A Brief Family Biography & Historical Notes
Based on research so far carried out it shows that the descendants of the Lawlor family were all born and lived in the town of Virginia, County Cavan, and the family ancestry can be traced as far back as 1810.
Dan Lawlor (B. 1810) met and married Mary Bradley (B. 1812), and had 9 children. One of their sons Daniel Lawlor (B. 1847) met and married Susan Treacy (B. 1840 - D. 1894), and had 6 Children. Our Grandfather John Lawlor (B. 1876 – D. 1948) met and married Mary Flood (B. 1868 – D 1938), and had 2 children. Our late Father John Patrick Lawlor (B. 1915 – D. 1987) met and married our late Mother, Rose Lawlor (née Smith) (B. 1916 – D 1974), and had 8 Children (see Family Tree).
This is an important story and it needs to be recorded for posterity. It is the same story or similar story that can be told by millions of Irish men and women the world over, but it is still unique to us as individuals and as a family, because through our ancestors we know from where we have originated. I Personally feel I have a responsibility to be aware of my family's history - of the hardships they endured and the sacrifices they made allowing us to be here today. I am proud to know that I am the inheritor of their dreams and that I am a beneficiary of their historical legacy.
I don’t know a great deal about my grandparents and their lives, but these are some of the thoughts I would like to contribute to this family Historical Bio. What I do know, with certainty through research, is they were all born in Virginia, County Cavan, Southern Ireland, in the Province of Ulster. They met, married, had children, worked, and followed their faith, and between them they brought 19 or so children into this world two of whom would repeat the cycle, meet and marry, and eventually, brought me and my other bothers and sisters into the world. This then, committed to writing for first time is what I remember.
I only have very vague but fond memories of my Grandfather, John Lawlor. It is my wish to record what I do know and remember about him and other family members as follows. As with our other earlier ancestors Granddad Lawlor, was born in Southern Ireland in the town of Virginia, Co Cavan, on 22nd July 1876. Going by snippets of information I picked up from various people when I have visited Virginia and made enquiries about him, I was told by those who actually knew him that he was a well liked and respected member of the small community in Virginia. He was commonly referred to as "Johnny Lawlor". He met and married Mary Flood our Grandmother in Virginia in 1907. They had two sons, our father, John Patrick Lawlor, and Daniel Lawlor, my uncle, who sadly died in Halifax, England, in 1961 at the young age of 49.
Before moving from the old dwellings on New Street, to a new house on Rahardrum Lane, which overlooks Lough Ramor, Granddad lived with his family in what was then known as the New Yard, which was located at the rear of McDonnell's Bar / Shop which is now the Ramor Lodge Hotel. Amazingly, given the amount of destruction of historical buildings that has taken place in Virginia over the years since we left, and especially in the last ten years, you can still see some remains of the old stone dwelling they lived in. The living conditions must have been terrible due to the absence of facilities which we in modern times take for granted, such as electricity, running water, proper sanitation and central heating especially during the winter months of the year. I believe he was employed by McDonnell, on a casual basis. The nature and type of work my Granddad did was general labouring to do with farming, to sustain a family and earn a living doing this type of work would of required him to have a thorough knowledge of farming processes and practices and the ability to use the many different types of farming equipment and tools, especially those relating to the health and well being of any livestock which he may have been responsible for. Tom Clancy, told me both Grandad and my father were very good at looking after and working with horses.
In 1914, the First World War broke out, at this time Ireland was under British rule, due to the fact that Grandad had enlisted into the British army as a Private in the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment before the war started he and thousands of other young Irish men, after a short period of preparation and training were sent to France, as part of an expeditionary force.
While in the trenches, he suffered great privations and the witnessed the deaths of some his friends. During one of the major battles of the First World War he was seriously wounded by a bullet. His wounds were so severe he lost a lung and had to be discharged from the army. He then had to live the remainder of his life contending with the effects of his injuries and by relying on a small Army Pension. I have been told Grandad was fond of a pint and it was while he was drinking a pint of Guinness in McDonnells’s bar that he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1948.
I have no doubt the wounds he suffered in the Great War were a contributory factor in his death at the age of 72, I remember clearly while we were living in England the shock and upset when this happened and Dad having to urgently return to Ireland to deal with and sort out all the matters to do with his death. From the information I have gleaned from various sources Grandad was buried in the Raffony Graveyard which is located near Lisnabantry, off the Bailieborough Road. I have tried on several occasions to find his grave but was unsuccessful due to the fact that there is no gravestone or marker to give any reliable indications as to the exact spot where he was buried. While in Virginia, on holiday in 2009, I was upset but at the same time pleased to be able to obtain a copy of his Death certificate which has provided valuable information to do with the general genealogy research I and others have been doing.
I have a number of clear and distinct memories of Grandad kindly and gently picking thorns out of my feet as it was common in those days to go bare-foot to school in the warmer months of the year and because shoes were expensive and therefore needed to be saved for the colder times of the year. Other clear memories I have of him are of him rubbing his unshaven chin into my face and tickling me at the same time he would laugh his head off at me fighting furiously in vain to get away from him, the more I fought the more he laughed. I remember also, Grandad had a habit of washing glasses and holding them up to the window to make sure they were perfectly clean no doubt a habit related to his army training.
I have no personal memories or images of Grandma Lawlor (née Flood) as she had died four years before I was born 1938, aged 70, due to the effects of influenza. I have been told at some point in her life she lost her sight. I have no information with regards to where she is buried. Based on information contained in an original letter (which I have kept safe and which I have treasured for many years) that was sent to her while Grandad was in the trenches during the First World War. The content and tone of the letter indicates that Grandma and Grandad were a devoted and loving couple and happily married (may they both rest in eternal peace). Both my Father and Mother were born and brought up in Virginia and both attended the old National School. They met and married in 1939 and subsequently had a total of 8 children of which I am the 3rd eldest.
My parents were normal decent hard working people. Whilst they were still both living in Virginia, prior to emigrating to England, in 1947, they had four children: Jackie, Carmel, Myself, and Daniel. In Virginia, the six of us lived with Grandad in a very nice but small 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow type house, which at that time, had no electricity, only one cold water tap and sink and an outside W.C. Our only means for keeping warm and cooking was by an open turf fire in the living room.
Using his own horse and cart, Dad did whatever work was available to put bread on the table and bring in the bacon. His official job title was labourer / carter for a good period of time he worked in and around Virginia, for the town council on anything that was required such as road cleaning, wall repairs, or anything that needed moving and disposing of, but this work was casual and poorly paid.
Dad like most Irishmen was fond of a drink and interested in sport especially Gaelic football and hurling. Mam was committed to being a good parent. She was completely dedicated and occupied every moment of the day with the problems of trying to feed clothe and keep us all alive. Their generation suffered hard times and they were very much under the thumb of the Church.
I am glad that during the many times I have visited Virginia on holiday I have taken the time to speak to people who knew them and I am happy to record any remarks made about them have always been favourable. Two persons in particular who knew them were Thomas Clancy (RIP). He was a good friend of theirs and he knew Mam & Dad very well, he was a witness at their Wedding, and had nothing but praise for them. In particular also Phil Smith (R.I.P) and the Murray’s of New Street, Virginia, were also good friends, and also had similar comments to make about them.
Tom Clancy was a good friend of both Mam and Dad. During a conversation I had with him, he said Dad had physical presence about him which could instil fear and respect. Tom said there was no one in the town who would of dared to mess with your father unless "he knew what was good for him". Just one look at his massive hands and broad shoulder was enough, he said Dad "looked strong enough to pull a plough".
In 1948, due to the dire economic and social conditions and scarcity of employment existing in Ireland at that time, it was these circumstances that forced them to extricate themselves from their homeland and emigrate to England, a decision which unbeknown to them at the time would profoundly affect the course of all of our lives both positively and negatively.
In Manchester, England, Dad and Mam, both died from heart attacks, Dad was 73 in January, 1987, and Mam aged 58 in June, 1974.
Members of the Lawlor family who have sadly passed away:
Dan Lawlor (B. 1810) met and married Mary Bradley (B. 1812), and had 9 children. One of their sons Daniel Lawlor (B. 1847) met and married Susan Treacy (B. 1840 - D. 1894), and had 6 Children. Our Grandfather John Lawlor (B. 1876 – D. 1948) met and married Mary Flood (B. 1868 – D 1938), and had 2 children. Our late Father John Patrick Lawlor (B. 1915 – D. 1987) met and married our late Mother, Rose Lawlor (née Smith) (B. 1916 – D 1974), and had 8 Children (see Family Tree).
This is an important story and it needs to be recorded for posterity. It is the same story or similar story that can be told by millions of Irish men and women the world over, but it is still unique to us as individuals and as a family, because through our ancestors we know from where we have originated. I Personally feel I have a responsibility to be aware of my family's history - of the hardships they endured and the sacrifices they made allowing us to be here today. I am proud to know that I am the inheritor of their dreams and that I am a beneficiary of their historical legacy.
I don’t know a great deal about my grandparents and their lives, but these are some of the thoughts I would like to contribute to this family Historical Bio. What I do know, with certainty through research, is they were all born in Virginia, County Cavan, Southern Ireland, in the Province of Ulster. They met, married, had children, worked, and followed their faith, and between them they brought 19 or so children into this world two of whom would repeat the cycle, meet and marry, and eventually, brought me and my other bothers and sisters into the world. This then, committed to writing for first time is what I remember.
I only have very vague but fond memories of my Grandfather, John Lawlor. It is my wish to record what I do know and remember about him and other family members as follows. As with our other earlier ancestors Granddad Lawlor, was born in Southern Ireland in the town of Virginia, Co Cavan, on 22nd July 1876. Going by snippets of information I picked up from various people when I have visited Virginia and made enquiries about him, I was told by those who actually knew him that he was a well liked and respected member of the small community in Virginia. He was commonly referred to as "Johnny Lawlor". He met and married Mary Flood our Grandmother in Virginia in 1907. They had two sons, our father, John Patrick Lawlor, and Daniel Lawlor, my uncle, who sadly died in Halifax, England, in 1961 at the young age of 49.
Before moving from the old dwellings on New Street, to a new house on Rahardrum Lane, which overlooks Lough Ramor, Granddad lived with his family in what was then known as the New Yard, which was located at the rear of McDonnell's Bar / Shop which is now the Ramor Lodge Hotel. Amazingly, given the amount of destruction of historical buildings that has taken place in Virginia over the years since we left, and especially in the last ten years, you can still see some remains of the old stone dwelling they lived in. The living conditions must have been terrible due to the absence of facilities which we in modern times take for granted, such as electricity, running water, proper sanitation and central heating especially during the winter months of the year. I believe he was employed by McDonnell, on a casual basis. The nature and type of work my Granddad did was general labouring to do with farming, to sustain a family and earn a living doing this type of work would of required him to have a thorough knowledge of farming processes and practices and the ability to use the many different types of farming equipment and tools, especially those relating to the health and well being of any livestock which he may have been responsible for. Tom Clancy, told me both Grandad and my father were very good at looking after and working with horses.
In 1914, the First World War broke out, at this time Ireland was under British rule, due to the fact that Grandad had enlisted into the British army as a Private in the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment before the war started he and thousands of other young Irish men, after a short period of preparation and training were sent to France, as part of an expeditionary force.
While in the trenches, he suffered great privations and the witnessed the deaths of some his friends. During one of the major battles of the First World War he was seriously wounded by a bullet. His wounds were so severe he lost a lung and had to be discharged from the army. He then had to live the remainder of his life contending with the effects of his injuries and by relying on a small Army Pension. I have been told Grandad was fond of a pint and it was while he was drinking a pint of Guinness in McDonnells’s bar that he suffered a fatal heart attack in 1948.
I have no doubt the wounds he suffered in the Great War were a contributory factor in his death at the age of 72, I remember clearly while we were living in England the shock and upset when this happened and Dad having to urgently return to Ireland to deal with and sort out all the matters to do with his death. From the information I have gleaned from various sources Grandad was buried in the Raffony Graveyard which is located near Lisnabantry, off the Bailieborough Road. I have tried on several occasions to find his grave but was unsuccessful due to the fact that there is no gravestone or marker to give any reliable indications as to the exact spot where he was buried. While in Virginia, on holiday in 2009, I was upset but at the same time pleased to be able to obtain a copy of his Death certificate which has provided valuable information to do with the general genealogy research I and others have been doing.
I have a number of clear and distinct memories of Grandad kindly and gently picking thorns out of my feet as it was common in those days to go bare-foot to school in the warmer months of the year and because shoes were expensive and therefore needed to be saved for the colder times of the year. Other clear memories I have of him are of him rubbing his unshaven chin into my face and tickling me at the same time he would laugh his head off at me fighting furiously in vain to get away from him, the more I fought the more he laughed. I remember also, Grandad had a habit of washing glasses and holding them up to the window to make sure they were perfectly clean no doubt a habit related to his army training.
I have no personal memories or images of Grandma Lawlor (née Flood) as she had died four years before I was born 1938, aged 70, due to the effects of influenza. I have been told at some point in her life she lost her sight. I have no information with regards to where she is buried. Based on information contained in an original letter (which I have kept safe and which I have treasured for many years) that was sent to her while Grandad was in the trenches during the First World War. The content and tone of the letter indicates that Grandma and Grandad were a devoted and loving couple and happily married (may they both rest in eternal peace). Both my Father and Mother were born and brought up in Virginia and both attended the old National School. They met and married in 1939 and subsequently had a total of 8 children of which I am the 3rd eldest.
My parents were normal decent hard working people. Whilst they were still both living in Virginia, prior to emigrating to England, in 1947, they had four children: Jackie, Carmel, Myself, and Daniel. In Virginia, the six of us lived with Grandad in a very nice but small 3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow type house, which at that time, had no electricity, only one cold water tap and sink and an outside W.C. Our only means for keeping warm and cooking was by an open turf fire in the living room.
Using his own horse and cart, Dad did whatever work was available to put bread on the table and bring in the bacon. His official job title was labourer / carter for a good period of time he worked in and around Virginia, for the town council on anything that was required such as road cleaning, wall repairs, or anything that needed moving and disposing of, but this work was casual and poorly paid.
Dad like most Irishmen was fond of a drink and interested in sport especially Gaelic football and hurling. Mam was committed to being a good parent. She was completely dedicated and occupied every moment of the day with the problems of trying to feed clothe and keep us all alive. Their generation suffered hard times and they were very much under the thumb of the Church.
I am glad that during the many times I have visited Virginia on holiday I have taken the time to speak to people who knew them and I am happy to record any remarks made about them have always been favourable. Two persons in particular who knew them were Thomas Clancy (RIP). He was a good friend of theirs and he knew Mam & Dad very well, he was a witness at their Wedding, and had nothing but praise for them. In particular also Phil Smith (R.I.P) and the Murray’s of New Street, Virginia, were also good friends, and also had similar comments to make about them.
Tom Clancy was a good friend of both Mam and Dad. During a conversation I had with him, he said Dad had physical presence about him which could instil fear and respect. Tom said there was no one in the town who would of dared to mess with your father unless "he knew what was good for him". Just one look at his massive hands and broad shoulder was enough, he said Dad "looked strong enough to pull a plough".
In 1948, due to the dire economic and social conditions and scarcity of employment existing in Ireland at that time, it was these circumstances that forced them to extricate themselves from their homeland and emigrate to England, a decision which unbeknown to them at the time would profoundly affect the course of all of our lives both positively and negatively.
In Manchester, England, Dad and Mam, both died from heart attacks, Dad was 73 in January, 1987, and Mam aged 58 in June, 1974.
Members of the Lawlor family who have sadly passed away:
- My mother, Rose Lawlor, who suffered from a range of health issues for a long time mainly due to chest problems (again caused by smoking), after years of suffering she was admitted to Monsall Hospital, where, while undergoing treatment she died aged 58, June 1974.
- My father, John Lawlor, from a heart attack, aged 73 in January, 1987 (He is buried with Mam in St Josephs Cemetery, Moston, North Manchester.
- My brother, James Lawlor while living in Maynooth, Ireland in 1978.
- My sister, Kathleen while living in London, England in 1990.
- My sister, Bernadette in 1998, after suffering for a long time from chest complaints (smoking was a contributory factor in her history of poor health and consequently her death).
- My sister, Carmel, November 2012, Mottram Cemetery, Hyde.
May God Bless them all and grant them eternal life in heaven!!! xxxxxxxxxx
Members of the Lawlor Clan who are alive today in are:
- Jackie, currently living in Blackpool, England.
- Daniel, currently living in Manchester, England.
- Philomena, currently living in Maynooth, Ireland.