The Power, Kervick and Maher families of Duagh, Co. Waterford [Gen-036]

[The entry in the Table of Contents is as the title above, but the heading on the page is actually The Power, Kervick and Maher, Wyse and Whittle families of Co. Waterford]

The material regarding these families was compiled by Mrs. Frank Heylin (formerly Catherine, otherwise Rina, Maher of Duagh, Co. Waterford). It is based mainly on local parochial registers and headstones, supplemented by information supplied by connections of the families concerned.

These notes show the ancestry of the Mahers of Duagh, as well as some information regarding their relations.

The Powers of Callahane

John Power, born 1707, died 17th February, 1778, married Anstice .., born 1700, died 6th June,1772.

Their son, Richard, born 1741, married ... 

Their children were

• Patrick, born 1781 or 1776 who married Mary Galavan, and
• John, born 1779, who in 1821 was farming fourteen acres and was a Barony Constable. He married Mary Wyse, born 1783.

The children of John Power and Mary Wyse were:

• Richard Power of Barristown, born 1801, died 1877 (See later)
• Catherine, born 1807, married Power (Seainín)
• Robert, born 1809. Unmarried
• Ally, born 1812
• William, born 1816, known as "Billy Jack"
• Patrick, born 1816, of Newfoundland
• Martin of Graigavidda, born 1818, married Bridget Walshe and had
  • [a] daughter, Mary, born 1849
  • James, born 1820, known as "Jimmy Jack"
  • Mary, born 4th June 1826 (St. John's Register).

The Census of 1821

The Census returns for the Townland of Callaghane in the Parish of Ballygunner, Barony of Gaultier, County of Waterford, were transcribed in full in 1912 by Miss Gertrude Thrift, professional record searcher, for the Reverend Canon Power.

The returns give the following information: the number of the houses; the number of storeys (all the houses in Callaghane were one storey); the names of the occupants, and their relationship to the head of the household; their ages and occupations; the number of acres in the holding; and other observations (nearly always left blank). In addition, Canon Power has added his own notes on the subsequent careers of some individuals and these have been included in inverted commas within brackets.

Miss Thrift's transcript is held in the Muniment Room at the Waterford City Hall.

The following is a summery of an item in the transcript:

 14. John Power, 42, farmer and barony constable, 14 acres, ("Shawn Pully"); Mary, wife, 38 ("Máire Weese"); Richard, son, 20, ("Barristown"); Robert, son 12 ("unmarried, died Callaghane'); William son, 5 ("Billy Jack"); Patrick, son, 5 ("Newfoundland"); Martin, son, 3 ("Graigearidda"); James, son, under 1, ("Jimmy Jack"); Catherine, daughter, 14 ("married Power Séamín"  [sic., possibly Séainín, see above]); Alley [sic], daughter, 9; Catherine Dee, 40, indoor servant."

(The material quoted above was published in Volume XV11 [sic, probably XVII] May, 1981, of “Decies", the Journal of the Old Waterford Society.)

The Powers of Barristown, Co. Waterford

Richard Power of Barristown (1801 - 1877) married Catherine Casey.
Their son John, born 1836, died 1904 married ... O'Keefe of Craun, Kilmacow, and had two sons

• Richard of Barristown, (d.s.p.) who married Margaret Delahunty and
• Andrew, who married Margaret of Ballymountain (Margaret Veale)

d.s.p. - [Latin] descessit sine parole; dies without issue. (Source)

The other children of Richard Power (1801 - 1877) and Catherine Casey were

• Robert, born 1842, died 1915, married Nancy (Ann) Kiervick of Duagh
  (See below)
• Mary, born 1850, died 1879, married John Meade of Crooke on 27th May, 1872 in Killea.
• Bernard, born 1857, died 1878.
• Patrick, born 31st March, 1848 (Killea Register).
• Nora, married Richard Sheil-Walshe, Moneyvroe, Cappoquin on 20th February, 1881 (Killea Register).
• Thomas of Cross married ... Toole.

The Kiervicks of Duagh, Waterford

David Kiervick, born 1736, died 1816, married ... Power who died 1811.
Their children were;

• Denis, owner of farm in Tithe Applotment 1823-37.
• John
• David, born 1797, who married Bridget Foley, born 1818 or 1822, died 1856.

The children of David Kiervick and Bridget Foley were

• Ellen of Ballyknock who married Pat Kelly of Fenor on 20th November, 1881.
• Ann, born 1845, died 1923, married Robert Power (1842-1915) of Barristown on 30th August, 1871. (See below )
• Catherine of Ballykinsella ( See below)

Certificate of Ownership

Folio Local Office 316; Central Office 16620 (of the Land Registry?)

.... parts of the lands of Duagh containing 84 acres, nine perches or thereabouts statute measure situate in the barony of Middle Third and County of Waterford."

Robert Power of Duagh, farmer. Certificate of Ownership, dated 3rd July, 1895.

Catherine Kiervick of Ballykinsella married, firstly, on 6th Feb., 1866, Pat Mullins of Ballyduff and had two children Alice and Patrick, born 21st January, 1867.
She married, secondly, on 23rd April, 1874, Martin Power of Fenor. Their 
children were

• John, born 15th May, 1876, and
• David, born 8th August, 1878.

The Powers of Duagh, Waterford

Ann Kiervick (1845 — 1923) of Duagh married Robert Power of Barristown on 30th August, 1871, Their children were

• Richard of Tramore, born 11th March, 1874, died 6th December, 1946, married Annie Owens (See below).
• David of Mallow, born 5th May, 1875, died 1942 married Lena Sheehan (See below).
• Catherine M., born 1st August 1876 (Died young?).
• Mary, born 8th December, 1878, married John Whittle (See below.)
• Bernard, born 29th April, 1880. Died unmarried in U.S.A.
• Bridget Christine, born 19th December, 1885 (Died young?)
• John (Jack), born 10th March, 1884. Died, unmarried, in U.S. of America.
• Cecilia (Linnie), born 1882, died 13th May, 1962. Married Thomas Francis Maher of Killure, Co. Waterford.(See below).

The Powers of Tramore, Co. Waterford.

Richard Power of Duagh (1874 - 1946), Bookmaker, married Annie Owens and lived at "Belvidere", Tramore.
Their children were

• Paddy, also a bookmaker, married Dorothy ("Bunty") Whiteside. They lived firstly in Mount Merrion, Dublin and later at Palmerston Road, Dublin. [Editor's addition, 2025: Died July 8, 2024 in Dublin. Source: https://rip.ie/death-notice/david-power-dublin-561891]
• Teresa ("Terry") married Jim Cassidy of Bundoran.
• Raymond, an accountant, married .... ( Raymond was known as "Red").
• Noeleen, unmarried.
• Gemma, unmarried.
• Leoine, married Ray McCann, Veterinary Surgeon, Tullamore and had son, John.
• Dick who died young and his twin
• Helen, a nun.
• Celine, married Edward Cheasty of Ballindysert, Carrick-on-Suir
• David, a medical doctor in Canada. Married.

The Powers of Mallow, Co. Cork

David Power of Duagh, Bookmaker (i.e. Turf Commission Agent) married Lena Sheehan and lived at 24, West End, Mallow.
Their children were

• Greta, unmarried.
• Patsy (Anne) married Desmond McDonald.
• Charlotte, unmarried.
• Robert, Veterinary Surgeon, who married Kit Barclay in 1937 and died in 1938. Had one child, Roberta, who married in Canada. Kit married, secondly, ... Goodbody.
• Mai married Dermot Gavagan and had two children -
  • David, an accountant, who married ... and
  • "Tony", a daughter.

The Whittles of Waterford City

Mary Power of Duagh married John Whittle, publican on 2nd Nov.,1910.
Their children were

• Willie who married Eileen Keohane of West Cork. Their children were:
  • Mary,
  • Eileen,
  • Sheila,
  • Bernie,
  • John and
  • Margaret.
• Minnie married Paddy Gallagher, a Secondary [School] Teacher, of Ennis, Co. Clare. Their children were:
  • John, a Civil Servant (Dept. of the Public Service)
  • Noel, married Nell Power.
  • Brian, a medical doctor.
  • Mary.
    (Each of these married.)
  • Noel married Agnes ... of 31, Shortcourse, Waterford. Later they lived at Newtown Lodge, Waterford. They had no children.

The Mahers of Duagh, Waterford

Cecilia Power (1882 - 1962) married Thomas Francis Maher (1882 - 1941). They lived in Duagh and farmed eighty acres (approx.). They also owned land (50 acres?) in Killure but this was sold later.
Their children were:

• Catherine M. ("Rina'"), National School Teacher, born 17th August, 1919, married Frank Heylin, N.T., later Principal, Ferrybank National School, Waterford. They have no children.
• Anne Teresa ("Nancy"), born 1st November, 1920. Owner of the Duagh farm. Unmarried.
• Mary Bridget, born 5th January, 1923. Civil Servant (Rádio Éireann,´Department of Posts and Telegraphs.). Married Liam ó Tuathaláin, Civil Servent (Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissions) of 128, St. Lawrence Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Birth re-registered subsequently (c. 1946) as Máire Bríd ní Mheachair.

The Mahers of Killure, Co. Waterford

Bartholomew Maher (1784 - 1834) married Joanna Dunphy (1782 - 1866 (i.e. The "Widow Maher" mentioned on the headstone in the old Tramore graveyard in the Church grounds.)
Their children were:

• Thomas, born 1810, died 2nd June, 1891, married Catherine Kirwan of Carballybeg, born 1842, died 23rd March, 1916 (See below).
• Ellen, born 1820, died 6th July, 1902, unmarried.
• Edward of Raheen, born 25th February, 1825, married firstly, Alice Kirwan and had daughter, Anastasia, born 29th October, 1871. He married, secondly, Bridget Hannigan of Ballinaclough.

Thomas Maher (1810 - 1891) married Catherine Kirwan (1842 -1916)
Their children were:

• William, married Bridget Farrell, Kilcohan.
• Joanna, born 1868, died 8th April, 1910 in U.S.A. Married James C. Walshe in 1893 and had two children, Kitty and Nellie (See forward).
• Mary Josephine, born 1870, died October, 1963 in Tramore, unmarried. School teacher in Drogheda, Co. Louth.
• Bartholomew, born 1872, died 25th April, 1910, unmarried.
• Catherine, born 1875, died February, 1950. Married William Barron of Williamstown, Waterford, and had one child Mary (1911 - 1970). Mary married David Power and had two children, Oliver and Ann. Mary and David sold the farm (200 acres?) at Williamstown later and bought Primrose Hill, Tramore. Oliver and his family live in Primrose Hill at present (1984). His sister Ann is also married and has a family.
• Ellen died young.
• Thomas married Cecilia Power of Duagh (See above).
• Anastasia, born 1886, died 15th September, 1915, unmarried.

The Powers of Bishopscourt, Waterford

Kitty Walshe, daughter of Joanna Maher of Killure and James C. Walshe married John Power of Bishopscourt, who died 1961. (Kitty was born in 1895 and died on 15th November, 1970.)
Their children were:

• Mary (Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart of the Ursuline Order) born October, 1919.
• Michael, Parish Priest, Ballylooby, Co. Waterford. Previously curate in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford.
• Joan, nurse, married Stephen Murphy of Banard House, Co. Tipperary, farmer, and had two daughters - Kathryn and Rosemary.
• Bryde, born September, 1923, died 1st April, 1983. Married Matt Hennebry, Vocational teacher, Waterford. After the death of Bryde's parents, she and Matt lived at Bishopscourt. They had no children.
• Jim married Peggy O'Meara and had two sons, Bernard and Gregory.
• John died 9th March, 1976, unmarried.
• Tom unmarried.

The Quinns of Bray, Co. Wicklow

Nellie Walshe, daughter of Joanna Maher and James C. Walshe, married Liam (otherwise William P. ) Quinn, subsequently Commissioner of the Gárda Síochána. Nellie died in a motoring accident.
Their children were:

• Fergus married Averil Waterfred (in England?) and had three children - Mark, Helen and Clare. Following the death of his wife he returned to Ireland and set up as an auctioneer in Bray. He married, secondly, Margaret Deignan and had three children - Edward, Emma, and Kate.
• Aiden married Chrystal ... and had four children - Helen, Paul, Hugh and David.
• Mary married Ian Greenway and had two children - Fiona and Jeremy.
• Ann married Michael Power, Bank Manager, Bantry.
• Monica married Cathal MacGabhann (otherwise Charles Smith), an accountant. They had six children - Brian, Liam, Barbara, Kevin, Léibhín and Sinéad (born 1982).
• Brian married Mona Costello and had two children, Kenneth 
  and Paul.
• Ursula married Frank Bonello of Malta and had daughter, Catherine
• Josephine married Pat White and had three children - Helen and Zita (twins) and Patrick.

(End of material supplied by Mrs. P. Heylin of Duagh, Waterford.)