My ancestors - Kickham - Contents

Heffernan

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • The Heffernans and their times: a study in Irish history, Patrick Heffernan, 1940.

Patrick Heffernan, born 1810,
of Cuckoo Hill (or Cuckoohill), Derrygrath par, Co.Tipperary (between Cahir and Clonmel, see map),
mar Catherine Kickham [born 1808],
Catherine was "a 'big plain woman' with a great work ethic and sharp business mind. It has been said that she personally sat aloft the grain sacks on route to the mills in Cahir from her home at Cuckoo Hill and drove a very hard bargain, this around the time of the famine ... She enlarged the farm, it was one of the finest farms of over 400 acres of well tilled land in the Golden Vale" [Kickham family tree],
her brothers Michael and Tom Kickham lived in Knockelly Castle, but got into financial difficulty,
she took over Knockelly Castle from them, she paid off debts and installed her son Ned,
Patrick died 1880, age 70 yrs,
Catherine died 1882, age 74 yrs,
had issue:

1. Ned Heffernan, Edmond,
   he is listed as occupying Knockelly as at 1889,
   mar Mary Brett [of Knocknakitt (unidentified)], no issue.

2. James Heffernan, born 1837,
   meant to be J.P., but unlikely since too young,
   died 1856, age 19 yrs.

   
   

3. John Kickham Heffernan, J.P., born 1839,
   mar Margaret McGrath [of Mountrivers, Affane par, nr Cappoquin, Co. Waterford],
   he died 1919, age 80 yrs,
   had issue:
   1. Patrick Heffernan,
      Dr. Paddy Heffernan,
      born Cuckoo Hill, 13th May 1878,
      mar Winifred ----,
      author of [Heffernan, 1940] and [Heffernan, 1958] and other works,
      had issue:
      1. Mortimer Heffernan.
      2. Myles Heffernan.
      3. John Heffernan.

      
      

   2. John Heffernan,
      John F., Jack, of Cuckoo Hill, born 1881,
      inherited Knockelly Castle 1903.

      
      

   3. Michael R. Heffernan, T.D. (also here and here),
      Michael Richard, born 3 Apr 1885,
      fine sportsman, competed in national athletics (sprinting) under the name Richard Heffernan,
      played rugby for Cork Constitution rugby club, Munster and Ireland, played 4 times for Ireland,
      [Kickham family tree] says after an Ireland-England rugby match one English press report said: "Heffernan was about the best forward on the Irish team, but what a coarse Christian that Cork man is",
      studied Agriculture at Glasnevin,
      this might be him listed as a lodger in Skibbereen, Co.Cork, in [Census, 1911], "bank official", age 25, born Co.Tipperary,
      emig to Canada shortly before 1914 to take up an offer in banking,
      when WWI broke out 1914, he joined the Canadian Army, posted to Europe, didn’t see much service because of illness, was invalided out,
      he might be "Michael R Heffernan" in [Canadian WWI records], (todo) see record,
      returned to Ireland, and settled at Kilmurry Lodge, Ballyneale, Co.Tipperary, he purchased it (would be c.1920) from the estate of Laurence Kickham (died 1917),
      mar Stastia Morrissey, no issue,
      he joined the Farmers' Party (or Farmers' Union), which was led by Denis Gorey,
      the Farmers' Party first won seats in the June 1922 election,
      he was Farmers' Party TD for Co.Tipperary 1923-32, he was elected in 1923 and June 1927 and Sept 1927,
      he became leader of the Farmers' Party, was leader at the June 1927 election,
      the Farmers' Party joined Cumann na nGaedhael in a coalition government after the Sept 1927 election,
      from 3 Apr 1930 to 29 Jan 1932 he was Parliamentary Secretary to Ernest Blythe, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs,
      he was still leader of the Farmers' Party at the 1932 election, but lost his seat,
      the Farmers' Party re-formed with others as the National Centre Party,
      he played no further role in Irish politics, but remained a constant contributor to the letters page of the Irish Times,
      became the first manager of Arklow Pottery,
      farmed at Kilmurry Lodge for many years,
      eventually sold it and moved to Blackrock, Dublin,
      he organised the plaque to honour Charles Kickham at 2 Montpelier Place, Blackrock,
      he died 21 Nov 1970, age 85 yrs, NOT 1973.

      
      

   4. Dr. Edward Heffernan, OBE,
      Eddie, born 7 July 1889,
      in WWI he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a naval doctor,
      served in China and the West Indies and Malta,
      mar 1916 to Gladys Thrift,
      he was awarded the O.B.E. in WW2 for his services and bravery as PMO (principal medical officer) of Malta Dockyard during the long Siege of Malta (1940-43),
      after World War 2 he retired from the navy,
      took up private practice in Ophthalmology in Croydon, London,
      he died 16 April 1980, age 90 yrs,
      had issue:
      1. Ann Heffernan, born 1918,
         mar --- de Dadelsen and had issue:
         1. Michelle de Dadelsen.

   5. Kathy Heffernan, mar Dr. John Hirst and had issue:
      1. Desiree Hirst [dau].
      2. Michael Hirst, of Paris.

   6. James Heffernan,
      Jim, of Cuckoo Hill,
      mar Eileen Kilvey, no issue,
      he was bloodstock breeder,
      he bred many winners on the track and in the showring,
      he bred Nicolaus Silver, Grand National winner in 1961, and other Gold Cup contestants.

   7. Angela Heffernan, did not marry.

   
   

4. Fr. Thomas Heffernan, born 1847,
   PP of Youghal (RC Diocese of Cloyne), Co.Cork,
   he would be Thomas Heffernan who is listed as curate in RC parish of Dungarvan, Co.Waterford, in [Thom's, 1884],
   he is not listed in [Thom's, 1901], he may have died,
   he is NOT to be confused with Fr. Thomas Heffernan of Co.Kildare who was attached to parishes on the Co.Kildare/Co.Wicklow border in the RC Diocese of Dublin.

   
   

5. Michael Heffernan, J.P., born 1848,
   died 1880, age 32 yrs.