Description of the funeral of Mr Philip Aylward, Knockmoylan, 1867

In keeping with our wish to record and collect funeral traditions for county Kilkenny, the following description of the funeral of Mr Philip Aylward of Knockmoylan, in south county Kilkenny, makes worthy reading.  The description is taken from The Kilkenny Journal for Saturday February 16th 1867 but this funeral was also reported in The Carlow Post 23rd February 1867    Philip Aylward, a Catholic, would fit the category of "strong farmer"; that is a man of some substance, a good few acres and well respected within the community. He was the son of Richard Aylward (died 1854) who was described as a wealthy and respectable farmer. His mother was Bridget Brenan who died in 1832.  It is said the whole family was noted for its great piety and natural talents of the highest order.(Carrigan -  History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory 1905).




"It is our melancholy duty to record the death of Mr Philip Aylward of Knockmoylan.  He expired at his residence on Sunday evening the 10th last,  after an illness of some duration.  His death has cast a gloom over the whole parish where he lived and where his virtues were so highly apparent.  He had many of those noble traits which showed so conspicuously in the character of the late pastor of Castlecomer, his illustrious brother.  He had a large and generous  heart and was foremost in every work of religion and charity.  Gentle as a child in the midst of his family, he was a good Christian, a kind husband, an exemplary father and munificent in his charities, and the number who attended his funeral from distant parts of the country gave ample proof how sacred were the ties that bound him to his numerous friends.  He has left a disconsolate widow and a young and interesting family to mourn his loss.   The solemn requiem offered for the repose of his soul was celebrated in the neat little rural chapel of Knockmoylan last Thursday, the Very Rev. Dr Walsh, PP (Parish Priest), of Slieverue presided and the Ven (Venerable) Archdeacon O'Shea, PP of Ballyhale was the celebrant at the High Mass.   There were two chanters, Rev Fintan Phelan, CC (curate) at St Canice's and Rev Joseph Dunphy, CC at St John's and 45 other priests.    After the Mass, the absolution was given.  Then the coffin containing the remains, which was covered with a black cloth, richly mounted and bearing the inscription "Mr Philip Aylward. Died the 10th of Feb 1867 aged 56 years"  was taken from the catafalque. The 45 priests, proceeded by the cross bearer and acolytes, formed a procession two deep and proceeded round the cemetery singing the Benedictus till reaching the grave where the Archdeacon, habited in a black cope of silver tissue, performed the funeral service.   The scene was most impressive as the procession moved round the burial ground - the silence of that lonely spot, the long line of white robed priests, the mournful cadences of the solemn chant were touching in the extreme and the air was soft and balmy as June. Requiescat in Pace"


This was obviously a very impressive funeral.  The newspaper names all the priests attending the funeral but I can't quite add them up to the number of 45 priests said to be in attendance.   Probably the reporter did not get all the names but the priests and curates came from Aughavillar, Ballycallan, Ballyhale, Callan Castlecomer, Danesfort,  Dunnamaggin, Innistioge (sic), Kilmacow, Knocktopher, Mooncoin, Muckalee, Mullinavat, Rosbercon,  Slieverue, Templeorum, Thomastown, Waterford, St Canice's, St Johns and St Kyran's College all last three in Kilkenny city.   And one priest, a Rev James Darcy, whose address is given as New Jersey, North America.


Philip Aylward's  uncle, the Rev William Aylward (died1832) was a priest. His brother Rev Edward Aylward (died 1865) was parish priest at Castlecomer, as referred to in the above newspaper report.  During the Famine years he held Tenant Rights meetings in Castlecomer and was one of the original members of the Council of the Tenant League. Another brother Patrick died when a sub-deacon aged only 24 years.  His brother Thomas (died 1861) became a Christian Brother and his two sisters, Mary (died 1867) and Margaret (died 1880) became nuns in the Presentation Order convent in Castlecomer.   Three of his Brenan uncles were also priests.   It is hardly surprising that there was such a huge turnout of priests at this funeral.


Philip Aylward married in 1845 Catherine, daughter of Edmond Fitzpatrick of Kilcready.  She died in 1905.   According to my records they had 12 children, 7 boys and 5 daughters.   Three of these children, Thomas, Margaret and Katie,  pre-deceased him and are also buried in Knockmoylan graveyard.  That left nine children for the widow to care for, presumably the "young and interesting family" described in the newspaper report.  We have never before seen the word "interesting" applied in this way and wonder exactly what the reporter meant by using this term.   Probably we shall never know........