Two stories from St. Joseph's Cemetery, Co. Cork скачать в хорошем качестве

Two stories from St. Joseph's Cemetery, Co. Cork

Intro music courtesy of Jory Nash www.jorynash.com Jeremiah O Callaghan The tragic (and heroic) incident took place in the early evening of 30th September at Killmalock Train Station - once a stop on the Cork-Dublin line. The 6.15pm Cork train was coming from Dublin and was about 10 minutes away. Jeremiah had crossed the line to the 'down' platform, waiting for the train to Cork with his friend 'Mr. Barrett'. Shortly after, an 'old woman' Anne Ryan proceeded to cross the line as the train reached the bridge. Accounts of the subsequent inquest tell what happened next: Barrett: "We shouted and beckoned at her to go back. Jeremiah jumped from my side, met her with both hands to throw her back on the 6-foot rail" "She staggered from the force of the shove, and fell across the rails; the engine was coming on". James Ellard, the Fireman aboard the train: "...I observed the woman she was on her back; the next thing I saw was Mr. O'Callaghan lifting her off; I went to fly the hand brake". Thomas Murphy, the engine driver: "I could do no more to save them if they were my own children". Anne Ryan is described as an 'old woman' despite being around 45 years old. She may have been deaf and was an apple seller from Charleville. Drs Sheehy and Downes were called to the scene but little could be done for either of the injured. Following a funeral mass at the South Chapel, the extensive cortege made its way to "The Botanics". "Citizens of all creeds and concerts...without distinction, united in honouring their heroic fellow citizen". In a matter of days, a meeting was held to offer sympathies to the O'Callaghan family and quickly a fund is established to erect a fitting monument. There is no indication if such a fund was established for the other victim, Anne Ryan, or her family. Thomas Crosbie of the Cork Examiner noted "it was really one of the saddest incidents he could remember, but besides this it was noble". The memorial fund ultimately raised £926 16s and the job of constructing the memorial was taken on by JF Davis, College Road. Nicholas Ellis Born in 1840, Nicholas Ellis went to the United States in the autumn of 1860 and settled in Louisville Kentucky but by October he had enlisted with Co C 20th KY Infantry, USA at Lexington for a period of 3 years. Pvt Ellis was mustered into service in January 1862 and within 3 months he would be a veteran of the fighting at Shiloh, TN. By this time he had been promoted to the rank of corporal. Following Shiloh, Cpl Ellis and his fellow soldiers from KY would go on to see some of the fiercest fighting in the Western Theatre and as part of General Sherman's Army, 1864 saw the 20th KY present at places like Dallas, New Hope Church, Kennesaw, besieging Atlanta and Jonesboro. During this time, Nicholas would be raised to the rank of 1st Sergeant and in September he and his comrades were ordered back to Louisville where they saw out the remainder of their term of service on various guard duty assignments. The regiment was mustered out of service in mid-January 1865. Upon discharge, it was noted that "1st Sgt Ellis was a good, brave and model soldier with an excellent character". With his service to his adopted country ended, Sgt Ellis turned his attention, like many other Irishmen, to his native land and her quest for freedom from British rule. When the Fenians invaded Canada, Sgt Ellis was part of the 17th Regiment Irish Republican Army, and unfortunately this was repulsed quickly and the Cork native made it back to his home city still determined to help the cause of Irish independence. In March 1867, a column of nearly 200 men-Nicholas Ellis among them- approached the village of Ballyknockane, between Cork and Mallow, with the intention of taking the cache of arms and ammunition from the RIC Barracks. The officer commanding the column, another WBTS veteran under the alias Capt Mackay (real name: William F Lomasney, born in Ohio of Irish parentage), order the police constables to surrender but his request was met by a fuselage of fire, inflicting a number of casualties. One of these, John Coughlan was a relation of Nicholas Ellis' fiancé and on seeing him injured, Nicholas dragged him to safety and escape. Following this Nicholas seems to have turned his efforts to the political way and became an active supporter of the Home Rule Party and, later, Parnell. Nicholas married Mary Coughlan in 1869 and became a very successful and well known stonecutter in Cork. In December 1904, he was noted as being present along with other members of the G.A.R. at the funeral of William Regan 82nd NY Infantry USA who was murdered #death#cemetery#civilwar