The
Legend Of
Michael Foley
Michael Foley was born some time
about 1844 or there about . In the Townland
of Ballydermody situated between the Villages of Fenor and
Dunhill , in the Co of Waterford, Ireland, he was one of
four boys
and three girls, the family of John
Foley and Mary Power. To identify him from another John Foley,
probably a cousin he was known as Sean
Mor the Irish version of his name.
The family were thus better known
as the Sean Moors. Sean Moor in the
Irish language meant big John. Apparently
he was unusually tall. A trait that
was to appear later in some of his
great grand children. The family consisted of Michael , William, John, Patrick,
Mary, Bridgid, and Kate.
Where they came in the family is not clear except that John was the
youngest. They would be typical of the average
farmer family of the period , tenants of the land of about sixty acres they occupied . A mixed farm producing corn,
root crops for fodder Potatoes and vegetables. With dairy cows some cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.
They were a hard working very honest and of quiet disposition, always
careful with their money
which they insisted on getting its full value. Not giving or asking for credit
anything
they could not afford they went without. There was a very strong work ethic they had a strong
belief that day light hours were meant for working. Even
when darkness came early in winter
there was a practice whereby furze which were used to feed the horses would be chopped
by
an old machine for the purpose, during the length of time it took for a half
penny candle to burn out.
In the climate of the
twenty first Century
its hardly possible for those born after the
nineteen seventies to comprehend what obtained even
only thirty or forty years prior to that, the many innovations
that
have changed life and living
conditions are so phenomenal as to be beyond compression.
Few people born in the
first half of the eighteenth Century could read or write but
could count their money. They tried to conceal their handicap where
exploitation was a threat. Usually the only one trusted with
anything of a confidential nature was the priest, his would be
the task of giving advice also reading and writing letters where the need arose. Almost all were very religious Catholics who
took their Faith extremely
seriously. The Foleys like 90% of their neighbors
observed the ten Commandments, they
observed religious practice’s, such as attending
Mass every Sunday receiving the sacraments regularly
and the rosary was recited every night before going to bed. They mixed well in the community
where there was little diversion from work . The young Foleys were encouraged to be
thrifty, by minding and caring for the
sheep especially during the
lambing season, young Michael Foley had built up
his own little flock of sheep as a
reward.
He and his brothers were friends
with their neighbors the Powers who were well
established having a business exporting horses
as far away as Australia. It also
happened that occasionally young men in search
of adventure or other reasons arranged to
travel as grooms with a shipment of horses, getting
free passage and remaining in Australia. As
I mentioned other reasons let me describe what
might tempt a young man emigrate in a hurry
, as mentioned already most farmers were only tenants
of the land with the land lords retaining
gaming rights. Hare soup was a luxury in
those days especially for those who seldom had
any other source to make the broth ,
a hare in an adjacent field was a temptation
hard to resist, but should one be caught
the penalty was prison for perhaps a month
for a first offense . If one had
already committed one or more such awful crimes
and was facing a longer term of imprisonment
the temptation to abscond was eristable .
Michael Foley had no reason to
abscond except the desire to make a decent
living
and improve his lot in life , the prospects
to this in the prevailing climate in Ireland
seemed very remote. Having spent some hours
one evening with the Powers , he announced
at breakfast the following morning that he
was going to ask a prospers farmer
in the locality who made his money
by buying stock from neighbors who were in
difficulties, at his own
price , to buy his little flock as
he was going to Australia with the next
shipment of horses . It was a
shock to the family, the parents knowing
that Michael would not get the value of
his sheep in such a transaction suggested he leave
the sheep with them and they would provide
him with what ever money he required.
The few weeks leading to his departure could
be described as a period of mourning as
he made preparations to embark on an undertaking
for which he was poorly equipped, unable
to read or write, communication with his
family would be irregular and would have to
be through intermediaries as his parents
were similarly disadvantaged . The day
of departure was a sad occasion , the gloom
had been gathering momentum over the last few
days as Michael bade farewell to his
friends in the locality, but parting with
his parents and family with the likely
hood they would never see
each other again , was almost unbearable as they
all struggled with their emotions. Taking his earthly belongings in one hand
and carrying his little brother John who
was just four years old on his shoulder,
he used him for support, he was the only
one he could converse with and maintain
his composure. He was too young to
understand the significance of what was taking
place. He took him as far as he
knew he the little lad would make his
way home , he continued alone to the point where
he was meeting up with those in charge
of the horses. Leaving behind the
security of home and family he ventured
forth . Later in life
he would recall how every stone he
trod on. Every tree , every blade of grass
that met the eye suddenly became sacred.
He tried to console himself with the
prospect that one day , when with the stout heart
beating in his breast , a aptitude for hard
work he would make his fortune and return . But there were many many sad and
lonely days a head, many times he would pine just for a peep
in the old home in Ballydermody when the family were reciting the rosary.
The old home in Ballydermody
There was one communication through
some source confirming his safe arrival
in Australia and that he had found work
in South Gippsland. It also had in closed what
money his parents had given him
in excess of the price of his sheep.
For the next forty years Michael Foley’s
family in Ireland pined for news of
him , but there was nothing to indicate
whether he was dead or alive, in fact
they feared some misfortune had befallen him,
the Boer war had broken out and the
family feared he had been obliged to get
involved. A decade of the rosary
every night was offered for son Mick
who was killed in the war .
There was further trauma in the Foley family
when Brigid who replaced Mick looking
after the sheep, seemly had occasionally .the
company of a young male neighbor
who was similarly occupied , all their
attention was not taken up with the sheep.
Brigid committed the cardinal crime of getting
pregnant, they were not in a position
to get married and Brigid was subjected
to the same fate as befell others in her
situation, she was shipped to America.
Contrary to what was believed earlier apparently
the girls were able to read and write
at this point, Brigid kept in touch
and suggested to her sister Mary that she
should join her in Philadelphia where she
had settled, Mary duly went and joined
her sister taking up a position in a Masonic
school as cook where she was to spend
nine years.
She took ill and was advised to
take some time off work and decided to
return to Ireland , seemingly John Dower
a neighbor had taken a shine to her which
she reciprocated just before going to the States.
Brigid had given birth to a
daughter who by this time was perhaps
nine or ten years old , Brigid having some
premonition that Mary might not return to America
sent her daughter to a company Mary
to ensure she would return again to America.
Mary and her niece were staying longer
in Ireland than Brigid was happy
about, decided to make an unannounced visit back
to Ireland, planned her arrival in Waterford
on the usual family shopping day, arrived
by Jarvey car to the yard where she knew
the family horse and trap would be accommodated .
Her Father on seeing
her greeted her thus what brought
you here ? her response was I came to
bring back Mary , and he replied you are
too late she was married last Thursday.
Mary had resumed her friendship with John Dower and
they had got married, Brigid returned to
America with her daughter who had been
going to the local school and had built
up a reputation as a celebrity with
her school mates. Communication
with Brigid seems to have been lost
, the family didn’t keep in touch , all
were seemingly preoccupied trying to make
a living , letter writing was constantly
being postponed.
The union of John Dower & Mary Foley
, Produced Julia my mother , Walter, John Joe,
Richie, and Mary Kate. Kate Foley married Patrick
Gooney , They had one son Patrick. William
Foley married Margret Veale late in life ,
there was no family, neither Paddy or John married.
The family were by now accepting
that Michael would not be heard of again
when a small parcel with an Australian
post mark arrived to the Foley home,
It was the Catholic Newspaper THE
ADVOCATE. It contained little
information about Michael bearing only his initials
MF with his address in Australia. The family
were over joyed on realizing he
was alive . There was an exception
the
little boy he had said his last goodbye
too was now a forty year old man.
He was quite angry with his brother for
his long silence, he sent for his niece
Julia Dower who was then twelve
tears old, He dictated
an abusive letter to his older brother
for his failure to keep in touch
with his family. He concluded by telling his
brother not to call himself an Irish Man
you are only an ould Irish Sod ,
considered the most derogatory term of
the time. The year would have been
about nineteen hundred and two.
Letters between Australia and Ireland at
that time would have taken several weeks
to reach their destination, perhaps one of the
reasons why communication was irregular and eventually
ceased.
The abusive letter brought an
immediate response from Michael Foleys wife and
all his family defending their father , Michael
had by this time helped by his wife achieved
the ability to read and write but
was angered by being described as a ould
Irish sod. But relations between the
family improved rapidly and correspondence between
his family in Australia and his sisters
family in Ireland was fairly regular .
The next big news I recall as
we young Rocketts had just arrived from school when
the postman who delivered Foleys post called and
announced Michael Foley was on the high
seas on his way home to visit his Family.
There was great jubilation, The fatted calf was
prepared, A general clean up around
the home was carried out, being just
around seven years the I was not
privy to or indeed too concerned about
the event . However the family gathering at my
grandmother’s (Mary
Foley) home on the Sunday following
his arrival has left an impact in the memory
that time has not erased. His rich
voice and Australian Accent made an impact
on us young Rocketts as we were paraded
to be introduced, each one was the recipient
of a two shilling piece quite a
sum in those days.
Us children were not aware
for many years later of the trauma that
evolved during Michael Foleys stay with his brothers William ,
Paddy, John, and William’s wife Margaret who
it eventually emerged was the villain that caused
Michael leave the home take accommodation
in a hotel in the city of Waterford
for the remainder of his stay and
leave with out even a good bye. It must
have been a lot more painful than when
he was taking his first leave. Lucky for
him he had a caring family waiting for
his return in Australia.
They were taking aback when he
refused to talk about his visit , all
throughout the remainder he would not
discuss it. Michael
came under suspicion when William’s wife
Margaret bought him a present of a shirt .
in the Ireland of the time this was
tantamount to sharing his bed , and
conniving Margaret had intended it
to seem that way.
It took many years later for the
truth to emerge that Margaret was a
devious woman, being an alcoholic she
tried to conceal it with tantrums
to turn attention from herself.
It was very sad that when the truth
was revealed it was too late to redress
the awful injustice inflicted on Michael
Foley.
To me it would seem that he
has influence from beyond the grave, The
number of his successors in Australia that
has visited his old homestead in Ireland
and other happenings that were to pointed
to be coincidence’s or accidental.
These will require further explanation at a later
date.