My ancestors - O'Rahilly - Contents

Thomas Francis Rahilly

• References:
  • Tribute to Thomas Francis Rahilly, sitting of Listowel Petty Sessions Feb 1899, by Gerald Mc Elligott, JP.
  • Letter from T.F. Rahilly (age 17) to his brother Richard Rahilly, from Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania, Aug 1866. Was in [Aodogán's papers].

  • Julia O'Rahilly grave, Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. Location: nH 34.5. Go in gate, to left, quite a bit down, down path on right, grave is on left.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Kerry Evening Post, 1st Mar 1899.
  • Kerry Sentinel, 1st Mar 1899.
  • St.Michael's College, Listowel, 1879-1979, co-editor J.Anthony Gaughan, 1979.

   
(Left) Thomas Francis Rahilly, from his mass card.
(Right) Julia Curry, 1901. Prob. in Quinsborough.

Thomas Francis Rahilly,
Tom, born 8th Jan 1849, Ballylongford, Co.Kerry,
NOT educ St.Michael's College, Listowel (founded 1879),
think NOT educ Blackrock College (think both of these are confusion with his son Thomas Francis),
went to seminary in Limerick to study for the priesthood, found had no vocation, left it [O'Rahilly, 1991],
he went to America (where Civil War just over 1865),
wrote letter to his brother Richard Rahilly, from Trout St, Harrisburgh, Pennsylvania, Aug 1866 (him age 17): "My dear old Dick, I am just after getting up after last night's fun. I had a jolly good night at a ball, lots of the handsomest girls I ever saw. .. Many's the time I wished I had you with me here, and many's the time I think over the great smokes we had together. .. I'm entirely my own master NOW. Marlo tried to keep me down but he saw it was no good, so he gives me plenty of pocket money now. I am as happy as a king. .. Half past three I am just after breakfast", he says he is about to have a smoke and an iced champagne "to settle my stomach .. now don't show this letter to Mama or she might write to Marlo about me and then he'd show me the doors. She does not know what a place this is at all and indeed it would not be pleasant to" [tell her],
he does not seem to know that his mother died Jan 1866 and he is now an orphan, his brother Michael Joseph also died Apr 1866,

he worked for few years in Rahilly business in Ballylongford,
then moved to oversee family's business interests in Tarbert, Co.Kerry (an off-shoot of the original business in Ballylongford), he managed a general store and importing business, he is listed as "draper" and "shopkeeper" in [GROI], also became Postmaster for Tarbert,
as importer he supplied the shops of the area, and it was probably on his rounds that he met Julia Curry, daughter of a shop keeper, of Glin, Co.Limerick,
mar 1871 to Julia Curry [born 24th June 1854],
she married at 17, conceived at 17, gave birth to first child at 18, gave birth to 15 children over 26 years, last one just before husband's death, when she was age 44,
eldest child born Glin, Co.Limerick, 1872,
they are listed as living Tarbert, Co.Kerry, 1873 through 1881 (children's births),
the story was he was highly intelligent, likeable, but irresponsible, used drink heavily, got to be real problem,
she was remembered as a very capable, literary person, very competent in keeping family together through her husband's drinking, and after his early death,
she imposed on Richard and on her own family to pay for children's education (those who didn't get scholarships), some of daus educated at convent boarding school, Longford - Richard Rahilly paid for that,
she was "most ambitious for her children, she monitored their school progress, sought advice on what was best for each, and saw to it that they went to select schools" [Gaughan, 1986], strict household, children not allowed to associate with anyone outside the family after school,
she was very pretty, Aodogán said Richard's wife Ellen was constantly annoyed because Richard was always going over to see if she was OK when Tom was drinking,
the story was the business in Tarbert went bust due to Tom's drinking,

Clerk of Petty Sessions, Listowel, 1881-99: the post of Clerk of Petty Sessions in Listowel, Co.Kerry, became vacant 1881, Tom applied for it, and was awarded the post "not least because of the considerable influence exercised on his behalf by Richard" [Gaughan, 1986],
he is listed as Clerk of Petty Sessions at his son Michael Joseph's death, Feb 1881, when still living in Tarbert,
in 1881 he moved to big house, 6 The Square, Listowel, Co.Kerry, he didn't build it, he leased it, the house was church property,
living Listowel, Co.Kerry, 1882 through 1898 (children's births),
listed as Clerk of Petty Sessions, Listowel, in [Thom's] 1883 and 1884,
as a child Alfred remembered Parnell speaking in The Square in Listowel Oct 1891, there was no great excitement in the family, they were "total conformers", Alfred remembered hearing Michael Davitt speaking at that meeting also,
Thomas Francis had a bad drink problem, Anno remembered that "it was a regular chore for her father to get word that Uncle Tom was on the booze again .. would have to drop everything and go off to Listowel to take Tom to a 'drying out' clinic in Roscrea or Mount Mellary" [O'Rahilly, 1991], apparently last time he was in Roscrea he was "cured",
his brother Richard died 1896,
he is still listed as Clerk of Listowel Petty Sessions in Kerry Evening Post, 1 Apr 1896 (after brother's death),
on his deathbed he confessed there was never a day in his life that he did not have an irresistable craving for drink,
he died 6 The Square, shortly before midnight, Sat night, 25th Feb 1899, age 50 yrs, after a short illness,
baby Ena (born Dec 1898) was sick at the same time, Bernadette Griffin was later told by an aunt that Julia asked God to take the baby but not her husband, but her husband said no, he would rather that he died than his daughter Ena,
funeral Mon 27 Feb to Ballylongford, bur "in the family vault in the Abbey",
see newspaper article on his death, part 1 and part 2,
Richard and Tom both now dead, Julia left a widow with 13 children, age 0 to 26,
who paid school and university fees after this?, did Richard's widow Ellen help?,

Julia continued living Listowel, apparently 6 The Square,
though "William McElligott" is listed as head of household in 6 The Square, Listowel, in [Census, 1901], (todo) see entry,
[Gaughan, 1986] says Julia lived 6 The Square, Listowel until 1906,
she left Listowel, went to Dublin, think 1906, think NOT 1909,
she lived 66 Botanic Rd, Glasnevin (NOT 68 Botanic Ave), listed there in [Thom's, 1909],
see entry at 66 Botanic Rd, Glasnevin, in [Census, 2 April 1911], she is still listed as "Rahilly", though son T.F. is now using "O'Rahilly",
spent last couple of years in nursing home,
her address on grave record is 10 Marguerite Road, off Botanic Rd, Glasnevin,
listed as "O'Rahilly" in grave record,
died 18th July 1928, Dublin, age 74 yrs [mass card], [grave], [grave record],
bur Glasnevin Cemetery,
had issue:

1. Margaret Mary O'Rahilly,
   Gretta, born Margaret Mary Rahilly, 12th Sept 1872, Glin, Co.Limerick (her mother's homeplace) [GROI],
   nun, "Sr. Anthony", Sisters of Mercy,
   professed 1899,
   she was in Sisters of Mercy convent of St.Mary of the Isle (or St Marie's of the Isle), Sharman Crawford St, Cork,
   see entry in Sisters of Mercy convent, 12 Titton St, Cork, in [Census, 1911], she is listed as "Sister M. Anthony Rahilly", "primary teacher",
   died 26th Jan 1921, age 48 yrs.

   
   

2. Michael Joseph Rahilly,
   after grandfather,
   born 26th Nov 1873, Tarbert, Co.Kerry [GROI],
   a child prodigy, it was said he was "the cleverest of them all" in this talented family,
   at age no more than 7 he would memorise 3 or 4 pages from the Bible, stand up on table, reciting them,
   neighbours would come to the Rahilly home to witness his extraordinary prowess,
   he died 21st Feb 1881, Tarbert, Co.Kerry, age 7 yrs, of hydrocephalus (water on the brain) [GROI].

   
   

3. Florence O'Rahilly,
   born 20th July 1875, Tarbert, Co.Kerry,
   teacher, artist, did paintings with water colours,
   will dated 1940,
   her address on grave record is 17 Raglan Rd, Dublin,
   died unmarried, 16 Dec 1949 [grave record], age 74 yrs.
   (todo) see death of Florence O'Rahilly, Dublin South, 1949 4th qr, [GROI] vol 2 p 299,
   bur Glasnevin Cemetery.

   
   

4. Richard Henry O'Rahilly,
   Dick, born Richard Henry Rahilly, 17th June 1877, Tarbert, Co.Kerry [GROI],
   given job of Clerk of the Petty Sessions, Listowel, Co.Kerry, after his father died 1899, to help support the family,
   he was appointed immediately on his father's death in Feb 1899, see newspaper article part 1 and part 2,
   listed as Clerk of Petty Sessions, Listowel, in [Thom's, 1901] to [Thom's, 1904],
   mar Frances Walker,
   (todo) see mar of Richard H Rahilly and Frances Walker, Killarney, 1st qr 1902, [GROI] vol 5 p 229,
   there was some "scandal",
   he went off to New York,
   journalist, cartoonist in New York,
   apparently she didn't want to go to US, and they separated,
   he left the Catholic church for most of his life, came back just before he died, his brother Alfred involved in that, went over to US to see him,
   he died 1940s, prob. in US, [Fitzelle, 1986] says died c.1945,
   Ronan O'Rahilly thought he died 29 Sept 1969,
   had issue:
   1. Doreen O'Rahilly,
      think NOT "Delorase" (though possibly "Dolores"),
      listed as "Dorothy" at her husband's death,
      (todo) see birth of Dorothy Dolores Rahilly, Listowel, 3rd qr 1904, [GROI] vol 5 p 357,
      educ at school in France, think Paris,
      mar Vaughan Dempsey.

   
   

5. Teresa Rahilly,
   born 28th June 1879, Tarbert, Co.Kerry [GROI],
   died 10th Apr 1880, Tarbert, Co.Kerry, age 9 months, of whooping cough [GROI].

6. Teresa O'Rahilly (second Teresa),
   Tessie, born 28th Jan 1881, Tarbert, Co.Kerry,
   nun, "Sr. Walburga", Sisters of Mercy, convent of St.Mary of the Isle (with her older sister Gretta), Cork,
   professed 1906,
   can't see her in [Census, 1911],
   teaching all her life in Cork,
   died 27th Jun 1943, age 62 yrs.

   
   

7. T.F. O'Rahilly,
   Prof. Thomas Francis O'Rahilly, the celebrated Celtic scholar,
   born Thomas Francis Rahilly, 11th Nov 1882, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
   later known as Tomás Ó Rathaille, "Tomás Ó Rathile" on grave,
   known to family as "Frank".

   
   

8. Alfred O'Rahilly,
   born Alfred Rahilly, 19th Sept 1884, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
   bapt 21st Sept 1884 [Gaughan, 1986],
   later Alfred Joseph (confirmation name) Rahilly.

   
   

9. Mary Josephine O'Rahilly,
   May, born 2nd May 1887, family home, 6 The Square, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
   nun, "Sr. Antonia", Order of Notre Dame de Namur,
   professed 1910,
   "Sr. Mary Antonia", in Liverpool,
   died 1968, age 81 yrs, not found in [GRO.UK] 1968.

10. Julia O'Rahilly,
    Sheila, "Birdie", born 4th Jan 1889, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
    mar Ernest Mc Creanor [or Mac Creanor, of Dublin], no issue,
    they lived on N side of Dublin,
    "Mr. and Mrs. MacCreenor" listed at funeral of Gerald Griffin 1932,
    "Mrs. Sheela MacCreanor" listed at funeral of Dominic Mangan 1936,
    she died 12th Aug 1948, age 59 yrs.

11. Agnes O'Rahilly,
    born 30th Sept 1891, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
    nun, "Sr. Julie", Irish Sisters of Charity, Merrion Gates, Dublin,
    professed 1915,
    died 22nd Dec 1982, age 91 yrs.

    
    

12. Constance O'Rahilly,
    Connie, born 25th Nov 1893, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
    mar 1925, France, to Gaston Rafroidi [born 1897] and had issue.

    
    

13. Dr. Cecile O'Rahilly, the Celtic scholar,
    Sisile Ni Raithile, born 17th Dec 1894, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
    listed as "Cecilia" in 1911 census,
    educ Dominican Convent, Dublin,
    educ UCD, BA 1915 with double 1st class hons in Celtic Studies and French,
    educ University College of North Wales, Bangor (she won a Travelling Studentship in Celtic Studies to study there), received MA 1919, fluent in Irish, French and Welsh,
    French teacher at Beaumaris Grammar School (secondary school), Anglesea, NE Wales, 1919 to 1928,
    edited Tóruigheacht Gruaidhe Griansholus : The Pursuit of Gruaidh Ghriansholus (part of the Ulster Cycle), 1922,
    author of Ireland and Wales, their historical and literary relations, 1924,
    French teacher at Cardiff High School for Girls (secondary school), Wales, 1928 to 1946, "Modern Languages Mistress",
    returned to Dublin 1946,
    Assistant Professor (possibly later full Prof.) at School of Celtic Studies at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (initially under her brother T.F.) from 1946 until she retired 1964,
    (todo) see letters of appointment to DIAS (including her CV), 1945-46, [NAI], Department of the Taoiseach, Cabinet s 12504, DIAS file,
    D.Litt. Celt.,
    edited Eachtra Uilliam / An Irish Version of William of Palerne, DIAS, 1949 (medieval Irish version of the Werewolf legend),
    edited Five Seventeenth Century Political Poems, DIAS, 1952, repub 1977,
    edited Trompa na bhFlaitheas, DIAS, 1955,
    listed as Assistant Professor at DIAS 1956,
    her life's work was a translation of the Tain Bo Cuailgne, the central story in the Ulster Cycle, in 4 vols, 1961, 1967, 1976, and another posthumously,
    retired from DIAS 1964, continued to publish into her 80s,
    never married, lived with her companion Miss Myfanwy Williams,
    died 2nd May 1980, age 85 yrs,
    see obituary in Irish Times 14th May 1980,
    see obituary by Brian Ó Cuív in Celtica journal vol.13, 1980, pp. 201-203.
    Celtica journal produced a memorial volume for her, vol.15, 1983.

    
    

14. Michael Anthony O'Rahilly,
    born 5th Jan 1897, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
    not listed with family in 1911 census, perhaps at boarding school,
    priest, Cistercian Order,
    "Fr. Aloysius" of Mount St.Joseph's Abbey, Roscrea, Co.Tipperary,
    think [Bourke, 1967] lists him as "Albert",
    died 1st May 1968, age 71 yrs, St.Michael's Nursing Home, Dun Laoghaire [GROI].

    
    

15. Ena O'Rahilly,
    born Christiana Ursula Rahilly, 2nd Dec 1898, Listowel, Co.Kerry,
    "Christina Ursula" on death cert, her dau Bernadette knew her as Christina,
    listed as Christina in 1911 census and on grave,
    mar Patrick Griffin and had issue.

Cróine thinks these might be some of the Listowel cousins.
Dublin photographer.
See larger and full size.

Cróine thinks these might be some of the Listowel cousins.
Limerick photographer.
See larger and full size.

Julia O'Rahilly grave, Glasnevin.
This is also the grave of T.F. O'Rahilly.
Photo 2010. Courtesy of Peter Lyon.
See larger and full size.
See wider shot and shot from back showing location.
See close-up of top and middle and bottom.