The Slevin Girls

The older girls got work in shops in Portumna, thinking nothing of the 9km (5.5 mile) cycle each way every day, and Kitty was paid for her work at the Convent. These would have been coveted and rare positions and must be a reflection of their brightness and position in the community. That notwithstanding, the wages would have been paltry, but enough to contribute to the family coffers and create a degree of independence for the young women.

Jo worked at Claffey's and Margaret at O'Keefe's. A real treat for the other girls was to go O’Keefe’s where Margaret would sell them one of the fancy biscuits with cream in the middle.

Both Margaret and Lil also worked for a Mrs O'Meara in Killimor. At Christmas Lil would bring home a hamper from Mrs O'Meara, giving the family their first taste of unfamiliar delicacies like raspberry cordial or bananas. Lil also worked in Mountmellick for a time. In 1948, two days before her 32^nd birthday, she married Phil Lynam and they moved to Moate.

Margaret at work

Margaret leaving home for Longford in Ned Flynn's car, with Dad, Mam, Chrissie and Paul

After O’Meara’s, Margaret moved to Riverstown near Birr, and later would go all the way to Longford to get work. In Longford, aged 38, she met and settled with her new husband, Tom Hopkins. Unfortunately, the couple’s one child died at birth. Margaret’s home at Ferefad is remembered as being full of warmth and generosity, with the big kettle on the spotless range at constant boil, ready to make a cup of strong tea at any moment of the day.

Nora, coming eleventh, was sandwiched between the two distinct groups of siblings with seven older sisters and four younger brothers. She was a quiet girl and spent much time looking after the younger children. She also helped out the neighbours and families in the area, especially with new babies and was the first person people thought of when they needed help.

At 28, Nora married Robert Young and settled with him and their six children in Rathcabbin. He was eighteen years older and family history suggests that the couple was brought together by Jack Carroll of Rathcabbin. Nora sadly died at only 46, leaving six young children behind. Bob died six months later. Jim was appointed guardian of the children and their aunt, Nan Young who was matron at St James’ Hospital in Dublin, came home to look after the family.

Nora and Bob with Mary, Frances and Noreen

Chrissie worked for a time in O’Meara’s in Portumna and later in Heenan’s shop and bar in Borrisokane. After she married Mick Hoctor, she set up her own successful business on Pearse Street in Nenagh. It was a grocery shop, known for selling local produce including fresh eggs, cakes and fresh sausages weekly from Tullamore and Roscrea. It was a landmark shop in Nenagh up to the late eighties when it closed. For the last 25 years, Chrissie has worked in St Mary's of the Rosary Church in Nenagh as the sacristan. Like her sisters, particularly Patricia and Bridgie, she was gifted at making handicrafts such as rugs and tapestries and won prizes for them at Nenagh's Annual Agricultural Show over a number of years.

At Kilregane in 1964, Nance Carroll, Lil, Chrissie, Tina (married to Tim), and Nora.

Read the other chapters in this blog for more:
Introduction & Life on the Farm
The Slevin Boys
The Nuns
Key Dates for the Slevin Family
Acknowledgements

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The Slevins of Kilregane

Like many at the turn of the 20 th Century, John Slevin and Mary Hogan came of age in an Ireland where the Great Famine was within living memory and emigration continued to decimate the population. The country was an economic mess and there were none of the social supports that we now take for granted. Pensions and social welfare provision were minimal and the old, sick and indigent were largely dependent on family and the goodwill of neighbours. John Slevin & Mary Hogan John Slevin was born in 1876 in Kyleagoonagh, Tombrickane, Borrisokane the fourth son of James Slevin and Elizabeth Flanigan, a family of mostly farmers and agricultural labourers that had been in the area from at least the beginning of the nineteenth century. By 1901, the 25 year old John had moved to live with his aunt, Catherine (Kate) Hogan in Kilregane, a 40 minute cycle ride away from his home. Kate was 60 and owned the farm; she lists him on the Census form as an ‘Agricultural Labourer’.

The Slevin Boys

Willie, Tim, PJ, Paul, Jim and Sean Jim, Seán, Willie, PJ and Tim in 1984 Jim, the oldest boy, went to work “as soon as he was old enough to hold a pitchfork”. He worked on the home farm as well as at Flannery's. After he left home he was “great for coming to ramble on a Sunday”. At 32, he married Julia Fahy and moved to her home place and farm at Rodeen, near Borrisokane. It was believed that Uncle Jim, John’s brother, was instrumental in bringing the couple together. Jim and Julia on their wedding day, 9th June 1948 For the first few years, Seán worked near home milking the large herd of cows owned by the Watson estate. He worked with Uncle Pack threshing, later moving to Limerick and then on to Colemanswell Creamery in Cork. Willie and PJ continued to live with their mother at Kilregane until the 1970s. Willie inherited the farm, and PJ moved to his own house in Carrigahorig. PJ was a well-known figure as he went around the country on his Honda 50. He

Slevin Image Gallery

The Nuns

Anna (known as Jo) was the first to join a convent in July 1933 and became Sr Attracta. She was followed in 1934 by 14 year old Bridgie who joined the Ursulines. In 1935, two months after turning 18, Kitty joined Jo in the Cluny sisters and took the name Sr. Francesca; she had wanted to take Michael, in memory of her brother but her request was refused on the basis that there were too many Sr. Michaels. In 1938, 18 year old Maura (Sr Vincent) joined the Sisters of Mercy and would spend her life in England; Teeshie (Sr Ignatius) followed in 1941, a month after her 17 th birthday. The youngest children, PJ (b.1928), Tim (b.1929), Chrissie (b.1930) and Paul (b.1934), were hardly old enough to have any memory of their sisters as young women in Kilregane and would only get to know them much later as adults. With only ten years between her and four of the nuns, Nora probably felt their departure most keenly. Her sisters would have been her close companions through her childhood, but

Key dates for the Slevin Family

Acknowledgements

With heartfelt thanks to Sr Francesca Slevin (Kitty), Tim Slevin and Chrissie Hoctor for their memories and storytelling. Chrissie also deserves much credit for the sizeable collection of amazing photographs that we have. In putting the Slevin story together it was clear that so many other stories and details have been lost to us. This history could not have been written without Mary Young: we owe her immense gratitude for recording Kitty’s memories and giving life to our history. Thank you also to Michelle Hoctor who initiated the idea and to Michael Slevin (brother!) who reviewed and gave every encouragement to the project. Thanks to to Jennifer Slevin with whom we share a great-grandfather for her newspaper clippings and especially for her original work on the family tree: it saved me no end of time! And thank you Niamh Slevin for your diligent proof-reading. Any errors in this are totally my own. Please help add to the stories by commenting here or getting in touch directly with

Slevins of Kilregane

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