Another legend to be remembered in Ballina
Edward Whelan will be remembered in his native Ballina.
Ballina has given the world many legendary figures, some of whom are memorialised in the town. Next one up to be commemorated is Edward Whelan who was born 200 years ago (1824). He emigrated with his mother in 1831 and ended up in Canada where he got a good education and became a member of prominent Irish societies. Bright and exciting, he quickly made his name.
By the age of 18, Edward had become the editor of the , an Irish Roman Catholic and Liberal newspaper strongly committed to repeal of the union between Ireland and England. Still in his teens, he also became known as a speaker at the Mechanics’ Institute and at the Young Men’s Catholic Institute, an organisation established by Irish-born Fr Richard O’Brien, in Prince Edward Island, Halifax.
Later he established his own newspaper, , writing in it: “Ireland will be a nation again. And where is the obstacle to prevent the accomplishment of her Nationality? English hatred and English jealousy.”
He advocated free government, universal suffrage, free education, free lands, the abolition of landlordism, and other measures for the relief and betterment of people on the island.
Though Prince Edward Island was the smallest and the poorest of the North American colonies, Whelan observed: “Regarding our poverty in a commercial sense, we are entitled to boast, that we have taken the lead and set an example to all the others in the important matter of education."
He was elected to represent King’s County in the House of Assembly at the age of 21 and campaigned for free land, free schools and responsible government. He became a Father of the Canadian Confederation in 1864. He died aged only 43 in 1867, and was laid to rest in Charlottetown, capital of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Whelan was twice married: in 1845 to Mrs Mary Weymouth - two children were born of this union, both of whom died young. After the death of his first wife, in 1851, he married Mary M. Hughes, daughter of George A. Hughes of the Halifax Dockyard. Of the three children born of this second union, two daughters died at an early age; the third child, a son, perished at the age of nineteen years, while sailing in Charlottetown Harbour, on July 1, 1875.
Well memorialised in Charlottetown, he is now to be remembered in his native Ballina with the unveiling of a wall plaque on lower Pearse Street at 12 noon on Tuesday, December 17, the month in which he died.
His story is told in Terry Reilly’s , and now Terry and fellow historian Bernie Finan are ensuring this legendary figure is remembered in the town of his birth. All invited, including anyone with a Canadian background.
Today the City of Charlottetown - a flourishing community of over 34,562 people - is located on the south shore of Prince Edward Island.
Charlottetown is the capital city of Prince Edward Island, and is called the 'Birthplace of Confederation' after the historic 1864 Charlottetown Conference which led to Confederation.
At last week's meeting of Ballina Municipal District, councillors agreed to a notice of motion to erect the plaque in Edward Whelan's memory.
Cllr John O’Hara said it would be appropriate to honour Edward Whelan, adding that local businessman Eddie Melvin of Melvin Financials has given wall space on his premises on Pearse Street for the plaque.
Cllr O'Hara's motion was unanimously agreed.
