My ancestors - Cashel - Contents

Agnes Cashel

Agnes Cashel. From 1905 photo.
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Agnes Cashel [poss. descendant of Edward III],
born 21st Dec 1870, Mallow, Co.Cork.
"My mother had a natural dignity. She could easily have belonged to a simpler and older age than ours" [Pat Lavelle].
She was educ Miss Moylan's school, think Limerick, as were her sisters [Lavelle, 1961].
The Cashel family lived in Limerick at least 1882-91. They met the O'Maras at this time.
She taught English at convent in central France, winter 1891-92.

She met James when she came to a dance in the O'Mara's house, Hartstonge House, Limerick, summer 1891 (James age 18, Agnes age 20) [Lavelle, 1961].
James, just finished school, immediately asked his father to take him on in the bacon factory. His mother was opposed to this, and argued that he should go to college. It was his grandfather who persuaded them to let him start work.
[PAT/1, p.7] says Agnes got on well with James' grandfather: "She was very fond of him and knew he liked her". He very much approved of Agnes. He would pass the two after mass and "he would smile and nod at them in his friendliest way".

James proposed to Agnes, probably in summer 1892, at the ruined Dunlica Castle (or "Doonlicka Castle"), near Kilkee, on cliffs of Co.Clare, hundreds of feet above the Atlantic.
In the old days, the whole extended O'Mara family would gather at Kilkee, summer after summer.
James later named his house in London "Dunlica" after the castle.
They were allowed marry when James was 21. "Mother always felt that this had been brought about largely by Great-Grandfather's kindly interest in their romance" [PAT/1, p.7].

Agnes mar 23rd Apr 1895 [him age 21, her age 24], St.Saviour's (Dominican church), Dominick St (nr King's Inns), Dublin [GROI]
to James O'Mara and had issue.

The ruin of "Doonlicka Castle", Co.Clare, on 1887 to 1913 map.
This is in Moveen West townland, SW of Kilkee, on the W coast of Co.Clare.
Almost nothing is left of the castle ruin today.
See modern map and satellite view.

Agnes Cashel, 1910. From this picture.