RO-KLBG-0265

This O'Flynn monument is spectacularly ornate. On the plinth are the words ' DESIGNED AND EXECUTED BY PAT^K  O'FLYNN who was a stonemason. The tools of a stone mason are symbolised on the headstone.

Civil marriage record shows that Catherine Flynn was nee McNeill from Kings County & she married Patrick Flynn on 7 August 1876 in the parish of Lemanaghan Co. Offaly. 

Civil marriege records shows John Flynn (died 1975) married Bridget Loughnane in1934 in Moore Chapel. She was daughter of William Loughnane Tanvey. John was son of Patrick Flynn & Catherine McNeill, Tubberaheen, Ballydangan.

Other writings on this headstone "AIR_TIR".

Census record for Pat and Catherine Flynn, Toberiheen Ballydangan 1901: 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Roscommon/Ballydangan/Toberiheen/1654944/

Census record for Pat and Catherine Flynn, Toberiheen Ballydangan 1911: 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Roscommon/Ballydangan/Toberiheen/776906/

Census record for Bridget Loughnane (later Flynn) in 1911: 

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Roscommon/Ballydangan/Tonvey/776922/

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THE MAGNIFICENT MONUMENT IN KILBEGLEY CEMETERY

Designed & Executed by Mr Patrick O’Flynn, Liberty

The following article published in the Connaught Telegraph on the 24th March 1877 is a description by Mr Patrick O Flynn the stonecutter to an unknown author of all the details of this magnificent monument and the explanation as to what each symbol means to him. The interview was carried out in Liberty on the site where the headstone was chiselled out and just before it was removed to Kilbegley Cemetery in 1877.

“A very beautiful piece of old Keltic monumental art which has attracted the attention of a great many of the Clergy and Gentry of the districts surrounding Ballinasloe is now in the last stages of its execution by the artist Mr Patrick O’Flynn. The design is original and thoroughly Irish; The execution carried out with a degree of vigour, ease and grace, truly marvellous; It consists of an old Keltic Cross cut out of a large limestone block; The panels of which are tastefully surrounded by exquisitely carved roping borders; On the front panel of the cross is carved an exquisite figure of the crucifixion; The nails on the feet, the crown of thorns on the head and the swelling in the vicinity of the nails have been admirably shown forth. The expression of deep anguish on the face of the dying Redeemer has been startled into life, from the cold stone beneath by the subtle hand of the chiseller; Beneath the crucifix is a hammer, a large nail and a pincer; Immediately above is a beautiful Seraphic Vignette of an Angel with wings expanded just as if alighting on the cross and with the happy tidings of man’s Redemption on his lips; Standing on the top of the old Keltic cross is a timely carved figure of St Michael, with the trumpet in his hands and looking down into the grave beneath him and beckoning with the finger, as if admonishing the dead ashes to prepare for that terrible warning which shall annihilate the earth and sphere. While in the other hand he holds the trumpet in readiness to sound the last warning which the earth shall hear and heed “Arise and come to judgement” On the opposite of this panel St Patrick stands out boldly with crosier firmly grasped in his left hand. While the right hand triumphantly holds up to the enraptured gaze of the beholder “The Shamrock” by which he exemplified to the Irish Chiefs of Tara the sublime mystery of the Trinity. The edge of this panel is beautifully and artistically bordered with shamrocks; Beneath St. Patrick is a serpent.

The inscription slab into which the cross is to penetrate is very finely finished, the polish exquisite, the design chaste and beautiful. The first panel contains the inscription and the opposite panel contains a most expressive and really perfect figure of an angel in kneeling posture, fervently gazing into the firmament with a pleading and earnest face. Around this panel are whole groups of shamrocks, large bunches of luscious grapes chiselled out with the greatest delicacy, very ripe and soft looking and just ready to drop from the bunch. It also contains some strawberry leaves scattered here and there. This slab will rest upon two others which are very appropriate figures symbolic of our Ancient Civilisation and Nationality. On one is cut out ivy nicely creeping along the rough rock with an olive branch, at the end of which is a dove, very perfectly exhibited plucking a leaf off the branch. On the other end is a lily. The second slab is a complete picture in itself. In the centre is the Harp of Brian Boru. On either side are two scrolls bearing the motto “Air-Tir or “Our Country” in the mother tongue. The old capital Keltic letters are very finely cut out. On the right end is an old Keltic Cross, while the left is fittingly occupied by an old round tower which guards with unfailing vigilance the antiquity of our literature, our music and our architecture.

Folklore tells us this monument was vandalised at Liberty, by patrons returning home from a local establishment at night. A large chunk was hacked out of the right hand side of the headstone. Patrick O’Flynn repaired it to such a high standard that almost 140 years later it is still intact.

Comments by the author; “The combined piece of whole art vividly brings to mind the early part of the twelfth century when the Irish were such able masters of the chisel. Once more we see before us the work of Irish Genius and while gazing on it we are forcibly reminded of the neglect with which any manifestation of Irish Geniuses or Enterprise have been met for the past seven centuries;

“No fostering hand extended to help. No cheering voice to urge it on;

No wonder that the genius of our countrymen should be strangled at its birth;

No wonder that at its very inception it should shrink up, wither and decay;

We understand Mr Patrick O’Flynn is about to remain in this locality if ably encouraged to give his countrymen the benefit of his Genius. We cannot but think he should be an acquisition to our Province, particularly as he is a Connaught man who has honourably advanced himself in another country by his own energies, this monument has been erected as a tribute of filial affection by Patrick O’Flynn as a labour of love from a son to his mother”.

Another fine example of the stonecutter Patrick O’Flynn’s work is a small bridge on the new line road between Attyrory and Atticorra in the parish of Creagh built in 1881 prior to Patrick immigrating to the USA.

Who was Julia O’Flynn for whom this memorial was erected?

Julia O’Flynn was nee Coen, the daughter of Mr John Coen, Aughrim, Co Galway. She was niece of Most Rev. Thomas Coen, Bishop of Clonfert and Rev. James Coen, P.P. Lusmagh, Kings County or (Offaly) and sister of Rev. Thomas Coen P.P. Killoran, and Abbeygormican. Her grandfather was a head gamekeeper and a wood ranger to Lord Clonbrock, Ahascragh, he lived on the “Oilean” or the “Island”. This island was named “Coen’s Garden” Julia Coen married Patrick O’Flynn from Liberty about 1845. 

Who was Patrick O’Flynn? {Husband of Julia Coen}

He was a farmer, publican and shopkeeper. In Griffiths Valuation (circa 1856) the house and buildings belonging to Patrick Flinn was valued at £3, significantly higher than other houses in the village of Liberty and Patrick farmed 39 acres and 23 perches. He ran a licensed premise; we see his application each year to the courts to have his license renewed up until 1864. In the Dublin Evening Herald, we read that on the 23rd June 1865, Patrick Flynn of Liberty in the County Roscommon, farmer & shopkeeper not now in any business declared himself bankrupt and insolvent. It is not known what happen to Patrick after this date.

Patrick and Julia had two sons: Patrick & Thomas

After a lot of national and international research we find both Thomas and Patrick in the Boston area of USA. Patrick C. O’Flynn born 20th March 1853 applied on the 17th July 1883 to the District of Boston in Massachusetts to be placed on the Federal Naturalisation Records. His application reads Patrick C. O’Flynn, age 30 years, Stonecutter, born in Co Roscommon, age 31 year. Patrick C O’Flynn son of Patrick O’Flynn & Julia Coen married Mary Boland age 24, daughter of Thomas & Catherine Boland on the 28th September 1884 in St. Joseph’s Church, Roxbury. Patrick & Mary became parents to six children: Julia (1885), Patrick (1887), Mary Agnes (1888), Helena (1892), Loretta (1894), George (1896) Patrick died 22nd May 1925 age 71 years, mason, from a fall of a truss-accidental. Patrick was interred in St. Josephs Cemetery, West Roxbury, Boston, Mass, USA.

Thomas C O’Flynn born 1st March 1846 applied on the 14th September 1876 to the District of Boston in Massachusetts to be placed on the Federal Naturalisation Records (1798-1950). His application reads Thomas C O'Flynn, age 30 years, grocer born in Co Roscommon. Thomas C. O Flynn, son of Patrick O’Flynn and Julia Coen married Maria F Staunton age 30 the daughter of Michael and Mary Staunton on the 20th November 1881 in St Joseph’s Church, Roxbury. Thomas and Maria had no family. Thomas died 6th July 1891 age 45 years from Tuberculosis and was interred in Mount Calvary Cemetery, 366 Cummins Highway, Roslindale, Mass. According to a Boston Newspaper, 

“Mr. Thomas O’Flynn was a highly esteemed member of Montgomery Club. The members of the club expressed their deepest sorry at his early demise and tendered to his bereaved family their hearth felt sympathy. It was voted the members attend the funeral in a body”. 

As I conclude this editorial of the stonemason Patrick O’Flynn, I would like to acknowledge all who contributed to this research. A DVD presentation on this monument was presented as part of the Heritage night held in Moore Hall in August 2018.

Maureen Duffy, Moore History Group 2018