Tag: Coomlogane House

On the recent passing of Lady Elizabeth O’Connell

The recent passing of Lady Elizabeth O Connell  R. I. P. marks another chapter of the long association of the McCarthy O Leary family with Coomlogane which commenced with the acquisition by Denis O Leary of the lands of Coomlogane from Lord Muskerry on 29th September 1781. Elizabeth was a surviving member of the Coomlogane line of the family. Her Grandfather William died in the Boer war on 27th February 1900, and was  survived by his widow Mary née Considine and their 5 children John ( Elizabeth’s father) , Mary Ellen, William, Heffernan (Donagh)  and Amy. They were the last children born in the Great House.
    John, William & Donagh served in the Great War.  William was killed in action aged 22, John and Donagh survived but John who had married Rose Mary Fogarty died in the early 1920s. Elizabeth was the only child of the marriage and later married Sir Morgan O Connell.
    Both Elizabeth and her husband had family connections with Daniel O Connell the Liberator. Elizabeth’s great grandmother Jane Frances McCarthy O Leary (nee O Connell)  was a niece of Daniel O Connell. Elizabeth’s mother Rose Mary lived in London and died on 9th May 1953 survived by Elizabeth who went on to have a long and happy life in Killarney.
    The abiding legacy of the family will be the gift of the lands for
The Church, Cemetery, Presbytery and Schools by Eileen McCarthy O Leary in 1811.

[read more …] “On the recent passing of Lady Elizabeth O’Connell”

Death Notice: Lady Elizabeth O’Connell

THE death has occurred in Killarney of Lady Elizabeth O’Connell, of Lakeview House in Fossa, whose family line includes Daniel O’Connell, The Liberator.

A member of the MacCarthy-O’Leary family of Coomlogane House, Millstreet, in earlier life she joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment, a team of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel during World War II, just as her own mother had done in World War I, and she worked as an auxiliary nurse in various military hospitals in Kent and Oxford.

Lady O’Connell was a member and former chairperson of the Trustees of Muckross House. She also spearheaded the important ‘sponsor a slate’ fundraiser that helped fund the building and maintenance of the Prince of Peace Church, close to her home in Fossa. [read more …] “Death Notice: Lady Elizabeth O’Connell”

WWI: Lieutenant William Felix MacCarthy O’Leary

william-felix-mccarthy-oleary
William Felix MacCarthy O’Leary

Lieut. Wm. F. MacCARTHY O’LEARY, Royal Munster Fusiliers.
Killed in action in France on September 7th, 1916. Aged 22.

In “Billy” MacCarthy O’Leary we have lost one who was so recently amongst us that many boys still at the College remember well the tall form and good-humoured face of one who was a general favourite with his school-fellows. The notice from The Times for September 9th, which we print below, briefly summarises his career :-

“Lieut. William Felix MacCarthy O’Leary, Royal Munster Fusiliers, killed on September 7th, 1916, aged 22, was the son o f the late Lieut. Col. W. MacCarthy O’Leary and Mrs. O’Leary, of Coomlagane House, Millstreet, Co. Cork. His father was killed in action while commanding the 1st Bn. The South Lancashire Regt. at Pieter’s Hill, Natal, on February 27th, 1900. He was educated at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, and when war broke out was at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, whence he was gazetted to the Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was with his battalion at the Dardanelles, and was wounded in the attack on June 28th, 1915. He rejoined his regiment in August, but was sent down to Alexandria with enteric (typhoid), and after some months’ illness was invalided home last December. He rejoined his regiment at the front in July. His two elder brothers are serving in the South Lancashire Regt. and the Royal Irish Fusiliers.”

In a letter to Mrs. MacCarthy O’Leary acquainting her with her son’s death, the Colonel of the regiment wrote :— [read more …] “WWI: Lieutenant William Felix MacCarthy O’Leary”

Lieutenant-Colonel William MacCarthy O’Leary, Coomlogane House

Lieutenant-Colonel William MacCarthy O'LearyLieutenant Colonel William MacCarthy O’Leary – the third son of Mr. John MacCarthy O’Leary, D.L. of Coomlagne, Millstreet, County Cork and Jane daughter of John O’Connell of Greenagh ( and widow of O’Donoghue of the Glens ) was born on the 6th January, 1849. Educated at Stoneyhurst College, Lancashire, he joined the 82nd Regiment, Prince of Wales Volunteers (now the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment), as an ensign in April, 1869, and became Captain in March, 1878, having previously filled the post of Musketry Instructor to the battalion for four years. In January, 1883, Captain MacCarthy O’Leary was appointed Adjutant to the 9th Lancashire Volunteers at Warrington, and with them he served five years, with advantage to the corps and great credit to himself, being equally respected by both officers and men. He was a thorough disciplinarian. He was appointed Major in August 1888, at the expiration of his term as Adjutant, and he was posted to the 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment (the old 40th), then at Portsmouth, and with them he served in Jersey, and at several stations in Ireland. In November, 1888, he was appointed to the command of the battalion, and in autumn of 1898 he took his corps to the manoeuvres at Salisbury Plain, where he was highly complimented on the efficiency and smart appearance of his men, and upon the skilful manner in which he handled them.

Thence the 1st South Lancashire moved to Preston, where they became distinguished by their prowess on the football field, and in [read more …] “Lieutenant-Colonel William MacCarthy O’Leary, Coomlogane House”