• Author's Note: The Primary Valuation shows that Bryan Hand was resident in Clongill from as early as 1854. However I have not been able to establish if he was born in Clongill.

Two houses in Clongill - May, 1998

The house is shown in the Censes of 1901 and 1911 as being constructed of either stone, brick or concrete with a roof of either slate, iron or tiles. It had 4 rooms with 2 windows to the front of the house.

In 1901 the outhouses consisted of 1 piggery and 1 fowlhouse. By 1911 a turfhouse had been added.

Anne is said to have had an annuity (possibly from her father?) She was still alive when the 1901 Census was taken (31st. March, 1901) but was deceased by the time of the 1911 Census (2nd. April, 1911). Bryan was still alive at this time and gave his age as 73 years - in other words a year of birth c. 1838.

• Author's Note: Ages quoted in these two Censes are notoriously unreliable. In addition if Bryan was born in 1838 he would have been only 16 at the time he held land in Clongill according to the Primary Valuation. Unlikely?! We should probably go back to the early- or mid-1830s for his actual year of birth.

  Anne's age is given as 57 in the 1901 Census. This would make her about 30 at the birth of her first child, Bridget, in 1873 and 50 at the birth of her last child, Frank, in 1894!

What's in a name - Bryan or Bernard?

The Children of Bryan Hand and Anne Keegan

1. Bridget Hand, born 8/8/1873, died 23/3/1965

   After the death of her mother Bridget kept house for her father and younger brothers. By the time of the 1911 Census the family were joined by William Hand, a brother of Bryan, who had lived for a time in the U.S.A. He was known as "Willy, the Yank"! When her father also died Bridget became housemaid in Gibstown Castle.
   

   Buildings in Gibstown Demesne - May, 1998

   
   
   

   • Author's Note: Gibstown Castle was demolished in the 1930s, when the estate was divided up to provide small holdings for farmers from West of Ireland Gaeltachts. However the impressive Demesne buildings, offices, stables, barns etc. survive to this day.
   
   
   At this time a second man named William Hand was living (according to both 1901 and 1911 Censes) in a thatched house in Gibstown. By 1911 he had been c. 20 years married to Catherine (Kate). They had no children at that time. He gave his occupation as Farm Labourer (1901) and Land Steward (1911). He was, in fact, Land Steward of the Gibstown Demesne of Maj. Gerard. He is thought to have been a nephew of Bryan (father's name unknown).

   Willy's wife died and Bridget moved into the cottage to care for him. Soon afterwards her uncle, "Willy, the Yank", also joined them in the cottage.

   Bridget never married. On the death of her cousin, Willy, ownership of the cottage and the small field on which it stood passed to Bridget. The field is still known, locally, as "Hand's Field".

   Bridget died in hospital in Trim, Co. Meath and is interred in St. Mary's Cemetery, Navan.

2. Patrick Hand, born 20/6/1875, baptised 13/6/1875?

3. Jane Hand, born 15/6/1876, baptised 25/6/1876?

   Jane married Tom Brown, Athboy on 9/1/1907 in Castletown, Fletcherstown, Navan. There were two children in the family, one of whom married a publican, named Loughran, in Navan.

   Maryanne Hand

4. Maryanne Hand, born 22/5/1878, baptised 26/5/1878

   Maryanne married Tom Mulhall on 11/9/1901 in Castletown, Fletcherstown, Navan and lived in Mount Brown near to the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Tom Mulhall was employed in the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. There were five children in the family:-

   • Thomas - served in the Irish Army for many years and was later employed as a postman in Dublin city. He died in 1983.
   • Joseph - worked as a coach-builder in C.I.E.
   • Jenny - married to Jim Shields, Co. Kildare. Jim had a heart attack while refereeing an inter-county football match in Croke Park. No children.
   • Mollie - married Jack Chase, a famous Garda boxer. Jack was Irish middleweight boxing champion for seven years.
   • Kathleen - did not marry. In later years she worked as a Sales Assistant in the G.P.O. canteen. However she was late entering the workforce having spent years at home with her parents as she was considered delicate.

5. Michael Hand, born 24/5/1880, baptised 27/5/1880

   Michael was employed as a labourer in Gibstown Demesne. He married Brigid (Biddy) White on 6/8/1924 in Castletown, Fletcherstown, Navan. They had a family of four:-

   Michael Hand and Biddy White

   • Bernard, born 11/5/1926, baptised 13/5/1926 died, at four years of age, as a result of severe burning when he fell into an open fire in his home.
   • Joe, born 13/1/1928, baptised 15/1/1928, died 17/7/1999.
     Joe married Elizabeth Swan on 21/7/1954 in Our Lady of Refuge Church, Rathmines, Dublin. Joe was a keen sportsman. He served in the Irish army where he was regimental boxing champion. After leaving the army he moved to London, where he worked as a bricklayer. He continued his sporting career and played rugby for London Irish. He never lost contact with his Meath roots and, shortly before his death, he travelled to Donaghpatrick cemetery to pick out a burial plot for himself.
   • Thomas, born 16/4/1932, baptised 18/4/1932
     Thomas married Elizabeth Kearon on 4/4/1956 in Cabra West, Dublin. Thomas worked in the building trade.
   • Michael, born 11/5/1934, baptised 13/5/1934. Michael worked in the building trade in London for many years before returning to Dublin. He is married with seven children, two boys and five girls.
   
   

   Donaghpatrick Cemetery - May, 1998

   
   Michael Snr. died on 7/10/1935 in the County Infirmary, Navan. He is buried, as is his young son, Bernard, in Donaghpatrick Cemetery, Navan, Co. Meath. The inscription on the gravestone reads:-

   "Erected by MICHAEL HAND in memory of his father, MICHAEL HAND, Gibbstown, died 7th. October, 1935, his brother BERNARD, died aged 4 years, also his grandparents, uncles and aunts."
   

   Michael's widow remarried (Frank Goss). She died on 19/1/1997 - Bannow Road, Cabra West, Dublin.

6. Bernard Hand, born 3/6/1882, baptised 7/6/1882

   Bernard died in 1948 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin. Bernard had worked in Gibstown Castle as a young man, where he was an influential member of the cricket team.

   Bernard married a Brigid Maher from Usher's Island in Dublin. Their family comprised:-

   Bernard Hand and Brigid Maher

   • Brian - worked for 50 years from the age of 14 with the same firm - Woodprinting Works, Wolfe Tone St., Dublin. He died on 23/6/1985.
   • Tommy - spent many years in the Army and, subsequently, worked with Heiton Bros., Dublin and in the printing trade. He is married and lives in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. He had a family of six children, four boys and two girls.
     • Thomas, was killed while mountain climbing in the Andes mountains.
     • Joe lived for eight years in Australia, but now lives in Clonsilla, Co. Dublin.
     • Gerry
     • Dave Hand is married to Anne and lives in Portrane.
       They have two sons, David and Alan.
       Dave works as a hackney driver.
     • Marian
     • Bernie
   • John - worked in the same firm as Brian and later producing Tom's Directory. He was killed on 1/9/1980 in a hit-and-run accident.
   • Sheila - did not marry - she was employed as an office cleaner for 21 years in the Guinness Brewery. She died January, 1997.

7. Christopher Hand, born 21/12/1884, baptised 5/12/1884?

8. Catherine (Kate) Hand, born 10/3/1886, baptised 13/3/1886

   Catherine married a Mr. Johnston and lived in England (Manchester?).
   FRANK HAND lived with her during World War I.

9. William Hand, born 18/5/1888, baptised 19/5/1888

   William died on 31/1/1951 and is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Navan. He was a highly regarded painter and decorator in Navan. He married a Miss Nulty and lived in Ludlow Street, Navan. They reared a family of five children:-

   • Mai, Rose, Kathleen, Bridie and Frank.

10. Rose Hand, born 23/4/1891, baptised 25/4/1891

11. FRANCIS PATRICK HAND, born 15/5/1894, died 19/4/1972

    Frank Hand in British Army Uniform

    Frank worked, in his late teens, as a labourer in Gibstown Demesne (1911 Census). He went to England in 1916 (?) and worked for a time as a smelter in a steel mill. At that time the First World War was raging in Europe. He felt under pressure to join up. (He spoke of how women used to wait outside the steel mills to wave white feathers at the workers at the end of their shift). He joined the British Army - Egyptian Expeditionary Force and served as a driver in the transport section of the Royal Engineers. Among his duties was responsibility for the Force's contingent of camels! He was not involved in any military action and was discharged at Damascus on 26/6/1919.

    Frank returned to Ireland after the war and joined the fledgling army of the Irish Free State with the rank of Private on 6/6/1922. His army number was 13610 and he served with B Coy. 3rd. Batt. Meath No. II in Milmount Barracks, Drogheda and Dunboyne(?).

    He signed up for a period of 18 months (28/3/1922). However he was irregularly discharged on 2/12/1922 so that he might join the Garda Síochána. He made his application at Ship Street in Dublin on 29th. November (he was recommended by Rev. J. Daly, P.P., Oristown, Co. Meath) and was appointed the following week on 7/12/1922. After training he was posted to Newcastle, Co. Tipperary on 8/11/1923. The Irish Civil War had ended earlier that year.

    Frank Hand and Nora Tierney

    
    
    Frank married NORA MARY TIERNEY, from Cashel, Co. Tipperary on 25/8/1925 in the church of S.S. Michael and John, Dublin. Fr. James Stafford solemnised the marriage and the witnesses were Sean MacSweeney and Katie Tierney.

    The match did not meet with the full approval of the Tierney family. Their background was strongly Republican. It is likely they would not have approved of Frank's involvement with the British Army. In any case Katie Tierney was the only member of the Tierney family to attend the wedding!!
    

    Frank Hand in Garda Uniform

    Frank was transferred to Ballymahon Co. Longford on
    29th. November, 1925. He spent the remainder of his career working in Ballymahon. He was a keen follower of Gaelic football - Longford and his native County Meath being his favourite teams. He was also a keen draughts player.

    Frank's Garda number was 2810. He resigned from the Garda on 9/1/1956 - his general conduct while serving was described as "exemplary".

    He retired to Dublin and lived at 29 Villa Park Avenue, Dublin, 7 until his death of cancer in 1972. He is buried in Deans Grange Cemetery, Dublin.

• Author's Note 1: I have photocopies of the entries in the Register of Births for all of the children of Bryan Hand and Anne Keegan who are listed above. There are also Baptismal Certificates for most of them. There is a conflict in some instances between the dates quoted on the birth and baptismal certificates. This is no doubt due to some laxity in the registration procedures of the time!

• Author's Note 2: I have extensive documentation on Frank Hand's army/Garda careers. Nevertheless questions remain about his location/occupation between 1916 and 1922.
  In his application to the Garda in November, 1922 he gives the following details:-

  Location: 2 years in Britain, 2 years abroad, last 2 years in Ireland.
  Occupation: He claims 4 years service in the British Army and 2 years spent in the I.R.A. (The latter was additional information volunteered by him. No question to this effect appeared on the application form!)

  It is difficult to reconcile these claims. His discharge papers show he spent the year to June, 1919 with the British Army in Damascus. We know he only joined the Irish Army in June, 1922. Did he come straight home from the Middle East after his discharge there? Did he rejoin the British Army here during the Irish War of Independence? Or was he involved on the I.R.A. side in that conflict? (The latter seems improbable given the reaction to his marriage to Norah Tierney!)