People on board

DOLAN, Michael

Michael Dolan was born on the 13th of September 1896 in Ardnaree, Ballina Co Sligo and baptised in Kilmoremoy parish on the Mayo side of the county boundary that the town of Ballina straddles. His parents were John Dolan, a Cattle Dealer, and Rose Jackson. Another son, Martin John, was born in April 1899. Nothing further has been found relating to John and Rose – they may have emigrated or died. In the 1911 census Michael Dolan, aged fourteen, was living with his uncle, Michael Jackson’s, family in Ardnaree but there is no sign of his brother or parents.

According to military index records Michael Dolan enlisted in the Connaught Rangers in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, but it is not known when. He married Maggie Skeffington in Ballina Cathedral on the 30th of September 1918, giving his occupation as Soldier. Maggie, from Easky in Co Sligo and daughter of a General Dealer, was then aged sixteen.

In October 1918 Michael was with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Connaught Rangers which had been in Dover since May of that year. Returning to duty ten days after his wedding he travelled on RMS Leinster but did not survive the sinking, nor was his body recovered. His name is recorded on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton and on the Ballina War Memorial which was erected in 2015. Maggie subsequently moved to Wales where she married and raised a family.