Harry Cleary
Chief among the themes that Kathleen spoke of were the loss of her father at 38 and grandfather at 37. Her grandfather had died long before she was born and her father on the eve of her fourteenth birthday. The loss of both left a gap in her knowledge of her grandfather’s family, the Clearys. She wondered if her grandfather was an only child or if there were brothers and sisters. The breakthrough in answering her questions and many others came from discovering an obituary in an old newspaper.
Freeman’s Journal, Mar 16 1911, Page 5.
Funeral of late Mr. Henry F Cleary
The remains of the late Mr. Henry F Cleary were yesterday morning removed from the Franciscan Church, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin, after requiem mass for Interment in the family burial ground Glasnevin. The deceased gentleman was a well-known Nationalist and had been for years an active member of the Parnell Commemoration Association, taking a keen interest in the arrangements and celebration of the Parnell Anniversary Demonstration and later a constant attending member of the Parnell monument committee. Deceased had been for the past 15 years employed in the waterworks department of the Dublin Corporation, and the large gathering present at the funeral was strong evidence of the kindly in regard in which he was held by all.
The chief mourners were Mrs. Clery (wife), Mary J Cleary (daughter ). Henry F Cleary (son), Mrs. Fitzpatrick (sister) John Grant, W. and H. Corrigan (nephews) Mrs. Flood (sister-in-law) Michael Cole (brother-in-law)
Among the general public where Mrs. M. Cole, Miss M. Cole, C. Cole, M. Cole, J, Flood, P. Dunne, M. Russell, J. Ryan, C. Johnstone, T. Nolan, J. Cooke, T. Owens, G. Darker, M. Duffy, J. Colgan, P. Edwards, B. Grant, M. Murphy, P. Ryan, A. Colgan, J. Duffy, Thos. Highland, James Bermingham, M. Murray, J. McGrath, C. O’Grady, B. Nolan, M. Kinsella, J. Darker, P. McGrath, P. Kelly W. J. Phillips, __ Gilsenan, John Colgan, J. Kernan, P. Richardson, J. Kenny, J. Quinn, M. O’Connor, T. O’Leary, M. Hoggans, A. Clarke, Superintendent; R. Dooley, Assistant Superintendent, wastewater staff; J.H. Corr, Wm. Doyle, Secretary WW Employees Association; F. Duffy, Assistant Secretary; Thomas Hessel, Chairman; Wm. Redmond, treasurer; T. McDonnell, Vice Chairman; M. O’Neill, W. Hegarty, R. Sheridan, B. Cunningham, M. Brown, T. McDonald, E. Walsh, J. McCabe, J. Lawless, J. Keogh, R Rutledge, J. Jackson, T. Hickey, P. Lancaster, J. Bermingham, D. Burke, J. Kelly, M. Westby, J. Malone, R. Fleming, T. Swan, M. Murphy, M. Cosgrove, E. Doyle, C. Rydell, J. Kane, S.S.O.; E. J. Doyle, J.J. Clarke P. Dunne, I.N.F.; M. Russell, I.N.F.; C. Darker, John J. McGrath, J. Grant.
Parnell monument committee – J.J. Goggins, T McKeon, J.M. Donaghy, and C. Redmond, secretary
The Parnell Commemorative Association was represented by W. J. Phillips, Joseph Byrne, I.N.F.; John Byrne, Donnybrook; Nicholas Howlett, J.J Johnson, I.N.F.; Thomas Bannon, Michael Mooney, James Joyce, M. Russell, P. Dunne, Thomas Curley, J. O’Reilly, J.M. Donaghy, J.J. Goggins, T. McKeon, hon. Sec.
Wreaths, “With sincere regret,” from his wife and children; “With deepest sympathy” from his colleagues at the Parnell Monument Committee. A pretty wreath “From his sorrowing colleagues, Waste Water Staff, Dublin Corporation” was also sent.
Henry F. Cleary, or Harry to his family, was clearly a man of some note with a significant position in the nationalist politics of his day. But away from the political, the article answered those important family questions – he had a sister, Mrs Fitzpatrick; three nephews, John Grant and the two Corrigans. He clearly had at least three sisters and they were presumably married to three men called Fitzpatrick, Grant and Corrigan. Presumably the in-laws, Mrs Flood and Michael Cole, were sister and brother of his wife Ellen (nee Cole). There were no Clearys apart from his immediate family. But, this breakthrough enabled searches for members of his family.
In addition, Harry had a prominent role in several political movement of his day – Parnell monument committee, The Parnell Commemorative Association, and the I.N.F. All three of these provided routes to find out more. I.N.F refers to the “friendly society” the Irish National Foresters.
While the family folklore suggested that Harry might have been born in 1874, this proved not to be the case and his birth records were eventually found showing that he was born on 7 August 1866 indicating he was 44 when he died. His parents were William Cleary and Julia Lawler, and they were living at 11 Charles Street. Charles Street was located between the Four Courts on the city quays and Ormond Market, which is now Ormond Square.
Harry was baptised in St Michans Church on 17 August 1866. The church record is difficult to find as the searchable version incorrectly recorded the name as Chary instead of Cleary. The address also differs slightly. It looks like 22 Charles Street.
It is likely that Harry had at least seven siblings – five girls and two boys. At least four girls married and had children. Harry may have been the only boy to marry and have children. Harry was the youngest child with the eldest sibling born 14 years earlier in 1852. Each of Harry’s identified siblings were born and lived at various addresses in and around Ormond Market, suggesting that family occupations were associated with the Market.
Harry married Ellen Cole on his 26th birthday on 7 August 1892 in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin. Harry was living at 50 Capel Street. His mother’s name is given as Julia Lawlor and his father as William. The entry for their address states ‘deceased’. At this point, William was deceased but Julia was not. The record indicates that William’s profession was Mineral Water Bottler. At this point Harry was a labourer but subsequently worked as a water works inspector. Ellen was living at 124 Abbey Street with her parents Edward Cole and Anne Field. The witnesses were Harry’s brother-in-law Bernard Grant and Ellen’s sister Mary Cole. This may indicate that Harry did not have a surviving brother.
On 15 January 1895, May Cleary was born when the family were living at 18 Gardiner Street Lower. Two years later Frank was born 16 January 1897 while living at 164 Great Britain Street (Parnell St). Sometime before the birth of Frank, Harry started to work as Inspector of Waterworks for Dublin Corporation. By 1901 Census, the family had moved again and were living at 26 Mid Gardiner Street.
Between the 1890s and until Harry died, he is mentioned regularly in the national press – Freeman’s Journal, Irish Independent and Sunday Independent – regarding his activities for the various Parnell committees. Despite the divorce scandal that led to his downfall, Charles Stewart Parnell remained enormously popular after his death in 1891. As a result the Parnell Commemorative Association was set up as a focus of nationalist sentiment. The work of the Parnell Monument Committee focused on placing a monument to his memory in O’Connell Street. Harry was prominent on both committees and appears in frequent newspaper articles related to the same. Both committees met at the Irish National Foresters Hall at 41 Rutland Square (Parnell Square). The hall was a venue cultural events but also a cover for republican activities. Sadly, Harry died before the Parnell Monument was erected later in 1911. Parnell Street and Parnell Square are named for Parnell and he is commemorated on the first Sunday after the anniversary of his death on 6 October, known as Ivy Day.
Harry died on 12 March 1911. He was a member of the Third Order of St Francis, a lay catholic organisation. This explains why his funeral was from the Franciscan Church, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin, rather than a parish church.
Harry’s death record indicates that he was 37, he was actually 44, and he died of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) leading to cardiac failure. His wife Ellen was present at his death at their home on Clonliffe Avenue and she registered the death. He was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery in St Bridget’s Section, PH 202
Interestingly for the difficult times in which he lived, Harry left a will, leaving all to his wife.
