The Toolans of Clara, Offaly [Gen-031]

Liam ó Tuathaláin

Martin Toolan (1850 - 23rd April, 1906) son of William Toolan and Bridget Croghan, Merchant, of Clara married Bridget Codd (1859 - 17th October,1909), daughter of James Codd and Anne Furlong of Knottown (or Nottown), Co. Wexford, on the 29th April, 1879 in the R.C. Church of Castlebridge, Crossabeg, Co. Wexford.

Bridget Codd Toolan
Bridget Codd Toolan

Their children were:

  • Bridget 1880. Died at birth or within a year.
  • William1880. Died at birth or within a year.
  • Anne Teresa (1881 - 1963) married Dr. Daniel Monihan and lived in the USA. (See The American Connection - Part 1).
  • Mary Christina ("Maysie" ) (1883 - 1974). Spinster.
  • Monica (1890 - 18th April, 1960). Spinster. Died in USA (See The American Connection - Part 1).
  • William Francis (2nd October, 1885 - 14th November, 1932) married Margaret Mary ("Daisy") D'Arcy.
  • James Joseph Born 3rd June 1894. Died in infancy.

All the children, except James who was born in Dublin, were born in Clara, Offaly.

Martin Toolan's name is given as "Tolan" on his Marriage Certificate.

Monica Toolan.
Monica Toolan.

Martin Toolan, Bridget Toolan, William F. Toolan and Maysie Toolan are buried in Grave Ui 143 St. Patrick's in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin.

In 1906 the family lived at 44, Great Charles St., Dublin and in 1909, their address was 16, St. Benedict's Gardens.

Maysie Toolan says that her father had a drapery and grocery business in Clara, near Tullamore, Offaly. The shop was in the Square in Clara, facing the Church and on the site occupied by the Hibernian Bank and Flynn's.

According to Maysie Toolan, her father and a man named P.J. Whyte were the Parnellite leaders in Clara. At the time of the Parnell Split (1890) Martin Toolan did not desert Parnell. This resulted in his being boycotted and the eventual failure of his business. The family moved to Dublin in 1892 and Martin secured employment as a book-keeper. Maysie quotes her mother as saying "the family were on the waves of the world through politics".

(The Parnell Split occurred as a result of Parnell's being involved in divorce proceedings.)

It is said that Parnell addressed a meeting from a window of Martin Toolan's house in Clara.

Martin Toolan was reputed to be a bosom friend of Michael Davitt who founded the Land League in 1879.

Maysie Toolan mentioned that Martin and Bridget Toolan were Heads of the Sacred Heart Sodalities in Clara prior to the Split. She also mentioned that as subscribers to the building fund of the Church in Clara they were entitled to have their names inscribed on one of the pillars. However, due to their being boycotted the inscription was never made. A Father Gaffney was Parish Priest at the time and although relations between himself and the local Franciscan monks were strained as they were Parnellites, he later became a Franciscan himself. 

In June, 1894 when James Joseph was born Martin Toolan's family lived at 12, O'Connell Ave., Dublin.