The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Local heroes of Fenian Rising commemorated
ON SUNDAY, February 12, the communities of Valentia Island and Foilmore came together at O’Connor Park in Chapeltown to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Fenian Rising which took place on February 12, 1867.
The reason being that John James O’Connor of Valentia, after whom the field is named, and John Golden of Kells were heroes of the Fenian Rising. A match in honour of the occasion was played between the Young Islanders and St Michael’s Foilmore. Paul Clifford of Foilmore rendered a talk on the lives of both men and pipe music was supplied by Patrick Lyne, Amy Lyne and Dermot Walsh. Thanks to the Ring Lyne for providing refreshments afterwards and to Tommy Gilligan, who organised the public address system.
John James O’ Connor was born in Valentia Island and came from the village of Chapeltown. He emigrated with his family to the USA and lived in Boston and later in Braintree, Massachussetts. He joined the Union Army in the American Civil War in 1861, without telling his family or friends. He joined the 28th Massachusetts (Irish) Volunteers. He was apparently 17-years-old at the time, and fought in South Carolina.
He was present at the Battles of Antietam and Second Bull Run. amongst others. In 1863 the regiment was transferred to fight under Thomas Francis Meagher’s brigade. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Spotsylvania where he seized the colours after the colour-sergeants had been killed. He was wounded at Cold Harbour and also at Petersburg and as a result he walked with a limp, some said it was like he had a stone in his shoe. He was either a Lieutenant-Colonel or a Colonel and it seems his promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel didn’t come through in time, although he was entitled to it.
O’Connor returned to South Kerry and lived with a farmer in Dirreen, near Aghatubrid Church. This farmer only spoke Irish. O’Connor was one of the main Fenian organisers in Kerry. The RIC of Cahirsiveen raided his lodgings on a number of occasions but on each occasion he managed to evade them, though appearing openly in Valentia where, according to island tradition, he drilled the Valentia Company of Fenians in a townland known as Feith Na Lachan, now the Lotts. He was a popular figure in South Kerry at this time, but was also well monitored by the police. During the Rising, the Fenians commandeered two horses to be used by O’Connor as he could not keep up with the men due to his war wounds. When the Rising failed, O’Connor managed to evade capture, despite being the most wanted man in the county at the time.
There are several stories of him dressing in disguises to fool the police, the most popular one being that he dressed as a beggar and collected money from the very police who were searching for him. It is also said that he dressed as a priest.
In 1868 Colonel O’Connor went to New Orleans, where he married Miss Kate Kenny, sister of General Kenny, late of the Confederates of the Civil War. Soon after, he was appointed Sheriff of Shreveport, an office he held until his death on November 21,1870.
John James O’Connor, hero of the American Civil War and the Fenian Rising is laid to rest in Shreveport, Louisiana, far from his native Caol.
Another local hero was John Golden who was only 20 years of old when he was transported to Australia for his part in the Fenian Rising. He would never return to see his homeland again.
Whilst the Fenians were motivated by a desire to see Ireland freed from British oppression, John Golden had another very personal reason for his involvement. As a boy he was going fishing with his faithful dog by his side and he passed the local landlord estate when the landlord’s agent burst out in his coach. The noise startled the dog and he began to bark. With this the landlord’s agent ordered the coach driver to shoot the dog, which he duly did.
John Golden never forgot this event and it was the spark which led to him joining the Fenian movement. Whilst raiding the coastguard in Kells, the wife of one of the coastguards recognised John. In the candlelight of that dark Shrove Tuesday night in February, she recognised John’s distinctive fair hair and handsome features. She later gave evidence against John and was shunned by the local community for this and eventually left the area.
John evaded capture, but whilst trying to board the ship Propontis in Cork, he was recognised by the police and arrested along with another South Kerry Fenian, Tom Griffin. John Golden was put on trial in Tralee and sentenced to penal servitude in Van Diemens Land.
John’s mother, who it is thought was an O’ Neill from Valentia, was heavily pregnant at the time, and walked the journey from Kells to Tralee to attend his trial. He was transported there on the Hougoumont, the last convict ship to travel to Australia. John Golden was eventually freed in Australia and settled down there. He had a wife and seven children but succumbed to illness at an early age, leaving his young family behind. His last child was born after John had died in 1883. He is buried in Gerrigong Cemetery, not far from Sydney.
His headstone is a Celtic Cross inscribed with the words ‘God Save Ireland’. The two branches of the Golden clan remain in contact with one another.
His grandnephews Pat, John and Mike Golden still reside in the ancestral homeland of Kells.
FOOTNOTE: The scribe sincerely thanks Paul Clifford of Foilmore for the above information on both Fenians.