Person Page - 32

Edward Dowling was born in 1826 in Attanagh, Co Laois, Ireland.^3,4

Between 1855 and 1882 Edward Dowling was Principal of the Boys' School at Ballyouskill, Co Kilkenny.² In 21 October 1861 he married Judith Mooney, daughter of William Mooney and Lizzie Butler, at County Kilkenny who was Principal of the Boys' School at the time^1,3,4 and died in 1882.^2,4

Edward was a School Principal.²

William Dowling was born on 21 May 1864 at Ballyragget, Co Kilkenny, Ireland.^5,6 and became a President of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation.^5,7 He married Catherine Hackett, daughter of Patrick Hackett, on 6 June 1883 at Kilkenny, Ireland,^8,3,5,9 The report of the Inspector dated 13 February 1885 indicated that he was the Headmaster of the Sliabh Rua Girls' School and that he had come from Attanagh.⁹ William Dowling died in 19 November 1906 in Ireland.^3,4

William Dowling was a Headmaster in Slieverue, Co Kilkenny.^1,3,5,9

Edward Dowling PP BD, son of William Dowling and Catherine Hackett, was born in 1886. His native parish was Slieverue.^5,2,4 Edward Dowling PP BD was also known as Ned.⁶

He went to St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co Kildare for four years² and was ordained there on 21 June 1908.^2,4 He initially served in England in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle where he spent three years.^2,1,4 He was then appointed a professor at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny.²

Edward Dowling PP BD began military service on 18 November 1914 as a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces for the British Army.^2,1,4,7 It would appear from his file at the PRO Kew that he obtained a temporary commission in the 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers and that he embarked for England the following day on the RMS Normania. The file also shows that he declared his next of kin to be Mrs Dowling, Slieverue.

He was promoted a few times but the file does not give service ranks only chaplaincy grades. It is likely that this meant that he held various grades of chaplain and that each grade was allowed to wear the service uniform of the equivalent officer rank. The only grades noted in the file are first, third and fourth. All of his changes of grade will have appeared in the London Gazette on or about the date they were awarded or removed. There are some texts of Gazette entries in the file. His War Medal Record card shows that he held the rank of 3rd Class Reverend Major at some point during his time with the Royal Army Chaplain's Department.

He appears to have spent all of his service in France. His details are:

Temporary Commission 18 November 1914
Chaplain 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers 19 November 1914 - 4 January 1917
APC (Assistant Principal Chaplain) Havre 4 January 1917
He was declared fit on his Certificate of Disability at Rouen^8,7

Other information shows that he was promoted to Chaplain 1st Class on 30 November 1916 and held the appointment of Assistant Principal Chaplain.⁷ At some point during his service he was mentioned in despatches.⁷

However, his service file in The National Archives at Kew records that his military service in France ended at the beginning of 1920. A report on him says that the Rev E Dowling Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Forces was struck off the strength of the British Troops in France & Flanders on 9 January 1920 in consequence of demobilization. The report further records that:

His Character was Excellent
His Fitness was Good
His General suitability for duty as an Army Chaplain was Suitable
No entry appears under Special Aptitudes or Weaknesses
1st Class Rank from 1 January 1917 to 1 September 1919 was Satisfactory

During his service he was awarded the 1914 Star with clasp, the British War Medal 1914-1920 and the Victory Medal 1914-1919. These three medals collectively were know as, Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. At some point he was made a Grand Officer of the Order of Aviz by the President of the Portuguese Republic. It is not known how he qualified for the award but it is known that after WWI foreign governments exchanged awards with the British Government and he probably received it as part of that arrangement. He retired from the Army on 13 February 1920.^{9,7,10,11,12,13}

Like many others he kept a diary in which he recorded his thoughts and observations on the experiences of his fellows. His diary provides a picture of the misery and danger they endured and the spirit and courage they showed. In 1934 he added a few pages of personal thoughts on what appears to have been a celebration of remembrance both in Ireland and the UK. I am grateful to Julie Dorgan for arranging for me to have a copy of the transcipt she did from the original for her father, Dermot. She doesn't know where the original is.¹⁴

Whilst serving at Le Havre, France, he became a godfather to Patricia Ann Sutherland, later to adopt the surname Reynardson, who was the daughter of Christina Helen Sutherland who worked for the Red Cross at a small orphanage/hospital called Salle Franklin. There is a building called Salle des Fetes Franklin in Le Havre (2020) which may be the same building.¹⁵

On 21 February 1921 he was a curate at Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny.^2,4 He remained a curate in Co Kilkenny moving to Clontubrid on 16 April 1923,^2,4 Dunamangan on 31 August 1925,^2,4 and Gathabawn on 20 September 1932^2,4 becoming the parish priest at Camross, County Laois in 1942.²

At some point in his life, he collaborated with his brother on a history of St. Kieran's College but it was never published for a variety of reasons. The material they put together was very valuable and was used for later histories of the college.²

Later in life Edward Dowling PP BD was referred to as Colonel the Very Rev. Edward Dowling PP BD.^3,16,17

Edward Dowling PP BD left a will on 22 September 1959. The transcript of his diary starts with a section entitled 'Author's background' which includes:

In his will dated 22 September 1959 the Rev. Edward bequethed 'such books from my library as they choose' to his brother Patrick J Dowling, and the latter's daughter Catherine. 'My war medals and cross and star of the Grand Officer of Aviz (Portugal) with certificate to my nephew Thomas Lionel Dowling, son of the above Patrick J Dowling' . The rest of his estate was willed to his sister Julia Kate Dowling of Slievrue, Waterford and if she is dead to my nieces in equal shares, Mrs William Walsh and Mrs Patrick Phelan, both of Slieverue aforesaid.⁴

Edward Dowling PP BD died on 7 June 1960 at Camross Church at his mass.^5,3,18,2 He was buried on 9 June 1960 at Old Churchyard, Camross. By 11 September 2002 the old church had been made into a Millennium Garden. A new modern church stands nearby but there is no indication of when it was built.

Rev. Ed. Dowling's grave is at the right-hand side of the front row of the graves in the central section behind the old church. The inscription on the elaborate headstone reads:

Pray for the repose / of the soul of / Very Rev Ed. Dowling PP BD / (Camross) / Who died 7th June 1960 age 74 yrs / Parish Priest Camross 1942 1960 / REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Tony Mooney recalls:

Judith and I were pleased to find that the grave was in very good condition with French marigolds planted all over it. It was a joy to behold. Dermot Dorgan had mentioned to me that he had been to see the grave a few years before and found it to be in very poor condition. He had written to the parish priest in very strong terms and hoped it would be properly tidied up. We took a photo of the grave and sent it to Dermot so he could see the result of his letter. We also took two other photos of the old church.^5,2,19

His obituary appeared in the Kilkenny People on Saturday 11 June 1960 which read:


Very Rev. Edward Dowling P.P., Camross, Laois, who died suddenly on Wednesday morning, was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Dowling, national teachers, Slievrue. Aged 73, he was appointed parish priest at Camross in 1941.

During the first World War he was head chaplain with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, retiring with the rank of Colonel. Later he ministered as curate in Castlecomer, Clontubrid and Gathabawn before being appointed parish priest at Camross.^18,20

Two letters exist from Ned to his brother Patrick. Both were written during the first few months of WWI.⁶

A biographical article about Ned appeared in Sliabh Rua: A History of its People and Places. circa 2001 It includes a picture of him wearing his medals and the Cross of Aviz.²¹

Circa 1938 Edward Dowling PP BD was photographed with Catherine May Patricia Dowling his niece who was 'very close to him'.⁶

His niece, Catherine Pearce, wrote about him circa 2000:


Edward was the eldest of the Dowling children. Always known as Ned, he was apparently a very clever boy and a bit mischievous. My father said that after seeing Cossacks in a circus, he took his sister’s dolls, tied them to sticks which he set up in the field, and then tried to decapitate them while galloping on the pony. He won a gold medal for mathematics, perhaps while a pupil at St. Kieran's college, and then went on to Maynooth to train for the priesthood. His first curacy was in the north of England, and as a child, I was amused to see that as a leaving present he had been presented with a smoking cabinet by the Temperance League, as he was fond of a glass of whisky. He was adventurous, selling a gold watch for the fare to the United States, where he visited some cousins. Many years later, when in the States myself, I visited the old ladies and saw photographs of him as a young man; his visit was vividly remembered. He used to go hunting with clerical friends, and had a story of a young priest wearing a new top hat who fell on his head, causing his hat to jam over his ears. His friends became impatient of trying to get the hat off, and one suggested cutting a hole in it so that he could see. He begged them not to, as it was new. Presumably it came off. He taught at Maynooth for some time, and when the First World War broke out, he volunteered to be a chaplain. This seemed to have been the high point of his life; he certainly talked about it all the time, though sadly I cannot now remember the stories that entranced me as a child. Catholic chaplains were in the front line, in order to administer the sacraments to the dying, and he had many tales of life in the trenches. Robert Graves, in his autobiography Goodbye to All That, said that only RC chaplains were respected by the troops, because they were at the front. My uncle always had a cold bath in the morning, to the accompaniment of bursts of song and shouts; I was never sure if he enjoyed it or thought that was what English officers did. At the end of the war he held the rank of colonel, and was chaplain general to the Irish forces. He received many decorations, and I think found life a little flat in a country parish. When he lived at Gathabawn, we used to go there one day during our summer holidays for lunch, which was always a splendid spread. He invented names for some of the dishes: whisked jelly was “angel's whiskers”.There were many Protestants in the area and one lived opposite the church. Uncle Ned notice him going into the church occasionally and asked his housekeeper if old Sam was getting religious. “Oh no”, she said, “the leg of his bed went through the floor and squashed his alarm clock so he goes into the church to see the time”, the clock being placed at the back visible from the altar. About 1943 he became parish priest in Camross in County Laoighis. This was supposed to be an honour, because it was the parish from which the then bishop came. It was a very remote place,only there were no metalled roads in the parish, and he could only get petrol for his car, which was supposed to be used for parish duties, by going out of the parish. He took a great interest in the area, and when I stayed with him in 1944, took me to a place where there were lumps of what looked like molten glass in a field, wondering if glass had been made there. There were said to have been unusual goats on the mountains, and he offered a reward for one, but it seemed they had all been shot to feed the Dublin Zoo. He built a parish hall, and arranged classes for the winter months. He told stories of his annoying visiting dignitaries, who were questioning the school children, by saying to a child: “Who put the quack in the duck? “ The girl answered shyly ‘The drake, father’ On another occasion a child said in confession that she had bad thoughts. When he asked where she got that idea she said: “The nuns said it was things running in your head.” He replied: “Tell the nuns you have nothing running in your head that a nit comb wouldn’t deal with.”²²

He was a Parish Priest.²

John Dowling was born on 20 October 1868 at Ballyragget, Kilkenny, Ireland.⁴ He wrote a well-known history of the Hedge Schools of Ireland and other books and articles. He taught in London.¹

John Dowling was a Professor in England.³ He died at Kilkenny, unmarried, in the 1920s from drink.^5,2,6 At some point in his life, he collaborated with his brother on a history of St. Kieran's College but it was never published for a variety of reasons. The material they put together was very valuable and was used for later histories of the college.¹

Elizabeth Dowling was born in 1877.¹ She became a National Teacher and was the assistant to her mother at the Girls' School, Ballyouskill becoming the principal when her mother retired. Eventually she herself retired due to ill-health in 1916. It is said that her illness was caused by drink between 1898 and 1916.^1,2,3

Elizabeth Dowling married John Shiel., son of Andrew Shiel, on 26 January 1904 at Ballyouskill.^1,4,5,6

Elizabeth died on 25 March 1917 at Ballyouskill.^1,2,3,7

Elizabeth Dowling was a National Teacher between 1898 and 1916.^8,9,3

Edward Dowling was born on 11 June 1871 at Ballyragget, Kilkenny, Cornwall.² Edward Dowling was also known as Neddy.³

Edward Dowling was a Farmer^4,5 who remained in Ballouskill all his life.⁴ He died in 1951 unmarried.^1,4

Elizabeth Shiel was born on 3 June 1909 in Ballyouskill.^2,4 Elizabeth Shiel was also known as Cissi.³

Elizabeth Shiel married Mr (?) Dunne¹ and died in 1972.³

Mary Shiel was born on 26 November 1904 in Ballyouskill.^3,4

Mary Shiel married.¹

Mary Shiel died in 1991 at a good age.^5,2

Andrew William Shiel was born on 21 November 1910 at Ballyouskill.^2,4

Sold his farm and became a sales representative at Dublin for Singer sewing machines.^1,5

Andrew William Shiel died in 1977.^5,3

Andrew William Shiel was a Sales Rep.^1,5

Michael Fogartyprobably came from Earlsgarden.^2,3 He married Mary Mooney, daughter of William Mooney and Lizzie Butler, A number of children were born to them but only one, Edward, can be accounted for.^1,2,3 Michael Fogarty died before 1880. He was advanced in years and long predeceased his wife. Michael was probably dead when her brother William came to live with her after he left the DMP.^3,4

Michael Fogarty was a Small Farmer and Labourer.^1,3

Edward Fogarty was born circa 1930.³ Edward Fogarty also went by the name of Neddy.²

Edward Fogarty married Elizabeth Maher.¹

Edward Maher was born circa 1930.¹ Edward Maher was also known as Neddy.² He was said by Dermot Dorgan, who knew him, to have been mildly retarded but able to read and write.² He died in 1987 aged 57.¹

Judith (?) was a Housekeeper.¹ Later she was housekeeper to John Mooney of Grennan (an unknown value.)¹

Ellen Mooney was born in 1896 at Grennan.^5,6,7 Ellen Mooney also went by the name of Nell.^8,5

Ellen Mooney married Tom Hanlon.^1,5 Circa 1930 Ellen Mooney was photographed with Richard Mooney and Catherine Collins outside their family home in Grennan. Mary Downey, Margaret Mary Mooney, Tom Hanlon, Jimmy Hanlon, Andy Hanlon, Jack Mooney and Andrew Mooney and two girls called Regan also appeared in the photo.⁹

Dermot Dorgan recalled that his sister Sheila, who lives in Dublin, knew a Mrs O'Hanlon who was a Mooney and that Sheila stayed with her in 1952. Apparently, she knew Patrick Joseph Mooney well but was not connected with the O'Hanlons of New Ross.^1,10,11

Tom Hanlon married Ellen Mooney, daughter of Andrew Mooney and Mary Downey.^1,3 At one time he was a worker at the railway works at Inchicore in Dublin. (an unknown value.)^1,4 Later, he was employed by the Royal Liver and rose to be District Manager for the North Dublin area. (an unknown value.)⁴

Tom Hanlon was a District Manager.⁴ Circa 1930 Tom Hanlon was photographed with Richard Mooney and Catherine Collins outside their family home in Grennan. Mary Downey, Margaret Mary Mooney, Ellen Mooney, Jimmy Hanlon, Andy Hanlon, Jack Mooney and Andrew Mooney and two girls called Regan also appeared in the photo.⁵

At some time Sheila was an employee at the General Post Office Savings Bank.² She married (?) Fitzpatrick.³ Sheila Dorgan lived at 202 Ballymun Road, Dublin 9, on 10 September 2002.³

Sheila died on 18 September 2017.⁴

? Fogarty was born circa 1907¹ and died in 2001 aged 94.²