Margaret Hennessy, Moy Cumann na mBan
Margaret Hennessy was born 21st February 1891, in Cloneyogan, Lahinch, to Michael and Bridget Hennessy, older sister to Comdt. Séamus and Vol. William Hennessy 4th Battalion. She was an active member of Moy Cumann na mBan and Conradh na Gaeilge. This image is taken from a larger group photograph of Máigh branch Conradh na Gaeilge at Moy National School in 1917. Margaret married Thomas Curtin from Leeds, Miltown Malbay, in Moy Church on the 17th February 1920. They had one daughter Bridget (born 18th January 1921) before Margaret’s untimely death just prior to the Civil War aged 31 on the 6th June 1922. Margaret was reportedly thrown from a horse and cart and died with her unborn child from her injuries a couple of days later. Below Margaret’s funeral is reported in The Clare Champion.
26th June 1922
Death and Funeral of
MRS THOMAS CURTIN
Leeds, Miltown Malbay.
The Death of Mrs Margaret Curtin wife of Mr. Thomas Curtin Leeds, Miltown Malbay, has evoked feelings of widespread sorrow and regret throughout East and West Clare. Her death on June 12th at a young age, and after a brief illness of two days, was quite sudden and unexpected and came as a terrible shock to her husband, parents and relatives and the general sympathy of the people goes forth to them in their great bereavement.
The deceased was a member of a most respectable family, and was of a gentle and unobtrusive nature. She had a beautiful charm of manner, which won for her a large circle of friends. Her open hearted, gentle, and amiable disposition endeared her to all with whom she came in contact.
She was an ardent supporter of the Gaelic League movement and during the Reign of Terror always gave a helping hand to Volunteers on the run. Her ardent hope was an unfettered Ireland, and to think that her life should be out off in the very bloom of womanhood and at the comparatively young age of 30 years, when the realization of her hopes were dawning, is extremely sad and painful. Her life was an exemplary one, and she bore her short Illness with a truly Christian, edifying spirit, solely resigned to God’s holy will.
Dr. Hillary, Miltown, and Dr. Daly, Kilmihill, were in constant attendance, and though they knew life would be short and that her soul would soon to pass away to its eternal reward, they did all that was human to console her in her last dying hours.
Father O'Mulloy, C.C., administered the last rites of the Church, and also officiated at the graveside.
The funeral, which took place from the Catholic Church, Miltown Malbay, to the family burial place at Kilfarboy was most impressive and afforded a remarkable manifestation of the high regard in which deceased was held.
The chief mourners were—Thomas Curtin (husband), Michael and Mrs. Hennessy (parents), Capt. Jas. Hennessy, O.C. Executive Forces, Ennis, Clare Castle and Ballynacally Barracks, Pat, William, Michael and Austin (brothers), Mrs. O'Neill and Annie Hennessy (sisters), Michael Curtin (father-in-law), Mrs. Curtin (mother-in-law), Pat Curtin and Thos. O'Neill (brothers-in-law), Mrs. P. Hennessy sister- in-law), Mrs. J. Devitt, Moher, Mrs. J. O'Neill, Mrs. C. Collins, and Mrs. J. Devitt, Moy (aunts). John and Jim Devitt (uncles), Bridie an Mary Hennessy (nieces), John and Jim Devitt, Bridie and Mary Hennessy, Mrs. J .Leyden. Mrs. Dixon. Mrs. P. Canny, Mrs. A.Clancy, Miss. M. Devitt, Mrs., J. Vaughan. James, William, Mira, Bessie, and Kathleen Sullivan, Lizzie and Norah Curtin, Mary Barry, National Teachers; Kate Barry, Bridget Barry, Mrs. Ml. Cleary, Mary Clancy, Mrs. C. Killeen, Mrs. Devitt. Winnie Devitt, Mrs. Barrington, John O'Brien. Margaret O'Brien, Pat and Thomas Shannon, Norah and Molly Egan, and Delia Vaughan (cousins), etc... Etc.
Officers and men of the Forces present—
Staff Officers of 1st W. Div., Executive Forces—Col. Commdt. P. O'Loughlin, Col. Commdt-. J, Barret. Col. Commdt. Eamon Corbett, Col. Commdt. W. Shannon. Col. Commdt. J. Monaghan, Col. Commdt, Michael Vaughan, Col. Commdt. J. Vaughan, Brig. Gen. Sean O'Keeffe, Brig. Adj J. J. Clohessy, Brig.Q.M P. McNamara, Commdt. Con McMahon, Commdt. Con Fogarty. Tuam; T. Gardiner, D.I., Commdt, H. Malone. Staff Capts. P. Thynne, John Burke, J McMahon, D McMahon, Murty Hynes and Michael Curtin.
Ennis No, 1 Barracks (Executive forces—Capts Cotter and Gallagher, Cadet J. McGuire. Sergt. A. Cooney, and Volunteer T. O'Leary.
Clare Castle Barracks (Executive Forces, Cadet F Mee, O.C. and Vol. P Ryan.
Ballynacally Barracks (Executive Forces )— Cadet P. Kerin. O.C., Coy. Capt., J. McNamara, Sergt, D. Kennedy, Volunteers J Nagle and J McNamara.
Miltown Malbay Barracks(Executive Forces)---Cadet. M. Barrett, O.C. Captain W. Carroll, Volunteers J O Dwyer, P Gallagher , J Mee, P O Halloran, T. Considine, T Harte, and P Lougherie.
G. H. Q. Forces — Vice-Brigade Commdt. E. Lynch, Capts Frawley, Murray and Malone.
A number of wreaths beautifully inscribed and bearing pathetic references were sent by the following: — '
From brothers and sisters, Staff Officers 1st W. Div.,, Ex. forces, Staff Officers Mid-CIare Brig, Ex. Forces, and from the officers and men of Ennis and Clare Castle Barracks, Ex Forces.
The attendance at the funeral was so great that any attempt to give an adequate list of names would prove futile. Suffice to state that it was of extraordinary dimensions, and the largest seen passing through the town for several years.