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| Gibbons Memorial |
This marble and limestone memorial commemorates an old
Dungarvan family and in particular Captain William Gibbons. It is inscribed:
William Gibbons who departed this life Dec 14th
1893 aged 67 years. An affectionate and faithful husband. A judicious father
and an honest man. In life he was esteemed and in death deeply lamented. Also,
his wife Mary died Aug. 1st 1915 aged 92 years.
Mrs Lucy Gibbons 12 December 1947 aged 77, her husband
James Gibbons 12 Dec 1960 aged 92 years.
A small limestone and marble plaque is set into the
wall alongside which commemorates William’s sister. It was carved by T.H. Dennany, Marble Works,
Glasnevin and is inscribed: Sacred to the memory of Miss Helena Gibbons who
died Good Friday 1842 aged 19 years.
William Gibbons was a sea captain who kept extensive
notes of his voyages around the world. He
is chiefly remembered for his generous bequest to the people of Dungarvan which
resulted in the creation of the town park and ‘esplanade’, the seating/walking
area at The Lookout. This gift is
commemorated on a marble plaque at The Lookout.
In July 1860 William
married Mary Ann Fitzgerald (of Dungarvan?). At the time of the birth of their first child,
Mary in 1863, they were living in Main Street. By 1865 they had moved to 4 Church Street, a
house leased from the Carbery family. Their
second daughter, Helena, was born in 1865 and a son, James F. was born in 1868.
William established a business as a corn
and coal merchant. His store was
situated in Carbery's Lane (now Garvey's supermarket). In 1885 he was elected as a Town Commissioner
and was Chairman in 1887. In 1891
extensive alterations were carried out to St Mary's Parish Church and Mr &
Mrs Gibbons donated funds for the erection of the east windows.
In his will Captain
Gibbons left the then substantial sum of £1,760 to the people of Dungarvan to
be used to create leisure facilities in the form of parks at the Lookout and
Ringnasilloge. His son James F Gibbons
1868-1960 was also away at sea. He
returned to Dungarvan in 1903 and he set up a wool business. ‘Mr Gibbons does business in connection with
the Williamson Wool Exchange Company...This year the exports doubled...People
from all parts of the country and even from neighbouring counties send their
wool here.’ James married a Lucile -?-
a Cork lady and they lived at 3 Church Street. According to the 1911 census they were living
in a house on The Burgery owned by Edmund Keohan. James is described as a gentleman. Their children were Kathleen age 14 – born
USA; William age 12 - born USA; James age 9; and Maude age 8. Kathleen became a
nun and joined the Dominican order in Galway.
