Firstly I would like to say that we are all gathered here in Clogheen today to commemorate the memory of Mary-Ann Fennessy Moran (Ballyboy-Clogheen-Victoria, Australia 1857-1947).
Thank you all descendents of the 1884 marriage of William Moran (Ballyknockane, 1838-1889) to Mary-Ann Fennessy. We are delighted to be joined by Mike and Margaret Fennessy and indeed you are most welcome.
I think that some explanation is warranted as to how I find myself standing here talking to you all today. When we lived in Main Street, Clogheen back in the 1950’s David Moran, my grandfather, lived with us. During his life he was in postal communication with his mother in Australia and late in her life she sent back home to him her only known memento of her life in her native Ireland. This is a photograph with her handwriting on the reverse. This was passed on to my Dad, Paddy, and subsequently on to me. I recall Dad telling me that this photograph is most important and needs to be minded as one day it will prove pivotal, – how right he was.
In the 1980’s the Morans of Dublin reconnected with Ballyboy and John and Breeda opened their hearts and home to us. On numerous occasions around that kitchen table Mary-Ann’s name came up and it was through these conversations that I came to know of Maurice Moran, family historian in Midleton, Co. Cork. When I met Maurice I had many questions for him and instead of answers, what I got surprisingly were further questions. I can so vividly recall on one such meeting in our home in Kilternan, Co. Dublin when I produced the photograph – to which I was the guardian – Maurice’s respectful silence as he took in the significance of Mary-Ann’s own handwriting. When he did speak, his words were: “We must do something about this you know”. Some years later after our searches in Australia proved fruitless, enter Fr. Pat. He had been independently researching Mary-Ann and located and visited her grave in Sunbury, Victoria. The search was over – success at last.
Last October, in Duhill churchyard, John Moran and I were talking of all the Morans that had gone before us and it struck us both that we were duty bound to respectfully mark, with a memorial stone, the life of Mary-Ann Fennessy Moran. We consulted with Ballygriffin, Ballyknockane, Ballyboy, Croughta, Dublin and all agreed that this indeed was a worthy task. Jacqui and I live in Kilternan, Co Dublin. Our village is on a granite mountain with quarries and stonemasons aplenty. Philip O’Neill is one such man, a gifted stone carver, and a good friend. During the past winter I sat with Phil on a number of evenings and outlined the life of Mary-Ann and our growing wish to put in place a fitting memorial in her memory. I feel confident that you will all approve of his artistic craftsmanship.
Through the generations the Moran family continues to produce leaders and it is most important that we foster this quality in our youth now coming through. I would like to give you one example of family leadership. On Father’s day, four weeks ago my wife Jacqui and I had the great privilege and pleasure to accept an invitation to lunch at Ballygriffin. It was to there that William and Mary-Ann Moran’s children went from Clogheen and from there that my grandfather, David, set out to make his way in life. Around that table four generations of their descendants sat and fondly remembered all seven children. I put it to you that this was the first time in over one hundred years that their collective early years in Clogheen and Ballygriffin were remembered and celebrated – to both Thomas and Patricia I say what a wonderful demonstration of leadership.
Talking of leadership, I now hand over to the family’s learned historian my cousin and dear friend Maurice.
David Moran