The Life of HW O’Connor

The Life of W.H O'Connor

W.H O’Connor was born on the 19th of December, 1878 on a farm at Coolnageragh, Scartaglin. He went to Kimberley, Cape Colony, South Africa in 1897 and was there during the AngloBoer war of 1899-1902. Kimberley was besieged by the Boers for 126 days from October 1899 to February 1900. W.H. Worked as a mining engineer for De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd, installing and maintaining machinery in the vast diamond mines for adjoining townships Kimberley and Beaconsfield.

W.H. at the same time worked for a builder, learning building skills; He purchased land and built a number of bungalows, naming them “Emerald Villas”, for rent to diamond miners. These houses still stand. He also built a house for his own use, with Veranda surrounding; W.H Continued working for both De Beers and the builder, so for a few years he held three jobs and worked 20 hours a day.

W.H O’Connor married Julia Blennerhassett of Tralee on the 2nd of March 1905 at St. Augustine’s Church, Beaconsfield, Kimberely. Julia had visited her brother Authur Blennerhassett in South Africa in 1904, being met off the ship by her future husband. She stayed in South Africa as a Red Cross nurse. There, she married, and Nellie, her first child was born.

The giant South African diamond mining company, De Beers, where W.H worked as a mining engineer, had been formed in 1888 by Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902), the financier, statesman and empire builder who was Prime Minister of Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896 and the first governor of the De Beers Company. Julia Blennerhassett was during the 1900's, nurse and companion to the mother of the Governor of De Beers. They became friends, she being married from the Governor’s house and leaving for her wedding in his horse-drawn carriage (The name of this Governor is uncertain, but he had a daughter , and also a son named Neville).

W.H returned to Co. Kerry in 1907 with his wife and child for a holiday, but stayed on. He went back to South Africa briefly to sell their house and on his final return to Kerry, purchased a substantial part of the family farm, Coolnageragh, from his mother (This land he later sold to Mr. Breen, whose family still work the farm). The remaining part of the family farm later passed to his brother Con. W.H. Purchased the Castleisland grain mill (then water driven) by the river at Tonbwee; also a house and business named The Fountain Warehouse (which contained a drapery shop ect. And “The Fountain Bar”) opposite the old market house and drinking water fountain in Lower Main St., Castleisland. The Fountain Warehouse was managed by his wife Julia until it was burnt in 1921.

“W.H. O’Connor”, “millers, merchants, drapers, outfitters and importers” was formed in 1919, milling and selling the highest quality animal feedstuffs to the Munster farming community as “Rhyno Balanced Rations”. The mill became known as “Rhyno Mills”. In 1940, the business became a limited company “W.H O’Connor Ltd”. W.H purchased farms at Ballygree, off Powell’s road in Castleisland, and in 1935 at Commeen House in Carrigaline, Co. Cork.

A Republican by inclination, in 1914 W.H O’Connor became Chairman of the “Castleisland Volunteers”. Prominently identified with the Sinn Fein Movement of that time, he was one of the first local judges of the Republican courts, and spent some time during the troubles in hiding, a fugitive from the British authorities. W.H is mentioned in the book “Kerry’ Fighting Story 1916-21”, published by “The Kerrymnan Ltd” of Tralee.

Being a fluent Irish speaker, his house and business ”The Fountain Warehouse” displayed his name outside in Irish. In 1921, this property was burnt, with two other republican owned buildings in the town by the Black and Tans as reprisal for the shooting of two RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) guards out-

side Castleisland parish church. The shooting, by men on motorcycles wearing trench coats, was witnessed by his wife Julia and daughter Peggy as they left church after Sunday mass. The irony of this event is that one of the RIC officers who died was a good friend of W.H’s wife. Following the burning of the house, the family lived for about seven years at Artane lodge, on Puckstown Road (now Collins Avenue) in Donnycarney, Dublin. During this time, Julia managed a retail drapery shop in Talbot St., Dublin. Artane Lodge was later sold and demolished, the land being developed as a Dublin suburb. Julia O’Connor sought, through the courts, compensation for the burning of their house. Compensation was paid by the British authorities and a new house was built on the same site, a 3 story, 12 bedroom house with drapery and grocery business beneath, also a small lounge bar preserving the old name “The Fountain Bar”. Building was completed in 1927, when W.H named his new home “The Kingdom House”, after “The Kingdom of Kerry”. Julia managed the retail business at their new home and was a director of W.H O’Connor Ltd. “The Kingdom House” was a large home of great Character; among it’s features was “The Crow’s nest”, a roofed platform above the house, open at the sides, providing wonderful views of Castleisland town and surrounding countryside; also a flat roof for leisure activities and a snooker room. At the rear were several barns, a greenhouse with grapevine lovingly tended by Julia, and a large yard always full of hens, geese and turkeys. “The Kingdom House” was sold out of the family in 1984, sadly much changed, with shops and yet another “Fountain Bar” installed beneath.

www.rhyno.ie/wh-history.htm

James & Maureen Moloney, formerly of Dromaddamore, Lyreacrompane and now Ashbourne, Co. Meath were presented with a replica of the Sam Maguire in Cavan Crystal. The presentation was made by the Donaghamore GAA Club, Ashbourne on the occasion of James retirement from the club and their 60th wedding

Anniversary in 2009. On the right; James and Maureen on their wedding day.

Now is a good time to plan a visit home in 2012 for the Dan Paddy Andy Festival August Bank Holiday Weekend – 3rd to the 6th . Watch out for details on WWW.LYREACROMPANE.COM

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