My grandfather, John Crotty (1869 - 1946) is buried in Colmanswell cemetry along with his wife, Bridget (nee McInerney) (1897 - 1973) and his mother Mary (1836 - 1920). His daughters, Mary and Catherine (1930 - 2012) are also buried there. John Crotty is recorded in 1901 & 1911 census as the steward of the farm at Foxhall House. I believe at the time it was owned by Harry O'Connor of Cobh. When John died the farm passed to the Binchy family. When I was a kid, we spent all our summer holidays at my grandmother's cottage on the creamery road. We spent most days in Foxhall with the Hickey family who managed it then. I remember the locals coming to the farm in the afternoon to buy milk from the freshly milked dairy herd. I remember watching the farmers in the morning taking milk to the creamery. My mum, Ellen Logan (nee Crotty) who went to the old school in Colmanswell, taught me the names of the farmers (apologies for any mis-spells) Paddy Keen and his son Jim, Jimmy O'Brien, Willy Carroll, Dan Fintan, Conni O'keefe and his brother Dennis.
Every Sunday we walked to Mass at the old church, it was packed to hear Fr O'Donnell. After Mass, everyone would walk up to Twoomey's shop to get the Sunday newspaper and bits of shopping. Mrs Twoomey was very kind to me and my brother and would always have sweets for us. We also went to the new church across the road when that was built. I remember the old church was kept for community use for a while and there was a Hootenanny dance in the old church with a dancefloor installed and a real live goat in the old baptismal font!
Two of my relatives still live in the area - Nancy Hayes who is the widow of my 2nd cousin Mickey Hayes and Kitty Daly (nee Hayes) who lives in a home in Charleville. Sadly, my mum Ellen, died in 2018 but her sister Bridget is still with us and lives with me.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jan 1869 | VIEW SOURCE |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1946 | |
