James Flanagan : Short Biography

James Flanagan was the sixth and second youngest child of Michael Flanagan and Mary McGarry, born in late 1876. He was part of a farming family in Clooncor, Tulsk, County Roscommon, and grew up with five brothers and one sister. The Flanagans were all nationalists and strong supporters of the Irish Parliamentary/Home Rule Party. He was apprenticed along with his brother Martin to a blacksmith named Hayden in Roscommon. According to family stories, he spent a few years in America working, but no documents have yet been found to prove this.

James returned from America before 1904. He worked for an elderly blacksmith named Thomas Maxwell, who owned a forge in Grange, Tulsk. Thomas's only son had died the year before. Thomas was in failing health and on 28 March, wrote a will. He left everything he had to his daughter Mary Jane, who had left her serving job in Wicklow to take care of her father. His will states that he wished for her to marry James. On 11 April 1904, James and Mary Jane were married in Tulsk Church. Witnesses were James's brother John Flanagan and Mary Jane's friend Katie Dooley. Thomas Maxwell died just over two weeks later.

As Mary Jane's husband, James now also had a house and forge, leased from Captain French. The house had four rooms and five front windows with a slated roof. They also kept chickens in a small fowl house. Their first child was born less than a year after their marraige and named for Thomas Maxwell. They had five children in total over six years.

Children of Mary Jane and James

Thomas B. 1 Jan 1905

Patrick B. 10 Mar 1906

Mary Anne B. 15 June 1907

Bridget B. 25 Sep 1910

Michael John B. 1 Dec 1911

In April 1906, James's father Michael died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Afterwards his brothers John and Michael fell out over the inheritance of the farm, though it was John that eventually got it. His mother Mary died in the same year from influenza. Both were buried in Kilcooley Graveyard. James's youngest son, Michael, died in 1913 aged fourteen months from Bronchitis. 

Mary Jane became very frail and sickly as she got older, especially after having all her children. She sometimes would be sick for weeks on end. Margaret Rushe, James's cousin, took Mary Jane into her home to nurse her during her illnesses.

James Flanagan was very involved in the Tulsk GAA and several meetings would have taken place in the Flanagan's home. 

The Flanagans lived next to Patrick McDermott:

"January 22, 1910   Roscommon Messenger

Strokestown Quarter Sessions on Saturday last-

Claim for Damages

James Flanagan, blacksmith, Tulsk, sued Patrick M'Dermott, same place, for £5 damages, for that the defendant obstructed plaintiff in the use of his lands at Tulsk in June of last year.

Mr Gaynor appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Heverin (McDonnell & Co) for the defendant.

The plaintiff, sworn, stated that in the month of June, 1909, he kindled a fire on his own lands, near his forge for the purpose of shoeing wheels, and the defendant's son kicked the fire about the place and obstructed him in carrying on his work as a blacksmith. 

The defence was, first, that the land on which the fire was built was not the property of the plaintiff, but was a common, and was used by the public for the purpose of a fair green and ball alley; and, secondly, that the fire, which plaintiff erected was in such close proximity to his haggard that his bay and straw was in danger of being burned.

Plaintiff produced several documents of title, including a lease under which it appears the place in dispute was demised to the plaintiff or some of his predecesors in title. 

His Honor, after hearing the evidence fully, and reading over the documents, gave a decree for £1 and 1s in witnesses expenses. "

James also had trouble with another neighbour, James Farragher:

"Roscommon Messenger 27 June 1914

Apology

I, James Flanagan, of Tulsk, in the County of Roscommon, having made certain slanderous charges against Mr James Farragher, of Tulsk, aforesaid, likely to be injurious to his character and reputation, he has justly threatened me with legal proceedings on account of the slander, but in consideration of my agreeing to make the following apology, and paying the expenses already incurred, and the cost of the publication of this Apology, he has kindly consented to forebear instituting legal proceedings against me.

Now I do hereby declare my sincere controlition and regret that such charges should have been made, and I admit the same are wholly untrue and without the slightest foundation, and were made by me on the impulse of the moment in the heat of passion and without consideration. 

Dated this 19th day of June, 1914

Signed

James Flanagan

Witness

PJ Neilan 

Solicitor

Roscommon"

Britain declared war on Germany in 1913, putting a stop to the Home Rule Bill. Rations during this time made supplies and raw materials highly expensive, which was difficult for blacksmiths such as James and Martin. A few local men went to fight in the war such as John McGrath and Mark Phibbs (both were killed). The Tulsk RIC police arrested a German man at Rathcroghan in August of 1914 under suspicion of being a spy. He insisted he was only on holiday and in Rathcroghan to sketch the mound. He had a sketch book and a box of water colours in his possession. The War of Independence began after the war, from 1919 to 1921. The Black and Tans were present in Tulsk, working closely with the RIC officers.However, after several attacks on barracks around the country, the RIC began to evacuate their posts. The Tulsk barracks, along with those in Scramogue and Kilglass, were burnt to to the ground on the night of Easter Saturday 1920 by members of the Third Battalion, North Roscommon Brigade. 

Mary Jane become even more weak as she aged. One night she was sitting by the hearth and tumbled out of her chair when she tried to get up and fell into the fire. Her nightdress was set alight and though she was rescued quickly by her family, she received terrible burns across her body. She died from her wounds that day, on 1 June 1928. His daughter Bridget left in the next few years to work in Dublin as a housekeeper in a strict convent. His other daughter Mary Anne died aged twenty eight from health complications. 

James continued working as a blacksmith in his forge and was one of the last left in the area by the time of his death in 1944. His son Patrick inherited the house and forge but became a farmer instead of following in his father's profession. James was sixty eight when he died in May 1944 and is possibly buried in either Kilcooley or Tulsk Graveyard.