James O’Connell was born to Michael O’Connell and Mary McSheffrey in Bunagee, Co. Donegal, in 1882 and was baptised in the local church on July 9th of that year. His sponsors were Mary’s brother, George McSheffrey and her sister, Madge McSheffrey.
James O’Connell married Alice Falvey.
I need to do research on the Falveys having the post office and how it came to be in the possession of the O’Connells after them.
Alice had a brother, Michael Falvey (1877 – 1959) who married Margaret O’Connell (1880 – 1976), a cousin of James. I will write more on that later.
Children of James O’Connell and Alice Falvey
Frank O’Connell (died 1998) married to Amby Costello, worked at Shannon Airport.
Michael O’Connell (died 1990) married to Maura Quill, owned the 98 House, in Milford.
Tadgh O’Connell (1930 – 2004) married Marie….
On July 14, 1938, the warm morning sun streamed through the windows of Fermoy Courthouse, casting a glow on the solemn faces of those gathered. The community had come together to attend the inquest into the tragic death of James O’Connell, a well-known vintner whose sudden passing had sent shockwaves through Charleville, Milford and the surrounding townlands.
Mr. Coroner S.A. Fitz called the inquest to order, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of his duty. The details of the accident that claimed the life of James O’Connell would be meticulously examined today, with the hope of providing some closure to his grieving family and friends.
The fateful incident occurred at the junction of Chapel Street and Clancy Terrace in Charleville on July 12, 1938. James O’Connell had been riding his bicycle, a common mode of transport for the 43-year-old publican. His journey, however, was tragically cut short and he died at Fermoy Hospital the following day 13th July 1938. He was 56 years old.
Mr. Patrick White of Newline, South Charleville, water curator to the North Cork Board of Health, was the first witness to testify. “I saw two cyclists coming down the hill,” White began, his voice steady as he recounted the harrowing moments. “One was a man of about 35 named Patrick Daly. He was cycling slowly on his correct side of the street. I saw the second cyclist whom I now know to be the deceased cycling furiously on the wrong side of the street, which would have been his right hand side of the street. He appeared to lose control of his bicycle as he reached the junction of Chapel Street and Clancy Terrace. His bike hit the kerb stone and he was caterpulted into the wall at the inside of the footpath.”
The witness rushed over and found Mr. O’Connell to be unconscious and bleeding from the head. He sent for a doctor and a priest. Then he waited at the scene until the Gardai arrived, making sure no body touched the scene.
The courtroom was silent as Mr. P. O’Connell, a builder from Milford, took the stand to state he was a cousin of the deceased Mr. James O’Connell and had identified the body at Fermoy Hospital. He said James had been cycling his bicycle for the last 20 years.
The court then heard from Dr. T.P. Magnier, who had attended to O’Connell at Fermoy Hospital. His testimony was clinical yet compassionate. “The victim of the accident, Mr. James O’Connell was admitted to the hospital at 5.30 on the 12th July, suffering from complete paralyses of the limbs and a compound depressed fracture of the left forehead. There was a fracture extending to the base of his skull and also a dislocation of the spine in the middle of the neck. Mr. O’Connell was operated on at 7.00 The deceased was quite conscious but had no recollection of what happened to him. He passed away about 6pm the following day, 13th July 1938”. (Incidentially James had also been born in the month of July, July 9 to be precise.)
As the inquest drew to a close, Coroner Rice and the jury returned a verdict of death as a result from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident. Sympathies of all present were extended to the relatives of Mr. O’Connell.
With the proceedings concluded, the townsfolk slowly filed out of the courthouse, each person carrying with them a reminder of how fragile life is and how easily even a small error of judgement can lead to a fatal accident and even death. The story of James O’Connell, a respected vintner and beloved member of the community, would not soon be forgotten. His memory would serve as a poignant reminder of life’s unpredictability and the need for vigilance in every moment.
