Introduction

Templemaley Church and Graveyard

When undertaking this survey it was decided to concentrate on recording the transcriptions from the older burials (1800s) as many of the inscriptions are fading. The volume of modern graves and the numerous markers that have been put in place by various families for future burials are extensive and can be recorded at a later stage. We photographed a selection of unmarked stones protruding above the surface of the graveyard of an indeterminate age. These are often unmarked memorials that indicate the location of people who could not afford the costs of an inscribed memorial. This is one of the reasons why no small stones should ever be moved from the surface of the graveyard. We also noted two stone crosses at the south-eastern end of the graveyard which appear to be very ancient. There are a few substantial tombs and the workmanship on the various gravestones is varied and well executed.

Stone Crosses

Individuals doing genealogical research the smallest of links cannot be overlooked, so we have included information on the big houses in the area together with reports from journals of the time associated with the various families. We have also included the Ballyhea Cutting in recognition of the eighty-four men who worked on this remarkable feat of engineering and no doubt many are now resting beside it.

We hope that our recordings will be of help to the local community and to genealogists who may be able to fill in the gaps we were unable to fill.

The Parish of Templemaley (Medieval)

The Parish of Templemaley, in the Barony of Upper Bunratty and County of Clare, is bounded on the north and west by the River Fergus, on the east by the Parish of Kilraghtis and on the south by the Parish of Doora in the same Barony and by the River Fergus, and the Parish of Drumcliff in the Barony of Islands.

The name of this Parish is of ecclesiastical origin, and is called in the Irish language Teampall-Ua-Mhaille, i.e., O’Malley’s Church, but who this Malley was, nobody knows. He may also have founded an early church at Kilmaley and his name is remembered in the earlier name of Fountain townland in Drumcliff parish, Tobermaley. (Chris O'Mahoney, ‘Exploring Thomond Manor Boundaries II’, ‘The Other Clare’, Vol. 28, 2004, p. 48.) It is referred to as Tubbermaley in the Books of Survey and Distribution St. Fingin of Quin whose feast-day was celebrated here is another possibility. (Clodagh Lynch & Olive Carey, ‘Rian na Manach, A guided tour of Ecclesiastical Treasures in Co. Clare’.) Mention of Ecclesia Imaili in the Papal Taxation of 1302-1306 probably provides us with the first historical reference to the existence of this church. (Lynch & Carey)

Templemaley Graveyard

Templemaley graveyard is bounded on the north west by the river Fergus and on the south east by Ballyalla estate and measures, ns 81m and ew 99m. It is surrounded by a stone wall and an iron railing. The entrance has two stone gate piers and a modern turnstile.

The church is in good condition and in its present form it dates largely from the fifteenth century, though some parts may be older. The entrance is located in the south wall, and is pointed on the outside and flat-headed with lintel on the inside. There are two windows also situated in the south wall, one of which is of simple construction. The second window, which is located at the eastern end, is round-headed, and consists of large sub-rectangular blocks with a large sill stone forming the base of the window. Although one side of this window has broken away, there is some very interesting decoration to be seen near the top of it. Two incised lines on both sides of the arch and a plait-like motif are recognisable, and form part of an intricate decorative detail, which though now difficult to discern, may date back to the twelfth century. The east window has a wide embrasure on the inside, and the outside is constructed with cut limestone, featuring a neatly recessed moulding that forms the long narrow light. (Lynch & Carey)

Templemaley Church: hanging eye on west door

Ballyhea Cutting

Close to the graveyard at the bridge spanning the river Fergus is a remarkable feat of engineering which dates from the post-Famine era. It is generally referred to as the Ballyhea Cutting. The bridge that spans the lower end of the cutting was built at the same time; consist of a single elliptical arch on a twenty foot span raised on a rock formation and affording twenty-foot breath of roadway. The Ballyhea cutting was commenced in 1848 and lasted for several years. The work was done to eliminate severe flooding in the Clonteen area. The river, prior to this cutting was divided and a dry bridge can still be seen at Ballyalla and at Drumcliff. (Gerard O'Connell, ‘Cutting on the River Fergus at Ballyhea near Ennis’, ‘The Other Clare’, Vol. 3.)

The Ballyhea cutting is a half mile in length, it is forty six feet in depth and it took four years to complete. The upper portion of the channel is faced with regular shaped limestone blocks. It was very beneficial to the area reducing the depth of the Clonteen lake by several feet. Eighty four men were permanently employed on this job, on task work for about ten pence per day which would be subsequently raised to a shilling. (O’Connell)

Ballyhee Cutting

Ballyalla House

Ballyalla House, which was once associated with the Stacpoole family and Templemaley was their final resting place (see transcriptions and newspaper cuttings). Hugh W. L. Weir in his book ‘Houses of Clare’ (1985) describes Ballyalla House as an eighteenth-century, two storied, three bay, gable-ended house facing east, with an interesting central fan and side lit front door. It has six pane sash windows, and there are chimney stacks in the gables. There is an equally proportioned four bay return to the rear, with Wyatt windows on the ground floor. A magnificent vista stretches to the south over a lawn and gardens to Ballyalla lake and the River Fergus valley. Yard and farm buildings are situated to the north. A long tree lined avenue leads from the wide gateway, with its single storey gate lodge to the south-east.

Families associated with the house, Cuffe, Petersham, Cramer, Stacpoole, Kerin, O'Brien, Wordsworth, Harper, White, and Costelloe. The house has been reconstructed and the original gateway and gate lodge survive. (Weir)

In 1766, John Cramer of Ballyalla was given the Freedom of Ennis, and in 1803 Andrew Stacpoole of Ballyalla married Bridget, daughter of Laurence Comyn. Over seven thousand acres were owned by William Stacpoole, JP., M.P., late Captain in the Clare Militia of Ballyalla in 1878. He married Mary Hennessy of Leamington, Warwick. In 1898, Robert and Florence Vere O'Brien moved from New Hall (q.v.). Robert, nephew of William Smith O'Brien, was Clerk of the Peace at Ennis Courthouse. Florence had founded the Limerick Lace School in 1893 and the Clare Embroidery in 1894. In 1912 the County Clare Sanatorium was opened on the property. This wooden building was demolished by fire in the 1920s. In 1953 the Wordsworths were in residence. In the 1970s the Whites totally reconstructed the interior, as well as making other alterations, such as the relocation of the front door. The Siege of Ballyalla took place on this demesne (1642) and all that remains of the ancient castle today is a mound. There is reputed to be a ghost in the form of a “pleasant little old lady”, which people used to meet on the stairs. (Weir)

Ballyalla House, 1902 (Courtesy of Veronica Rowe)

Templemaley House

Templemaley House was another substantial mid-nineteenth-century, two-storey house about which little can be ascertained. It reputedly faced south-west and had a small yard backed with utility buildings behind. It was approached by drives from the south-west and east. There was a gate lodge at the entrance to the former. To-day all that remains are some walls standing, original gateway but no gates and yards and walls of some utility buildings. (Weir)

In 1855, John Enright held the house, gate lodge, offices and the hundred and forty-two acre farm in fee. He also held the four acre Clonteen Lough. The house and buildings were then valued at thirty pounds per annum. Twenty three years later, John Enright, J.P., of Templemaley, owned a total of five hundred and forty-five acres with a rateable valuation of £272. Some say that the name Enright is synonymous with Hanratty. It may derive from MacKenraghty, which is still prevalent in County Kerry. The Enrights have certainly been in the area since Cornet Enratt (sic) was taken up for treason in 1702, and since Alice Enright married Thomas Harold in the early eighteenth century. Their daughter, Christina, died in 1764. The Enright property included Trinaderry House (q.v.), which was built for a younger son. Bagot Blood, who lived here in the early twentieth century, was a J.P. and High Sheriff in 1883. (Weir)

It is interesting to note, that while the Enright family had extensive property in Templemaley there is no evidence of their burials in Templemaley Graveyard. According to local lore the Enright family were not considered good landlords and are reputedly buried in Andrew Kerin's tomb. An entry in the Clare Journal ties in the family connection:

“Death as recorded in Clare Journal, Ennis, Monday October 1 1849

On Thursday last, at Templemaley House, the seat of her son-in-law. Ellen, relic of the late Andrew Kerin, of Ballyaly, Esq”.

(Ellen's burial is not inscribed on the Kerin vault).

Other references to the Enright's arises during the agrarian conflicts, the Terry Alts, the secret society founded in the 1820s associated with County Clare: during the second week of January 1831, a large crowd assembled on the lands of John Enright of Ballyalla, about three miles north of Ennis, in the barony of Islands. (Flannan Enright, ‘Terry Alts: the rise and fall of an agrarian secret society’ in ‘Clare History and Society’ Chapter 10, p. 227)

The party, armed with crowbars, destroyed a mile long boundary wall, some out-offices lately built and a four acre plantation of young trees. Before departing they fired several shots into the air. The Clare Journal had no doubt about the reason for the attack and described Enright, a respected and fair minded agent and an employer of several labourers, who had had lately left the Roman church. (Enright) Shortly after this the rates of wages paid to labourers came under scrutiny by the Terry Alts, during 1831, notices were posted throughout the county warning the peasantry not to work for less than one shilling per day. (Enright pp. 231, 232) The intimidation of labourers caused serious losses to the land owners. Enright and his family moved to Ennis for safety. Residing but a few miles from his property, he tried to exert some limited control over it, but to no avail. His labourers were too afraid to bring potatoes into town for him and when a party of the military went out to get them they were fired on by the 'Terries'. (Enright) At a time when there was a decline in serious crime connected with the Whiteboy or Terry Alt groups, an attempt was made on the life John Enright of Templemaley, in July 1848 and there was also an attack on cars bringing meal to Harley's brewery in Ennis. (Ciarán Ó Murchadha ‘Sable Wings over the Land’, p. 172)

Neither attempt succeeded. As already stated there was a decline in serious crime with just the few scattered incidents associated with Whiteboy or Terry Alt crime in 1848 and 1849. The incidents were relatively minor, botched and half-hearted, as if those involved no longer had the spirit or indeed the physical strength to carry them out. (Ó Murchadha) Serious crime of this period carries about it an air of fatalism, with the perpetrators having little to loose by being caught. Being convicted for many of those tried improved their circumstances and many of the apprehended parties sought transportation or committed the crimes in the first place so they would be jailed or transported. (Ó Murchadha)

A book titled: ‘Los Angeles from the mountains to the sea’ fills in further gaps in this family history: (John Steven McGroarty, ‘Los Angeles from the mountains to the sea: With selected biography of actors and witnesses to the period of growth and achievement.’ Vol. 3.

From:http://www.archive.org/stream/losangelesfrommo03mcgr/losangelesfrommo03mcgrdjvu.txt)

Kathleen Alice Averill is one of the most competent businesswomen in Los Angeles. Her family name was Enright. She was born at her father's estate Templemaley near the town of Ennis in County Clare, Ireland. Her father, Captain Andrew Enright of the Clare Militia, afterwards the London Irish Rifles, was also born at Templemaley. Her mother was Alice Greenhill, a native of Canonbury Park, Islington, London and daughter of William Greenhill, senior member of the firm of Greenhill Brothers of the London Stock Exchange. Alice Greenhill had one sister who married Alfred Cellier, a famous operatic composer of London and a close friend of Sir Arthur Sullivan, the composer. The marriage of Mrs. Averill's parents was a runaway match of somewhat romantic character. On both sides there were objections because of the youth of the pair. They eloped from Ireland, were married in London at St. John's church, Norfolk Square, and set sail immediately for New Zealand on a sail boat, sailing vessels at that time constituting the only means of transportation to that faraway country. They reached Dunedin, New Zealand, in exactly three months from the day they set sail from London. Captain, Enright took up sheep farming on a large scale, and they lived in the wilds of New Zealand for three years. The oldest brother of Mrs. Averill was born there. In the meantime there had been a family reconciliation, and Captain Enright being an only son and child returned to Ireland at the earnest request, of his parents. When they returned to Ireland they had travelled completely around the world on a sailing vessel. Captain Enright then built up another family estate in County Clare adjoining that of his father. On the death of his parents he inherited the entire estate, and became a large landed proprietor. His individual property he called Trinaderry. He and his family including Mrs. Averill were wonderfully happy for a number of years. Captain Enright like all the other proprietors of landed estates in Ireland at that time was boycotted, but manfully tried to overcome the deplorable conditions under which the landed gentry of Ireland were obliged to live. Finally Kathleen Alice and her two brothers, very young children, were deliberately set upon and stoned by the boycotting peasants, and would probably have been killed had not several of the police known as Irish Constabulary, then billeted in temporary barracks on the Enright estate, came to their rescue.

In disgust at this circumstance Captain Enright moved to England to a beautiful home called Kempston Lodge, in the village of Kempston, in Bedfordshire. From private tutors at home Kathleen Alice was sent to complete her education at a private college in the town of Bedfordcalled Madame de Marchots French Protestant College. She graduated there at the age of sixteen. Two years later her father having in the meantime gone on the London Stock Exchange risked his fortune and lost, the entire family immigrated to America direct to San Diego, California.

The final chapters of Templemaley House are recorded in The Clare Journal Monday Evening August 23 1897
:
To Be Let, Templemaley House. With the Lawn, Paddocks, and Kitchen Garden attached, containing about twenty five statute acres, or thereabouts. Templemaley is situated within easy distance of the town, about a quarter of an hour’s drive from Ennis Railway Station. The house is a fine three storied residence, which has always been in first class repair. It was lately held by Bagot Blood, Esq, and Rev. M. Carey, P.P. Immediate possession will be given. For details particulars apply to Denis McInerney, Market Street, Ennis.

The Clare Journal, July 13 1913:

Clare Mansion Burned to the Ground. Contents saved. A disastrous fire occurred on Monday afternoon at Templemaley House, the residence of Mr. F. N. Studdert, Secretary of the Clare Co. Council, over three miles from Ennis to the north west, involving the total destruction of a fine pile of building of which nothing was left but the blackened walls. Fortunately, and it may be said, owing to the hour that which the conflagration occurred, it was possible to save all the more valuable contents, including the massive furniture. Still a considerable amount of property was lost.

The fire originated in the upper storey, immediately under the roof and when discovered by one of the servants a little after three o’clock in the afternoon, must then have got firm hold, judging by the rapidity with which it spread. For some time previously there had been a strong smell of smoke perceptible, but its source could not be traced until at length smoke was seen to arise from the roof, and issuing through the interstices between the slating. Michael Moran, the coachman, who happened to be in the motor house at the time, was called by the domestics, and he made his way to the upper part of the house and endeavoured to trace the seat of danger, and eventually succeeded in locating it, as well as he could judge in the space over the governess’ room in the upper story, and between the roof of the room and the slates. The alarm having being raised, a number of people from the neighbourhood around quickly collected, and one of the earliest on the scene was Mr. Kavanagh, the gardener at Ballyalla. Moran, Kavanagh, and some willing helpers, made their way to the spot where the blaze was located, and threw a quantity of water on the place, but there was an utter inadequacy of water, and what was thrown on the burning centre was instantly converted into steam, which drove the rescuing party back. A patent fire extinguisher was brought from the motor-house by Moran, but it too, failed to give the desired result. The tank which gave a supply of water through the house was so situated under the main roof that it was not feasible to get a sufficient service from it for fire fighting purposes, and the fine well in the yard which gave a supply for domestic purposes was also difficult to work. A messenger was despatched in hot haste to the Clare Lunatic Asylum for their fire engine, but when it arrived which it did in a remarkably short time it was practically of no use in combating the flames through the insufficiency of water. Meanwhile some of the rescuing party had got on to the roof, under which the flames were now heard roaring fiercely, but they were virtually helpless, as they were without any means of extinguishing the blaze. When this was realised and it was seen that nothing short of a miracle could save the building, all efforts were concentrated on removing the contents with the utmost despatch, as the fire was developing towards the lower storeys with much rapidity. With the assistance of many willing hands, splendid efforts were made, and nearly all the heavy furniture, pictures, carpets and other contents of the lower parts were removed and piled out on the lawn at a safe distance from the house, which was now blazing forth fiery tongues of flame and dense volumes of smoke, which were visible for miles around. One of the earliest on the scene was Hon. Edward O'Brien, who had been motoring in the vicinity, and he gave valuable assistance in the struggle against the fire fiend.

At the time of the outburst, Mr. Studdert was engaged in his offices at the Courthouse, and word was brought to him by Moran, the......and he was very quickly on the scene, but even then it was evident that the house was doomed to destruction. The flames continued to rage furiously throughout the evening until floor after floor collapsed and eventually the roof fell and with a resounding crash sending sheets of flame and myriads of glowing sparks skywards. Soon nought was left but the charred and.....? a melancholy reminded of the tragic fate of one of the finest mansions around this district.

Templemaley House was built some eighty years ago, or so, by the late John Enright, and Mr. Studdert went into residence some time after the death of Mr. Bagot Blood. It was a fine three-storied mansion, built on square lines in admirable condition, and prettily situated in a nicely-wooded locality in which it was a conspicuous feature. A good deal of wood was noticed to have been used in the walls over-openings and such spots and it is believed that there must have been some timber under a flue which somehow became ignited. This is assigned as a cause for the conflagration.

There is a general regret of its destruction and widespread sympathy with the tenant Mr. Studdert on the great loss, trouble and inconvenience he has sustained as well as the owner, Mr. McInerney on the heavy loss involved in the disaster. There were insurances on both the buildings and the contents but we are unable to say what relation these bear to the actual loss which naturally is very considerable. At the time Mrs. Studdert was not at home having left for London on Saturday evening but we understand she at once returned to Ennis on getting an intimation of the alarming occurrence.

According to local information, the piers and gates from Templemaley House are now at the entrance to Doora church, but parish records attribute them to Dromconora House, the former residence of the O'Loughlin family.
Edmund Lenihan, ‘A Survey of Otherwordly Clare’ (‘The Other Clare’, Vol. 12, p.49) records the following incidents:

Templemaley House. Haunted. Also cursed by friars: old mistress of house refused to allow them to walk through grounds. They promised that before a year was out the crows would be flying through it. House burned suddenly a short time later; completely destroyed.

Journal Reports

Marriage (Ennis Chronicle, Wednesday October 24 1827)

On Monday morning last, in Clare Church, by the Rev. Frederick Blood, Robert Ledger, of Limerick, Esq. To Jane, daughter of Andrew Kerin, of Ballyally, in this County, Esq.

Died (The Clare Journal, 18 August 1831)

On Monday, at Glenview, near Limerick, the residence of his son-in-law, Robert Ledger, Esq., of a painful and protracted illness. Andrew Kerin, Esq., late of Ballyally, in the county; Gentleman whose death is a source of deep affliction to a numerous and attached family, and of sincere regret to a wide circle of friends and acquaintance. Yesterday his remains were conveyed through this town, to be interred in the family burying-place at Templemaley. (Burial No. 1)

Kerin Tomb

Death (The Clare Journal, October 1855)

At the residence of J. Enright, Esq., Templemaley House, Miss Powell, at an advanced age. (Burial No. 62)

Tomb of Fanny Powell

Death (The Clare Journal, Monday April 2 1877)

March-31st., in Jail Street Mary, eldest daughter of the late William Burton of Clifdon, County Clare Esq., funeral will take place on Wednesday 4th instant, at 12 o'clock. (Burial No. 64)

Died (The Clare Journal, Monday Evening April 22 1878)

Whitty-At Ennis College, of croup, Edward Bovill, eldest and dearly loved son of J L Whitty. (Burial No. 51)

Grave of Edward Bovill Whitty

Died (The Clare Journal, Thursday Evening May 2 1878) (Burial No. 51)

Whitty-April 28, at the College, Ennis, Noel John Bovill, second and only remaining son of John Langley Whitty, aged 4 months.

Fatal Accident (The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Ennis, Monday, Dec. 15, 1879, James Butler) (Burial No. 53)

We regret to have to record another, but on this occasion a fatal accident that occurred on the ice at Ballyalla Lake. Whilst a number of pupils of the Erasmus Smith School were skating on Thursday evening one of them- a lad named Irwin-unfortunately fell through the ice and was drowned before assistance could be procured. Almost immediately after he had fallen in Mr T. Griffin plunged in after, at the imminent risk of his life, but could render him no assistance as he had evidently sunk. The body was recovered on Friday morning, and an inquest subsequently held, the verdict being that of, “accidental drowning, with a rider eulogising the conduct of Mr. Griffin, and, also commending that of Messrs M. Kenny and T. Pilkington.

Grave of James Butler

Funeral of Captain Stacpoole, M.P. (The Clare Journal, Monday Evening July 21 1879)

The following funeral oration was delivered by the Rev Canon Dwyer, at the interment of the late Captain Stacpoole, M.P. (Burial No. 38)

The Rev Canon Dwyer said a painful duty devolved on him, but although the weather was so inclement, he cannot allow the occasion to pass by without saying a few words in reference to William Stacpoole, whose coffined remains are now before us. That something ought to be said is evident from the fact that into this old churchyard were gathered men from all parts of this country, men of classes and opinions, of all races and creeds, to pay all the tributes of sincere sorrow and full respect for, William Stacpoole. This was an Irish country gentleman, a landlord whose name and face had a place and associations with the Ireland of long ago. But it was not a paltry ambition that sent him into the field of political life, nor had he need to add to the broad circuit of his ancestral acres, nor sought he at all to transmit titles of honour to his family, and glorify his race. What impressed him to take the course he chose, was the desire to serve his country and to do good offices to his neighbours in his day and generation. And when we look upon his capacity for influence and compare it with the results which are so obvious, his great and long and growing success in this respect were due, not to any great genius, not to any high oratory-things which he never in the slightest degree pretended to possess. His success was due to totally different causes. In Parliament he exercised this special political power and when it was pronounced there “that he made many friends, but no enemies,” every one felt the correctness of this opinion. Here at home he exercised it too, it need hardly be said to you, and the respect of his success in this newly developed line of political power was the union of a spirit of mainly toleration, with the practical activity of a kindly beneficence. His toleration was all the more genuine as he held opinions of his own firmly enough, acted firmly upon them too. His charity was unmistakeable also as it reached to opponents as well as to supporters during his long career. And thus it was that William Stacpoole was a power, and his departure was mourned as a loss. A loss indeed it was for he by that special power which he possessed, so carried into uniform action, on the motto of his armorial emblazonment “I die for those I love” that in this poor country of ours in which there are so many differences of opinion, there is so much of misunderstanding between races and classes and political doctrinaires and religious professions, that William Stacpoole who had made himself for years an uniting power, a link of love, a bend of affinity is now felt to have been a power and is by us deplored as an irreparable loss in our midst. This is a great sore loss, the loss of one whose promise it was in no slender degree to soften political and social religious asperities and to teach and to draw men into the love of one another and to the working for good in behalf of this poor afflicted and distracted county of ours. And thus it was that his life passed not away without leaving a lesson, and the memory of his goodness will need no written history to perpetrate the love and trust and those bonds of unity with which he drew us all towards one another and to himself as a centre of loving trust. This life is our and probation for eternity. We are here in the light of a divine covenant love sealed with Blood Divine and we are impressed towards goodness by an in infinite power, and it is ours to go on our way rejoicing. Each one, faithfully doing his duty to his God and to his country, as our friend has shown us the noble example. Farewell, dear William Stacpoole (apostrophized Rev Canon) may we meet in the blest kingdom full of joy, and love in the Home of our Father and the city of our Good.

Death (The Clare Journal, Thursday Evening, January 13 1898). (Burial No. 38)

Death and Funeral of Mrs. Stacpoole, Ballyalla. We regret to announce the death of Mrs Stacpoole, Ballyalla, widow of the late Capt. William Stacpoole, for years member of Parliament for the old borough of Ennis. The sad event took place on Saturday morning, after an illness of several weeks duration, the result it was stated of a chill contracted recently. The deceased lady for a time after the death of her late husband resided in England, but for some years past she lived at Ballyalla, taking very little part in social life. She was kind and charitable to a degree, and will be much missed by the poor of the district.

The funeral took place on Monday, when the remains were removed for interment to the family vault at Templemaley cemetery. There was a representative attendance.

Amongst those who were present were the following:- Messrs T.G. Stacpoole Mahon, D.L., R. J. Stacpoole, D.L., R. Lane Joynt, J.P., R. R.Studdert, J.P., Fred N. Studdert, F.B. Keane, Fref G. Kerin, sol.' Dr. Stacpoole Westropp, Dr. Gilbert, C.G. Mahon, J.L. Wright, John Cullinan, R.W. Greene, M. Glynn, P.L.G., P. Ryan, P.L.G., Dr. R. P.. Gelston, M. O'Brien, Lisdoonvarna: P. O'Loughlen, do: W. D. Stevents, E.T. Stevens, P. Considine, D. Hassett, Geo Mulcahy, J. Kerin, J. Sheehy, Thos. Hogan, Thos. Purcell, P. O'Dea, Michael Moran, D. Daffey, John Lyons, John Hanrahan, etc. Carriages were sent by Most. Rev Dr MacRedmond, Mr. Mahon, D.L., Captain Parkinson, Mrs Stacpoole, etc. The chief mourners were - Miss Stacpoole, daughter, and Miss O'Loughlin. The clergymen present were-Rev M. Carey, P.P.., Doora, and Rev Father O'Dea; and Rev Dr Griffith, Rector, Ennis. The funeral arrangements were carefully carried out by Messrs Morgan McInerney and Sons, Ennis.

Stacpoole Grave

Death (The Clare Journal, Monday Evening, May 24, 1880). (Burial No. 60)

Death of James Menzies, Esq., Manager Provincial Bank. Grief and gloom are on our town! The kind, the generous, the warm-hearted James Menzies is no more.

There are few throughout the county to whom, this announcement will not bring a pang of sincere regret. Connected, as-Manager, with the Ennis branch of the Provincial Bank since its establishment, now over 40 years ago, Mr. Menzies had become, as it were its very personification, and so intimately associated was he with the county, and so largely had he engrossed its sympathies, that the institution he so effectively managed was popularly know as “Mr Menzies Bank,” and as well might the stability of the Bank of England be questioned as a shadow of doubt raised respecting the integrity of one who was regarded as the very embodiment of honour, as he certainly was of a thorough business capacity. Nor was the trust so implicitly r.po.ed? in him “a mere exaggeration of his sterling attributes”. It was the natural outcome of his unfailing courtesy, and of that kindness to those of the poorer classes, whose interests seemed to be his own, so largely and so sympathetically did he share in them. In a word he was essentially the poor man's friend and probably no more conclusive evidence of the fact can be adduced than the circumstance that throughout the years immediately succeeding the famine, and since that fearful epoch, he never harassed any of those whom necessity had made his clients, and never instituted in a court of justice proceedings that he knew could only result in expense to those whose interests, as we have said, he always identified himself with. He was ever assiduously devoted to business, and never in its transaction combined suavity of manner, innate kindness with a thorough knowledge of its minutest details. It was no wonder then he was esteemed so largely, and largely and generally esteemed he undoubtedly was. In his domestic relations his kindness of heart was even more fully betrayed, and in this respect, as in his public capacity, it might be said of him that though “wise as the serpent he was harmless as the dove.” Of late his health had been failing, and some weeks ago he had resigned his position as manager, an office in which he is succeeded by Mr. Simms, of whom we may en passant say that no higher compliment to his efficiency could be given by the Directors than his appointment to succeed such a man as the late Mr. Menzies. The funeral will leave Bindon-street on Friday at 3 o'clock.

Burials No. 48 and 49 O'Brien and Keppie and their association with Clare Embroidery. The following extract is by kind permission of Veronica Rowe, who produced a booklet on Clare Embroidery. Veronica is the grand-daughter of Mrs. Florence Vere O'Brien. (Veronica Rowe, ‘Clare Embroidery’)

The first "Clare Embroidery" class was started by Mrs. Florence Vere O'Brien with the help of a talented young Scottish needlewoman, Mina Keppie, at Newhall, Ennis, in 1895. Florence Vere O'Brien was born Florence Arnold and was the granddaughter of Dr Thomas Arnold of Rugby. Both her father, a Director of Education in the Punjab, and her mother, had died young, leaving four orphaned children. Florence, her sister and two brothers were sent home from India and were adopted by their aunt, Jane Arnold, and her husband, William E. Forster. In 1880 Mr Forster was appointed Chief Secretary of Ireland, and came to live in Dublin with his family. It was during this time that Florence met Robert Vere O'Brien - a young barrister from Limerick, son of Robert O'Brien of Dromoland. They were married in 1883 and came to live in Old church, Limerick.

Florence, with her educational and political background, her long training in community service and her considerable artistic ability, became involved with the revival of the Limerick lace craft, and the founding of a lace school. In 1890 the Vere O'Brien's and their children moved to Newhall, near Ennis, where Robert worked as Clerk of the Peace at the Courthouse. While continuing her work with the Limerick lace, Florence became deeply involved with her "Clare Embroidery", the characteristics of which were, the use of washable materials, mainly white cotton or linen, coloured threads - predominantly blue and red - and original designs based on the flowers and foliage of Clare. Her designs were also used by the embroidery class at the Convent of Mercy, Ennis, presided over by Sister Mary Patricia with whom Florence co-operated closely. The first class at Newhall consisted of twelve to fifteen girls who came regularly for two hours weekly and were instructed in the embroidery stitches by Mina Keppie. The items first offered for sale were children's frocks, pinafores and aprons, but later the range was enlarged considerably, and included embroidered patchwork bedspreads, and embroidered panels for fire screens. The frameworks for the latter were made by Christopher Hodges, a disabled carpenter in Ennis.

In 1898 the Vere O'Brien family - now with four children - moved to Ballyalla, and by 1910 the classes had grown to twenty-seven girls, aged from fourteen. These classes carried on almost continuously until 1930 with Miss Keppie remaining throughout as manageress. Many of the girls cycled or walked long distances to get to the classes, which were also social events with tea, and sometimes an adventure story read to them by Mrs. Vere O'Brien as they worked. There was a Christmas party each year, and an occasional outing during the summer. It took two or three years to become really proficient, and by then a worker could earn up to fourteen shillings a week (1908).

A colony from the Ballyalla class was started in 1889 by Mrs. Tottenham of Mount Callan, Inagh, and in 1902 she had eight girls coming regularly. This class also used liberty silk for the children's frocks. Classes were started by Father Halpin in Scarriff in 1907 at the home of Mrs. Hibbert, and by a committee in Corofin. There is even mention of a"Clare Embroidery" class starting in a convent in Burma! At the end of the 19th century there was a considerable interest in crafts generally. This was partly due to the work and enthusiasm of Lady Aberdeen, wife of the Viceroy, who on her arrival in Ireland in 1886 had set up the Irish Industries Association to encourage the production and sale of crafts. This Association opened craft depots in Dublin and London, and organised twice yearly exhibition sales in England, as well as numerous exhibitions in Ireland. The Irish Village at the World Craft Fair at Chicago in 1893 created enormous interest and encouraged the American market to look at Irish crafts. Other early influences in the movement for developing Irish industries were the Irish Industrial Development Association, the Gaelic League, Sir Horace Plunkett's Irish Agricultural Co-operative Society, the Congested Districts Board and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. Through Mrs Vere O'Brien's contacts in the world of arts and crafts "Clare Embroidery" was exhibiting and winning prizes and certificates at exhibitions all over Ireland and England, and also in America. Through this continual exposure "Clare Embroidery" became well known and was much in demand. Following an exhibition in Windsor in 1902 an order was given for twelve smocked dresses for one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters, which encouraged sales in England. During the later years Mrs. Vere O'Brien's daughters Jenny (later Mrs. Godfrey Hardy of Walterstown, Crusheen) and Flora, both became involved in the "Clare Embroidery" and by 1923 were doing most of the drawing and designing, while Mina Keppie continued the cutting out and distribution of the work, and also the correspondence with customers, many of whom were American and Canadian at this time. Ten or twelve girls were still coming regularly, with Francis Malone of Ennis instructing in smocking and Mrs. Vere O'Brien herself teaching embroidery. Clare Embroidery was still being produced up to the time of Mrs. Vere O'Brien's death in 1937: one of the last orders received was from Canada in 1938 from a former customer who was now ordering smocked dresses for her own grandchildren. “Clare Embroidery" continued in production for almost forty years and was made possible by the hard work and enthusiasm of a dedicated group of people. It is the history of a small section of Clare's social and economic life.