TS-CAGB-0018

Record Date: 
27 July 2012
Exact wording of epitaph: 

Front of headstone :

Sacred to the memory of
Owen Cullen
of The Commons
Who departed this life 7th Oct 1869
Aged 65 years.
Also of his beloved daughters
Bridget who died 14th February 1848
Aged 7 years.
And Margaret on the 17th September 1869
Aged 19 years.
Merciful Jesus give rest to
The soul of
Rose relict of Owen Cullen
Who died September 24th 1891
Aged 80 years.

R.I.P.

Left hand side of headstone :

Sacred to the memory of
Mary relict of
Philip Cormick
Urlingford and daughter of
Owen Cullen who departed
This life on the 17th October
1893 aged 59 years.
And Mary K Cormack
Her daughter who died
November 28th 1902
Aged 38 years.
And Thomas P Cormack MD
Died 8th February 1908
Aged 40 years.

RIP.

Right hand side of headstone :

Sacred
to the memory of
Dr. Owen Cullen
Who died 18th April 1886
Aged 30 years and
Michael Cullen
Who died on the 11th September 1880
Aged 23 years.
Pray for the souls of Catherine Cullen
Who died May 10th 1888
Aged 35 years and
John Cullen
Who died March 11th 1892
Aged 44 years.

RIP

Memorial Type: 
Celtic Cross
Grave location
County: 
Latitude: 
52.587488055556
Longitude: 
-7.5412113888889
Number of people commemorated: 
12
People commemorated: 
Name: 
Owen
Surname: 
Cullen
Date of death - day: 
7
Date of death - month: 
October
Date of death - year: 
1869
Age: 
65
Address: 
The Commons
Name: 
Bridget
Date of death - day: 
14
Date of death - month: 
February
Date of death - year: 
1848
Age: 
7
Relationship with first person: 
Daughter
Name: 
Margaret
Date of death - day: 
17
Date of death - month: 
September
Date of death - year: 
1869
Age: 
19
Relationship with first person: 
Daughter
Name: 
Rose
Surname: 
Relict of Owen Cullen
Date of death - day: 
24
Date of death - month: 
September
Date of death - year: 
1891
Age: 
80
Relationship with first person: 
Wife
Name: 
Mary
Surname: 
Relict of Philip Cormack
Date of death - day: 
17
Date of death - month: 
October
Date of death - year: 
1893
Age: 
59
Relationship with first person: 
Daughter
Name: 
Philip
Surname: 
Cormick
Address: 
Urlingford
Relationship with first person: 
Son in law
Name: 
Mary K
Surname: 
Cormack
Date of death - day: 
28
Date of death - month: 
November
Date of death - year: 
1902
Age: 
38
Relationship with first person: 
Grandaughter
Name: 
Thomas P
Surname: 
Cormack MD
Date of death - day: 
8
Date of death - month: 
February
Date of death - year: 
1908
Age: 
40
Name: 
Dr Owen
Surname: 
Cullen
Date of death - day: 
18
Date of death - month: 
April
Date of death - year: 
1886
Age: 
30
Name: 
Michael
Surname: 
Cullen
Date of death - day: 
11
Date of death - month: 
September
Date of death - year: 
1880
Age: 
23
Name: 
Catherine
Surname: 
Cullen
Date of death - day: 
10
Date of death - month: 
May
Date of death - year: 
1888
Age: 
35
Name: 
John
Surname: 
Cullen
Date of death - day: 
10
Date of death - month: 
March
Date of death - year: 
1892
Age: 
44
Notes: 

The Cullen grave is located on the right hand side of the Churchyard . The headstone is erected to the memory of Owen Cullen , local Mine Manager , and his family , who resided in Coalfield House The Commons at the time of the 1848 Young Ireland rebellion at the nearby Widow McCormack's house . The leader of the rebellion, William Smith O Brien wrote to Cullen on the morning of the rebellion . The contents of this letter are now transcribed here below ( with an introduction by Professor William Nolan ):

INTRODUCTION TO SMITH O’BRIEN’S LETTER TO THE MINING COMPANY OF IRELAND

The events of the week 24 - 29 July, 1848 have special significance for the people of The Commons. The 1848 Young Ireland & National flag monument erected in 1989 at the cross-roads in the village tells us that it was here in Sullivan’s Public House (now Maisy Dunne’s) that some of Ireland’s most distinguished patriots met on the evening of Thursday 28th July, 1848 to determine a course of action for the Irish Confederation - We now know that apart from William Smith O’Brien, James Stephens, Terence Bellew McManus and Patrick O’Donohue, the other leaders left the Commons to prepare for a Rising in Autumn. The encounter at the Warhouse next day terminated all these plans. Included here is an item concerning 1848 which is little known ; it’s the Smith O Brien letter to the Mining Company of Ireland which indicates his sympathy with the plight of the miners , many of whom had been laid off due to the recession caused by the Famine. This letter was written some time during the early morning of 29th July, and delivered to Mr. Cullen, Manager of the collieries. It was one of the Acts of Treason with which O’Brien was later charged at Clonmel. The letter demonstrates that O’Brien was not oblivious of the world of commerce and it may well have been the first reference to nationalization of the Mines.

This letter is dated, 29th of July, 1848.

“Mr. William Smith O’Brien presents his compliments to the Directors of the Mining Company, and feeling it incumbent upon him to do all in his power to prevent the inhabitants of the collieries from suffering inconvenience, in consequence of the noble and courageous protection afforded by them to him, takes the liberty of offering the following suggestions:- He recommends that for the present the whole of the proceeds arising weekly from the sale of coal and culm be applied in payment of men employed by contract in raising coal and culm”. “He recommends that a brisk demand be encouraged by lowering the price of coal and culm to the public.”

“In case he should find that the Mining Company endeavours to distress the people by witholding wages and other means, Mr. O’Brien will instruct the colliers to occupy and work the mines on their own account; and in case the Irish revolution should succeed, the property of the Mining Company will be confiscated as national property.”

“On the contrary, if the Mining Company observes a strict and honourable neutrality, doing their utmost to give support to the population of this district during their present time of difficulty and trial, then their property shall be protected to the utmost extent of Mr. O’Brien’s power”.