Family Papers
1,Dromaneen Castle.
2,The Chieftains of Pobul-i-Callaghan & Clonmeen Castle
3,Elegy about Donough The O'Callaghan.
4,Elegy about Daniel The O'Callaghan.
5,Arthur Pyne O'Callaghan.
6,The Arthur Pyne O'Callaghan Centennial Celebrations.
7,The Cust Church Centenary.
8,The poems of Florence O'Callaghan, Wife of APO'C.
9,Denis O'Callaghan,APO'C's younger brother.
From papers of the late Ada Cull & the late Emily Collingwood. Compiled
by Dr.David Collingwood. April,1986.
"The remains of the Castle of Dromaneen
still stand on the South bank of the Blackwater,2 miles west of Mallow.
The external curtain walls,3 ft thick enclose a space about 186 ft from east
to west, and 77 ft north to south.
A road still called'botherine-na-spridda'(boreen of the spirits) leads from
the east to the barbican entrance,which is
protected by a round tower & a guard room, both loop-holed for hand guns.
West of this tower is the outer ward, a space about 70 ft from north to south
& 20 ft across.
A passage 12 ft wide leads from this, past a large building to the inner ward,
in which there are 2 other buildings,one 65 by
24 ft.& the other 41 by 20 ft.
South of the whole pile is a space of approx.6 acres,which was all paved over
up to recent times & which is still enclosed by
a wall all round, strengthened with half round towers, loop-holed for guns.
The whole structure is probably of date about the 1st half of the 17th century.
But there is in the interior an ancient wall
5ft thick which is the remnant of an earlier Castle."
The description is from a guide to Co.Cork.However the knowledge of family
history makes the ruins more discernable:---
The first written & reliable reference to family occupancy of Dromaneen
is DONOUGH'The Noble'O'Callaghan in 1543, but it is
surmised that the site has been in use since MOROUGH c.1020 established the
family name O'Callaghan for the Chieftains of
Pobul-i-Callaghan ,at this the centre of the clan lands.
Further there was a great spate of building and strengthening from 1550 to
1600 carried out by DONOUGH d.c.1570 & his
grand-nephew CALLAGHAN"of the Rock" O'Callaghan d.1608.It must be
remembered that these years were riven by insurrection and fighting against
the English Crown.
Thus Dromaneen has a history as the seat & defensive centre of Pobul-i-Callaghan,from
ancient times until Connoghor in 1600
moved the seat 6 miles upstream to Clonmeen Castle. Dromaneen remained the
home of our blood line until 1642 and the
outlawing & subsequent sequestration.
The interior "ancient wall" is all that remains of the Castle that
served the family through the middle ages down to the
rebuilding in the 16 & 17th centuries.The extensive remains of the Castle
are as Cromwell & the English left them after the
rebellion of 1642.
(2) THE CHIEFTAINS OF
POBUL-I-CALLAGHAN CO. CORK.
County Cork in Ireland
From the Journal of the Cork Historical & Archaelogical Society,June 1897.
*Pobul-i-Callaghan--the people or sept O'Callaghan,"Pobul"is also
used in a secondary sense,of the territory of the sept.
"Often in trouble with the English Govt. in the reigns of the Tudor &
Stuart Soveriegns & constantly engaged in the
internecine struggles & forays usual between the Irish Clans before the"Pax
Britannica"was forced upon them,sometimes
disturbed with internal disputes as to the succession of the chieftainship,
the Clan O'Callaghan affords in its history a
typical example of the origin, development & ultimate break-up of an ancient
*"Hibernian"sept or clan.(* from HEBER son of
MILESIUS.)
The clan is often mentioned in the "Annuls of the Four Masters"
as for example.---
"The O'Callaghans are of the Eugenian Race,ie.from EUGENE(EOGHAN MOR,son
of OLIOLL OLUM AD.150) and took their
name from CEALLACHAN CASHEL,the celebrated King of Munster in the 10th century;
and accounts of them may be found in the
'Annuls of the Four Masters' & the 'Annuls of Innisfalla'".
The O'Callaghans, Lords of Clonmeen, were in their times very powerful chiefs
& had their principal residence at the Castle
of Clonmeen,the ruins of which still remain on a rock near the River Blackwater,Co.Cork.
Clonmeen Castle---
Nothing now remains of these ruins save part of the curtain wall enclosing
the lawn(in shape almost square) & remains of
the towers of three angles of the square.The Keep has wholly disappeared.
Clonmeen was on the Southern bank of the Blackwater River,1 1/2 miles east
of Banteer(on the Mallow-Killarney Railway.)
The square lawn was about 275 ft each side & was enclosed by a strong
curtain wall 3ft thick crowning the rock & in places
20ft high. This wall was guarded at each corner by round towers,two storeys
high. They were 14 ft. in internal
diameter,with walls 5 1/2 ft thick, and each floor had loops for hand guns.
The remains of the Castle indicate a structure of 1590-1610,and its builder
was probably Connoghor O'Callaghan the chieftain
who got a regrant in 1594 of lands from the Crown.He is known as Connoghor
of the Rock and probably built on remains of an
earlier building.
An earlier seat of the family was the Dromaneen Castle(7 miles downstream)and
there were smaller fortalices at Banteer,
Gortmore,& Kilpadder.
The O'Callaghan "country" lay on the barony of Duhallow just west
of Mallow on both sides of the Blackwater River &
comprised the present parishes of Kilshanig, Clonmeen & Roskeen.""
(3) ELEGY ABOUT DOMHNALL (DONOUGH)
Egan O'Rahilly(Aodhagan O'Rathaille) Irish poet,
born1670.died 1726 wrote this elegy about Domhnall(Donough) "The
O'Callaghan"taking his title as Chieftain of Pobul-i-Callaghan but living
in banishment at Mount Allen,Co.Clare.d.1698.
"Son of Ceallachain,the manly,the high spirited, the vivacious,
Son of Conchubar, a noble who was bold and brave,
Son of Donough,son of Tadhg,the staying strength of the learned.
Son of Conchubar Laighneach,who did not show weakness,
Son of Donough,the Noble,the haven of the poverty-stricken ,
Son of Cinneidethe fair, the chieftain of a province,
Son of Macraith, who was esteemed in his youth,
Son of Maolseachlainn, who despoiled Eoghanacht.
Son of Lochlann, who never yeilded in contests,
Son of Macraith,who was skilled in fighting,
Son of Mathghanihain,the fair,sage and hero.
Son of Murchadh,son of Aodh,of the battle brands."
So the run of names goes on for 80 more lines!The pedigree is carried back
to Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam the wise,"who
conceived great evil!" and it ends thus:--
"there is no link to record from Adam to Domhnall, But High Kings who
ruled the world,
Kings of countries, Kings of provinces, Generous Chieftains,lords and heroes.
(4) ELEGY ON DANIEL O'CALLAGHAN
Egan O'Rahilly's Elegy on Daniel O'Callaghan
"The O'Callaghan"
of Mount Allen,Co.Clare & of "Clonmeen Line". d.1724
"THE BIG HOUSE"
"I beheld(said she) in his musical princely mansion,
Speckled silks and garments of pure satin
Swords being Whetted, invalids quaffing mead,
And warriors playing at"frdhchill" of the chessmen,
Coverlets being prepared,morning and even,
Young maidens engaged in arranging down
Wines newly opened,being drunk, and jollity
Viands on spits,and uisquebagh on table
Companies coming to the famous mansion without sorrow,
Companies falling down with feverish pulses
Companies inebriate without offence to their neighbours,
Companies of pride discussing uproariously.
A fragrant odour issuing in strength
From the tender breath of the trumpeting band,
Swift continuous currents from the nostrils
Of the nobles who were wont to hold the battlefield.
Airs being played harmoniously on harps,
The wise and the learned reading histories,
In whigh an account was faultlessly given of the clergy,
And of each great family that arose in Europe.
The doors wide open on enclosures bright as amber,
Waxlights blazing from every wall and chamber,
Every moment fresh casks being opened for the multitude,
With no ebb in the liquid coming to that drinking feast.
Steeds being bestowed on the "ollamhs"of Fodla,
Strong steeds in teams racing on the hillside,
Footsoldiers contending,abundance of "beoir",
In goblets of wrought silver,of great purity.
Often in that plain was heard the sound of war bugles,
The loud cry of the chase on the sides of the misty hills,
Foxes and red bucks were being awakened by them,
Hares from the mead,waterhens and thrushes."
(5) ARTHUR PYNE O'CALLAGHAN
A.P.O'Callaghan was born at Cahirduggan
in 1837,he went to school in Fermoy and then to Trinity College,Dublin and
obtained his BA in 1859. He then became curate to his uncle Rev William Masters
Pyne at Oxted, Surrey, with the
expectation of inheriting the Rectorship.However he emigrated to New Zealand
in 1865 returning in 1868 to marry
the daughter Dorathea Pyne. By her he had chidren Herbert,Florence,and Edith
also twins who died at birth
.She died shortly after in 1875.
Arthur Pyne O'C,(APO'C)emigrates to NZ.
"If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth,
Even there shall Thy hand guide me,
And Thy right hand shall hold me.
Psalms 159.
APO'C emigrated to NZ in 1865 under a scheme by which the Christchurch Bishop
(Harper)recruited young clergymen for
his Canterbury country districts.He brought with him two sisters Emily &
Elizabeth, Emily marrying later William
Revell, Warden of the West Coast goldfields & Elizabeth his brother John
of Lincoln, Canterbury.
The ship Greyhound(see Chronicles) left England Sun.22nd Jan. 1865, APO'C
was treasurer of the Chronicle & with the
Rev. Sewell took charge of the childrens'education,was assistant Chaplain
& as the new stars appeared on the way
South, gave talks on astronomy.
The ships decks were divided up for saloon & steerage & the accomodation
was rather primitive,the men being herded in a
large cabin with a hatch giving access to the coal hold,not conducive to cleanliness.
After an uneventful voyage they reached Lyttelton on May 10 1865.
A day to day account of the shipboard doings had been posted up, and was later
edited and printed as "The
Greyhound Chronicle"(a photostat copy is now in the Turnbull Library.)
Arrival in New Zealand.
APO'C took up his duties in 1865 as vicar of Oxford and Cust in North Canterbury
an area, then, of braided rivers
with farmlands between being wrested from nature.Owing to the large extent
of his parish(he had built 4 churches to
reach his flock)his long Sunday rides and swimming rivers he developed pneumonia,and
was advised by his doctor to
retire in 1867.
He went farming at Lincoln taking over "The Springs" farm (now Part
of Lincoln College) from his cousins the Pynes
(who went on to forming Pyne Gould Guiness,stock & station agents).
The house was burnt down c.1879 and a 2nd one built.Nearly all the beautiful
old Irish silver and a lot of antique
furniture was lost in the fire,and there are graphic stories in the family
of articles being rescued by throwing
them out from top windows.He remained farming at the Springs & on the
Banks Peninsula for 25 years.
In 1875 he had lost his first wife (nee Dorathea Pyne)and was left with 3
young children. He married in 1875 Florence
Hindmarsh, daughter of William Hindmarsh of Reefton. She was aged 18 and straight
out of the Park House Boarding
School,Christchurch,and she had to run a country house with several servants
and three lively children.
They (APO'C & his wife) had 11 chidren of their own in their long life.--
William,Ella,Leslie,Lorna,Ada,Sydney, Mary,Winifred,Emily,Constance &
Arthur.
He represented Lincoln in Parliament for 9 years(1881-1889)and the Lyttelton
Times of the day said of him after election "Yet he owed his success
also to his oratorical ability;his opponent had as good a record of local
body work."He was always a staunch Liberal and was a personal friend
of the Rt.Hon Richard Seddon. He then farmed at Gebbies Valley,later he lived
at Prebbleton & Harewood Rd. Following this he became Land Officer &
Valuer in Timaru from whence he inspected the Mackenzie Country & the
Hermitage during the disastrous flood of 1894. He remained in charge of the
Lands Dept in South Canterbury for a number of years.
(6.) THE ARTHUR PYNE
O'CALLAGHAN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS
Mar.8th-9th,1965.
Arthur Pyne O'Callaghan (then Revd)came to New Zealand on the Greyhound, chartered
by Shaw Saville & Co.& arrived in NZ on
May 9th or 10th 1865.
His descendants held a centenary celebration in Wellington on May 8th &
9th 1965,organised by his daughters Mrs.Ada Cull &
Mrs Emily Collingwood & his granddaughter Mrs Lorna L Maddever.
It was held in the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club Rooms at the Boat Harbour,
Oriental Parade,a perfect setting on a perfect
day,the boat harbour & boats being a great source of interest to all
Round the walls we had mounted sets of photographs of the different families
and generations, a special place of honour
being given to those who served in the two world wars (1914-18) & (1939-45).We
also had photographs of APO'C's old home in
Ireland (Cahirduggan),& his Father
& Mother, also of Ballyvolane the home
of his Mother nee Sarah Pyne.
We also had a sample of the original curtains brought out from Ireland, and
a soup ladle bearing the family crest engraved,
This is an arm bearing a sword with a snake coiled round it. The Motto is
Fidus et audax (Faithful & bold).
A family tree had also been prepared by Pat & Carl O'Callaghan(great grandsons)
to which the various descendants
made additions.The luncheon was excellent, & beautifully served, by the
Maadi Caterers.There was a large Centennial
Cake, adorned with models of the Greyhound and the Oxted Church in Surrey,
where APO'C was curate.
A cable was received from David Collingwood (grandson)in England saying he
would visit Cahirduggan on this day.
APO'C's two daughters Ada Cull & Emily Collingwood cut the cake.Toasts
were then drunk, the Queen, APO'C, & the
descendants. We all rose and drank to that last one,singing "For'we'
are jolly good fellows",which caused a good laugh all
round. Our Toast Master was Rev.Headigan & Alan MacKenzie made a very
humourous speech in proposing his health.
Max Tennant's little boy Bruce caused a lot of amusement chasing the champagne
corks.He is a real replica of his father.
APO'C married twice.Of his first family many members were present. His son
Herbert's eldest son Leslie, his daughter
Thelma Styche & his youngest son Herbert were there.
The first family list is as follows:-
Leslie & Thelma O'Callaghan with Their son Pat with his wife Lesley and
their children,Catherine, Cyril,Sharon
Their son Carl with his wife Louisa and their children,Helen,Alister,Isabel,
Denis. Thelma & Maurice Styche.
Annie Whiten(daughter of Edie Joyce, daughter of APO'C.
The second family list is as follows:-
Three of APO'C's children were absent owing to sickness,viz.William A O'Callaghan
of Hawera,Ella Tomlinson of
Wellington, Arthur Pyne O'Callaghan of Sydney. There were present:-
Of Lorna MacKenzie's (APO'C's daughter) family. Alan & Jay Mackenzie &
Malcolm, Ian MacKenzie with Joan, Shona, and grandson Lorna Collingwood with,Alison
& Lesley
Ada Cull(APO'C's daughter) with her daughter Lorna & Jack Maddever with
sons: John Maddever, Denis Maddever, Neil Maddever
Of Sydney R O'Callaghan (APO'C's son) family:- Dick & Betty O'Callaghan
& chidren, Pam,Barry,Jill,Roger,Betty Ann.
Leslie Walker with Helen & 2 more.
Of Winifred Tennant's(APO'C's daughter) family:- Bruce Tennant & Esme
with Ron & Garry, Max Tennant & Gloria,& 3 chidren.
Emily Collingwood (APO'C's daughter) with her daughter Doris & husband
Terry Trotman with children:-
Chris,Tessa,Mary,Timothy,Michele, Geoffrey,Ken,Terence & Constance
Of Constance(APO'C's daughter) her widower Charles Groves attended.
There were also present Lorna Hewitt & Eileen Powles (grand daughters
of APO'C's brother Jasper O'Callaghan) and Sir Guy
Powles.
After the luncheon we went sightseeing to Mt.Victoria,a good vantage point
for Wellington,& then came back to the Maddever
home 190 Oriental Parade for afternoon tea (between 60 & 70 all told).
On Sunday a Thanksgiving Service was held in the local Anglican Church,St.
Barnabas & there was a full muster.
The service was conducted by the Rev. Heerdigan,who preached a very fine sermon,
taking as his text Revelations 3.8"Behold,I
have set before thee a door opened which none shall shut.
Leslie O'Callaghan read the 1st.lesson :-"Let us now praise famous men,and
the fathers that begot us."
Dick O'Callaghan read the 2nd lesson :- "Rejoice in the Lord always".
Bruce Tennant read the Eulogy of APO'C. A ripple of amusement went thro' the
church when he accidently spoke of the
"Mormon"instead of the "Norman"Church at Oxted.!
The hymns we chose were:-
All people that on earth do dwell.
Fight the good fight.
Oh God, our help in ages past.
Lead us ,Heavenly Father lead us. The King of Love my
Shepherd is.
After the service,we were all photographed outside the church.
Then we went to Days Bay for a picnic & in perfect weather,where many
photoghraphs of the various families were
taken.
Dick & Betty O'Callaghan & family & Lorna Collingwood & family
stayed with Lorna Maddever for the celebrations
It was a very successful celebration, & a wonderful "get-together"of
all the descendants, many of whom had never
met before.
(7.) THE CUST CHURCH CENTENARY
CELEBRATIONS.
Mrs Cull & Mrs Collingwood,& several grandchildren & great grandchildren
of APO'C attended the Thanksgiving service at
Cust Anglican Church,North Canterbury, on May 30th,1965 where APO'C was first
vicar.
Mrs Cull & Mrs Collingwood were welcomed from the pulpit & it was
a very inspiring and enthusiastic service and social
gathering afterwards.
We have had installed in the Cust church a plaque commemorating APO'C's first
ministry there.
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
ARTHUR PYNE O'CALLAGHAN
FIRST VICAR OF CUST-OXFORD PARISH
1865
FIDUS ET AUDAX
ERECTED BY HIS FAMILY 1965
(8.) THE POEMS OF FLORENCE
O'CALLAGHAN
(b.1857.,d.1940.)
This gentle lady was greatly saddened by the loss of her second son Leslie
O'Callaghan Killed at Passchendaele 1917.
"Legacy"
Timaru Armistace Day,1917.
We raise memorials to their name
Lest we forget
And sing loud praises to their fame
Lest we forget.
With a high hope for Freedom's sake
An everlasting peace to make
They died.And still to us is left
The maimed, the men of sight bereft
Do we forget, Do we forget.
------------
"Missing"
(Leslie's body still remains unfound)
Armistace Day, 1929.
I know not where you lie, my son
Beneath some sacred sod
In Flanders Fields, unknown to me
But not unknown to God.
On many stones your name engraved
For evermore will live
You left us all when duty called
Gave all you had to give.
The Unknown Warrior sleeps beneath
That stately pile of stone
There in my dreams I place a wreath
He represents -my own.
------------
"Dreaming"
1917.
Twilight shadows softly stealing
Weave a veil of misty gloom
Round the little mother dreaming
In the dim secluded room
She can hear a deep toned murmur
Speeding to a distant clime
Tis' the heart beats of the mothers
Sending forth their love sublime.
O'er Gallipoli it hovers
With its messages of love
Borne above by gentle Zephyrs
To the unknown home above.
Once where cannon boomed & thundered
Once where Death stalked grimly by
Now the Sea sings solemn dirges
Round the spot where Heroes lie.
Then to battlefields in Flanders
Where their loved ones calmly sleep
Breathes a tender mourning spirit
Mother love ,so pure so deep.
Softly sleeping.She is dreaming
Of the tender happy days
Ere the War took toll of manhood
What a price a mother pays!
---------
"Old Memories".
Timaru 1920.
Where is my son with laughing eyes
And voice of childish glee
As oer the sunlit lawn he came
With treasure trove to me.
Maybe twas but a tiny bud
Perhaps a Shining Stone
To him they came from Wonderland
A Kingdom of his own.
When tired ar eventide he came
Within my arms to rest
My kiss upon his rosy lips
His head upon my breast.
And then a greater joy I owned
When he became a man,
The happiness he gave to me
Forget I never can.
------------
"Garden of Memories"
F.O'C.1931.
Garden of Memories , May it keep
Within our hearts for evermore
Their sacrifice,so true,so deep
And all the agony they bore.
Oh lovely spot wherein I dream
Of gallant men, who marched away
To swell the tide of War's dark stream
And many with their lives to pay.
Each little garden stands apart
Named after battles lost or won
One name is seared across my heart
For there I lost a gallant son
Oh sacred spot,our prayers ascend
To those who dwell in heaven above
We honour her, who loves to spend
Upon this place her mother love.
--------
"A wish to be on the Port Hills"
Oh.for the breath of a gorse scented hill
And mid the brown tussocks to lie
To gaze out afar,oer sun tinted plains
And watch the white clouds drifting by.
White sails are flashing like birds on the wing
As oer the blue waters they skim.
Theskiipper aboard, throws care to the wind
His yacht is a haven to him.
But give me Hills,the tramp up and down
A Pal heart to heart in the game
For song of the birds, & scent of the pines
My love is ever the same.
---------
"Old Pals"
Jogging down Lifes road together
Pals for five and fifty years
Meeting fair or stormy weather
Kept on smiling oft thro' tears
Now the road is somewhat lonesome
For I travel on my own
But I know that you will meet me
When I cross Lifes Stepping Stone.
Your old Wife,May30th.1939.
(9.) DENIS O'CALLAGHAN,
APO'Cs YOUNGER BROTHER
This was written by Ada Cull(APO'C's daughter) in her 90th year,with the request
it be placed, as here,in family records
"Denis O'Callaghan perhaps deserves the brand of'wild Irishman',in his
youth anyway. Born at Cahirduggan,Fermoy, Co.Cork, Ireland,in 1838 0r 39 he
ran away to sea at the age of 14. Nothing was heard of him for years.
In the meantime my father took up his appointed career,going to Trinity College,Dublin,to
the Ecclesiastical section, where he
graduated BA.& then proceeded to be the curate to his uncle Rev. William
Pyne at Oxted, destined to inherit the position,&
incidentally marrying his cousin Dora Pyne.
Then the call to migrate struck him & he sailed in the good ship Greyhound
for NZ in May 1865 with his sisters Em &
Lizzie(both later marrying Revell brothers.)
One day in Lincoln (Canterbury NZ) a visitor told APO'C(my father) that he
had seen a man"the dead spit" of APO'C working
on the Adelaide wharves. Enquiries were made & the upshot was that Denis
came to NZ & was in that rather straight-laced
society a bit of a shock. (So much so,according to another daughter,Emily
Collingwood,that he arrived like a bearded down-at-heel tramp at the fence
where APO'C was gardening,quite unrecognised,-'Hello Tad!'he said using APO'C's
boyhood
nickname,APO'C always said he nearly jumped out of his skin!!)
He had a completely different outlook on life. He promptly married AP0'C's
sister Lizzie Revell's servant Jenny. Jenny may have been one of the shipload
of domestic servants & farm-workers who were brought out in the late 60s
or early 70s to help the struggling colonists.She was good at heart but had
a flaming temper.
When we lived at River road in an old house with behind it,in those times,
swamp & streamlets from the Waimakariri running
over the landscape.Father sometimes bundled an assortment of his children
into the old buggy & we went off to see Denis.
I remember one time seeing him walking barefoot,with trousers falling round
his ankles and shirt hanging out, carefully
collecting all the manure he could find to nourish his vegetable plot to feed
his growing family.
I remember as a child being shocked to see the way Jenny, in one of her tempers
punished one of the children.
She banged its bare bottom hard against the wall of the house,with screams
and yells from the victim till her rage had abated.
Helen Macfarlane(Rich) told me he was greatly respected in the district and
was eventually a churchwarden.
