary Shea. I heard that he went to New York or New Jersey.
  2. Michael Shea of Moniflugh was baptized 11 October 1881 - sponsors were Daniel Hallissey and Mary Leary.  I wonder if this sponsor Mary Leary was Bridget's sister that I found on the website?
  3. John Shea of Moneyflagh was born 30 October 1883 and baptized 3 November 1883 - sponsors were James Leary and Bridget Neil. Was sponsor James Leary Bridget's brother?
  4. Bridget Shea of Moneyflugh was born 23 October and baptized 28 October 1885 - sponsors were Jeremiah Shea and Joanna Crowley. This was Bernie Brennan's mother - we mentioned him above. He said that Bridget went to New York and New Jersey.
  5. Mary Shea of Moneyflugh was born 22 October and baptized 27 October 1888 - sponsors were our Miles Moriarty and Helen Leary.
  6. Julia Shea of Moneyflugh was born on 30 June and baptized 6 July 1890 - sponsors were James Leary and Bridget Leary. Which Learys were these sponsors?  Bernie Brennan said that Julia Shea went to New York or New Jersey.                                   
  7. 18 May 1878 Jeremiah Shea of Moniflugh is baptized - he was the oldest child of Bridget Leary and John Shea, but I saved him for last. Sponsors are James Leary and Joanna Shea. Jer Shea inherited the homestead in Moneyflagh. He married Margaret/Mae Goddard. 
Johnny Murphy remembers Mae Goddard but not Jer Shea. Johnny Murphy talks about the time, when he was about 16, that a pig was killed in the Shea's old house with Mae Goddard in bed in the next room and the small children upstairs.


John Shea and Mae Goddard's house was bought and renovated as  a holiday home.
Jer and Mae Shea had: 
Paddy Joe Shea who inherited the homestead - he married Eileen from Waterville who died young from cancer on February 1981.  


                              MEM and Paddy Joe Shea

Paddy and Eileen had three children - Jerry Shea who is farming the home place, Margaret Shea who married a Falvey in Kenmare - they have 2 children, and Bina Shea.



Jerry Shea shearing sheep in Gortdromagh and two visitors.

Jer Shea's daughter Sheila Shea married neighbor Paddy Fitzgerald of Moneyflagh - he died in 1948 after a tragic accident while working for the ESB, I think. Sheila then married the tailor Michael Shea who died of arthritis on 28 September 1975 - he was 55 years old. Sheila died at 87 on 27 August 2008 of heart disease. 

Sheila had children with both husbands. I don't know them all. 

Michael Shea drowned. 
Jim Shea, born 28 May 1963, married Breda from Ballybunion and had a son James Shea. Jim worked for the Kerry County Council around Sneem - he died suddenly of heart disease on 10 August 2009 within a year of his mother. Breda and James are still in Sneem.

Breda's father, Jim Shea, Sheila Shea, John Paul Breen of Moneyflagh, MEM and my John Brendan Murphy.


Breda, James, and Jim Shea outside the house on Sportsfield Road.


    Breda and James Shea, MEM, and Sheila Shea at their house.


Jamesy Breen of Moneyflagh and Jim Shea in Breens' hayfield in Moneyflagh in 1984.


Gravestone listing Patrick Fitzgerald, Michael O'Shea (tailor,) his son Michael John O'Shea, Julia/Sheila Shea, and James Anthony O'Shea.

Jer Shea and Mae Goddard had another daughter. Peg Shea married her neighbor, Michael Fitzgerald of Moneyflagh - her sister Sheila's brother-in-law. They had two children. Mary Fitzgerald married and was living in the Tralee area. Pat Fitzgerald farms the home place. He married Pauline Frost  - they have several children and now grandchildren.


Pat Fitzgerald in Breens' hay field in 1984. Breens were his neighbors in Moneyflagh.

Jer Shea and Mae Goddard had another daughter - Mollie Shea - but I don't really know anything about her.


Their son, Jack Shea, married a Connell from Derrah. I believe they separated or divorced, and Jack returned to Moneyflagh. He used to come and stay in Gortdromagh at times. Nana Murphy used to do his laundry.


24 January 1888 Ellen Leary's uncle James Leary of Bohocogram marries Bridget Sullivan of North Gerah.


  1. 20 November 1889 Mary Leary of Bohocogram is born to James Leary and Bridget Sullivan. She is baptized 27 November 1889. Sponsors are Michael Leary and Julie Leary.
  2. 21 January 1892 Bridget Leary of Bohocogrum is born. She is baptized on the 23rd. Sponsors are our Miles Moriarty and Ellen Leary.
  3. 17 February 1895 Patrick Leary is born - he is baptized 25 February. Sponsors are John Sullivan and Ellen Sullivan.
  4. 16 January 1898 Julia Leary is born to James Leary and Bridget Sullivan. She is baptized 20 January 1898. Sponsors are Michael Leary and Julia Sullivan.
  5. John Leary was 2 months old in the 1901 Irish Census - House 4 - grandmother Mary Leary is 60 years old.
  6. Michael Leary was 7 years old 10 years later in the 1911 Irish Census in House 9 in Bohocogram.
  7. James Francis Leary was 2 years old in this 1911 Irish Census.
We know Mike Leary inherits the farm in Bohocogram. He marries Nora Dorohy from Aranmore. They have several children but I only know the three sons who live in Sneem.

Jim Leary marries Josie who was a teacher in the Sneem School. They settle in Julia Leary's farm in Bohocogram.

Paddy Dennehy of Ardmore, Josie Leary, Jim Shea, Jim Leary of Bohocogram, Michael Burns of Seaview, and Sheila Casey of Loughane - at a party in Bohocogram in 1984.

Paddy Leary married Mary of Waterville - Paddy took over the Leary homestead.

Vinnie Leary married Catherine Shea of Goulanes. They settled in his mother's homestead.

MEM and Vinnie Leary

Catherine Leary, Vinnie's wife, and Mary Leary, Paddy's wife.



11 February 1890 Ellen Leary's sister Julia Leary marries Patrick "Patsy Cran" Currane of Ardmore. Henry Leary is their witness.  Julia marries and moves into the Currane homestead in Ardmore with her father-in-law Denis Currane and her mother-in-law Joanna Cahillane.  Denis is still listed as head of this family in 1901 - Patsy Cran and Julia have two children - Patrick and Abbigail. 
By 1911 Patsy Cran is the head of the family - the old pair is not listed. Julia has had 7 children but only 4 are living.

  1. 24 February 1891 Patrick Currane of Ardmore is born. sponsors are Patrick Crowley and Bridget Leary.
  2. 30 October 1892 Abigail Currane of Ardmore is born. Sponsors are Michael Leary and Johanna Crowley. Abby was my grandmother's best friend. My grandmother left Sneem in 1912 and did not go back until the early 1950s. She saw Abby at Mass but did not recognize her. She was sad that no one re-introduced them. Abby marries McCarthy of Upper Glenlough and they had:   
       Bridget McCarthy who married and lived in England.   
       Mary McCarthy worked in England but returned to live with      her brother in Upper Glenlough. She eventually retired to Seaview. 

                                                                                                                                            


   Danno McCarthy farmed the home place - he eventually retired to Seaview also.



My Danno Murphy and Danno McCarthy in Loughane about 1984.

MEM and Danno

3.  Denis Currane was 8 in the 1911 census - he was attending school.
4Molly Currane was 6 in the 1911 census - I think she was born the same year as Uncle Mike John L.  Molly marries Peter Crowley of Beal/Bohocogram, one of the local postmen.  

Molly Crowley in front of her cottage in Beal in 1982.

Mollie and Peter Crowley had several children:

Nonie Crowley who marries, lives in England, and has 3 children.
Tess Crowley
Joan Crowley - never marries.
Bridie Crowley - never marries.
John Crowley who inherits the homestead and also works as a postman in Sneem. He retired to Tir na Og nursing home.



My aunt Hannie Huliston, Molly and John Crowley in Sneem in front of the Ould Ceiling in 1987.

I had a notebook full of information about the Learys that I had acquired over the years, but I left it in Gortdromagh when we moved back to Watertown - I never found it when we returned on visits. 

I hope this helps my family figure out how we are related to some of the "cousins" that they have met in Sneem.

Now back to Ellen Leary's young family.