Margaret CALLAGHAN, known as Maggie and by her nickname “Babe”, was the younger sister of my great grandmother Mary Bridget CALLAGHAN. She was born in Cork city, at 9 Gray’s Lane, off Pope’s Quay on the 7th of October 1869 to Timothy CALLAGHAN and his first wife, Margaret TAYLOR.
Margaret married an R.I.C constable, James FURLONG on 11th November 1890, a little over a year after her older sister Mary B. had married Constable George DAVIS. (See the background entry on the Royal Irish Constabulary.) James FURLONG was from Co. Wexford. Like her sister Mary B. “Babe” had a taste for older men, as James was about 13 years older than her! He was resident in Kilbarry, in the north of Cork city at the time of their marriage. It is likely that George DAVIS and James FURLONG had crossed paths in their policing service in Cork.
The couple had four children, the oldest three of whom survived into adulthood.
“Babe’’s first child, known as Madeline, was born when James was still working as a policeman in Limerick City. At the time of their marriage James would have been required to transfer out of Cork city, so as not to work in the county of his wife’s family.
[1] Rosemary Buildings were on Gerald Griffin Street. The street is named after the writer and later Christian Brother, buried at the North Monastery School.
[2] Source: Walter’s grandson.
[3] The Wolfetone St area was referred to as Fair Lane. It continued into Fair Hill.
In Search of Thomas Davis 