Our Mayo Families : April 2014

THOMAS WALSH 1869 - 1953

son of John WALSH and Bridget GARVIN

The following was written by Tom’s cousin John J. Walsh* and given to Kathleen Walsh Lincoln in 1953.

THOMAS WALSH

His name was Thomas Walsh,
A member of a famous Irish clan,
And he left his home in Leedian,                       Cloonaleedin, townland where Thomas was born
Not far from Ballinglen.                                      A river near Ballycastle, County Mayo

He was like all the Irish,
Persecuted by the British Crown,
They grabbed their land and cattle too,
And kept the natives down.

He left his home in Kilfian,                               The local parish, both religious & civil
Not far from Old Tonroe,                              Tonroe - townland in an adjacent parish
And he sailed away from Ireland,
And the County of Mayo.

He sailed from Cork in Munster,                     Munster one of four Ireland provinces. Mayo is in
With a friend named Pat McHale                        Connacht, their function now is historical
And they landed in the Isle of Ellis,
Far away from Granuaile.                                Irish Pirate Queen born County Mayo, contemporary of
                                                                            Queen Elizabeth I
Tom went to work in a navy yard,
Way down in Newport News, Virginia.
And he did his work so skillfully,
He soon got a increase in pay.

From Newport News, Tom went to Frostburg,
And thence to the University of Morgantown.
He studied mining in all its scopes,
And won a certificate of renown.

He worked the mines of both Virginias,
He installed many safety devices therein.
As he was trained to measure gas and air,
It was for the safety of the men.

And with this wondrous knowledge
Of the canyons in the ground,
It was said of the safety measures he installed,
No better could be found.

After many years of mining,
Over thirty years or more.
Tom decided to come up for air.
And he opened a grocery store.

He served his friends and neighbors,
With brands that were the best.
He felt at ease in doing so
And felt happy for the rest.

He had a very fine family.
That took pride in what he had done,
And they miss him now above all,
At the setting of his sun.

Now Tom has gone to his reward,
And he is looking down with pride.
On the safety measures he installed
Without which many would have died.

John J. WALSH - Kate Walsh Lincoln referred to him as cousin of her father. John lived in Astoria, New York, USA. Kate did say he had five sons and one daughter. She did not elaborate the relationship.   I attempted to contact John or his family in the 1980’s at a address furnished by Aunt Kate. My letters were returned unopened.

Is anyone in contact with the family of John WALSH? He would be the grandson of Martin WALSH.

Some photographs of Our WALSH Families of County Mayo

John WALSH (1842 - 1914) and Bridget GARVIN (1845 - ) of Cloonaleedin were the parents of ten children. Below are photos of their eldest and youngest sons and their families. These are the only photographs I have of the WALSH/GARVIN family. Hopefully, with this blog, we can make contact with the remaining children of John and Bridget and the children of John's father Martin WALSH and his wife Mary PEACE.

THOMAS WALSH

Thomas WALSH, the eldest child, 1867 - 1953

Thomas immigrated in the mid 1890’s to the U.S.. His immigration has as yet been discovered. Tom was a coal miner and later a mine supervisor in West Virginia, U.S.A. He never returned to Ireland.

His wife, Anna Maria DONNELLY 1874 - 1946

THEIR CHILDREN:

1. John Patrick WALSH 1902-1985

John joined his father in the mines at a young age. He later moved to Baltimore, Maryland, USA for the remainder of his life, married with two children.

2. Kathleen “Kate” Maria WALSH 1903-1996

Kate married and had no children. She resided in northern Virginia.

3. Francis Joseph “Joe” WALSH 1904-1991

Joe worked in Washington, D.C. as a police officer and later security at National Geographic Magazine. Never married.

4. Thomas “Tom” Leo WALSH 1905-1983

Tom served in the U.S. Army during WWII, was a policeman in West Virginia, married, no children.

5. Helena “Lena” Evelyn WALSH 1907-1988

Lena married and had one son. She lived in northern Virginia and Maryland.

6. Martin “Mart” Martin WALSH 1908-1999

Mart served in the U.S. Navy during WWII stationed in the South Pacific. He lived for many years in southern Maryland and then moved to Florida Mart was married, no children.

7. Elizabeth Ann WALSH 1910 - 1994

Elizabeth was a nurse in the U.S. Navy. During WWII she was stationed in
the south Pacific. After marriage to a naval officer she lived in Japan and San Diego, California prior to his retirement. No children.

8. Margaret Aileen WALSH 1912 - 1998

Margaret married and had one daughter. She lived most of her adult life in Washington, D.C. and southern Maryland.

9. Mary Ellen WALSH 1917 - 1997

Mary married and had four children. Her family moved to New Mexico, U.S. where she lived until her death.

10. Agnes Josephine WALSH 1917 - 1992

Aggie was an artist, married and had three children. She was the only child that never moved from the area where the family was raised.

ANTHONY JOSEPH WALSH

Anthony Joseph WALSH, the tenth and youngest child, 1887 - 1938

Anthony was a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary (R.I.C.) stationed in Fenagh, Co. Leitrim. He was forced out of the R.I.C. during the troubles. Apparently he was not a farmer and sold, then returned to Fenagh c1924. He bought the old police barracks. It had partially destroyed during the fighting. It was converted into a family home with 6 acres of land. At Anthony’s death he would have been a resident of England as he was working there as were some of his children. He was hit by a motorbike after alighting from a bus.

His wife Linda QUIN 1889 - 1983

THEIR CHILDREN:

1. John Louis WALSH 1915-1983

Louis was married and had nine or ten children. He worked in England before the war. On returning to Ireland joined the Army and was stationed in Athlone for many years.

2. Margaret Adelaide “Addie” WALSH 1916-2009

Addie married and had three children. She was in nursing school in England. Addie immigrated to Western Australia in 1950 where she remained until her death.

of her life

3. Michael Alexander WALSH 1917-2008

Michael was married and had four children. He spent most of his life in Liverpool, never returning to live in Ireland. He died in Liverpool. U.K.

4. Thomas Frederick WALSH 1918-1983

Thomas had a farm near Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. He married and had five children. His children went to USA to work, a daughter remained and now lives in New York State.

5. Florence “Sister Florence” WALSH 1920-2001

Known as Flossie or Sister Florence. She worked in USA during the 1950`s. On returning she became a nun in the Medical Missionaries of Mary at Drogheda. She was involved in nursing. A great character.

6. Marion WALSH