Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Aodogán O'Rahilly,
A story he recalled
in [O'Rahilly, 1991]
was shortly before the Howth gun-running
in July 1914
that his father organised.
Aodogán age 9, left at Portmarnock, Co.Dublin, with brothers and
Humphreys cousins.
There was an outing of
Baden-Powell
boy scouts there, flying a Union Jack.
"we watched our chance and, when there was no one around, we rushed in and removed the flag
which we either buried or burnt".
A famous family story is when he was offered cakes by
Aunt Anno.
Children were supposed to take the worst, smallest cake,
and leave the big ones for others.
Aodogán immediately goes for biggest cake of all.
Anno scolds him,
"Why did you take the best one?"
"Well", says Aodogán, "wouldn't I be a fool if I didn't?"
This became a phrase in the Humphreys family
(generally approving of Aodogán).
Aodogán's father
The O'Rahilly
was killed fighting in 1916 Rising.
He was
educ Mount St Benedict, Gorey, Co.Wexford, there as at 1918-19.
He
fought on Republican side in
Civil War 1922.
He was educ UCD,
missed a year due to taking part in Civil War.
BSc 1925, BE 1926,
1st class hons in Mech and Electrical Eng.
Engineer, businessman.
He
went into business 1929 making roofing tiles.
Established the Weatherwell Tile factory.
He ran for the Dail for Fianna Fail in
Dublin South
in the
1932 election.
Not elected.
|
He
mar 30 Jan 1934 to Marion O'Connor
[Irish-American,
born 10 Oct 1905,
born in US, poss. Philadelphia].
She was dau of Michael Joseph O'Connor, of the area of Drumhierny, near Leitrim village, Co.Leitrim. He emigrated to New York as a boy. The story is he was caught poaching at the local manor, Drumhierny Lodge, said would come back and buy it, and he did. Drumhierny Lodge is now derelict. See [Irish Country Houses]. |
In 1936,
Aodogán
built Mooreen,
a large house on grounds
in Clondalkin, Co.Dublin.
He
lived there the rest of his life.
Aodogán was a highly
successful businessman,
extensive interests in manufacturing and shipping.
He helped develop
peat
production
in Ireland.
He
served on Board of Directors of
Bord na Móna
(formerly the Turf Development Board)
from 1936 to 1974.
The original state interest in peat had begun in 1933.
Turf Development Board established 1936.
Aodogán was not a co-founder, rather he was brought in as a Director early on.
He is listed as of Weatherwell Tile Factory in
[Thom's, 1939, p.1558].
And in
[Thom's, 1945, p.1286].
Peat became very important in WW2,
when lack of shipping
meant Ireland had to produce its own energy.
Bord na Móna
established as a statutory body 1946.
He went to
Soviet Union
in 1950s to advise them on
peat production.
He was appointed by
De Valera
to University Commission c.1957/58.
In the minority report
he proposed that UCD (then in the city centre)
should merge with
TCD to form a single non-sectarian university.
He was personally denounced for this in Lenten Pastoral by
Archbishop McQuaid.
See Irish Times
18 Dec 1999.
Chairman of Bord na Móna 1959 to 1974.
In 1959 he bought and revived
Greenore Port,
Co.Louth (on Carlingford Lough, opposite NI).
He
formed Greenore Ferry Services
(Director, Greenore Ferry Services Ltd).
He
planted one of the largest modern private forestry plantations in Ireland.
The Taoiseach
Sean Lemass
sent Marion a telegram of condolence when her father died 1961.
See
[NAI]
s 16768B/61.
Aodogán
received Hon D.Litt. from NUI
for contribution to industry and business.
This was 4 Apr 1974 apparently according to
[P106/309],
NOT 1972.
He retired from Bord na Móna 1974.
He handed back his honorary Doctorate in 1984 in
protest at the awarding of an honorary Doctorate by UCG to
U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
See
item
in
Irish Times,
June 4, 1984.
Aodogán
was energetic and positive into old age.
He
wrote a biography of his father, 1991,
age 86 yrs.
He was wonderfully positive
about my family tree work.
He said to me when I finally presented him with my first O'Rahilly tree in 1991:
"It looks like my father's work hasn't been lost
after all".
He
presented O'Rahilly papers to
[UCD] 1991, indexed 1993.
Aodogán
and Marion celebrated 60th wedding anniversary Jan 1994.
Marion dies, 1994:
She died at home in Mooreen, Wed 14 Sept 1994, age 88 yrs.
Funeral Sat 17 Sept 1994, bur Esker cemetery, Lucan.
Aodogán
lived Mooreen to death.
Aodogán dies, 2000:
He died Wed 31 May 2000, age 95 yrs, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin.
Funeral Sat 3 June 2000, bur Esker cemetery, Lucan.
Aodogán
and Marion
had issue:
The candidates in Dublin South in the 1932 election.
Aodogán is "Eoghan O'Rahilly".
From
Irish Press, 12 February, 1932.
First count in Dublin South in 1932 election.
Aodogán ("E. O'Rahilly") did not get elected.
From
Irish Press, 19 February, 1932.
Drumhierny Lodge, Co.Leitrim, on
1887 to 1913 map.
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