Blennerhassett Cashel

The death of 4 of their children in 1878, and another in 1880: Maria Agnes went with her dau Agnes to stay with Tralee relations for a couple of days holiday, "There had been a tragedy, common enough in those days. While Grandmother was away for a couple of days holiday, 3 of the children became ill. Grandmother rushed home only to see them die of diptheria." [Pat Lavelle], Willie and John died Sept 1878, Annie died Nov 1878, Agnes remembered little 2 year old Willie leaning out the window as they pulled away, never said goodbye, [Pat Lavelle] says: "Within that same year 2 other children got typhoid and these also died.", Eileen died Dec 1878, there may also have been a child Daniel, as at Sept 1878 they had 7 children, by Dec 1878 they had only 3 children, only no.1, no.2 and no.7 survived, they then had another baby, Blennerhassett, who died Aug 1880, "They say Grandmother never really got over it. She was never again full of fun and laughter, and she was still young when she died.",

he is listed as "station master", Great Southern and Western Railway (GSWR), living Railway Station, Thurles, Co.Tipperary, at Blennerhassett's birth 1879 through Blennerhassett's death 1880,
station master at Limerick from Feb 1881 to at least 1891,

he travelled to London to give evidence at Bow Street on July 14, 1882, in the trial for treason of Thomas Walsh, of London, Walsh was charged with sending arms from London to individuals in Ireland, Blen reported how cases containing arms had arrived at Limerick station in Dec 1881, see The Times, July 15, 1882, listed as "station master", GSWR, living Railway Cottage, South Henry St, Limerick, at Madeline's birth, 23 July 1882, see his testimony here and here in the Trial of Thomas Walsh, 31st July 1882, in The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, Walsh was convicted and got 7 years, interesting that Blen's father was a policeman, he was a witness for the crown against subversives, and yet his children were Sinn Feiners,

he knew Stephen O'Mara from when he lived in Limerick, their children met in Limerick summer 1891,
"station master", living Carey's Rd, Limerick (near the station), as at his brother's death Oct 1891, will pr Nov 1891 [NAI],
settled in Cork post-1891,
"goods agent", living 52 Lower Glanmire Rd, Cork, as at Agnes' mar 1895,
this is right beside Cork railway station (current railway station built 1893, replacing earlier buildings),
Maria Agnes died Fri 10th Jan 1896, 52 Lr Glanmire Rd, age 49 yrs [GROI],
funeral Sun 12th Jan, bur St.Joseph's cemetery, Cork,
had issue by 1st wife:

1. Agnes Cashel [Mary Agnes, "Agg", "Ag"],
   born 21st Dec 1870, Main St, Mallow, Co.Cork [GROI].

   
   

2. Kathleen Cashel,
   Kat, Kattie, "Aunt Katty", "Aunt Kate", NOT Kathy,
   born "Kathaleen Mary Cashel", 11th May 1872, New St, Mallow, Co.Cork [GROI],
   wit her sister Agnes' mar 1895,
   mar 30th Apr 1904, St.Patrick's, Cork [GROI], to Jack Riordan and had issue.

   
   

3. Eileen Mary Cashel ["Ellen" in birth record, "Eileen" in death],
   born Banteer, NC Co.Cork, 9th Aug 1873 [GROI],
   died of "diptheria", Seefin, Birr par, Co.Offaly, 31st Dec 1878, age 5 yrs [GROI].

4. Annie Cashel,
   Anne, born Banteer, NC Co.Cork, 23rd Oct 1874 [GROI],
   died of "inflammation of the bowels", 28th Nov 1878, Seefin, Birr par, Co.Offaly, age 4 yrs [GROI].

5. Willie Cashel,
   William, William Henry, same name as his uncle,
   born 13th Dec 1875, Railway Station, Newbridge, Co.Kildare [GROI],
   died of "croup", 8th Sept 1878, Seefin, Birr par, Co.Offaly, age 2 yrs [GROI].

6. John Cashel,
   John George, born 15th July 1877, Railway Station, Newbridge, Co.Kildare [GROI],
   died of "croup", 8th Sept 1878, Seefin, Birr par, Co.Offaly, age 1 yr [GROI].

   
   

7. Alice Cashel [Alice Mary, "Aunt Al"],
   born 17th July 1878, Seefin, Birr par, Co.Offaly [GROI],
   Sinn Fein activist and County Councillor.

   
   

8. Blennerhassett Joseph Cashel,
   born 6th Aug 1879, Railway Station, Thurles, Co.Tipperary [GROI],
   died 7th Aug 1880, Railway Station, Thurles, of "diarrhoea", age 1 yr [GROI].

   
   

9. George Cashel [George Edward],
   born 12th July 1880, Railway Station, Thurles, Co.Tipperary [GROI],
   only son to survive infancy,
   in [UK census, 31st Mar 1901] he is found staying with his sister's family in Paddington, London,
   listed as single, working as "Bacon Salesman" (his sister's husband James O'Mara was the London agent for his family company, O'Mara's Bacon Co.),
   volunteered for Canadian army in WWI, his sister Alice (the Sinn Fein supporter) wouldn't see him off,
   [Canadian WWI records] list him as Regimental Number: 112012, (todo) see record,
   not injured in war, settled in Canada,
   worked Waterworks Dept, Vancouver,
   lived Vancouver Island,
   mar Maggie ----, no issue,
   he was described as "the last of the Cashels" but this branch has since discovered that he was not,
   he died Vancouver, 7 May 1956, age 75 yrs,
   (todo) see death cert, Vancouver, ref. 1956-09-005655, BCA B13228 GSU 2033104,
   Maggie survived him.

   
   

10. Madeline Cashel ["Aunt Dot", Madeline Mary, poss. "Madeliene"],
    born 23rd July 1882, Railway Cottage, South Henry St, Limerick [GROI],
    supporter of Sinn Fein as early as her brother-in-law James O'Mara c.1907 [see [Lavelle, 1961]],
    living Little Island, Co.Cork, at time of mar 1914 [GROI],
    mar 16th July 1914, University Church, St.Stephen's Green, Dublin [GROI]
    to William M. Conacher and had issue.

    
    

11. think Daniel Cashel,
    died young, poss. of typhoid,
    can't find in [GROI], NOT Daniel of Lismore, 1885.

living "Knocknacool", College Rd, Cork, at death 1915,
died at his residence, "Knocknacool", Thur 21st Oct 1915, age 67 yrs, "railway superintendant" [GROI],
death notice in [The Evening Echo, Cork, Fri 22nd Oct] and [Cork Examiner, Fri 22nd Oct], listed as "goods agent" at Cork for GSWR,
funeral Sat 23rd Oct, bur St.Joseph's cemetery, Cork,
funeral list in [The Evening Echo, Cork, Sat 23rd Oct] and [Cork Examiner, Mon 25th Oct],
see death notice in Irish Times, October 30, 1915,
admin of estate granted at Cork, 20th Dec 1915, to Marion, admin survives in [NAI], no will,
he is listed as "railway agent" and "goods agent", GSWR.

Marion and dau Helen lived at Little Island, Co.Cork, for a time,
they also lived near Carrigaline (near Cork) for a time,
Helen mar 1926,
Marion living 17 Knockrea park, Douglas Rd, Cork, with Helen and family at time of death 1940,
will dated 26th Feb 1940, at Mercy Hospital, Cork, very short, all property to dau Helen,
died 4th [grave] or 5th [NAI] or 6th [GROI] of Apr 1940, Mercy Hospital, Cork,
age 67 yrs [GROI] or 73 yrs [NAI] or 75 yrs [grave],
bur St.Joseph's cemetery, Cork,
admin of estate (with will) granted 28th Oct 1940 at Cork to dau Helen [NAI],
had issue by 2nd wife:

1. Helen Cashel,
   born "Helena Mary", 17th Oct 1899, 52 Lr Glanmire Rd, Cork [GROI],
   almost a generation younger than her half-sisters and half-brother, Pat Lavelle described it that (her grandfather) "had a baby daughter for his old age", "Helen was a year younger than me and we were very good friends",
   her living 5 Eldred Terrace, South Douglas Rd, Cork, at mar, think listed as "Typist",
   mar 18th Aug 1926, Douglas, Cork [GROI] to Frank McGrath and had issue.

No.1 Knocknacool. Now owned by UCC.
Photo 2006. See full size.

No.2 Knocknacool. Now occupied by a dentist.
Photo 2006. See larger and full size.
See close-up.

(Left to Right): George Cashel (George Edward Cashel, born 1880), his wife Maggie, and a Mrs. Stevens,
Lulu Island, Vancouver, 1956.

• Rail transport in Ireland
  • History of rail transport in Ireland

Send me additions and corrections to this site Updates (please include your name and contacts): Send me a file from your computer: If you don't understand this form, use the long version. Or just email me. Enter this password: