It has been nearly 4 years since I posted anything on this blog, mostly because my PhD got in the way along with the deadend I reached in my genealogical endevours! However, I cannot resist sharing the latest development from my foray into my family's history. I was recently contacted by a relative with more information about the Whelan side of the family. I was particularly curious about a reference to a Nora Whelan who was murdered in 1936. Further research into this story unearthed a rather grusome tale.
To begin with, I will briefly explain where Nora fits into the family tree. She was the niece of my great-grandfather, Christopher Whelan. Her father was Christopher's brother, Thomas, who you may recall from an earlier post, died in 1918 from tuberculosis contracted in France during World War I. Nora would have been born around the time of his death, or been no more than 1 year old.
Here is a picture of Norah taken from the Irish Press Newpaper, December 7th, 1936, aged 18:
The details of her untimely death can be found in nearly every newpaper of the time, and the resource called Irish News Archive has proved immensely helpful in finding out the details of her story. Here is the headline from one of the most comprehensive articles on the case:
Patrick Boylan [23], of Coburg Place, Dublin, was charged with the murder of Nora on December 5th, 1936. At the time of the murder, Nora was working for Jacobs biscuit factory and was the sweetheart of Patrick. Fearing that Nora was switching her affections to another man, Patrick Boylan became enraged and slit her throat with a razor:
After that, Boylan fled saying: "I knew I done it. I'll swing for it; I'll do the Canal". Boylan was subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to death for Nora's murder. The execution date was set for May 7th, 1937, but the day beforehand he received a reprieve. I have yet to find out what happened to Patrick Boylan after this reprieve but I have put some feelers out on some genealogical forums and hopefully something will come from that. What is undeniable is that this was a tragedy. Nora's father died before she ever had a chance to know him, and then met an untimely death herself at such a young age. Coincidentally, however, my grandfather also ended up working for Jacob's biscuit factory, but he was too young to remember when Nora was murdered.
Hi Fiona.
ReplyDeleteMy wife came across your blog through a Google search as her mother is a half sister of Norah
Whelan. The family came from Bride Street Dublin.
Her mother's father was Joseph Whelan and was the second husband of Elizabeth Christopher being the first your great grandfather My mother in law passed away on the 10 September 2016 as was the last of the Whelans.Born Brigid Whelan 11 Jan 1923 her married name was Scannell.
Pat Kirwan.
Fiona Whelan was the first cousin of my great grandmother Elizabeth Baker new Treacy (1895-1986). Her mother Mary Whelan was the older sister of Christopher and Thomas Whelan.
ReplyDeleteSorry meant to say Nora ha
ReplyDeleteDavid
My grandmother Mary Whelan died in her 99th year . She was present at Coburg Street with her husband Patrick Mcneil (my grandfather ) when her sister Nora Whelan was murdered by Patrick Boylan. CoincidentallyPatrick Boylans nephew was a friend of my father and it wasn’t until there was a party in our house near ccc the South circular Road D8 in the 1950s that the connection was made between my father’s friend Michael Boylan and his uncle Patrick Boylan who had murdered Nora Whelan in 1936. My mother Margaret Rita Brennan nee mcneil was out that day in an ice cream parlour in O’Connell Street with Nora on the same day that she was murdered. My mother Margaret told us years later that when Patrick Boylan was released from detention he immediately made his way to my great grandmothers house, the mother of Nora and got down on his knees as he begged for forgiveness for the his murder of Nora. My great grandmother Elizabeth Whelan did forgive him and we heard that he went to England and had a family there.I do recall also being in Egypt with my daughter Claire In around 2003 and we tried to locate Nora’s brothers grave at Alamein As he died after the battle when the war was won In a tragic accident as they celebrated beating Rommels army , within a few years this whelan family had lost a father and three children, Nora, Johnny, Thomas and Thomas senior, my great grandfather who is brother Christopher was also in the great war.
ReplyDeleteThis information may help someone who is trying to delve further into their family tree. Happy days to you all. Ray Brennan
We did try to find out where Christopher Whelans Brother Thomas was buried, but no joy as yet. He died in 1918 I believe from TB which he picked up in the trenches during the Second World War, probably in France.
ReplyDeleteHi Bridget Scannell nee Whealan is my Mother in Law I am married to her daughter Betty.We read about the tragedy in True Detective magazine. We believe one her brothers was an artist and a painting by him is in a church in South Dublin does anyone know of it.
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