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Alderman Michael Flanagan

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,
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,

moved to Portmahon House, Rialto, Co.Dublin,
listed at Portmahon House in [Thom's] from 1870 to 1932,
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,
[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" in [Deed of 1902],

Anne died 16th Apr 1910, age 67 yrs, bur Glasnevin,
Dublin Corporation passed resolution of sympathy for "Alderman Flanagan", 19 Apr, see Irish Times, April 20, 1910,

see entry in [Census, 2 April 1911], 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,
    born William Joseph, 10th Apr 1867, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham [GROI].


  2. Lizzie Flanagan [Elizabeth, Liz], born Dublin, c.1869,
    mar P.A. O'Farrell and had issue.


  3. Patrick Flanagan, born 1870,
    can't find birth in [GROI], NOT Patrick, Dublin S, 1869,
    died 16th Aug 1876, age 6 yrs, bur Glasnevin.


  4. Michael Flanagan,
    born 1871, Dublin,
    can't find birth in [GROI], NOT Michael, Dublin S, 1870 2nd qr,
    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 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 58 yrs, bur Glasnevin.


  5. Joe Flanagan [Joseph],
    can't find birth in [GROI], NOT Joseph, Dublin S, 1868,
    lived Walkinstown House for a time,
    out riding races in India,
    died there of TB, c.1890s, age c.21 yrs [Frank Flanagan's memoirs].


  6. Larry Flanagan [Laurence Joseph],
    born 2nd May 1874, Portmahon House [GROI].


  7. Sister Padua Flanagan,
    born Mary Frances [Mary, "Polly"], 1876, Dublin,
    became nun 1895, age 19, 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.",
    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]],
    bur Kilbarrick cemetery [obituary and funeral report, newspaper, July 1936].


  8. Patrick J. Flanagan, born 1879,
    died 18th Nov 1912, age 33 yrs, bur Glasnevin.

  9. Anna Teresa Flanagan, died young, bur Glasnevin.
  10. Josephine Flanagan, died young, bur Glasnevin.


  11. Louisa Flanagan,
    born 28th Aug 1882, Dublin,
    seems to be an old family name, see her aunts Mary Louisa Flanagan, bapt 1825 and Louisa Catherine Flanagan, bapt 1828, and "Elouise Flanagan", who must be from an even earlier generation, who sp the baptism of their brother John in 1836,
    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,
    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.


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

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.



Louisa Flanagan and W.T. Cosgrave.
During 1933 general election.
Image courtesy of Cork Multitext Project, UCC (see here). Used with permission.


   
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.

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