Author Archives: francesbird

William HYLAND, the eighth child and youngest son of Patrick and Mary Teresa (Egan) HYLAND, was born 1st February 1906 at Monard, Cork just over a year after his next older sibling Agnes’s death. William was known as Billy. Billy was baptised at St. Mary’s, the North Cathedral on the 4th of February. It seemsContinue reading “William ‘Billy’ HYLAND (1906 – 1988)”

Agnes Bridget HYLAND, the seventh child of Patrick and Mary Teresa (Egan) HYLAND was born 7th January 1901 in Rosscarbery, County Cork. The Hyland family returned to Cork city in 1904 where they lived at 32 Commons Road, Monard, in north Cork. The Cork winter of 1904/5 was to have dramatic consequences that must haveContinue reading “Agnes Bridget HYLAND (1901 – 1905)”

Patrick Joseph was the sixth child of Patrick and Mary Teresa (Egan) HYLAND, born 14th May 1897 in Rosscarbery, County Cork. He was the second boy to be named Patrick; his older brother dying aged two days in 1894. Like his brothers, Paddy worked on the railways. In 1917 Paddy’s occupation was given as ‘ExtraContinue reading “Patrick Joseph HYLAND (1897 – 1942)”

Catherine HYLAND was born 22 August 1895 in Rosscarbery. She was the fifth child and second daughter of Patrick and Mary Teresa (Egan) HYLAND. Catherine was known as Katty. Katty was just nine years old when she was with her younger sister Agnes who was involved in a fatal fire. (See later post on Agnes.)Continue reading “Catherine ‘Katty’ HYLAND (1895 – 1978)”

A not so Great War I knew from childhood that my mother had lost an uncle during the Great War.  John HYLAND, Jack as he was known, was born in Skibbereen on 16th August 1892.  He was the third child and second son of Patrick and Mary Teresa (Egan) HYLAND, the next in the familyContinue reading “John ‘Jack’ Hyland (1892 – 1916)”

Michael HYLAND was born 19th December 1890 at 9 Shandon Street, on Cork’s north side. He was the second child and oldest son of Patrick HYLAND, originally from County Laois, and Mary Teresa EGAN of Cork. Michael is my grandfather. Michael spent his childhood in Skibbereen and Roscarbery, County Cork, where his father served asContinue reading “Michael HYLAND (1890 – 1959)”

Great Aunt Mollie and the kindness of strangers Great Aunt Mollie, my grandfather Michael Hyland’s older sister, was an enigma.  It was generally held that my grandfather was the oldest in his family of eight children, until I proved otherwise.  Mollie had left Cork and had been a teacher in Birmingham. No-one from my mother’sContinue reading “Mary Teresa ‘Mollie’ HYLAND (1889 – 1971)”

Patrick HYLAND was the third son of Michael HYLAND and Bridget DOOLEY.  He was baptised 31 May, 1857, at Coolbanagher, near Mountmellick, then Queen’s County (County Laois). Patrick is my great grandfather. Mary Teresa EGAN was born 25 August 1868 at 81 York St. in Cork.  She was the second daughter and the fourth ofContinue reading “Patrick HYLAND (1857 – 1941) & Mary Teresa Egan (1868 -1924)”

Ita Frances, born 24 June 1910 at Magazine Rd, Cork was the eleventh and youngest child of Mary B. (O’/Callaghan) and George DAVIS. Ita, then 35 years old, married Michael A. GINNELLY on the 26th December 1945 at the (now demolished and replaced) Holy Trinity and St Augustine’s Church, Hitchin, Hertfordshire in England. At thatContinue reading “Ita Frances (Davis) McGINNELLY”

Francis Anthony, born 22 May 1907 at Magazine Rd, Cork was the tenth child of Mary B. (O’/Callaghan) and George DAVIS, and was their sixth child to survive infancy.  Francis was known as Frank. Frank was a tailor like his grandfather Timothy O’/CALLAGHAN, uncle Denis and first cousin Walter FURLONG. He later worked as anContinue reading “Francis Anthony DAVIS”