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The Descendents of Richard Gallagher
of Castlefin, County Donegal, Ireland
66. Richard6 Gallagher (Edward5, John4, Andrew3, John2, Richard1) He was born 11 February 1873, died on 11 February 1908 on his 35th birthday and is buried in the Gallagher family plot in Strabane, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. His death was reported in the Ulster Herald 15 February 1908 as follows: "Death of Mr. R. Gallagher, Strabane. Much sympathy will be entertained for Mr. Edward Gallagher, J.P., and family throughout the North-West generally in their bereavement caused by the death of Mr. Gallagher's eldest son, Mr. Richard Gallagher. The sad event occurred on Tuesday at Main Street, and the interment took place in Strabane New Cemetery on Thursday. It is understood that the deceased, who was of a gentle and amiable disposition, had been for some time in declining health, and despite all the care that affectionate solicitude could suggest, he passed peacefully away, thus bringing to an early close a blameless and exemplary life."[45]
He married Mary Bonner. "Mary Bonner was one of the girls who came to be trained [at Edward Gallagher's factory] and Richard fell in love with her. Mary was well aware that Richard's parents thought they were too young to settle down (they were both under 21). Mary's sister Rose Bonner planned to go to U.S.A. to do nursing. Mary got a few days off work to help her sister to pack. She sent a message to Richard to say she would be at Strabane Station with Rose if he wanted to see her. When the train arrived Mary just said `Good-bye Richard. I am off too.' & left Richard disconsolate on the platform. The romance did not end there. Richard was determined not to lose her and when he inherited some money on becoming 21, he too went to America and they were married in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York. Some months later they returned to Ireland. All was forgiven and his father Edward (#25) gave them a house and took Richard to train as assistant manager in his shop. Sadly Richard died on his 35th birthday. He had an accident some time earlier. Mary and he had attended an auction in an upstairs room - the floor collapsed. Mary who had been sitting on a sofa, went down still on the sofa and suffered no injury. Richard who had been standing behind her suffered injuries to his back. Mary always held that the accident hastened his death." Mary Bonner came from a family that were great republicans.[46]
| 119. | i | Edward7 (Eddie) Gallagher born about 1893, buried in Chester, England in 1963. Married in England. No children.[47] | |
| 120. | ii | John Gallagher born about 1894, died about 1914, gassed while serving in World War I.[48] | |
| 121. | iii | Dickie Gallagher died in childhood about 1900.[49] | |
| + | 123. | iv | Nancy Gallagher born about 1902. |
| + | 124. | v | Harry Gallagher born about 1904, died in 1984. |
| + | 125. | vi | Maureen Gallagher born about 1905, died in November 1992. |
67. Rose6 Gallagher (Edward5, John4, Andrew3, John2, Richard1) She was born about 1877. She died of heart failure while ill with pneumonia on 24 March 1941. She is buried at Monaghan, Ireland. Rose and her husband Charles had a factory "The Bel-broid" located in Mill St., Monaghan, which manufactured hand embroidered linens and lingerie. They operated two embroidery factories, one in Monaghan and one just across the border in Northern Ireland. She married Charles McNally. He was born about 1867 and died 5 June 1941 at Monaghan, Ireland.[50]
| 126. | i | Edward Gerard7 McNally born 26 August 1899. He died of heart failure while ill with pneumonia and influenza at his home at 8 Hillside in Monaghan on 26 January 1973. He is buried in Monaghan, Ireland. He was a doctor in Monaghan, Ireland. He married Mary Keary. She died in 1977 (?). Mary Keary was a nurse and a beauty contest winner.[51] | |
| + | 127. | ii | John McNally born 26 August 1903 at Strabane, Co. Tyrone, died on 30 December 1986 at Monaghan County Hospital.[52] |
| 128. | iii | Annie Mary McNally born 16 October 1905 County Donegal. She died on 26 May 1986 as a result of colon cancer which she had for a year. She is buried in Monaghan, Ireland. She was the godmother of Catherine Keenan (#135). She was married to William McLoughlin on 26 July 1932 at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Monaghan by Patrick McKenna. He worked as a civil servant, as did his father William McLoughlin. He died 21 September 1956 and is buried in Monaghan, Ireland. No children. [53] | |
| + | 129. | iv | Patrick (Paddy) McNally born 12 January 190-. |
| 130. | v | Catherine Roisin (Roshie) S. McNally born 27 March 1915, died of colon cancer on 27 June 1987 at her home at 8 Hillside in Monaghan, buried in Monaghan, Ireland. She worked in the family operated embroidery factory and later in her brother John's shops. Never married.[54] |
68. Harry6 Gallagher (Edward5, John4, Andrew3, John2, Richard1) He was born about 1879. An article in the Sunday Press on 18 September 1971 reported that he was still driving at age 92. His home in Dublin was called Tallaght. They also owned homes in Florida and Africa.[55]
An article in the Irish Independent on 16 June 1965 narrated the story of the development of the Urney chocolate factory at Tallaght, Co. Dublin. The "... multimillion pound concern actually started with a few bunches of snowdrops and violtes being sent from Donegal for sale in London's Covent Garden market." "There was a large garden attached to the house at Urney, Mrs Gallagher recalls, and we used it to grow flowers. Later we began making jam for sal locally in an effort to stop the emigration. I suppose we employed only five or six at first, ..." "...we started making rasberry jam, she said, because it used to break my heart to see so many young girls going on the boat every Wednesday to America." "The factory was transferred to Dublin in July, 1924, and commenced the manufacture of confectionery. Now [1965] it employs 850 and exports more than £11/2 million worth of goods. Its largest markets are the U.S., Canada and Britain, but considerable quantities go to the Far East, Malta, Gibraltar, Australia, Norway and Sweden. Its new link-up with the Dutch company of Van Houtens will add several hundreds of thousands of pounds in commonwealth trade."[56]
He married Eileen Cullen about 1917 while he was Crown Solicitor for Donegal. "She started making jam in the basement, they tried sweets & then Harry gave up his solicitors office & joined it [Eileen's jam and sweet business]. I took a bus ride to Wicklow. At Tallaght I was amused, the conductor said `This is where Mrs Gallagher lived who introduced white turkeys into Ireland from America. They also had a chocolate factory on the site' " Eilenn Cullen celebrated her 84th birthday in September 1971. She was born about 1887. [57]
| 131. | i | Edward7 Gallagher He was a doctor and married a woman from New Zealand. Together they operated a nursing home in Coventry, England.[58] | |
| 132. | ii | Redmond Gallagher His first wife was Audrie [-?-] and his second wife was [-?-] Hagen. He was involved with car racing.[59] | |
| + | 133. | iii | Helen Gallagher |
70. Catherine6 Gallagher (Edward5, John4, Andrew3, John2, Richard1) She was born on 6 March 1890 at Strabane, Co. Tyrone, Ireland. She died on 11 December 1976 at Monaghan, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, and is buried in Latlurcan Cemetery at Monaghan.
She was trained as a nurse at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin, Ireland. She joined the Territorial Force Nursing Service at the 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, on 1 December 1914. She was posted for service abroad about 19 October 1915. She served in Egypt and Salonika. She arrived at Southampton, England, on the Hospital Ship Dunluce Castle and proceeded to the London Headquarters on 17 November 1916. She re-joined the 1st Northern General Hospital on 15 December 1916. She resigned on 4 June 1917 while she was on leave because of her forth-coming marriage.[60] The reason for the four years delay between her resignation and marriage to John Keenan is not known.
On 5 February 1921, she married John Joseph Keenan, the son of Daniel Xavier Keenan and Bridget Agnes Trainor. He was born 13 March 1891 at his family residence on Glasslough Street, Monaghan. He had a history of stomach problems and was operated on for a stomach ulcer about 1938-1939. He died as a result of stomach cancer on 26 May 1967 at Monaghan, Co. Monaghan. Buried at Latlurcan Cemetery at Monaghan, Ireland.[61]
He attended Blackrock College, Dublin, Ireland. He worked as State Solicitor in Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland. Among his duties as State Solicitor, during elections he was the person who decided if questionable votes were valid. Early in his career, John Keenan was a strong supporter of the Sinn Féin. In 1918, there was a great deal of antagonism between the differing factions. It was reported in book Towards the Irish Free State that "A vigorous campaign was also fought in North Monaghan. When Frank O'Duffy, Peadar O'Donnel, and J. J. Keenan, tried to address an election meeting at Ballyoisin, they were met with yells and boos. Stones were thrown at them, men advanced on them with sticks and hurleys, and they were lucky to escape without injury." He was listed as an officer on the committee of the Sinn Féin for North Monaghan comhiarle ceantair in late 1919.[62]
Stories about his being admitted to the law were reported in the Independent (28 January 1915), Irish News (29 January 1915) and Northern Standard (30 January 1915). His first appearance in court was reported in the Northern Whig (10 March 1915), Irish News (11 March 1915) and Independent (11 March 1915).
On 29 April 1916 the Northern Whig published a story "Alarums and Excursion - Motorists' Exciting Experience" that involved J. J. Keenan. The story was about the arrest of J. J. Keenan and friends in Portadown at 3:57 pm on 27 April 1916. They were thought to be terrorists, thought to members of the Sinn Fein organization. They were released after 1 hour and 15 minutes. An additional story about this event was printed in the Monaghan Democrat, 6 May 1916 and was titled "My Experiences in Portadown - Alleged Gunrunning Expedition."
He participated in several theatre productions in Monaghan. He played Mrs. Peculia in a comic negro sketch entitled "The Black Judge" in Monaghan Town Hall, Thursday 28 December 1911 and Basil Raymond in "The Little Scamp Next Door" in Monaghan Town Hall, Tuesday 21 May 1912. His daughter Maire Keenan said that he was a good piano player.
He was also active in sports. On 3 July 1913 he took 2nd place in the 100 yds flat race; 2nd place in the 440 yds flat race; 1st place in the 880 yds flat race; 1st place in the mile relay team (noted in the Monaghan Recreation Club Sports). On 15 August 1914 he took 1st place in the 100 yds flat open (noted in Middletown Sports).
On 24 March 1918 - Final Lecture on Irish History - The Union by John J. Keenan, Solicitor at St. Macarten's Hall, Monaghan.
He was awarded the Bene Merti medal by the Pope. This award was presented to him for his services on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church. [63] The medal is possessed by his daughter Catherine Keenan Kaye.
Prior to 1926, the Keenans lived opposite the old hospital which had been converted into a military barracks during the time of the "Black and Tans." At that time telephones were not common in Monaghan. If you needed to summon the fire department, you had to run through town shouting fire. As circumstances would have it, one Christmas night, when the soldiers had taken to celebrating and were "well drunk," a fire occurred. As the soldiers heard the call of "fire" they began to shoot their weapons. As a number of rounds hit the house, Catherine Gallagher took her daughter Maire Keenan out of her bed and placed her on the floor for greater safety.[64]
After that the Keenans moved on to Cappagh Lodge, where they lived until about 1928. The house at Cappagh was by a little river and had it's own tennis court. The Keenans used to have tennis parties at night and used Auntie Rose's van to gather up people for the parties. The bread van (horse and cart) came out to Cappagh twice a week, in fact just about all deliveries were made by horse and cart. The family had a pony and trap [a type of carriage] which they used to ride to church. One day while Kay and Maire were riding the donkey down the avenue at Cappagh Lodge, the donkey died. The family bought their first car while at Cappagh. After the clutch of the new car burned out while being driven by Catherine Gallagher, John Keenan provided her with a driver to take her to the places she needed to go.[65]
The big stone house at Cappagh had two separate sets of stairs between the two floors. When going up and down the stairs at night, candles were used to illuminate the way. The down stairs entry hall was large enough to turn a car around in it. In the kitchen was a coal burning stove. There were two gardens, one for flowers and one for vegetables. When the girls would go out picking strawberries and other fruit, their mother used to make them whistle so she would know that they were not eating fruit.[66]
Cappagh also had a hen house which was the site for another colorful tale. One day when John Keenan and his daughter Maire went to the hen house to gather eggs, Kay locked them in the hen house. Catherine Gallagher realized that something had occurred when she found Kay hiding behind the furniture. Upon asking Kay what she was doing, Kay told her mother that "Kay had died and gone to hell," and that her name was Barcelona not Kay. Upon determining the nature of the problem, John Keenan and his daughter Maire were released from the hen house. Maire got into almost as much trouble as Kay because she had refused to climb out through the hens doorway which had been covered with chicken droppings.[67]
In 1931, they moved to the North Road opposite Swan's Park Hall. This home was rented from Pat O'Brien, who owned the antique shop across the street.[68]
In the summer of 1938, they moved to their long time home of Greenmont across from the Monaghan Cathederal. The home was the first one in Monaghan to have an electric refrigerator. This refrigerator was used by the doctors and local hospital to store penicillin supplies.[69] The home was divided into apartments in the 1970's after the death of John Keenan. Catherine Keenan kept an apartment on the first floor until her death.
After moving to Greenmont, the Keenans, the Graham family and the Desmond McCaldin families hired a band and rented John McNally's hall (Swan Park Hall) for an annual Christmas party and booked guest rooms for company at the Western Arms Hotel. The front of the home had flower gardens, a large vegetable garden was planted along the side, and a large greenhouse was located behind the home.[70] John Keenan spent many happy hours growing tomatoes in the greenhouse.
They had four children that lived. One miscarriage occurred while the Keenans lived at Cappagh Lodge in Monaghan.[71]
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[45] Ulster Herald (Strabane,
Ireland), 15 February 1908.
[46] Katty Caffrey to author, - April 1988;
Kay Kaye to author, - January 1991.
[47] Kay Kaye to author, - January 1991;
Katty Caffrey to author, 10 April 1988.
[48] Katty Caffrey to author, 10 April
1988.
[49] Katty Caffrey to author, 10 April
1988.
[50] Declaration of John McNally, 19 March
1986, copy provided by John E. Keenan in possession of writer, records names
and dates of death for his parents - Edward McNally and Rose McNally, names and
dates of birth of the five children, and date of death of his brother Edward
McNally; Death Certificate for Rose McNally, No. J 3709/6, entry No. 353,
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Office of Monaghan, copy provided by
John E. Keenan in possession of writer; Maire Furniss, Notes on descendents of
Edward Gallagher, undated typescript, incorporates notes of Kay Kaye, original
in possession of writer; Kay Kaye, notes on Gallagher family, 1 February 1988,
original in possession of writer.
[51] Declaration of John McNally, 19 March
1986; Death Certificate for Edward Gerard McNally, No. F 1315/23, entry No.
295, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Office of Monaghan, copy
provided by John E. Keenan in possession of writer; Maire Furniss, Notes on
descendents of Edward Gallagher; Kay Kaye, notes on Gallagher family, 1
February 1988, original in possession of writer.
[52] Declaration of John McNally, 19 March
1986; Birth Certificate for John McNally, B 22/E 202, General Registrar Office,
Belfast; Death Certificate for John McNally, No. H 2271/21, entry No. 231,
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Office of Monaghan, copy provided by
John E. Keenan in possession of writer.
[53] Declaration of John McNally, 19 March
1986; Birth Certificate for Annie Mary McNally, certified copy of entry 135 in
Register Book of Births, District of Stranovlar, County Donegal; Death
Certificate for Annie McLoughlin, No. H 1579/4, entry No. 130, Registrar of
Births, Deaths and Marriages, Office of Monaghan, copy provided by John E.
Keenan in possession of writer; Maire Furniss, Notes on descendents of Edward
Gallagher; Certified copy of entry in the Marriage Register Book for Annie
McNally and William P. McLoughlin, marriage No. 113, 9 September 1932,
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Office of Monaghan, copy provided by
John E. Keenan in possession of writer.
[54] Declaration of John McNally, 19 March
1986; Death Certificate for Roisin McNally, No. H 2271/22, entry No. 328,
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Office of Monaghan, copy provided by
John E. Keenan in possession of writer; Maire Furniss, Notes on descendents of
Edward Gallagher; Kay Kaye, notes on Gallagher family, 1 February 1988.
[55] Sunday Press, 18 September 1971,
article about Harry Gallagher driving his car at 92, photocopy in possession of
writer; Katty Caffrey to author, 22 January 1988; Maire Furniss, Notes on
descendents of Edward Gallagher.
[56] Irish Independent, 16 June 1965, p.
8, article about Harry Gallagher and Eileen Cullen and their business, notes
their diamond jubilee (60th anniversary) will be celebrated the following year,
photocopy in possession of writer..
[57] Katty Caffrey to author, - April
1988; Irish Independent, 16 June 1965, p. 8, article about Harry Gallagher and
Eileen Cullen and their business, notes their diamond jubilee (60th
anniversary) will be celebrated the following year, photocopy in possession of
writer; Eithne McCorkell to author, - March 1989; Sunday Press, 18 September
1971, article about Harry Gallagher driving his car at 92, notes his wife's 84
birthday, photocopy in possession of writer.
[58] Maire Furniss, Notes on descendents
of Edward Gallagher; Kay Kaye, notes on Gallagher family, 1 February 1988.
[59] Maire Furniss, Notes on descendents
of Edward Gallagher; Kay Kaye, notes on Gallagher family, 1 February 1988.
[60] A. Churchill (Departmental Record
Officer, Ministry of Defence) to Mrs. J. Crosthwaite, letter of 20 April 1990;
letter relates nursing assignments with the Territorial Nursing Service, in
possession of writer.
[61] Certified Copy of Birth Certificate
for John Joseph Keenan, No. U 1132/11, Registrar of Births and Deaths, Office
Monaghan, District of Monaghan; copy obtained by John Edward Keenan in
possession of writer; Information about stomach problems provided by his
daughter, Maire Keenan; Tombstone of John Joseph Keenan was seen at Latlurcan
Cemetery, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan, Ireland, by the writer in July 1980.
[62] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988, tape in possession of writer;
Author unknown, Towards the Irish Free State (place, publisher, date
unknown), p. 375, 377; photocopy of pages provided by Catherine (Kay) Keenan,
in possession of writer.
[63] Joan Crosthwaite to author, undated
letter 1992, original in possession of writer.
[64] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.
[65] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.
[66] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.
[67] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.
[68] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.
[69] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988.
[70] Tape of discussion between Maire
Keenan and Catherine Keenan 6 December 1988; Recollections of the writer from
visits to the house in the 1950's.
[71] Oral interview with Maire Keenan on 7
November 1988, notes in possession of writer.
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