Forgotten family's burial vault in Ballina is beautifully restored

In the past few weeks, an extraordinary transformation has taken place in the old part of Leigue Cemetery in Ballina with the restoration of the Coolican family vault. 

Standing as a testament to the fine craftsmanship and artistic skill of the masons, the tomb remains one of the most striking and architecturally interesting funerary monuments in Ballina and the North Mayo locality.

A number of years ago, somewhat prompted by an interest in this impressive monument, local man Mattin Leonard began to research the history of the Coolican family, who they were, what they did, and where they came from. In the process he unearthed an extraordinary narrative of this forgotten family who were at one time to the fore in the commercial, social, and political life of Ballina in the late 19th century.

Although there are currently no living representatives of the family remaining in Ballina, Martin's research has led him to foster connections with descendants of various different branches of the clan now resident in Dublin, the United Kingdom and even Australia.

On making this connection, and sharing photographs of the vault's neglected nature, one particular branch of the family were instantly committed to seeing their ancestral monument restored to its former glory. And so during the past week, under the meticulous exertions of Oliver Gilligan at Gilligan Gravecare, layers of ivy and vegetation were removed, the stone was carefully cleaned, letters and railings expertly repainted, and the concrete blocks removed, restoring the vault to its original appearance. As the accompanying photographs demonstrate, the transformation has been truly phenomenal and brought dignity back to this final resting place.

This striking monument was erected in 1884 to the memory of James Coolican (1820-1884) by his twin sons Francis and Edward "as a memorial of their esteem and regard". The graceful spire, which surmounts the burial vault, was carved by T. H. Dennany, Monumental Marble works of Glasnevin in Co Dublin. This was the same firm that was responsible for erecting the Humbert Memorial in Ballina in 1898. 

Incredibly, the entire spire of the Coolican monument rests over a brick arched vault beneath. 

James Coolican, the 'Merchant Prince of Ballina', came from a long line of successful merchants trading in Ballina since 1817. James, a self-made businessman, started out as a 'chandler' responsible for the manufacture of wax candles (and later soap), a valuable enterprise in the days before artificial illumination.

James Coolican and his wife Anne O'Dowd a descendant of the ancient O'Dowda family of Coolcarney, resided on Francis Street, Ballina in a large three-storey Georgian townhouse, later to become Hurst's Hotel. The couple had six children, five sons and one daughter, namely Francis, Edward, John, James, Michael, and Mary, all of whom distinguished themselves in their chosen careers.

Michael V. Coolican (1865-1929), the youngest son, practiced as a solicitor having qualified with a first class honours degree in law in 1884, shortly afterwards setting up practice on Francis Street in Ballina opposite the Courthouse. A deeply honourable, upright, and most sincere man, M.V., as he was more commonly known, was universally loved and respected by all, regardless of class or creed, and was known to have been an ardent Irish Nationalist. 

In 1904, he married Frances McDonagh, a daughter of Stephen J. McDonagh, of Dunmore, Co Galway, and had a large family, residing at Riverslade, Ballina. In 1917, he sold his legal practice to John Carrigg, of Dublin, and took up the position of Clerk of the Crown and Peace for County Mayo, the first Catholic to do so. Following the abolition of that position in 1922 with the foundation of the Free State, he became the first County Registrar for Mayo. 

M.V. Coolican died suddenly of heart failure in 1929, aged 64 years. His funeral was of immense proportions with mourners travelling from all over counties Mayo, Sligo, Galway, Roscommon, and further afield.

Twin brothers Edward (1853-1908) and Francis (1853-1915) became partners in the family business, James Coolican Ltd, with shops on Knox Street (Carney and Hunts), Bridge Street (Wellworths) and James Street (International Stores), specialising in the sale of guano, manure, and seeds as well as wholesale grocery, hardware, household goods, and spirits. Advertisements for the businesses regularly appeared in the pages of the Western People and Ballina Herald.

Edward died suddenly in 1908, aged 55 years, leaving behind six orphan children. His brother Francis Coolican passed away shortly afterwards in 1915, leaving behind a colossal estate valued at over £30,000, showing the sheer scale and success of the Coolican operations. Following the death of Francis's widow Bridget and Michael V. Coolican in 1929, the family presence in Ballina began to slowly disappear. James Coolican Ltd. went into liquidation in 1932, and following the sale of Riverslade House by Frances Coolican in 1938, the final family associations with the region were severed.

In June 1987, the Coolican vault in Leigue Cemetery was broken into by a group of vandals numbering between eight or 10, and ranging in age from about 10 to 18 or 19 years. The coffin of an infant, placed just inside the door, was broken open and the remains disturbed. It was presumed that the youths were in search of the ornate brass fittings on the coffins or the lead in which the remains were encased. 

Commenting on the outrage at the time, Gda Supt Malachy Shiel noted: "The desecration of a graveyard is beyond the normal acts of vandalism and petty crime... It is beyond decency and quite insulting to everyone."

As part of the completion of the restoration works and before the vault was again closed, Ballina parish priest Aidan O'Boyle and Fr Kieran Holmes kindly came to bless the remains and coffins within and offered up prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased members of the Coolican family. 

May the members of this remarkable family, who were once such an integral part of the Ballina community, rest in peace.