This page allows you to browse all published content on the Ballymacoda History Project. There are currently 37 articles to chose from, and this page is updated as I research and write more.
Emigration & Famous Emigrants
The Story of Thomas Ahern – The article tells the life story of Thomas Ahern, a Ballymacoda native born in 1884 who emigrated to Western Australia and went on to found the successful Aherns department store chain, which grew significantly before being sold in 1999. It covers his early life in Ireland, his journey to Australia in 1911, his career in retail, and the legacy of his business and family there.
The Story of Pat Hennessy – The article recounts the life of Patrick “Pat” Hennessy, born in Ballymakeigh, Ballymacoda in 1837, who emigrated to North America, fought in the American Civil War, and later worked as a freight hauler along the Chisholm Trail. On July 4, 1874, he and his companions were killed in an attack on a wagon train in what is now Oklahoma, and the nearby town of Hennessey was later named in his honour.
William Hennessy, the ‘Candy King’ of Cambridge & Boston – The article tells the story of William Hennessy, born in Ballymakeigh, Ballymacoda in 1876, who emigrated to the United States and became a successful candy manufacturer and property owner in Cambridge and Boston, building a notable business and real estate portfolio.
Pádraig Phiarais Cúndún – The article profiles Pádraig Phiarais Cúndún, an Irish-language poet from Shanakill, Ballymacoda who emigrated to the United States in 1825 and wrote letters home that included poetry and vivid observations of life in America. These letters and poems were preserved and published, and his work — especially his verse praising his native Ballymacoda — remains an important source of pre-famine Irish-language literature.
Searching for Missing Friends: Ballymacoda Emigrant Advertisements in the Boston Pilot – This article discusses how the Boston Pilot newspaper’s long-running “missing friends” column helped Irish emigrants — including many from Ballymacoda — try to find relatives lost through emigration in the 19th century, with thousands of such ads published between the 1830s and 1880s.
Emigrant Stories: Thomas F. Russell – The article profiles Thomas F. Russell, born in Ballymacoda in 1866, who emigrated with his family to Taunton, Massachusetts in 1882 and built his life there, marrying, raising children, and working in industry.
Jeremiah Shea – From Knockadoon to White Court – The article tells the remarkable story of Jeremiah Shea, born in Knockadoon, Ballymacoda in 1892, who after serving in the Royal Naval Reserve in World War I emigrated to the United States in 1920 and later worked as a caretaker at the White Court estate where U.S. President Calvin Coolidge spent summers.
Emigrant Stories: Catherine & John Clinnin – The article tells the story of Catherine (née Long) and John Cullinane (later Clinnin), a married couple from Ballymacoda who were forced to emigrate to the United States in 1847 during the Great Famine and went on to become successful farmers in Illinois.
World Wars
The Coast Watching Service in Ballymacoda – This article explains how, during World War II (1939–1945), Ireland established a network of manned Look-Out Posts to monitor coastal and aerial activity around its neutral shores, with LOP 21 based at Knockadoon Head in Ballymacoda reporting sightings to military intelligence.
Ballymacoda & World War I – The article details how many men from the Ballymacoda parish served in World War I — in both the British Royal Navy and Army — with researched lists of names, service details, and those who were killed or discharged during the conflict. It highlights the extent of local involvement and commemorates individuals from the community whose lives were profoundly affected by the war.
Michael Farrell – From Ballymacoda to the Crimean War – This article tells the story of Michael Farrell, born in Ballymacoda in 1835, who enlisted in the British Army as a young man and fought in the Crimean War, where he was wounded and later discharged with a medal and pension. After the war he married, joined the Enrolled Pensioner Force, emigrated to Western Australia aboard the Edwin Fox, and went on to farm and raise a family there, leaving many descendants in Australia today.
Ballymacoda & The American Civil War – The article explains how several people from Ballymacoda became involved in the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting mainly on the Union side and illustrating the village’s unexpected connections to this pivotal conflict.
United Irishmen & 1798
Fr. Peter O’Neill – The article recounts the life of Fr. Peter O’Neill, a Catholic priest connected with Ballymacoda who was implicated in the aftermath of a murder of an informer related to the United Irishmen in 1798, and who endured brutal interrogation, torture, and years of exile in a penal colony in Australia rather than betray his community. It also details his ministry in the parish, his opposition to informers, and the wider local context of rebellion and punishment during the 1798 Rising.
The Fenians
Peter O’Neill Crowley and the 1867 Fenian Rising – The article recounts how Ballymacoda native Peter O’Neill Crowley, a respected Fenian leader, played a central role in the 1867 Fenian Rising by leading a successful raid on the Knockadoon coastguard station to seize weapons as part of an attempted rebellion against British rule.
Thomas ‘Bowler’ Cullinane: An Exile’s Return – This article recounts how Thomas Cullinane, a member of the 1867 Ballymacoda Fenian raid on the Knockadoon coastguard station, was tried for high treason, initially sentenced to death before having his punishment commuted and being transported as a Fenian prisoner to Western Australia. After gaining a pardon and spending years abroad — including time in the United States — he ultimately returned to live out his later life in Ballymacoda.
The Manchester Martyrs – The article tells the story of Michael O’Brien, a Ballymacoda-born member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood who became involved in the Fenian movement and later took part in the Manchester rescue attempt in 1867 that sought to free fellow Fenians from custody. Arrested after the ambush, he was executed alongside William Philip Allen and Michael Larkin on 23 November 1867, an event that became known as the Manchester Martyrs and sparked widespread nationalist outrage
Jerry Aher: A Fenian’s Story – The article tells the life of Jeremiah (Jerry) Aher from Ballymacoda, who took part in the 1867 Fenian Rising, was convicted of treason and transported to Western Australia, where he endured harsh prison conditions before receiving a pardon in 1869. After marrying and starting a family there, he later moved to San Francisco, became a carpenter and U.S. citizen, and lived out his life as part of the Irish diaspora.
Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa’s Visit to Ballymacoda – The article recounts how prominent Fenian leader Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa visited Ballymacoda on 19 June 1894, including the full text of the welcome address presented at the graveside of local patriot Peter O’Neill Crowley, honouring Crowley’s role in the struggle for Irish independence.
The War of Independence
The Killing of Captain Liam Hoare in Ballymacoda, April 8th 1921 – This article recounts how Captain Liam Hoare, a 24-year-old member of the Ballymacoda Company of the IRA, was shot and killed by Royal Irish Constabulary forces in Ballymacoda during the Irish War of Independence in April 1921, with differing accounts of the circumstances leading to his death.
Liam Hoare: Oration by Florrie O’Donoghue – The article presents the full text of the oration delivered by Florrie O’Donoghue at the 1946 dedication of a monument to Captain Liam Hoare. O’Donoghue reflects on Hoare’s service, the broader fight for Irish independence, and the enduring importance of remembering those who gave their lives for the nation’s cause
The Ballymacoda Company, Cork No. 1 Brigade, 4th Battalion – The article describes how the Ballymacoda Company of the Irish Republican Army was part of the Cork No. 1 Brigade, 4th Battalion during the Irish War of Independence, listing its commanders and about 60 members drawn from the local area. It also outlines the company’s involvement in notable operations such as the successful 1920 Cloyne RIC barracks attack and other engagements in East Cork, illustrating the active role Ballymacoda men played in the struggle.
Compensation Claims after the War of Independence and Civil War – This article explains how the Damage to Property (Compensation) Act 1923 allowed people from Ballymacoda and the surrounding area to file claims for damage to property and belongings caused by conflict during and after the Irish War of Independence and Civil War.
Researching the Ballymacoda Village RIC Barracks – The article explores the history of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) barracks in Ballymacoda, detailing how plans for an RIC police presence date back to the 1840s but firm evidence of a functioning barracks only appears around the 1901 census, with records suggesting it was closed by 1909.
Shipwrecks & The Coastguard
Shipwrecks Around Ballymacoda #1 – The Tadorna – The article recounts how the 1,643-ton steamship Tadorna, owned by the Cork Steamship Co. and built in 1910, was wrecked off Ballycrenane near Ballymacoda on 15 November 1911 during a severe gale while en route from Rotterdam to Cork.
The Ballymacoda and Knockadoon Gin Craze in 1851 – The article recounts how in 1851 the wreck of the schooner Celestina off Ballymacoda revealed a large cargo of gin, which local people salvaged and consumed, leading to widespread drunkenness and social problems in the community.
The 1856 Fishing Tragedy at Knockadoon – The article tells the tragic story of a fishing accident at Knockadoon on 20 August 1856, when a heavy sea capsized a boat hauling nets and resulted in the death of all five fishermen on board, with only two bodies reported to have washed ashore.
Shipwrecks Around Ballymacoda #2 – Three Wartime Incidents – The article describes three World War I-era maritime incidents off the Ballymacoda coast: the 1917 grounding and dramatic three-day salvage of the cargo ship S.S. Messina on rocks near Knockadoon Head, and the June 27, 1915 sinking of both the schooner Edith and steamship S.S. Lucena by German submarine U-24 with crews rescued ashore.
The Coastguard in Ballymacoda – The article outlines the long-standing presence of the coastguard in the Ballymacoda area — evident from early 19th-century maps and records — its development into a formal station and cottages in Ring (often historically referenced as “Knockadoon coastguard station”), and the confusion over the exact location of the station attacked during the 1867 Fenian Rising.
Moses Cull – Death of a Coastguard – The article tells the tragic story of Moses Cull, a coastguard stationed at Knockadoon in the 1880s who died in November 1884 after getting lost and drowning while trying to walk home in the dark from Youghal during a storm. It also discusses the profound impact of his death on his young family, particularly his pregnant wife and children, whose lives were marked by hardship and separation in the years that followed.
Local Stories
The Murder of Patrick Hanlon – The article recounts how Patrick Hanlon, a 30-year-old fisherman from Ballymacoda, was bayoneted to death by the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) during a riot in Youghal on 8 March 1887 connected to tensions over the Plan of Campaign rent-reduction protests.
A Copper Mine in Knockadoon? – The article investigates historical evidence suggesting that trial copper mining was attempted around Knockadoon Head in the 19th century, including listings in Griffith’s Valuation and references in geological reports to old tunnels and minor ore recovery.
A Snapshot of Ballymacoda from 1942 – The article presents insights from a 1942 local survey of Ballymacoda conducted by the Irish Tourist Association, offering a detailed snapshot of the village’s geography, folklore, antiquities, and community life at that time — including references to local copper mines, historic sites, and unique traditions.
Timothy A. Smiddy – the Ballymacoda Connection to Ireland’s First Ambassador – The article explains how Timothy Aloysius Smiddy, whose family roots trace back to Ballymacoda, became the first ambassador appointed by the Irish Free State, serving as Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the United States in the 1920s after being chosen by Michael Collins.
A Short History of Knockadoon Camp – The article traces the history of Knockadoon Camp, founded in 1922 as an Irish-language summer camp by Father Stephen Glendon and relocated to Knockadoon in 1924 to take advantage of its coastal location, where it offered youth outdoor activities, culture, and language immersion.
From Stormy Seas to the Somme – The Jones Family Memorial in the Hill Cemetery – The article describes the Jones family memorial in Ballymacoda’s Hill Cemetery, commemorating Captain William Jones, a master mariner who was lost at sea in the wreck of the S.S. Athena in March 1902, and his son Lieutenant Hugh M. Jones, who was killed in action during the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
Spirits of the Past: The Historical Pub Trade in Ballymacoda Village – The article explores the history of public houses in Ballymacoda, showing how pubs were central to the village’s social and cultural life from at least the mid-19th century onward, with multiple licensed establishments documented throughout the 1800s and early 1900s.
The Famine
A Corpse for Sale – The Horror of the Famine – The article recounts the harrowing story from 1847 of the Miller family from Ring, Ballymacoda, who, driven by extreme starvation during the Great Famine, tried to sell the body of their young son in Youghal, with testimony at the inquest revealing the boy died of starvation. It uses contemporary newspaper reports to illustrate the desperate conditions that gripped East Cork families during the famine and the broader social and economic devastation it caused.