My great grandfather, Eugene Charles McCarthy, otherwise known as “Eugie Mac” was born on the 28th January, 1871 to Eugene McCarthy and Hannah McSwiney at the Market Square. He lived a full and active life involve in sports, politics and local affairs, and after a brief illness, succumbed to an attack of acute lobar pneumonia passing, on the 8th June, 1923, at the age of 52. Surrounded by family and friends, his body was interred in the old family plot located within the walls of Kilbarry’s ancient church dedicated to St. Finbarr.

Figure 1. The mortuary card of Eugene C. McCarthy.

Death and Funeral of Mr. Eugene C. mCcarthy, Dunmanway

Figure 2. The heartfelt obituary of Eugene C. McCarthy from The Southern Star, July, 1923. It was a surprise to read that Eugene was a pioneer, orgainser and player of the Michael Doheny Club of 1897, as well as being an active member of Dunmanway Races.

DUNMANWAY RACE COMMITTEE: RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY

Figure 3. A member of the Dunmanway Race Commitee the memory of Eugene C. McCarthy is marked with a resolution of sympathy from fellow colleagues of the organisation. From the The Southern Star, July, 1923.

Death of Mrs Mccarthy, Market square, Dunmanway

Figure 4.  On June 17th, less than two week after the all to sudden loss of her only child “Eugie”, the “esteemed” and “venerable” 76 year old Mrs McCarthy of the Market Square passed away in grief .

Figure 5. General Michael Collins in the foreground speaking at a public meeting outside the Shamrock Bar, the Market Square, Dunmanway, circa 1922. Eugie Mac can be seen first on the left in the background.

REFERENCES

IMAGES

1. MacCarthy, F. (2019). Mortuary Card of Eugene C. McCarthy: 1923. From writers own collection.
2. Death And Funeral of Mr Eugene C. McCarthy (07 July 1923), The Southern Star. Retrieved from irishnewsarchive.com
3. Dunmanway Race Committee (07 July 1923), The Southern Star. Retrieved from irishnewsarchive.com
4. Dunmanway Doings (16 June 1923), The Southern Star. Retrieved from irishnewsarchive.com
5. MacCarthy, F. (2019). General Michael Collins speaking at a public meeting, the Market Square, Dunmanway, circa 1922. From writers own collection.