Lives and works of remarkable women commemorated in Tyrrellspass

The lives and works of remarkable women who left a lasting imprint were commemorated in Tyrrellspass last Saturday with the unveiling of a sculpture to their memory and the launch of a book of “lost stories of Westmeath”.

The sculpture by Oliver Daly sits outside Browne’s on The Green and commemorates Jane, Countess of Belvedere, Nora Feehan, whose book, ‘Among the Hills of Ardnaree’, was launched, the Gibbons sisters, Elizabeth Payne, Mary Agnes Cunniffe, Rosamond M Daly and Maree Kelly and their legacy. Oliver Daly, son of Rosamond Daly and whose artist name is Oliver Berchmans, was also behind the publication of Among the Hills of Ardnaree.

The sculpture was unveiled by Maree Kelly’s daughter, Dr Ina Kelly, president of the Irish Medical Organisation. She said that this was the first formal acknowledgment by the community of the debt owed to Jane who, as Countess of Belvedere, was instrumental in designing and building much of the village.

Most of her works were designated for the benefit of the public – education, health, accommodation, orphan care and judicial services. Jane lived in what is now Browne’s on The Green with her second husband. Since then the house has been a private home to the Bumfords, the Tottenhams, and Sylvia Mollison and her family. In the 1980s and ‘90s it was a hotel run by Brenda and Peter Pierson, who was present at the unveiling. It is now run as a restaurant by Mary and Padraig Browne, who provided the guests with delicious nibbles and drinks on the occasion.

Dr Kelly pointed out that while Jane lived in the building, all the women being commemorated lived virtually in view of it. Nora Feehan’s house was where Ben Keegan now lives, the Gibbons sisters lived across the road in the barracks, Mrs Payne lived in several places nearby and in her later years, she lived with Sylvia Mollison, “another remarkable woman who lives just around the corner”. Mary Agnes Cunniffe, Rosamond Daly and Maree Kelly all lived in houses on the same side of The Green.

Dr Kelly said that all of those women demonstrated qualities that made them stand out as significant contributors to the life and community of the village over the last 200 years.

Jane, Countess of Belvedere (1775-1836), was born Jane McKay in Dublin, married the Earl of Belvedere in 1803, and following his death in 1814, she married Abraham Boyd. She designed and built the green and the houses around it, the school, and even after she died, she made provision for the building of the Belvedere Crescent Orphanage. Her plan for the village is still contributing to the heritage of Tyrrellspass, Dr Kelly remarked.

Nora Feehan lived from 1876-1956 in Tyrrellspass, and worked as a teacher, historian, folklorist and writer. She contributed many articles to the Westmeath Examiner that are of great local historical interest. And now, finally, her poems and short stories have been published.

Kitty Gibbons O’Doherty was a teacher and active nationalist who lectured on Irish affairs in the US, and served as an intermediary between Westmeath farmers and government. Rosamond Daly was a great friend and the Daly family have some of her letters. Kitty was also a friend of President Eamon de Valera and Dan Breen.

Dr Kelly applauded a “wonderful article” by historian Dr Paul Hughes that was published in the Westmeath Examiner earlier this year entitled ‘Westmeath to Philadelphia – Kitty O’Doherty’s Irish Revolution’, and recommended to the audience that they read it.

Kitty’s sister Margaret, born in 1882 was a teacher, a writer and a poet. Her poem in commemoration of Tom Clarke for the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising in 1966 is displayed in the National Museum. Their eldest sister Mary, born in 1873, became Mother Mary Columba and wrote a famous ballad, ‘Who fears to speak of Easter Week’, which became popular soon after the 1916 Rising.

Elizabeth Payne was born in Meath, and married into the village and taught there for more than 40 years. She was fascinated by folklore and got the children to record their stories which can now be found on www.duchas.ie. Elizabeth was 102 when she died.

Mary Agnes Cunniffe was another remarkable teacher with a long and illustrious career, helping students to get the best from themselves. She encouraged discipline in her students and tutored in her own home. She donated the grotto in the cemetery to the village. Mary Agnes was 99 when she died.

Rosamond Daly had an amazingly long career as a chemist (60 years) and was available at all hours. The longest serving female pharmacist at her retirement, she was particularly well known for her knowledge of veterinary pharmaceuticals, which was important in a farming area. Rosamond was 97 when she died.

Maree Kelly was a huge support to her husband, the local doctor, until he died, when she had a new life of her own, part of which was to document as much history as she could in multiple publications, or cajoling others to do so, to build up the knowledge of village. Maree was 84 when she died.

Dr Kelly said that the aim was to acknowledge the role those women paid in society. In honouring remarkable women of Tyrrellspass, it is only fitting that we recognise the contribution of the Miss Byrnes – Lily and May. The Byrne family have had a grocery and drapery business in the village for more than 100 years and the sisters, who are now in their 80s, are retiring, having worked all their lives for the community, including during the pandemic.

Dr Kelly invited those present to join Laura Bagnall in St Sinian’s Church to see the wonderful marble plaque commemorating Jane. Her memorial states that she was “gifted with a masculine understanding and a most benevolent heart”, Dr Kelly chuckled. In addition, Jane’s personal bible, dated 1805, which is still in beautiful condition, can be viewed there.

Richard McElwee, son of Jim and Mary McElwee, and grandson of Rosamond Daly, welcomed all present, particularly Minister Peter Burke, Rev Sean Deegan, Rev Yvonne Hutchinson and members of the extended O’Doherty, Payne, Cunniffe, Daly and Kelly families.

Richard is director of Communications and Legal Affairs at Rugby Players Ireland and he admitted that under ordinary circumstances he’d find it hard to draw a connection between rugby and Tyrrellspass, but “somewhat fittingly, events of the last week have drawn me closer to the efforts of these remarkable ladies”.

“For those unaware, this past week, women’s rugby has been to the fore of the sporting conversation with its resourcing and support being called into question, prompting players to take a stand. While the empowerment of women continues apace, the experience demonstrated to me how even today women are forced to work that little bit harder and fight that little bit tougher to get to the places they want to go,” he said.

“With this very much in my mind, I turned to today’s events with a renewed appreciation for these remarkable women, what they set out to do and what they ultimately achieved in their lifetime,” he added. The sculpture was blessed by Fr Deegan and Rev Hutchinson. The committee behind the unveiling was Mary Browne, Joanne Gavigan, Olive Glynne, Caroline Gonoud, Dr Ina Kelly, and Oliver Daly.

After the unveiling, the crowd proceeded to Gonoud’s pub, where Nora Feehan’s book was launched.

Some 90 years ago, Nora penned a series of short stories and poems capturing the essence of simpler times in rural Ireland from the late 1800s early 1900s. Hand written in old school notebooks, some were under her name and others under that of her father ‘Francis O Fiachran’. It was believed she did this hoping to get published. Finally, Nora’s work is being published with little changed from the original works to keep it authentic to the original writings.

The publication also contains old photographs and sketches found among Nora’s notes and stories, snapshots of her handwritten notes along with other old photos from the area dating back to the early 1900s.

Nora passed away in 1956 and her quaint and charming stories and poems remained hidden till a recent discovery. They reflect innocence and mischief, deep religious convictions, and the prevalent superstition at the time.

Mary Hughes from Mullingar read a poem and short story from the collection, bringing Nora’s work to life with her amazing vocal interpretations and body language. The poem, ‘Fairest white rose of my heart’, was given by Nora to Count John McCormack and subsequently featured in a film, Mary explained. She said that it sounded like a love song, but was in fact, dedicated to Nora’s favourite cow.

The short story, ‘The widow and the sweep’, as read by Mary, had the audience enthralled, entertained and in hoots of laughter.

Among the Hills of Ardnaree is available from Orla Kelly Publishing and online, and from local book stores.