Golden Jubilee of Fr. Leo Shea

Fr. Leo Shea was ordained in New York in June 1966, and fifty years later he returned to Ireland to celebrate his Golden Jubilee. A ton load of advance planning came to fruition in August 2016 as 41 of Leo's relations from the United States arrived to celebrate with their Irish cousins. For some, it was their first visit to their ancestral base in counties Limerick and Waterford.

Here in County Waterford, the occasion kicked off with the Magical Mystery Bus Tour on Friday, 12th of August. It was an emotional rollercoaster for many, rolling back the years through Knockboy, Barrnashinane, Fourmilewater, Melleray, Glencairn, Lismore and Killishal. Family history jumped out over every ditch, townland and homestead. Stories told brought this history alive.

Later that evening a social gathering at The Local in Dungarvan provided an opportunity to continue these stories. Many of the cousins from Killishal joined with them to the background of wonderful Irish music. I think that I would not be doing an injustice to the music by mentioning that it really was not the focus of the evening, because our American cousins really just wanted to meet with us, share their stories and hear ours. Of particular interest was the fact that the younger generations met for the very first time, and ensured that the Hurley History would continue, for the first time via social media.

Ballinameela Church, Saturday 13th August 2016

On Saturday, 13th August, a very special mass was celebrated in Ballinameela church to mark Leo's 50 years. Very special also was that his sister Maureen and her husband John celebrated their Golden Jubilee on that very day. Once again, the Irish cousins arrived from all corners of West Waterford and beyond to be together with their cousins from across the Atlantic.

Later, everyone retired to Lawlors hotel in Dungarvan for a celebratory meal and reception. Traditional music was provided by "Glothach", and an evening of cultural exchange followed until midnight. Many of the over 30's retired after a long day, whereas for others the nightclub scene in Dungarvan was the scene of the after-party.

"We arrived at Lawlors Hotel earlier than expected and there was nowhere to go but the bar. Not a problem for this crew. Soon the room was filled with smiling faces and the din of many warm conversations. Then Father Leo arrived - the man of the hour. While the ties of blood and marriage connected us, it was Father Leo who united us. Over the course of the reunion, I heard this sentiment echoed by all. As such, a sense of gratitude for the unerring direction of our cousin's "compass" pervaded the gathering. 

The crowd drifted into the banquet hall and the Irish family began to show their American relatives how to celebrate Irish style. The family gamely overcame the afternoon's disappointment on the hurling pitch, and joined in song and dance. From the Shines' broom dance to the musical multi-talented Walshes to those memorable waltz lessons, it was an evening to remember. And, lest we forget, how about that American rendition of "When Irish Eyes are Smiling?" (Actually, it might be best if we do forget that). But the thought was a good one, and perhaps the song provides the best description of the Americans' feelings upon meeting their warm and welcoming Irish relatives: "When Irish hearts are happy / All the world seems bright and gay / And when Irish eyes are smiling / Sure, they steal your heart away." 

Some family history

To be updated asap...

Killishal and The Mill c. 1898

Johanna Walsh (Christmas 1900)

Mary Hurley Shea

Mementos of Weekend

Names of US Cousins in Attendance

• Fr. Leo Shea
• Maureen Dolan
• John Dolan
• to be completed asap

Links to other weekend family stories:

• The Mill Key
• Bus Tour Friday
• Fr. Leo's account of the West Waterford Experience
• Link to online digital archive: Hurley grave, Ballinameela. Thanks to Eddie Cantwell
• Photographs Saturday August 13th, 2016

Garden 2016

Flickr Garden 2016

The Mill Key

The mill at Killishal, (also spelt Killeeshal in the ordnance survey maps, grid reference X 192 956 ); was in existence from 1800 onwards. The mill probably predates that time. Earliest memories say, it was known as Maura Cashin’s Mill. Maurice Hurley, a farmer from Canty, married Mary Cashin, and they worked the mill. They were the parents of Michael Hurley (1829 – 1888). His grave stone is outside Ballinameela Church, facing the main entrance. The mill was fed by a stream known as the Douglas River. This stream was augmented by a water supply from the Finisk River. A man-made channel was dug via the lakes just one km north west of the mill site (north of N72 road). This canal has since fallen into disrepair.

The mill ground wheat, barley and oats for farmers, within a ten miles radius. The grain was roasted and also milled. The charge included payment of money, and a gift of ‘moonshine’, (‘one gallon of mountain dew, 190 proof’).  Anthony Hurley (1882 – 1969), (son of Michael), of Revere, Mass. USA, left a hand written description and sketch of the mill. In this, he describes the operation and billing system.  He stopped working there in 1910, and left for the USA, in about 1913. Milling ceased in Killishal in 1915.  There was a fire in the mill, and also the management of it (collection of monies owed, etc) was not the best.

In the mid 1950’s, during a visit to Killishal, to see the Shines, Dick Lincoln (great grandson of Michael Hurley 1829-1888), found the key to the mill, within its ruins. Sham Shine (the then owner of the mill) said, ‘keep the key’. Dick cleaned and painted it, and hung it on the wall at home in Tig Álainn, Ardmore.  Anthony Hurley, on a return visit to Ireland in about 1965, saw the key, and was excited at the find. Was it the key to the mill in Killishal?

He described cutting the hole (or gash) in the key, as a young man. He cut it so as to fashion it into a gun. Many pigeons gathered near the mill, to scavenge for loose grain.  During long periods of tending to the kiln fire roasting the grains, he shot the pigeons, and roasted them on the kiln fire, for eating. He described stuffing the key with gunpowder, and filling the front open-end with lead shot. He then lit a match to the hole he had cut in the key; and bang! a dead pigeon.

The key travelled to USA for about five years, so that Anthony could show it to his old friends there. Then his son Tony returned the key safely back to Ireland, as promised, following Anthony senior’s death.  

The key measures 14.5cm long. The internal barrel is 1.5cm in diameter. The internal depth of the barrel is 6.5cm. It weighs 190 grams.

as reported by Dick Lincoln Aug 2016. Picture to follow