My ancestors - Flanagan - Contents

Alderman Michael Flanagan

• References:
  • Deed, 27th Oct 1873, Michael Keogh Cullen to Michael Flanagan.
  • Deed, 30th Aug 1902, Alderman Michael Flanagan to John Tench.

  • A History of the South County Dublin Harriers, James E. Norton, 1991.
  • By the sign of the dolphin - The story of Dolphin's Barn, ed. Catherine Scuffil, Dolphin's Barn Historical Society, 1993.
  • Dear, dirty Dublin: a city in distress, 1899-1916, Joseph Valentine O'Brien, 1982, [TCD] open shelf 941.83 M21;1, and behind counter B/C REF 941.83 M21, [UCD] GEN 941.83
  • Mrs. Mc Nally of Tallaght Historical Society, interviewed on Sunday Rambles, RTE Radio 1, Sun 11th Oct 1992.

  • Alderman Michael Flanagan grave, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. Location: LC 74/75. Go in gate, go to RHS, on path parallel to road, on LHS.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • [NAI], Department of the Taoiseach. Cabinet: s 7645. File: Mr. Peter Shortall, Grant from Dail Special Fund. Letters from "Sister M. Padua, Sisters of Charity, Mount Saint Anne's, Milltown", 1925, requesting financial assistance for Mr. Peter Shortall and his family.

Alderman Michael Flanagan.
Photo 1925 (age 92).
From this picture.
See larger and full size.

Alderman Michael Flanagan, bapt 29th Sept 1833,
hugely successful market gardener, starting with very little he built up business supplying the expanding Dublin city, eventually owned farming land all over SW Co.Dublin (Crumlin, Drimnagh, Rialto, Dolphin's Barn, Walkinstown, Greenhills, Tallaght, Kilmainham, Rathfarnham), most of which is now built-up suburbs today, [Frank Flanagan's memoirs] say he eventually farmed almost 1,000 acres,
was taken by his father to see Daniel O'Connell speak c.1840,
remembered the Famine (1845-50), "My father told me of the Famine, and the terrible times the unfortunate people went through" [Frank Flanagan],
he grew vegetables, starting on his father's small holding at Greenhills, Tallaght,
Marie Ryan (née Hughes) of Jamestown House, Inchicore, "walked out with" the Alderman when she was a widow, this was the story in the Ryan family according to her descendant James Molloy, the dates are unclear but it seems more likely she was a young widow (around the 1860s) rather than when they were both widowed in old age,
he is listed as "gardener" (would be market gardener) at mar 1866 [GROI],
living Kilmainham at mar 1866, possibly already living Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, at this time,
mar 19th Aug 1866, RC chapel, Crumlin, S Co.Dublin [GROI] to Anne Collins [bapt 27th Nov 1842],

"He knew all the great Irish leaders from James Stephens to John Redmond." [Frank Flanagan's memoirs],
he was a supporter of the abortive Fenian Rising, 5th Mar 1867,
[Frank Flanagan's memoirs] say Tallaght: "was the place in which the abortive 1867 Fenian rising took place. The morning of the rising my father entertained Lucas, the leader, and his men to breakfast" [presumably at Greenhills, Tallaght, rather than at Royal Hospital, Kilmainham],
though can't find any Lucas among names of leaders of the rising in Tallaght,
the rising was a disaster, as, in the "Battle of Tallaght", a tiny force of around 15 armed Irish Constabulary at Tallaght village police barracks held off hundreds of poorly-led rebels advancing on incoming roads,
the police force was renamed the "Royal Irish Constabulary" Sept 1867 in tribute to its success against the Fenians,

Michael is listed as a "pensioner" (unexplained), living Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin, at The Bird's birth, Apr 1867 [GROI],
Liam Cosgrave says he just rented the Garden Lodge at the Royal Hospital for a time after marriage, that he wasn't actually the gardener,
the Flanagans were NOT gardeners of the Royal Hospital,
Liam has searched the Board of Works (who restored the Royal Hospital) and found no record of Flanagan,
the Garden Lodge seems quite a good house to rent, though of course the fact that he had money by this time is shown by the fact that he soon moves to Portmahon House,
he was still living at the Royal Hospital at dau's birth 1868,

moved to Portmahon House, Rialto, Co.Dublin,
listed at Portmahon House in [Thom's] from 1870 to 1932,
listed as "gardener", living Portmahon House, at son's birth 1870,
listed as "market gardener", living Portmahon House, as at [Deed of 1873],
listed as "market gardener", living Portmahon House, at Larry's birth 1874 [GROI],
built up market gardening business,
he inherited Greenhills after his father's death in 1874,
obtained on 28th July 1875 "part of the lands of Kilmainham known as Goldenbridge North" (see Cosgrave grave) "in the Barony of Upper Cross and Co.Dublin", this land was later conveyed to his son Frank,
the only land he is listed as owning in [Owners of Land, 1876] is 6 acres at Greenhills and Crumlin,
later he had acquired so much land in the area that apparently Dublin Corporation stopped him from buying any more,
".. his farming was mainly tillage and vegetables, at which work he employed large numbers of men and women. The ploughing was, of course, done by horses and the vegetables were sown and cultivated by men and women." [Liam Cosgrave],
the attractive and distinctive cottages on N side of Kildare Rd, Crumlin (still there), were all, at one time, occupied by ploughmen who worked for Flanagans, everything around them was fields,
the night of the Phoenix Park murders 1882, the Alderman was driving out to Tallaght, passed a sidecar with a group of men in it, found out later it was the assassins, he noticed them because little traffic in those days, the Alderman did not know them, and did NOT help them,

he was a prominent member of the Irish Parliamentary Party (under Parnell, re-founded 1882),
he was an Irish Parliamentary Party / Nationalist Party local councillor on Dublin Corporation (for Usher's Quay ward) from 1884 to 1919, "the longest tenure of office on the County Borough Council" [O'Brien, 1982],
he is listed as a "T.C." (Town Councillor) and "P.L.G." (Poor Law Guardian) in [Thom's] from 1885 on, listed as Town Councillor at dau's death 1885,
[Thom's, 1885] shows he was elected a guardian in the Palmerstown district for the South Dublin Poor Law Union (his brother William also was a guardian for the South Dublin Union until his death 1886),
the Parnell divorce scandal broke in 1890, [Frank Flanagan's memoirs] say: "My father knew Parnell and, although a very strict practising Catholic, he never wavered in his devotion to Parnell.",
he was a friend of Andrew J. Kettle (a founder of the Land League),
he never ran for parliament,
became Alderman, Alderman of Dublin,
was offered (prob. 1900) but declined the Lord Mayoralty of Dublin (and here), there is a family story that he declined because as Lord Mayor he would have to receive a forthcoming Royal Visit, story that he would have received hereditary knighthood (Baronetcy) had he accepted (would have been 1st Baronet), think the origin of this story is that the person who accepted the Lord Mayoralty instead of him got a Baronetcy,
this must refer to Thomas Devereux Pile of Kenilworth House, Rathgar, Lord Mayor of Dublin 1900-01, cr Baronet 1900, there was a Royal Visit by Queen Victoria in 1900, so it seems the family story is true, and the Alderman must have been offered the Lord Mayoralty in 1900,
he is listed as Alderman, Justice of the Peace, farmer, in census 1901,
see entry at Portmahon House in [Census, 1901],
the house has 13 rooms, 8 windows in front of house, and there are 32 out-buildings - consisting of 6 stables, 3 coach houses, 1 harness room, 1 cow house, 1 calf house, 1 dairy, 1 piggery, 1 fowl house, 1 boiling house, 6 barns, 1 turf house, 1 potato house, 1 workshop, 4 sheds, 1 store, 1 forge and 1 laundry,
he is listed as Alderman, Justice of the Peace, in [Deed of 1902],

Anne died Sat 16th Apr 1910, at Portmahon House, age 67 yrs, after an illness of only a few days,
the United Irish League passed a vote of condolence on Sat evening, 16 Apr, see Freemans Journal, April 19, 1910,
see death notice and report, Freemans Journal, April 18, 1910,
funeral Mon 18 Apr, bur Glasnevin, huge attendance at the funeral, including W.T. Cosgrave, John Stanislaus Joyce, Daniel John Hishon, and the Lord Mayor and many city councillors,
see funeral list, Freemans Journal, April 19, 1910,
see funeral report, Irish Independent, Apr 19, 1910,
Dublin Corporation passed resolution of sympathy for "Alderman Flanagan", 19 Apr, see Irish Times, April 20, 1910,
see death notice, Irish Times, 23 Apr 1910,

the Alderman is listed in [Census, 2 April 1911] as living Portmahon House, he is listed as "agriculturalist", they live with 2 servants, main house has 6 rooms, 3 windows at front of house, there are a total of 20 out-offices and farm buildings (consisting of 4 stables, 2 coach houses, 1 harness room, 2 cow houses, 1 calf house, 1 potato house, 6 sheds, 2 stores and 1 forge),
he sold vegetables to Covent Garden, London, 1912/13,
"He was most successful, and as well as supplying the Dublin market with vegetables, he exported to Liverpool and I think possibly the Continent before and during WWI." [Liam Cosgrave],
exported hay to Glasgow, cabbages to Scotland, they say that all of Crumlin was under cabbage,
finally retired from Dublin Corporation 1919, age 86 yrs,
apparently NOT beaten for the seat by his son-in-law W.T. Cosgrave (who had been a councillor in same ward since 1909),
the Alderman donated the land on which was built Rialto National School, 1921 (now Rialto Parish Centre),
lived to see a number of the 4th generation, outlived most of his children,
"no matter how busy he was, he went to 12.00 mass daily until his last illness" [Frank Flanagan's memoirs],
Liam Cosgrave remembers going to 12 mass in Adam and Eve's on Merchants Quay in the trap with his grandfather the Alderman, late 1920s, poor fellas would be hanging round outside, the Alderman would throw them six pence,
Liam Cosgrave says the Alderman still had Greenhills at his death, remembers it as 14 acres,
will dated 14th Mar 1930, Liam Cosgrave says the Alderman left a provision in his will that if there was any contest, they would forfeit - ensured no rows,
died Portmahon House, 16th Oct 1931, age 98 yrs,
see obituary, Irish Times, October 17, 1931,
funeral 19 Oct, bur Glasnevin, mass celebrated by Fr. John Flanagan, also presiding was Michael Fogarty, Bishop of Killaloe,
present at the funeral were the Alderman's son-in-law the President of the Irish Free State, his entire cabinet, and a long list of politicians and clergy, including Eoin MacNeill, John A. Costello, Sean Mac Eoin, Batt O'Connor, Sir Thomas Esmonde, The Ceann Comhairle, The Chief Justice, The President of the High Court and The Lord Mayor,
see funeral report and photo, Irish Times, October 20, 1931, [NLI] microfilm, (todo) see original,
see notice to creditors, Irish Times, October 28, 1931,
will pr 13th Nov 1931 [NAI] ref. IA-7-45, "farm produce merchant",
personal assets £18,600, land £6,500, this totals about £5m in today's money, but also many debts,
had issue:

1. Willie Flanagan, "The Bird Flanagan",
   the famous practical joker,
   William Joseph, would be after grandfather,
   born 10th Apr 1867, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham [GROI].

   
   

2. Lizzie Flanagan,
   Elizabeth, Liz, would be after grandmother,
   born 5 July 1868, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham,
   bapt 10 July 1868 [St.James' RC church, James's St, Dublin],
   mar P.A. O'Farrell [born 1855] and had issue.

   
   

3. Patrick Flanagan,
   Patrick Joseph Flanagan, would be after grandfather,
   born 24 May 1870, Portmahon House, Rialto [GROI],
   died 16th Aug 1876, Crumlin, of "scarlatina", age 6 yrs [GROI],
   bur Glasnevin.

   
   

4. Michael Flanagan,
   born 24 September 1872, Dublin,
   can't find birth in [GROI], NOT Michael Flanagan, Dublin South, 1872,
   (todo) try Michael Flanigan, [GROI] Dublin South, 1872, vol 17 p 617,
   bapt 30 September 1872 [St.James' RC church, James's St, Dublin],
   wanted to be a solicitor, but the Alderman wanted him to get involved in the farming, "Whatever else the sons were, none of them were farmers" [Liam Cosgrave], the result was, like his brothers, he became a "gentleman",
   used play tennis with Irish player Joshua Pim, who won Wimbledon in 1893 and 1894, the story was (of course) that he could beat him,
   didn't marry,
   living with father in Census 1901, occupation listed as "farmer's son",
   living Portmahon House as at Census 1911 with his father and brother Frank and sister Louisa, he is listed as "agriculturalist",
   living Portmahon House in 1920s with father and Frank [Liam Cosgrave],
   died of cancer of throat, they said "he didn't change his pipe" [Liam Cosgrave],
   died 19th Mar 1929, age 56 yrs, bur Glasnevin.

   
   

5. Larry Flanagan [Laurence Joseph],
   born 2nd May 1874, Portmahon House [GROI],
   bapt 5 May 1874 [St.James' RC church, James's St, Dublin].

   
   

6. Sister Padua Flanagan,
   Mary Frances, Mary, "Polly", would be after grandmother,
   born 26 Nov 1875, Portmahon House [GROI],
   bapt 3 December 1875 [St.James' RC church, James's St, Dublin],
   became nun 1895, Sisters of Charity,
   took name "Sister Padua" or "Sister Mary Padua", poss. also "Pauline",
   "she was a beautiful girl, and gave up a luxurious home to serve God" [Frank Flanagan's memoirs], he says she was "the cleverest and liveliest member of the family", "She was the happiest person I ever met and the day before she joined the Charity nuns, she went to a big dance and discarded her worldly garments afterwards.",
   can't find her in 1901 census,
   entered Sisters of Charity, Mt. St. Annes, Milltown, Co.Dublin, c.1902,
   she is listed at Mt. St. Annes in [Census, 2 April 1911],
   she was the anonymous author of the book The Life and Work of Mary Aikenhead, Foundress of the Congregation of Irish Sisters of Charity, 1787-1858, Longmans, 1924,
   a passage describing how Aikenhead decided to become a nun is probably drawn from her own experience: ".. but when she was about 17 God made it clear that she should give her service as a religious. She could hardly tell when or how she first heard that mysterious and elusive call, so like the gentle whisper of the soft summer breeze. Above the noise and the din of the world around her she caught the sound of the mystic words, "Follow me"",
   less comprehensible to the modern mind is the story of Mary Gibbons in the DONNYBROOK chapter - a girl who, tortured by her sexuality and religious guilt, tears out her own eyes so as not to be attractive to men any more, and lives out the rest of her days with the nuns at Donnybrook [her grave, dated 1848, is mid-way up on LHS in the cemetery there],
   died Mt. St. Annes, 20th July 1936, age 60 yrs [mass card], [GROI],
   obituary and funeral report in newspaper, July 1936,
   bur "Kilbarrick cemetery" (must be Kilbarrack Cemetery, on the coast road to Howth), (todo) see grave.

   
   

7. Anna Teresa Flanagan,
   NOT Anne Teresa,
   born 17 July 1877, Portmahon House [GROI],
   see birth notice, Freemans Journal, July 19, 1877,
   bapt 23 July 1877 [St.James' RC church, James's St, Dublin],
   died 7 Jan 1878, Portmahon House, of "capillary bronchitis", age 6 months [GROI],
   see death notice, Freemans Journal, Tue 8 Jan 1878,
   funeral Wed 9 Jan, bur Glasnevin.

   
   

8. Joe Flanagan,
   Patrick Joseph Flanagan, after his dead brother (who died 1876), known as Joseph,
   born 16 Mar 1880, Portmahon House [GROI],
   bapt 22 March 1880 [St.James' RC church, James's St, Dublin],
   he wit the mar of his cousin Polly Collins 1899,
   rode horse races in India,
   lived Walkinstown House for a time,
   he is not listed in chief mourners at his mother's funeral 1910, he might have been in India at the time,
   died of "phthisis" (TB),
   died unmarried, 18 Nov 1912, age 32 yrs, at the house of his brother, Walkinstown House [GROI],
   bur Glasnevin,
   the South Dublin Rural District Council passed vote of condolence on 20 Nov, see Irish Independent, 21 Nov 1912,
   the board of management of Richmond District Asylum, Dublin, passed vote of condolence on 21 Nov, see Irish Times, 22 Nov 1912,
   see death notice, Sunday Independent, Nov 24, 1912,
   see 1 year anniversary notice, Freemans Journal, Nov 18, 1913.

   
   

9. Louisa Flanagan,
   born 28th Aug 1882, Dublin,
   see birth notice in the Nation, Sep 2, 1882,
   Louisa is old family name,
   can't find birth in [GROI], NOT Louisa in Dublin N, 1881, 4th qr,
   known as "Louie" [NOT Louey],
   educ Alexandra,
   educ Loreto Balbriggan,
   educ Sion Hill,
   she wit the mar of her cousin Polly Collins 1899,
   last daughter at home with the Alderman after mother died 1910, married late, her father lavished on her,
   living Portmahon House as at Census 1911 with father and brothers,
   mar 24th June 1919 [her age 36], Pro Cathedral, Dublin [GROI]
   to W.T. Cosgrave [first prime minister of Ireland] and had issue.
   They met because her father and W.T. were both on Dublin City Council in Usher's Quay ward.

   
   

10. Josephine Flanagan,
    born 10 Mar 1884, Portmahon House [GROI],
    died 26 Jan 1885, Portmahon House, age 10 months [GROI],
    see death notice in the Nation, Jan 31, 1885,
    bur Glasnevin.

    
    

11. Frank Flanagan, "The Pope Flanagan",
    Francis Christopher, born 11th Dec 1886, Portmahon House (his father age 53, mother age 44).

The "Battle of Tallaght", Fenian Rising, 5 March 1867.
Image courtesy of Cork Multitext Project, UCC (see here). Used with permission.

 

Alderman Michael Flanagan with his grandchildren Liam Cosgrave (left, born 1920) and Micheál Cosgrave (right, born 1922).
Garden party, Beechpark, 1925.
The officer on RHS is Free State General J.J. O'Connell, who was kidnapped by the republicans at the start of the Civil War, June 1922 (later released unhurt).
See larger and full size.

Alderman Michael Flanagan.
From newspaper obituary.
See full size.
See other scan.

Anne Collins, Portmahon House, perhaps c.1895.
See larger and full size.

Sister Padua Flanagan.

   
Alderman Michael Flanagan's grave, Glasnevin. Photos 2006.
(Left) See full size and close-up.
(Right) See full size and close-up.
Photos courtesy of Richard Humphreys.