Ned Hennessey

Ned Hennessey’s father came from County Kilkenny, Ireland and married Margaret Power from Dunville. Ned was born in 1877, one of sixteen children. At a marriageable age, it is told, he went up to Mrs. Houlihans and picked up their baby girl Mary in his arms and said, “this is the girl I'm going to marry." Afterwards he went to Grand Falls to work in the mill there but later returned to Merasheen and bought a business which he operated for years becoming the principal merchant in the community for some time.

In his late 40’s Ned married Mary Houlihan, a bride of nineteen years and they gave birth to eleven children. The children testify that in spite of the age difference, he was a devoted husband and father who spend much of his spare time entertaining them. Like many in Merasheen, Ned often travelled across the bay to St. Kyran's for Sunday Mass and on poor Sunday's when this was not possible, he led the people in the Rosary in the Church at Merasheen. He died March 4th, 1957 at the age of 80 years. His wife Mary is now residing in Calgary, Alberta.

Bernard Hennessey

Bernard was born in Merasheen and married Margaret Ennis, the daughter of Dick and Sis Ennis. Bernard lived on Soldier’s Point until Mrs. Sis became ill, after which he moved to Little Merasheen and lived with Dick Ennis and Sis. Bernard was shipped out as a fisherman most of his life, and worked on the railway. Bernard was a good singer with a great sense of humour and a man well-liked by everyone. One of his best known songs is “The Burglar" which was in later years said as a recitation.

The Burglar

(This was one of Bernard‘s recitations)

I’ll tell you of a Burglar bold, who came to rob a house,
He opened the window and he crept in, as quiet as a mouse,
He looked for a place to conceal himself, while all were asleep,
“And now", says he to the family, “I’ll take a quiet peep".

In under the bed the Burglar crept, he lay close to the wall,
He didn’t know t’was an auld maid’s room, or he wouldn't be there at all,
He was thinking of the money he’d get, as under the bed he lay,
At ten o’clock he saw a sight that made his hair turn grey.

At ten o’clock the auld maid came in. “Ah, whist! I'm tired", she said,
And thinking everything was all right she never looked under the bed,
She took out her teeth and her auld glass eye, and the hair fell off her head,
And the Burglar he got seventy fits when he looked from under the bed.

From under the bed the Burglar crept: he looked a total wreck,
The auld maid she was wide awake, and she grabbed him by the neck,
The auld maid wasn’t frightened at all; she looked as quiet as a clam,
“At last!" says she, “my prayers are heard. Thank God, l got a man!“.

The auld maid then drew a revolver and unto the Burglar said,
“Young man, consent to marry me, or I’ll blow the top off your head".
The Burglar looked around the room to see where he could scoot,
He thought of her teeth and her auld glass eye, and he said, “For God sake, shoot!”