My ancestors - Foley - Contents

Gaffney

• References:
  • Jim Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
    Location: Lat. 135 (and 134), Long. Kb. Go through gate, straight on, up to chapel, just on RHS of centre of chapel.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Thomas St. John Gaffney papers, 1887-1941, Collection Number: XX227, Hoover Institution Archives, Stanford University, California.

Jim Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Photo 2009. See larger and full size and similar shot.
See wider shot showing location relative to chapel.
See close-up.

Thomas Gaffney, had issue:

1. Thomas St.John Gaffney, born 1864, Limerick,
   also just called St.John Gaffney,
   went to America, became citizen,
   U.S. Consul General at Dresden and Munich, Germany, 1905-15,
   Britain and Germany went to war 1914, America was neutral (it did not join the war until 1917),
   Gaffney had strong pro-Irish nationalist, anti-British and pro-German views, he openly supported Germany in the war,
   in Munich in Aug 1915 he entertained Roger Casement (who was working with Germany in plans for the 1916 Rising and in raising a force, the Irish Brigade, from Irish POWs),
   Gaffney was recalled by President Wilson in Nov 1915 because of his pro-German and anti-British views, and his links to Casement,
   after losing his post he continued living in Germany, providing help to Casement, Casement left Germany Apr 1916 to escort German arms to Ireland for the Rising,
   Gaffney was now in charge of the Irish Brigade men in Germany, he stayed working with the Germans right through the war, even after they went to war with America in April 1917,
   the war ended Nov 1918, he left Germany 1919, he (unsurprisingly) had problems getting back into America,
   the lawyer Michael Francis Doyle (who defended Casement) represented Gaffney in a libel case,
   died 1945, age 81 yrs.
   See biography and memoir extracts.

   
   

2. Jim Gaffney,
   James Stanislaus Gaffney, born 1866, Limerick city,
   solicitor in Limerick (see search and search and search),
   he is listed as one of the "chief mourners" at the funeral in 1894 of Patrick Shelton (P.S.) Connolly, solicitor, whose residence was 86 George St, Limerick,
   see Limerick Chronicle, 28th April 1894, and 1 May 1894,
   from the newspaper it looks like he was Connolly's colleague rather than relative, he took over Connolly's solicitors' business, and premises at 86 George St,
   see him in some dramatic production, Limerick Chronicle, 9th January 1897, (todo) see full article,
   he was prominent in Limerick Boat Club, see Limerick Leader, 12 Dec 1998,
   see him at Regatta Dinner, reported in Limerick Chronicle, 23rd July 1898, (todo) see full article,
   he is listed at 64 George St, Limerick, in scrapbook c.1898,
   he was at Michael Spain's funeral 1900,
   mar 1901 to Cis Spain [Mary, born 1879],
   (todo) see mar of James S Gaffney and Mary Spain, Dublin South, 1st qr 1901, [GROI], vol 2 p 698,
   he was at William Spain's funeral 1901, and Kate's funeral 1901,

   he was the Crown Solicitor for Co.Limerick, he carried out prosecutions for the Crown, despite this he was an Irish language enthusiast, his grave is in Irish, he is listed as Crown Solicitor, Limerick, at dau's death 1910, they are listed at "house number 2" in George St, Limerick, in [Census, 1911], they have 4 servants living with them, he is listed as Crown Solicitor, 86 George St, Limerick, at son's birth and death 1911, J. Gaffney, BA, Crown Solicitor, George St, Limerick, listed in [Guy's, 1912] to [Guy's, 1914], 86 George St became 86 O'Connell St (re-named), his residence is listed at 86 O'Connell Street, Limerick, in [Guy's, 1912] to [Guy's, 1914], in [Thom's, 1919] he is listed as Crown Solicitor, with offices in Limerick and also at 48 Upper Sackville St, Dublin (also later re-named O'Connell Street), see him in a 1919 case in Ch.5 of [Cahill, 1990],

   Jim died 86 O'Connell Street, Limerick, 21 Oct 1933, age 67 yrs,
   funeral 23 Oct, bur Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick,
   (todo) see death of James Stanislaus Gaffney, Limerick, 4th qr 1933, age 67, [GROI], vol 5 p 213,
   see death notice in Irish Times, October 23, 1933,
   see death notice in Irish Independent, October 23, 1933,

   Cis died 4 June 1949, at Barrington's Hospital, Limerick [grave, burial record, death notice], age 70 yrs,
   (todo) try death of Mary Gaffney, Newcastle, 1949 1st qr, age 69 (born 1880), [GROI], vol 5 p 301,
   (todo) see death of Ciss Spain, Limerick, 1949 2nd qr, age 68 (born 1881), [GROI], vol 5 p 220,
   see death notice, Irish Independent, 6 June,
   death notice says funeral Mon 6 June, but burial record says bur 9 June,
   bur Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick,
   see legal notice, Irish Times, June 18, 1949, lists her as "Mrs. Cis Spain Gaffney" late of 86 O'Connell Street, Limerick,
   had issue:

   
   

   1. Una Moira Gaffney, born Feb 1902,
      (todo) see birth of Una Moira Gaffney, Limerick, 1st qr 1902, [GROI], vol 5 p 303,
      died 18 Aug 1910, St Vincent's Hospital, 96 Lr Leeson St, Dublin [death notice], age 8 yrs 6 months [burial record],
      (todo) see death of Una Gaffney, age 8, Dublin South, 3rd qr 1910, [GROI], vol 2 p 507,
      see death notice, Irish Independent, 19 Aug 1910,
      see death notice, Freeman's Journal, 19 Aug 1910,
      (todo) see death notice and funeral report in Limerick Chronicle, will come online here and here,
      think death notice is Limerick Chronicle, 18 Aug 1910,
      bur 19 Aug [death notice, burial record] in Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick,
      name written on grave above Toirdhealbhach, (todo) read this again,
      think funeral report is Limerick Chronicle, 20 Aug 1910.

      
      

   2. Niall Gaffney,
      Niall Seumas Gaffney [thus spelt in census],
      born Limerick city, Jan 1903 (age 8 ¼ in [Census, 2 April 1911]),
      (todo) see birth of Niall Seumas Gaffney, Limerick, 1st qr 1903, [GROI], vol 5 p 300.

      
      

   3. Nessa Kathleen Gaffney,
      born Limerick city, Jan 1905 (age 6 ¼ in [Census, 2 April 1911]),
      (todo) see birth of Nessa Kathleen Gaffney, Limerick, 4th qr 1904, [GROI], vol 5 p 323.

      
      

   4. Doreen Eithne Gaffney,
      born Limerick city, Oct 1908 (age 2 ½ in [Census, 2 April 1911]),
      (todo) see birth of Doreen Eithne Gaffney, Limerick, 4th qr 1908, [GROI], vol 5 p 292,
      (todo) try mar of Doreen Gaffney, Croom, 4th qr 1937, [GROI], vol 5 p 127.

      
      At Niall's death 1986 he is regretted by his sisters (plural), brother-in-law (singular), nephews and nieces.

      
      

   5. Toirdhealbhach Gaffney [son],
      see the name Toirdhealbhach (and here), it is often anglicised as "Turlough",
      "Toirdhealbhach" written on grave,
      born 22 Sept 1911,
      died same day, 22 Sept 1911, age a few hours,
      grave says died 26 Sept but this is error,
      see birth and death notice, Irish Times, September 25, 1911,
      (todo) see death of Male Gaffney, Limerick, 4th qr 1911, age 0, [GROI], vol 5 p 240,
      bur 22 Sept [burial record], Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence, Limerick.

Una Moira and Toirdhealbhach on Gaffney grave, Mount St. Lawrence cemetery, Limerick.
Photo 2009. See larger and full size.

Thomas St.John Gaffney.
Photo 1913. From The Library of Congress. No known restrictions on publication.