Tour of St. Michael's Cemetery led by Michael Donovan and Clem Roche (2)

The tour of the ancient cemetery of St. Michael’s by Michael Donovan and Clem Roche concluded with a visit to the graves of the six Athy men and one woman who enlisted and died during World War I. They found a last resting place in their home town unlike many others who lie buried in foreign soil. The bodies of many of those unfortunate men were never found while other Athy men were laid to rest in military cemeteries as far apart as France, Belgium, Turkey, Iraq and Germany. The 1914-18 War saw more men from Athy enlisting than any other town in County Kildare. Athy also suffered the greatest casualties in the war with more than one hundred and twenty deaths. How sad it must have been for James and Mary Kelly of 4 Chapel Lane to receive a telegram from the War Office advising of the death of their twenty-year-old son John in Netley Hospital England on the 23rd May 1915. John had enlisted on the same day as his brother Owen who aged twenty-one years was killed in action on the 1st August 1915 and is buried in France. The Kelly parents John and his wife, the former Mary Haslem were to receive a third War Office telegram following the death of another son on the 30th September 1918. Denis Kelly was only twenty years of age and he is buried in Belgium. One can only imagine the sadness which surrounded the Kelly family following the loss of three young sons. It was a sadness which was also felt by John and Margaret Curtis of Kilcrow who like the Kellys received telegrams from the War Office advising of the death of their sons Patrick and John. A telegram advising of the death of another son was sent to the wife of Laurence Curtis who had married and lived in Glasgow. Patrick ,who had enlisted in the British Army in 1909, was killed on the 5th November 1914 aged twenty-six years. His brother John who worked in Glasgow was killed in action on the 9th January 1917 aged twenty-four years while his other brother Laurence Curtis died of wounds on the 4th December 1917 aged thirty-four years. Their brother Ted who served during the war survived. Another Chapel Lane family to suffer the a loss of three sons were the Byrnes who later resided at 11 James’s Place, Athy. James Byrne, a shoemaker and his wife Bridget, lost two sons, Joseph killed in action on the 26th April 1915 aged twenty-one years and Antnony, killed in action two days later, aged seventeen years. Another son, James, was killed in action on the 30th March 1916 aged twenty-four years. Athy families who lost sons during World War I included the Stafford family of Butler’s Row who lost son Edward, a reservist recalled to the ranks in August 1914. He died of wounds on the 24th September 1914 aged twenty-eight years, while his brother Thomas was killed in action in France on the 6th September 1916 aged twenty-five years. Both were survived by another brother Frank who also served during World War I. Some years ago when I was Chairman of Athy U.D.C. I received a letter from Mrs. Mae Vagis who lived in America and who recalled her father Edward Stafford leaving his home in Butler’s Row to join the British Army. She was then seven years old and recalled the sadness in the Stafford household when the telegram arrived advising of her father’s death. That same sadness pervaded the Heydon family of Churchtown when two Heydon brothers were killed in action. Both Patrick Heyden and Aloysius Heyden enlisted in Liverpool and Patrick was killed in France on the 4th September 1914 aged thirty-one years. His brother Aloysius was killed in France on the 27th November 1917 aged twenty-six years. The Heritage Centre was presented many years ago with a beautiful memorial to the Heydon brothers made of spent ammunition by their comrades in the Irish Guards. Another family who suffered the loss of two sons were the Flynn family of Whitebog, Athy. Their sons Thomas, who enlisted in the Connaught Rangers, died of T.B in the Athy workhouse on the 26th February 1915 aged 23 years. Another son Patrick was killed in action in France on the 14th September 1916 aged 21 years. Thomas Flynn is buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery and his grave was visited during the cemetery tour. Both Thomas and Patrick enlisted on the same day and uniquely both were members of Churchtown National Volunteers. The Hannon families suffered the deaths of four sons during World War I. Henry Hannon, who enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, was killed in action near Ypres on the 9th June 1916 aged twenty-four years. He was a cousin of John Coulson Hannon who was killed in action on the 18th August 1916 aged twenty-four years and his brother Norman Leslie who was killed in action on the 14th May 1915 aged twenty years. Both John and Norman were the sons of John and Martha Hannon of Ardreigh House from where I am writing this Eye. Another cousin, Thomas Hannon who died of his wounds on the 1st December 1917 aged twenty years, was born in Ardreigh House, the only child of Georgina Hannon whose husband died two weeks before the birth. The deaths of over 120 men from Athy who enlisted in the British Army during World War I is perhaps an indication of the poverty which marked the lives of so many Athy families. One family had eight sons who enlisted. They were the sons of Michael Delaney, a labourer and his wife, the former Margaret Curtis who lived in Ballytore. Two sons Andrew and William died, Andrew of gas poisoning in Netley Hospital on the 31st May 1916 aged thirty-six years and William killed in action on the 13th March 1916 aged twenty-two years. Andrew was buried in Crookstown while his brother rests in Flanders. Andrew Delaney’s story and his war documents are featured on a video in Athy’s Heritage Centre. The graves of World War I soldiers buried in St. Michael’s, Michael Byrne of Green Alley, James Dwyer of Canal Side, Martin Hyland of Offaly Street, John Lawler of Ardreigh, Michael O’Brien of Meeting Lane and that of Eleanor Orford of Foxhill, were visited during the tour. Thanks to Michael Donovan and Clem Roche for remembering the Athy men and Eleanor Orford who died during World War I.

Tour of St. Michael's Cemetery led by Michael Donovan and Clem Roche (1)

One of the highlights of the Heritage Week lectures here in Athy was the tour of Old St. Michael’s Cemetery given by Michael Donovan and Clem Roche. The cemetery which has been used for centuries surrounds a stone-built church, the foundation date of which is uncertain. However, we know that the church was referred to in 1297 and the cemetery is still in use today almost seven hundred and thirty years later. When the small church was built, it was located well away from the Anglo-Norman village of Athy which had developed around the first Woodstock Castle erected on the west side of the River Barrow. The French speaking Anglo Normans were Catholics, as were the native Irish and the settlers religious needs were catered for by the Crouched Friars’ monastery of St. John’s and the Dominican Friary on the east bank of the River Barrow. It is believed that the native Irish who provided labour and services for the settlers built their own small church now located in the middle of old St. Michael’s Cemetery. The tour started at the entrance gate of the cemetery where a lych gate once stood. That was a common feature in all cemeteries of the medieval age and later and consisted of a covered gateway with a wooden bench upon which the corpse was rested while the priest conducted the initial part of the service. In post medieval times, the deceased was brought to the cemetery in a parish coffin and it was at the lych gate that the corpse was removed and buried in a shroud or sheet while the coffin was returned to its base. A parish coffin was extensively used during the burial of workhouse deceased during the Great Famine. Just a few yards to the right of St. Michael’s cemetery gate is the grave of Paddy Johnson who lived in one of the small cottages at Bothair Bui which were demolished to facilitate the entry of railway line into Athy. Paddy who later died had the extraordinary coincidence of being buried IN what was once his own back yard. Michael Donovan, who produced a handsome written account of his cemetery talk, next dealt with the grave of 15-year-old Alexander Henry who died on the 1st October 1849. His father was John Henry of Glenbawn, Athy who wrote “Athy and its recollections” in 1850. John emigrated to Australia with his wife and their six children a year later but tragically his wife Anne and a young child Andrew died during the journey. Their son Richard who died in 1929 was the curator and caretaker of the world’s first island sanctuary for birds on Resolution Island on the southwest corner of the southern island of New Zealand. Next the tour went to Dominican burials, which I must confess I was not previously aware of. The grave slab records that Fr. Thomas Cummins who died October 1788 spent forty years as a Dominican Priest in the town of Athy. Also buried there was Fr. James Dunne who died in 1704 allegedly aged 115 years and Fr. Michael McMahon a young Dominican who died aged 29 years. The departure of the Dominican’s from Athy on the 22nd November 2015 after almost 750 years in the town was one of the saddest ever losses by the people of Athy. A grave which was restored some years ago by representatives of the Latvian community in Ireland following a long period of neglect was of Latvian revolutionary, socialist and civil engineer Konrad Peterson. Peterson fled to Ireland following his part in the Latvian revolt against Russia and soon became involved in Irish national politics. He returned to the Independent Latvia which was subsequently invaded by both Germany and Russia during World War II. He met C.S. Andrews Chief Executive Officer of Bord Na Mona at a conference in Sweden who invited him to take up an appointment with Bord Na Mona at their factory in Kilberry. On retirement he lived with his daughter who was married to Dr. Sean Murphy in Athy. He died aged 93 years in 1981. Following an Eye on the Past I wrote on Konrad some years ago, the Latvian Ambassador contacted me and arranged for a delegation of Latvian officials to come to Athy for a commemorative ceremony at Konrad’s graveside. In the Presbyterian section of St. Michael’s Cemetery are the Campbell and Hannon family graves. Charles Campbell was a Scottish soccer player who was a key player for Queen Park Club and the Scottish National team. He won 8 Scottish Cup winner medals with Queen Park and 8 International caps with Scotland. At the end of his footballing career, he was elected President of Queen Park club and in 1889 was elected President of the Scottish Football Association. His parents came to Kilkea in the mid-19th century to take over a farm and Charles later took up ownership of the Campbell farm where he died in 1927. Nearby is the grave of John Alexander Hannon and his wife Martha who lost two sons John Coulson, known as Ion, and Norman Leslie in the First World War. John was the owner of Prumplestown and Ardreigh. His son Gordan was ordained a Minister in the Church of Ireland in 1917. Gordan’s wedding arranged for April 1923 in Ballymoney went ahead, despite his father’s death by suicide some days previously in his residence at Ardreigh House. Gordan’s son Brian was also ordained and finished his clerical career as Bishop of Clogher. His son Neil is the notable singer and songwriter. …………………. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

Clem Roche and his World War I book

Volunteers to help with the work of the local Heritage Centre are always welcome.  The Centre, which this year received full museum accreditation from the Heritage Council, is limited in what it can do with the funds available to it.  Regrettably with only two part-time staff members and a number of volunteers it is not possible to keep the Centre open on Saturdays and Sundays.  A very substantial part of its annual funding comes from Kildare County Council, with admission charges making up the balance.  I am firmly of the view that admission to museums and heritage centres should be freely available but unfortunately because of current financial constraints a small admission charge must be imposed for the foreseeable future.

As I mentioned in a recent Eye on the Past there is huge interest in local history and the Heritage Centre has helped to engender a sense of pride in our own history and in our own town.  The part played in this by volunteers attached to the Heritage Centre must be acknowledged.  One of those volunteers is a young man who has worked tirelessly over the last few years to provide a genealogical research facility as part of the Heritage Centre’s contribution to the local community.  Clem Roche of St. Patrick’s Avenue has recently obtained a Diploma in Genealogy from University College Cork following the completion of his thesis ‘British Military Records 1881-1920 and Family History”.   He had earlier completed a classical studies course through the Open University and obtained a Batchelor of Arts degree. 

Clem’s interest in genealogy was first awakened by his search for details in the World War I army records of a relation of his, James Roche.  James was a native of County Clare who enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was killed in action on 25^th August 1918, just a few weeks before the war ended.  Another County Clare relation of Clems, his grandfather Michael Roche, was a member of the First Western Division of the Freestate Army who was killed in Tralee on 22^nd August 1922.   His son, Patrick Roche, enlisted in the Curragh in 1938 and two years later he married Mary Carey of Nelson Street, Athy.  The young couple came to live in Athy in 1942 or thereabouts and were one of the first tenants of the Pairc Bhride housing scheme which was built in the early 1950s.  The Roche family soldier tradition was continued by Patrick’s son, John and Patrick, who served in the Irish Army for many years.

Clem’s research of both English and Irish army records for information relating to his own family members led him to investigate the records of Athy men who fought in World War I.  His research in that area has added enormously to the work of others in that field including Pat Casey of Bray, Co. Wicklow.  Clem’s concentration on the men from Athy and district has unearthed information previously lost to memory.  He has made that information freely available and has never failed to offer his services and the results of his search to interested parties.  He is one of several volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the years to make the Heritage Centre an institution of which the people of Athy and south Kildare can be proud.

On 11^th November next, the 98^th anniversary of the ending of the Great War, a new book outlining the men of Athy and district who died in World War I will be launched in the Heritage Centre.  It represents the fruits of Clem Roche’s research over several years and promises to add another layer of knowledge to our understanding of a period in our history which witnessed the loss of so many young Athy men.

Not all of the Heritage Centre’s volunteers are engaged in research.  Their primary role is to help the Heritage Centre staff in running the centre and to assist visitors in understanding the stories which lie behind the artefacts illustrative of Athy’s historical past. 

The Heritage Centre is on the brink of embarking on the next stage of its development and there is an urgent need for more volunteers to assist in its work.  If you feel you could help in advancing the town’s bid to make Athy a tourist stop-off destination, why not contact the Centre’s manageress Margaret Walsh.  She would be delighted to hear from you.

On Thursday, 29^th September the Castlecomer male voice choir will take to the stage in the Church of Ireland hall, Offaly Street in a concert organised by Athy Lions Club in aid of local charities.  Also appearing with their conductor, Dean Philip Knowles, will be the In Cantorium choir.  If the Taaffe family had not moved from Castlecomer to Athy when I was three years of age I would probably be on stage on Thursday as a member of the Castlecomer Choir.  My absence will surely make the evening all the more enjoyable.  Do support this latest Lions Club event.

Clem Roche and his World War I book

Volunteers to help with the work of the local Heritage Centre are always welcome.  The Centre, which this year received full museum accreditation from the Heritage Council, is limited in what it can do with the funds available to it.  Regrettably with only two part-time staff members and a number of volunteers it is not possible to keep the Centre open on Saturdays and Sundays.  A very substantial part of its annual funding comes from Kildare County Council, with admission charges making up the balance.  I am firmly of the view that admission to museums and heritage centres should be freely available but unfortunately because of current financial constraints a small admission charge must be imposed for the foreseeable future.

As I mentioned in a recent Eye on the Past there is huge interest in local history and the Heritage Centre has helped to engender a sense of pride in our own history and in our own town.  The part played in this by volunteers attached to the Heritage Centre must be acknowledged.  One of those volunteers is a young man who has worked tirelessly over the last few years to provide a genealogical research facility as part of the Heritage Centre’s contribution to the local community.  Clem Roche of St. Patrick’s Avenue has recently obtained a Diploma in Genealogy from University College Cork following the completion of his thesis ‘British Military Records 1881-1920 and Family History”.   He had earlier completed a classical studies course through the Open University and obtained a Batchelor of Arts degree. 

Clem’s interest in genealogy was first awakened by his search for details in the World War I army records of a relation of his, James Roche.  James was a native of County Clare who enlisted in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and was killed in action on 25^th August 1918, just a few weeks before the war ended.  Another County Clare relation of Clems, his grandfather Michael Roche, was a member of the First Western Division of the Freestate Army who was killed in Tralee on 22^nd August 1922.   His son, Patrick Roche, enlisted in the Curragh in 1938 and two years later he married Mary Carey of Nelson Street, Athy.  The young couple came to live in Athy in 1942 or thereabouts and were one of the first tenants of the Pairc Bhride housing scheme which was built in the early 1950s.  The Roche family soldier tradition was continued by Patrick’s son, John and Patrick, who served in the Irish Army for many years.

Clem’s research of both English and Irish army records for information relating to his own family members led him to investigate the records of Athy men who fought in World War I.  His research in that area has added enormously to the work of others in that field including Pat Casey of Bray, Co. Wicklow.  Clem’s concentration on the men from Athy and district has unearthed information previously lost to memory.  He has made that information freely available and has never failed to offer his services and the results of his search to interested parties.  He is one of several volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the years to make the Heritage Centre an institution of which the people of Athy and south Kildare can be proud.

On 11^th November next, the 98^th anniversary of the ending of the Great War, a new book outlining the men of Athy and district who died in World War I will be launched in the Heritage Centre.  It represents the fruits of Clem Roche’s research over several years and promises to add another layer of knowledge to our understanding of a period in our history which witnessed the loss of so many young Athy men.

Not all of the Heritage Centre’s volunteers are engaged in research.  Their primary role is to help the Heritage Centre staff in running the centre and to assist visitors in understanding the stories which lie behind the artefacts illustrative of Athy’s historical past. 

The Heritage Centre is on the brink of embarking on the next stage of its development and there is an urgent need for more volunteers to assist in its work.  If you feel you could help in advancing the town’s bid to make Athy a tourist stop-off destination, why not contact the Centre’s manageress Margaret Walsh.  She would be delighted to hear from you.

On Thursday, 29^th September the Castlecomer male voice choir will take to the stage in the Church of Ireland hall, Offaly Street in a concert organised by Athy Lions Club in aid of local charities.  Also appearing with their conductor, Dean Philip Knowles, will be the In Cantorium choir.  If the Taaffe family had not moved from Castlecomer to Athy when I was three years of age I would probably be on stage on Thursday as a member of the Castlecomer Choir.  My absence will surely make the evening all the more enjoyable.  Do support this latest Lions Club event.