Dr Stephen Scanlan : Short Biography

Stephen Scanlan was a son of Patrick Scanlan and Anne Moran of Rosslara, Tulla, who were farmers.    He was baptised on 27 December 1861, and was one of 5 children born to this couple.  His father, Patrick Scanlan farmed 77 acres according to Griffith’s Valuation in 1855 but did not own the land at that time.  

Stephen may have attended Tulla schools and possibly St. Flannan’s College in Ennis, before attending university in Cork, where he received his M. Ch from Queens University, Cork (now University College, Cork) in the late 1880s.  He was practising as a doctor by 1891. 

On 11 November 1891 in Dublin, Stephen married Francis Browne also of Tulla.  Stephen’s occupation was a Medical Doctor and Frances was a daughter of a Gentleman.  Both were from Tulla.  Frances’ father was Edward Browne from Grove Ville, one of the landlord families of Tulla.  Both bride and groom were Roman Catholic. 

This couple returned to Tulla where Stephen became a medical officer.  In 1891-92, he was noted as the Medical Officer and Registrar for Tulla Union.  

They resided in Tulla and they were listed in the 1901 Census with their family.  They were living at House No. 130 in Tulla. (Main Street today).    

They had 5 children aged 6-newborn, 4 girls and 1 son, and they had  two servants residing with them:  Anne McNamara aged 60 and Anne Hinchy aged 16.  

In the 1911 Census, they continued to reside in Tulla and they had 2 more children although a child had died.   Edwin Patrick Scanlan was born between censuses. A daughter,  Angela Scanlan who was listed in the 1901 Census had died in 1906 of TB at the age of 8.  It is also possible that Adrian William had died as he was not listed in the 1911 Census but was born to this couple in 1908. 

Their children were:

1. Nina Mary 1894

2. Stephanie Frances 1896

3. Angela 1897 who died on 10 January 1906 in Tulla of TB.

4. Irene Josephine 1899

5. Michael Alexander 1900

6. Annie 1902

7. Adrian William 1908

8. Edwin Patrick 1906. 

Stephen Scanlan and Frances Browne Scanlan remained in Tulla where Stephen served the community of Tulla as its medical doctor for many years.  Frances Scanlan died on 7 May 1940 aged 70 in Tulla.  Stephen died on 4 July 1948, aged 86.   

They are both buried in Tulla graveyard.