The life, death and legacy of Thomas Sween(e)y

 


Drogheda North light. Photo Richard Cummins

From the Drogheda Independent, Saturday 31st January 1914

The death of Mr Thomas Sween(e)y, James St, took place with tragic suddenness on Wednesday evening. Deceased, who had attained to a ripe age – over 70 years – was out that evening, walking along the Mornington Road with his son, Joseph, a man about 40 years old. This son was to leave Drogheda the following day, being home only for the sad purpose of burying his mother. Father and son went for a walk as far as Mornington lighthouse and, on the return journey, when nearing Mr Doherty's house, the old man complained of weakness, and in a moment or so became semi-conscious. Clerical and medical aid were immediately summoned, and Rev Fr Glynn CC, St Mary's, who arrived with great promptitude, was in time to administer the last Sacraments to the dying man.
Dr PJ Murray arrived shortly afterwards and pronounced life extict. Deceased was formerly lighthouse keeper at Mornington; he was a native of Belmullet, co Mayo, and was the owner of a licenced premises in James St. He was a well-known figure in Drogheda life.
It is a pathetic coincidence to note that his death, which occurred at 4.15, corresponded exactly with the time of his wife's passing just one week before.


Early 1900s photo of the Drogheda North light in the NLI. This being the case, it is very probable that the older man on the right could be Thomas Sweeny and the younger man one of his sons

Despite the obituary stating that he was a native of Belmullet, on the two censuses, he gives his place of birth as county Sligo around 1846. His father, Daniel was a coastguard and Thomas joined the lighthouse service as a 20-year-old in 1866. His first station was Rockabill, where his sister kept house for him. He was later transferred up to Rathlin Island where he met and married Annie McCouaig. Two boys, James Joseph (known as Joseph, mentioned in the article above) and Patrick, were born in the mid-1870s and both would become keepers. Thomas also served at Drogheda E/W (1878), Tory (1881-4); Oyster Island (1884-8); Mutton Island (1899) and back to Drogheda again, from where he retired probably around 1906. He had the service number 16. Incidentally, his name was spelled both with and without the third 'e'.


Patrick Sweeny (1879-1930) resigned from Irish Lights in 1902 to move to New Zealand

Of the two sons, Patrick (175) later emigrated to New Zealand. 
Joseph (142) served for 40 years, and had a son, Frank, who also became a keeper. There's actually a recording in the RTE archive of Frank being interviewed after being relieved from Eagle Island in 1949. Frank himself served for 35 years, making a total of 110 years served by Thomas, Joseph and Frank.
People sometimes ask if Joseph was related to the famous Blacksod Sweeneys, Ted, Gerry, Ted jnr, Vincent, Fergus etc. Well, yes he was, but only through marriage. While statione at Blacksod, JJ married local lass, Kathleen Tolan. Kathleen's sister, Margaret, married Thomas Sweeney, father of Ted.

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