Faith of our Fathers: West Waterford Bus Tour

August 12th, 2016: Our bus tour began in Dungarvan at the Park Hotel.

Kay nee Hurley McCann, Michael's mom and Anthony Hurley "Tony", Michael's uncle, had visited these places in the past. We were actually walking and touring our Irish family heritage trail. We were viewing and visiting the Irish hills and valleys and lovely rivers and streams which our ancestors walked and crossed "long ago".

Knock boy Cemetery: First stop was Knockboy Cemetery were Michael McCann's ancestors are buried. This church was built around 1700s. The ruins of the church is still standing. The thatched roof is gone. Local people perhaps worshipped here for centuries before these ruins were built. There are Ogham stones in the church building. (Look up Ogham stones of Ireland. Google says "the earliest inscriptions in Ogham date to about the the century AD.") One Ogham stone was standing in the corner of the church. I saw two Ogham stones in the construction. One Ogham stone was the support for the door we entered.

Fourmilewater Church: Helena nee Walsh Burke and her sister Noirin nee Walsh Kelly welcomed us and explained how they practiced their faith here. This church is where Johanna Walsh, Michael McCann's great grand mother and his great grand father Michael Hurley were married on February 21, 1871. (Most likely Michael McCann was named after him.) From 1830s and 1840s Johanna Walsh and her siblings were baptized in this church. She was born three miles away in the farm house in Barrranshinane, Ballymacarbry, County Waterford. For the last 150 years, Walsh and Hallinan family members are now buried in the Fourmilewater Church grave yard. They are our family. (Marriage certificate of Great grandmother Johanna Walsh says, Patrick Walsh is father of Johanna and Maurice Hurley is the father of Michael and both fathers are deceased. Their profession on the certificate is "farmer".)

Barranashinane, Ballymacarbry: Our third stop was the farm house and farm yard of Johanna Walsh where Patrick Walsh met us all. Here in late 1840s Johanna Walsh was born. The Walsh family have farmed here for over two hundred years. They presently farm dairy cows and dry stock.

Aughavolimane, Ballinamult, County Tipperary: Our fourth stop was to meet Theresa Hallinan and her niece Katie Hallinan at the restored 250 year old home where they served us cupcakes and drinks and we were able to use the bathroom. Theresa gave us a warm welcome and a tour of her property and explained the history of the house and family. Theresa and Katie are cousins because "long ago" Walsh women married Hallinan men. Theresa showed us her old home fully restored. (Her brother Bernard Hallinan just "down the road" farms dairy cows and dry stock. Bernard was at the Mass and reception in Lawlors Hotel, Dungarvan.)

We then traveled across the picturesque Knockmealdown Mountains of County Waterford to Mount Melleray Abbey. Where the Trappists monks have lived since 1835. From time to time, The Walsh, Hallinan and Hurley families went to Sunday Mass at the monastery. The Abbey was a spiritual center of the area. My grandmother Mary Hurley , at 24 years of age, consulted a monk in 1899 to see if she should leave home and sail of America. She did leave home.

Lismore, County Waterford. On the bus, we passed by the large Lismore Castle were Kathleen Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's sister, once lived with her husband. She died in a plane accident.

After lovely lunch in Lismore, we drove to St. Mary's Abbey, Glencairin, County Waterford to visit the grave of Sister Imelda Power, who was a relative of our Hurley family. However, the Abbess Mother Mary would only allow a few members of our bus group to enter in the cemetery and visit Sister Imelda's grave. We all visited the lovely chapel of the monastery. (Sister Imelda lived for twenty years in Saint Mary's Abbey, Wrentham, Massachusetts before returning to Ireland.)

The final stop of our bus tour was Killishal, Cappagh where the Shine family prepared a marvelous reception and we celebrated our heritage for some time. Where Michael McCann's grandfather Anthony Hurley in 1880 and my grandmother Mary Hurley in 1875 were born and raised. Years ago there was an old mill with a thatch roof which ground barley, corn and wheat. Anthony Hurley ran the old mill until he left home, Killishal for Boston Massachusetts in 1913. (Dick Lincoln wrote a piece entitled, "Killishal Mill and the Key". I read the story to the bus tour crowd.) Anthony's father was Michael Hurley and his mother was Johanna Walsh from Barranashinane. Michael Hurley's father Maurice Hurley married Mary Cashin around 1830 whose family owned this farm which today raises sheep and dry cattle. Today our cousin James Shine with help from his brother Robert run the family farm. We had a wonderful celebration with Shines in Anthony Hurley's old home stead which is 250 years old. It was once a thatch house.

Ballinameela Church: On Saturday, we celebrated my 50th of ordination and Maureen and John Dolan 50th wedding anniversary at Saint James Church, Ballinameela. Outside the church door is the large Hurley Family grave. Johanna nee Walsh Hurley, Michael Hurley, great grandparents and their descendants are buried in that grave. Other family members such as Maureen, Sham Shine and their son James are buried behind the church. In this church our ancestors have worshipped for nearly two hundred years.

A plaque on the Saint James Church outside wall testifies that Cathaldus was born near this church on townland of Canty. He evangelized the area of Taranto, Italy in 650 A.D. And he became archbishop and is buried in the cathedral of Taranto. He is venerated as Saint Cathaldus, an Irish Saint from Canty. He fouls be a relative too!!!

Fr. Leo

Link to Ballinameela Graves on Historicgraves.ie

Link to Hurley grave in Ballinameela


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Mystery Bus Tour

The day had finally arrived! 12th August 2016. This was the day we were going to meet Fr. Leo and all the American cousins.

What would they be like? Would they really be interested in visiting graveyards, churches, monasteries, convents and old houses? What would we do if it rained all day and all the windows of the bus fogged up? Would there be enough food and drink for everybody?

Well there was no need to worry….all went well from beginning to end and a memorable day was enjoyed by one and all.

We met Hurleys, McCanns, Dolans, McCarthys and Ciampas/Sheas. It was difficult to remember names at first but it was clear that they knew each other well and enjoyed meeting up. Everybody was in the mood for a good day out and with Fr. Leo coordinating everything it was easy to relax and have fun. The children were amazing – no moaning about being bored or complaining – they were just super!

The party boarded the bus at The Park Hotel, wearing their green “Family Reunion” t shirts which had been especially commissioned for the occasion. The sky was grey and rain seemed likely but miraculously the day brightened and many enjoyed the stroll down to Knockboy Graveyard where The Walsh ancestors are buried. We explored the remains of the old church there and were amazed to see an Ogham stone within its walls.

Next stop was Fourmilewater church and graveyard. Here Helena told us about The Walsh and The Fitzpatrick connections. The concept of The Mass Rock was explained and how deeply the people of the area valued their faith and traditions.

Now we were travelling through a maze of narrow roads to bring us to Barrashinaun, the townsland Johanna Walsh (Fr. Leo’s greatgrandmother) left to move to Killishal when she married Michael Hurley in the 1870's.

Everybody was charmed by the old world cottage in Aughavoulivaun. There were stunning views of the mountains from each window so all the cameras were out. While cupcakes and lemonade were being enjoyed, Therese explained how people used to cook over the open turf fire using the fire machine.

Though our time schedule had gone out the window at this stage the bus brought us through the Knockmealdown mountains where the sheep continued grazing oblivious to us as we headed for Mount Melleray. There was also a convoy of four cars as some members of the group stated they were bad travellers and I am sure they enjoyed telling their friends back home in USA what it was like to drive on the wrong side of these narrow roads!

Food was next on the agenda so a stop at The Spire in Lismore was appreciated. The owner actually closed the restaurant to facilitate the group! Some ate upstairs while others preferred to sit downstairs or outdoors in the garden.

Sister Kathleen and Sister Máire greeted us in Glencairn and made us all feel very welcome. Fr Leo and Sister Kathleen said a prayer at Sr. Imelda Power’s grave and chatted about colleagues both had met while carrying out their missionary work while others visited the beautiful church.

Everybody boarded the bus once more for the final leg of the journey – Killishal.

It was from this house that Fr. Leo’s grandmother Mary Hurley emigrated in 1900 to be followed by her younger brother Anthony. It was then we all realised how much history is attached to the house and the mill. If only the walls could talk and tell us some more of the family history! Refreshments were enjoyed by all and the familiar banter began between all the cousins now – both Irish and American. Fr. Leo had completed the circle; bringing back the Hurleys, Sheas, McCanns, Dolans and McCarthys to visit their ancestral home. You have united us Fr. Leo and helped us to forge new links with new generations. The ancestors must be very pleased and we are very grateful to you for organising this wonderful celebration for us.

Fr. Leo has added his personal account of the day here.

Return to Main story: Fr. Leo's Golden Jubilee